Thursday, September 24, 2015

Change It Up! Blog Hop Reveal by Fine and Dandy Jewelry, and Sponsored by B'sue Boutiques

Change it Up! The final reveal is finally here!  I decided to create an autumn cornucopia brooch for my entry.  It fits right in with my new Autumn Garden line.  I used this raw brass stamping

from B'sue Boutiques.  It is raw brass, lead and nickel free, and American made from the original die machines.  Pretty, isn't it?  The goal for this challenge was to creatively manipulate the piece in a new way.  Colorize it, cut it, bend it, add patina or enamel, embellish--whatever you like.

My result is this: (click on photos to view them larger © Fine and Dandy Jewelry by Renee Hong)

Cornucopia Brooch for my Autumn Garden Line, fall 2015 by Fine and Dandy Jewelry.

I'm going to add better photos by Saturday.  I ran out of light.  I should know better, as a photographer; but these are better than nothing!

The filigree is rolled into a cornucopia.  I will try to show a different angle with more pics later.

In the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group on Facebook, we've been talking a lot lately about "caging," a technique involving "sewing" things onto a filigree backing with fine wire.  You can add beads, pearls, buttons, rhinestones, whatever you like.  This was a popular look in the legendary Miriam Haskell's jewelry line. I thought I'd give it a try.  I manipulated the filigree into the shape of a cornucopia...sort of.  I hope that's what you see.  I asked my 16 year old and my 9 year old what they thought it was...it took a bit of prompting ("thing Thanksgiving!"), but they guessed it!  What could be better to add to a cornucopia than these fun  Carmen Miranda fruit beads from B'sue Boutiques!

Yes, they are plastic.  But they make the cutest little dangles.  I made some fun Day of the Dead jewelry from the once; it sold immediately!

I added some of my favorite India glass leaves, just wired right around the attached bails and they added a pop of color and some weight, since the plastic beads are very light.  In addition, I used some absolutely gorgeous Czech glass flower button style beads.  You can get them here and also here. The India glass comes in different colors; translucent and opaque. I love the whole selection

There's a touch of re-purposed silk sari ribbon there, in pretty autumn colors. I find that adding just a small piece of ribbon or lace to an otherwise "hard" piece can give an aura of romance and prettiness that is the perfect finishing touch.  My cornucopia is now brimming with fruit, flowers, leaves and the pretty green/purple ribbon.  How did I get the nice fall colors on the brass, you ask?  I used alcohol inks, blending until they looked the way I wanted them to.  This stamping has a lot of texture, so a mix of colors works well.

I admit, there is one last step to complete this brooch.  Brooches are said to be the "in" thing this fall 2015.  I just sold a brooch today.  So, what I need to do to finish this is add the pin back.  I have one ready to go, it has 3 holes on the back. I tried wiring it on.  It just didn't happen to turn out the way I wanted yet, so that is going to be finished up soon.  I am moving next week, so it may have to wait just a bit.

I learned a lot making this brooch; this is the first time I really tried caging other than adding some pearls to a pendant once.  It isn't perfect, but it looks nice; the wire is very thin and blends perfectly with the tones of the "cornucopia" as it's copper. It was kinda relaxing.  I have some more projects in mind for later.

I am going to come back and add some other photos with better lighting later today, maybe Saturday. Time was running short on me with the upcoming move and LIFE. : )  I sure am thankful to be a part of this group that B'sue got together. It's like a cornucopia of blessings being associated with Brenda Sue and all the wonderful members of the Creative Group.  Please take a look at the other entries in this blog hop below.  I can't wait to get back from my morning appointments tomorrow and start hopping!  Thank you for visiting.  Please leave a comment if you'd like; I'd appreciate it!

