Images of butterflies and birds flying around plump roses flooded my social media field for almost a week in September. Just about that time, I saw the prompt for ABS Art Journey 7. No prizes for guessing the inspiration. Still life composition of flowers swarmed by insects on a dark background. I knew I had art beads suited to the theme. One look through my stash and I found two bracelet focals that raised their hands saying “me, me, me!” Since it was the most inspired that I had been in over 6 months, I quickly made them into dark floral necklaces for the reveal. If you are intrigued, here is how How to turn a bracelet focal into a necklace.
Creating for Art Journey 7: Still Life Paintings of Rachel Ruysch
Rachel Ruysch was a 17th century Dutch artist known for her flower paintings. A mother to 10 children, she painted all her life creating a plethora of floral and still life compositions. I found her style quite naturalistic with incredible attention to detail. They are one of the most photographic works of the period in my opinion. Thanks to ABS for shining light on yet another incredible female artist. You can see several of her paintings in the Art journey challenge post here. The one that I have chosen as my inspiration is the “Still life of a thistle between carnations and cornflowers on a mossy forest floor, with butterflies and a cricket.”
How to turn a bracelet focal into a necklace
While Ruysch’s paintings follow the Rococo style, I somehow related them more with Baroque due to their inane richness. As a compromise, I made two looped bead necklaces in rich colours, curvilinear forms with a matt finish. Both are available for sale (in October 2020).
If you are like me and do not make bracelets, then inside of staring at beautiful bracelet components wondering what to do with them, you can turn them into necklaces.
Dark Roses necklace
I love this focal component by Terri DelSignore of Artisticaos . I have wanted to use it ever since I won it as a prize in 2018 but did not know what to do with it. However, this time around, I knew exactly to turn it into a necklace focal. I used Indian stone beads in red, Indian glass pumpkins and Czech glass flower beadcaps to make the piece. Sine the focal was a bracelet toggle, I knew that it had to fall at the right length (on the human body) for it to lay flat. After a few round of measuring and cutting chain, I finally found this length that will suit women of different sizes. The chain is an altered copper chain with accents of Vintaj Patina.
Dark Fern necklace
Since the first necklace was floral, I wanted the second to be of foliate nature. The fern, which is also a bracelet component is by Lesley Watt of Lesley Watt Artisan Elements. The dark fern necklace is a bead and chain over the neck piece with double pendants. The second drop is an agate druzy in a rich dark brown in gold tone setting. The beads are all glass with the grey-copper ones being lampwork. I love the asymmetrical nature of the this piece, what do you think?
These dark floral necklaces are the only two pieces of jewellery that I have made in a month. I keep my bead box in sight hoping for inspiration. Hopefully, my muse returns soon. Until then, I am off to check out what other ABS contributors and participants have created for this challenge. In the meanwhile, do tell me what you think of my idea of turning a bracelet focal into a necklace.
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