There wasn’t enough going on this month, so I jumped in and decided to join Lori Anderson’s 2nd Annual Bead Hoarders Blog Hop.
Here’s what Lori wrote about it…
Seriously, this is an awesome idea. No need to buy beads. And blog hops are just too much fun. The idea behind them is that a bunch of people all post on the same day and you “hop” between blogs and leave notes for them. And they do the same for you. And its fun!
So… here’s what I picked. Center – a sand dollar I’d been hoarding. It had been a gift from someone and I had been saving it for something really special. Offset drilled freshwater pearls. 15/0 aqua AB seed beads. White gold matte 11/0 seed beads. silver 4mm firepolish. light green AB two-hole Starman Beads triangles. 6/0 clear aqua lined seed beads. 8/0 pearl finish seed beads.
So, I got going on some basic bead embroidery. The idea was that I wanted to combine the sand dollar with a sea star shape, but still go easy on the bead embroidery. I got all the way through the embroidery and added a piece of ultrasuede onto the back and… DISASTER! I put my finger right through the sand dollar.
Figures, right?
What followed was a whole fit of swearing. I thought about just gluing a big rivoli in there and trying to patch it up with epoxy. What I refused to consider was scrapping it and starting over, especially with a whole new palette. Most of you who are reading this know that I generally cover mistakes with a lot of fringe, but this was falling apart as I looked at it. I had no idea that sand dollars were so fragile! I should really have fixed the whole thing with resin before I started.
I thought maybe a coin would work instead, but I didn’t have one big enough. I had an antique brooch from my grandmother that had a broken baking, but it was completely the wrong color and I wasn’t really ready to give that up into a for-sale piece yet. So, I went rummaging through a few boxes of “stuff” that i hadn’t really looked at since I’d moved. And you’ll never believe what I found – a metal brass cabochon Art Nouveau face that I purchase years ago from Diane Hyde and had never gotten around to using. i’d been hoarding it so well, I’d forgotten about ti.
And guess what – it was the perfect shape and size. I only had to remove one row to fit it in! Ready to see it? This is after the row was removed, the cabochon glued in place, and then the row reworked. I added a few rows of embellishment around it…
Talk about a happy accident! Its better than the original plan.
Here are a few photos of the finished pendant. It is available for purchase upon request. Just email me at goodrivergallery@aol.com. The piece is $85 plus shipping. It includes the 18″ light blue ribbon necklace with extension chain.
Melissa Trudinger https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/
December 6, 2014 at 12:22 pm
So sorry to read about the sand dollar breaking! I haven’t used any in jewelry – they are hoarded in a padded box….but I love the final product! The brass face is lovely among all the pastels!
December 6, 2014 at 8:18 pm
Hi Hannah. I think I would have picked a different colorway had I planned the stamping originally. But I was all heck-bent to fix the piece and move on. I’m actually thrilled with it.
December 6, 2014 at 12:24 pm
I’m so sorry the sand dollar broke. But the finished piece turned out really pretty with the brass cab.
December 6, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Thank you, Janine! I’m actually happier with it as-is.
December 6, 2014 at 1:19 pm
WOOOOW ! What a work of art ! Beadweaving will forever be beyond me, but I am so impressed *u*
December 6, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Thank you, Audrey. It takes a while to do, but its actually super simple. I love it.
December 6, 2014 at 1:55 pm
very pretty.. what a lot of work well done
December 6, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Thank you, Fay!
December 6, 2014 at 2:36 pm
Sorry about the sand dollar mishap but you next best solution turned out marvelous!!
December 6, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Thank you, Terri! I think I’m even happier with it as-is.
December 6, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Breaking your sand dollar must have been really crappy. It’s such a shame that they’re so fragile. Great recovery though.
December 6, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Thank you Nicole! I’m actually happier with it as-is.
December 6, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I love how you turned your accident into a gorgeous focal with a piece you forgot you had. It’s spectacular.
December 6, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Thank you, Tammy. I’m thrilled with it.
December 6, 2014 at 4:15 pm
A wonderful, and beautiful, happy accident! I had one of those while working with a piece that I didn;t realize was quite as fragile as it was either… lessons learned!
December 6, 2014 at 8:14 pm
Hi Sandra. I actually think it turned out even more beautiful once I found the brass face stamping!
December 6, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Lovely piece, Hannah! I have a soft spot for anything Art Nouveau, especially faces and your bead embroidery compliments it perfectly.
December 6, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Thank you, Karen! I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
December 6, 2014 at 5:39 pm
Wow, what a great focal! Love it.
December 6, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Thank you! I purchased it from Diane Hyde. You can find similar items on her website.
December 6, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I’m sorry about your disaster! But what a wonderful finished product.
December 6, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Thank you! It was a happy accident.
December 6, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Great save, the pendant is gorgeous!
December 6, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Thank you, Debbie!
December 6, 2014 at 8:38 pm
OMG! I would have completely freaked out (and would STILL be freaking out). But it was meant to be, I swear. I love the color palette with the metal better (ducks). And there is still probably a way to fix the sand dollar when you’re not quite so close to the event! 🙂
Thank you so much for participating, and don’t forget to post your pieces in the special Pinterest board, http://www.pinterest.com/limamike/bead-hoarders-blog-hop/, and join the Facebook group (also welcome to your friends) http://www.BeadSoupCafe.com — hope to see you at other hops!
December 6, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Thanks Lori! I’m just starting the hop now… I can’t wait to see what everyone else did.
The sand dollar was completely destroyed. It was falling apart as I removed it and crumbled to dust, but its okay because I loved it for a long time and the final piece was still wonderful.
I’ve already added to the Pinterest Board… I think. If I did it right. Love to you!
December 7, 2014 at 9:05 am
Oh my gosh, after all that work I would have stroked out. But that second piece with the brass goddess face it lovely.
December 8, 2014 at 12:51 am
Thank you! I had to take a break and swear a bit, its true. But it all turned out okay.
December 7, 2014 at 9:45 am
Sorry about your first attempt with the sand dollar. I might have thrown out some choice words afterward too! But you persevered and made something stunning. Well done. I really like the soft colors and pearls.
December 8, 2014 at 12:51 am
I like the soft colors, too. The original would have been softer, but this is a lovely outcome, I think.
December 7, 2014 at 3:11 pm
What a sad/happy accident. Your finished piece is gorgeous and looks like it was meant to be.
December 8, 2014 at 12:50 am
Thank you! I think so too.
December 7, 2014 at 5:45 pm
I believe that everything happens for a reason and clearly that beautiful face cabachon was needing to be seen . Love what you finished with….gorgeous!
December 8, 2014 at 12:50 am
I think the finished project is better than I had planned, too!
December 7, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Indeed a happy accident! You saved your piece perfectly, very very pretty!
December 8, 2014 at 12:50 am
Thank you! I’m happy with the outcome.
December 8, 2014 at 11:40 pm
Sorry the sand dollar broke but you really had a happy accident in your finished piece. Love the fringe you added on too.
December 9, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Thank you! I love fringe. And the sand dollar breaking made me unhappy at the time, since it was a gift. But the finished piece is pretty nice!
December 9, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Hi Hannah, Your necklace is Over The Top Gorgeous!! Fantastic job of fixing your problem.
December 9, 2014 at 8:24 pm
Thanks Becky! I’m really pleased with it.
December 14, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I think it worked really well and looks lovely, what a shame you lost your sand dollar though!
Jackie
December 15, 2014 at 7:44 pm
It did work well, Jackie! I’m sorry about the sand dollar, too, but I am glad it all wasn’t a total bust!