FIRST UP, OUR SPONSOR:

Brenda Sue Lansdowne
Jewelry Making Outside the Box

the rest of the Change it Up! BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS:

Mary Deis
The Rose Sword
http://theroseswordmdeis.blogspot.com/
Jann Tague
Clever Designs
https://janntague.wordpress.com/
Lori Beekman
B.Accessorized
https://baccessorized.wordpress.com/
Renee Hong
Fine and Dandy Jewelry
http://www.fineanddandyjewelry.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Wainscott
Exotic Peru Jewelry
http://exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com/
Dana Hickey
Magpie Approved
http://magpieapproved.blogspot.com/
Mary Beth Quigley-Spiker
Q Settings
https://qsettings.wordpress.com/
Karen Eaton
KJewelry Creations
http://kjewelrycreations1.blogspot.com/
Shari Gardner
SLG Jewelry Designs
https://slgdesigns.wordpress.com/
Alison Huie
Ally's Baubles
http://allysbaubles.blogspot.com/
Pamela Anger
Novegatti Designs
http://www.novegattidesigns.blogspot.com/
Carole Carlson
Beadsophisticate
https://beadsophisticate.wordpress.com/
Cindy Peterson
Howling Dog Jewelry
https://howlingdogjewelry.wordpress.com/
Marcia Tuzzolino
Aurora Designs
http://auroradesignsjewelryblog.me/
Charlotte Smothers
Sea Horse Ranch Life
http://seahorseranch.blogspot.com/
Catherine Shattuck
Victorian Rose Boutique
https://vrbrose.wordpress.com/
Kelly Wymer
Winged Wisdom Enchantments
https://wingedwisdomenchantments.wordpress.com/
Clare Wells Nemeth
Papercrafting Magic
http://papercraftingmagic.blogspot.com/
Erin Whitacre
Shattered Time
https://shatteredtimejewelry.wordpress.com/
Lynda O'Mara
Lomara Creative
http://www.lomaracreative.com/
Ginger Hammond
Lynn Leigh Designs
https://lynnleighdesigns.wordpress.com/
Ingrid Anderson
Lilis Gems Artisan Jewelry
https://lilisgems.wordpress.com/
Deb Beechy
Beetique
http://www.beetique56.blogspot.com
Harry Wood
Oscar Crow
http://oscarcrow.blogspot.com/
Delyssa Maxwell
Past Time Fancies
https://pasttimefancies.wordpress.com/
Paula Gaskill
Lovely Layla Bugs
http://lovelylaylabugjewels.weebly.com/blog
Irene Hoffman
Heart's Dezire by Irene
https://heartsdezirebyirene.wordpress.com/
Alexandra Sefton
Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art
http://wilywolverine.blogspot.com/
Leslie Carver
Adorn Divine Designs
http://adorndivinedesigns.blogspot.com/

59 comments:

  1. Beautiful caging and imaginative use of this stamping. Lovely, Renee!

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    1. Thank you, Lori! I hope to keep practicing, it was fun to make!

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  2. Great design! Wow! For sure different.

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    1. Thank you, Paula! The idea came to me when I was laying in bed. I sure am glad I remembered it, LOL!

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  3. Great idea Renee. Perfect for the fall, a really lovely way to make celebrate the blessings of the harvest.

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    1. Thank you, Teresa! I just love fall and Thanksgiving. We are especially blessed this year!

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  4. I like it! Color and style galore.

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  5. Love all that color! Very Carmen Miranda! This is a design that makes me
    Smile just looking at it 😊 great job my
    Friend!

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    1. Gracias, Cynthia! I juststarted hopping, can't wait to see what you made!

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  6. Great use of the stamping!! Beautiful colors, design! Winner!!!!!!

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  7. Your imagination is "on fire!" So clever! Best of luck with your move.

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  8. Well Renee you have done it yet again. Love all your work and always amazed at your creatve style. Love.

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    1. I appreciate your kind words, thank you!

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  9. Lovely design Renee! Great colors and unique. Best of luck with the move! Ingrid

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    1. Thank you, Ingrid! Just a few more days; I'm so excited!

