Looking for the “inspired by Reading” hop?
Welcome to the April CoM reveal from us at the Art Jewelry Elements blog team!
This month’s offering is presented by the fabulous Lesley Watt of Thea Too. Lesley has recently expanded her clay repertoire from metal clays to include earthen ceramic clay as well – and made this batch of stellar clasps. I was tempted to say “Surprise me!” as so many are really my style, but I LOVE a dark stoneware…
When my clasp arrived – in lightening speed from the UK, I must add – I was simply seeing red. Not in anger, but in inspiration. THe dark stoneware was accented in the spiral design with just a hint of red glaze. I was htinking a bracelet bar in black and red, with some corresponding swirl/spiral design.
I textured and cured the black polymer bracelet bars, curing them on a can to maintain their shape. I wanted to experiment with polymer in this style of component, and test its strenght… It was going to have a copper stamped bar riveted on as well – adding structure and support. And on the third and final tube rivet… I broke the corner of the polymer. The saying “Know Thyself” is attributed to the Delphic Oracle, and a favorite of mine.
My original plan was to make a triple wrap bracelet, starting with the bracelet bar and incorporating leather. So I went ahead with that plan and created a pair of charms – polymer in copper bezels. These two echo the color and pattern in Lesley’s piece. I ended up with a double wrap bracelet.
Yes, that is a fluted gunmetal ceramic bead from Caroline/Blueberri Beads in there. Ingredients also include: vintage resin, lava beads, and wire wrapped links.
I am very happy with the ingredients. I like the colors, the patterns and the textures as they are. I am not as happy with the overall composition or the fit. And I need to rewrap those wire wraps on the leather, they bug me. So I am dubbing this a WIP. I hope to revisit the bracelet bar idea in the near future, and use these ingredients again.
Please! Help me out. Thoughts? Advice?
Then you can check out my teamates and our guests this month. But first I would love to hear your thoughts…
And thanks for stopping by!
Johana Nunez
Leah Curtis
Perri Jackson
AJE Team
Lesley Watt
Keirsten Giles
Caroline Dewison
Rebekah Payne
Jen Cameron
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Francesca Watson
Melissa Meman
Linda Landig
Sue Kennedy
Jenny Davies-Reazor 
Well, bummer. I was really hoping that bracelet bar would work out. Please keep trying that idea, it looks great. I like the soft ease of the double wrap. With the spacing of the design, I think it could handle another wrap, and still not lose the individuality. Looking forward to seeing what you decide!
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Thanks Shirley! Reading these comments in reverse order, people agree with you! I will definitely revisit the bracelet bar, soon!
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I can not help with the wire issue but I can tell you it is a stellar creation and looks just amazing on that gorgeous wrist of yours.
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you just like my tattoo, dontcha?
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This is very moody and dramatic – not at all what I was expecting, but I really, really like it. I think a third wrap would help it feel more substantial. And I’ll be really interested to see how those polymer bars come out – they look really promising!
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Your bezel/polymer elements are fabulous! So perfect with that button. I like it with the red leather. I agree with Shirley, even more leather would balance out the wire portion nicely, so that it would have the feel of a cuff. (I’d love to see your finished bar projects! Wonderful!)
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Thanks Keirsten – I am just now finishing a batch of polymer/mixed media pieces that was from our CoM in January. I hope it doesnt take me that long to revisit the bracelet bars. Maybe the third wrap in black leather? Hmm…
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I love that bracelet bar. I hope you can figure out how to make that work! I struggle with the color red even though I love it and love seeing how others make it work for them.
What if you just used the copper portion of the bracelet bar and add more leather to make it long enough to wrap around a 3rd time?
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Jen! you rock! The current copper is very thin – bezel material actually bc I had it on hand and it was the right size. But if I fabricated a heavier gauge copper bar to add to this braceletI could get the 3rd wrap… Genius.
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I love the way that each of these little clasps is completely unique! I wouldn’t re-wrap (too much work, and I am by nature lazy), I think I would just add more wire, but maybe also some beads strung on to make them more connected and part of the texture of this tapestry. Enjoy the day! Erin
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Thank you! Since your work with PC and bezels is such an inspiration to me!
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I hope you can make those bracelet bars work cause they would be awesome. Regardless, I like the finished bracelet. It’s a color combo that I wouldn’t normally work in but I’d wear this and if you add another wrap well that just adds another level of awesome!
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Thanks D! I like the drama of black and red, and I wear so much black… I need to ease up on my hammering. Hee Hee.
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Jenny your bracelet is wonderful. So full of life, color and texture. The bezeled polymer is perfect with Lesley’s clasp. I think I would go with adding a piece of black leather. The bracelet bar is a great idea. Don’t give up on it.
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Beautiful mysterious design!
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I’m so sorry the bracelet bar broke, but keep trying with it, cuz it is awesome. I need to try to create some of those. I also love your polymer and wire charms…perfect for this bracelet.
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I don’t have much new to add to the comments, but I think you’ve got a good start here. I love the way you bezeled the polymer clay charms!
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Really love the your colors combination and how you combine it with polymer clay, leather and your wire work is stunning! Love It! 🙂
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I was waiting to see the bar too! 😉 Beautiful idea, I hope you can make it work!
I love the colours you chose for the bracelet, they’re stunning! And I really like the double wrap… How about swapping the little black round on the end for something a bit larger?
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I love what you made, and the bracelet bars. I think you did a great job, but looking forward to seeing what you decide to do!
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