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  10. I LOVE your idea. You did a great job. I hope your move goes smoothly. <3

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    1. Thank you, Lori! We are packing a little each day. Almost there!

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  11. Beautiful. I love how the holidays is already being expresed in your design. I love fall and Thanksgiving, and your necklace fills the bill completely. I have not tried any type of wiring yet, but once things calm down a bit around here, I'm going to sit down and give it a real try.

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    1. Thank you, Shari! It's relaxing. These beads and the new Czech glass leaves and flowers are perfect! I will enjoy seeing what you make!

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  12. Very clever with lots of eye appeal and a riot of color. That gets MY attention every time. And knowing at the same time you are ready to move your household, this was no mean feat to get done. Kudos to you for a wonderful design and better still for doing what you do best, Renee....following through and making it work well. XOXO B'sue

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    1. Thank you, B'sue! Your supplies are so fun to work with. I could never run out of ideas using them. My jewelry bench is one of the last things to pack!

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  13. Amazing and clever design Renee. Your work always has that unique touch. Gorgeous.

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    1. Thank you, Irene! I appreciate it : )

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  14. How clever! I have some of those Carmen Miranda beads too and I could never think of a way to use them, but this might just perc an idea! and is why I never destash, you just never know when that idea will finally come to you lol Wonderfully done Renee!

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    1. I was going to make flowers coming out of the cornucopia. I was telling my husband what I was making, and he's from S. Korea and didn't know the word for cornucopia...I went to Google images to show him and saw all the fruit, and inspiration struck. Of course, I added a few flowers, also. Thank you!

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  15. Great work Renee .. you know I love what you do ..

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  16. Amazing transformation! I wouldn't have guessed that you used that stamping if you didn't post a pic :-) Great colorization too on the leaf.

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    1. Thanks, Marica! I was going for that! I wouldn't have even tried to think like that if not for this challenge.

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  17. Very creative idea to make this a cornucopia. Excellent use of this stamping.

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  18. Very creative! Would love to see your Day of the Dead fruity piece! Great idea to make a brooch cornucopia. :):)

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    1. Thanks! You could search the Creative Group or my sold items and I bet it would pop up pretty quickly. This one was fun to make, too!

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  19. Wonderful post! The brooch is so creatively designed - never would have thought it was that stamping! Great colors, it really does say Thanksgiving!

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  20. Renee, love how you made this piece into a cornucopia, and that you made it into a Haskellesque design. Fantastic job!!

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    1. Thank you, Marcia! I'd love to keep working with this technique.

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  21. I can only echo all the other compliments. Beautiful job.

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    1. Thanks for visiting and commenting, Ginger!

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  22. I love your design, Renee .... a unique and cool idea, and how colorful and fun it is! Best wishes on your move, and can't wait to see more of your goodies when you're settled. ;)

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    1. Thanks! My jewelry is the last to pack, and first to set up! Well. almost!

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  23. Amazing piece Renee and love how you thought outside of the box by turning it into a cornucopia. I'm sorta with Dana on the Carmen Miranda beads, I look at them, put them into my cart and then before I order I remove them all the while asking myself what I would ever do with them (besides eat them by accident)~! They will be in my next arrival from B'sues~!

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    1. LOL, Ne! I should hide them, or my kids might mistake them for Runts candy! They make great Frida Kahlo style earrings, too cause they're so light.

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  24. This is so pretty and the colours are bright and beautiful. Such a clever idea, great job Renee!

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  25. Rene--Great job. I love the brooch and wouldn't have thought of rolling that piece. Congratulations on bravely trying caging! Nice job!

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  26. Thanks, Lynda! I love how the group challenges me to think differently!

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  27. Great job, Renee! Very pretty brooch! Best wishes on the move! ������

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  28. Oh I just want to take a bite out of these gorgeous pieces! Yummy and beautiful!

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  30. This is so cute! Perfect for this time of year!!! :-)

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