Friday, May 28, 2021

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge - May Reveal

How is it the end of May already? This month has truly flown by!

Since it's the last Friday of the month, it's now time for the reveal for this month's Wonder and Whimsy challenge! As a reminder, this month my challenge was to make jewelry with 10 beads or less. 

...10 beads. This was quite the challenge, for someone who likes making tassels as much as I do!

Still, I made two pieces to show off. I had planned a third, but time go away from me. As I said--this month has flown by!


This first necklace was made using 8 beads... 8 6mm mermaid glass beads, to be precise. I paired them with silvertone chain. I originally made it with 10 beads, but it was a bit too long for liking. So I removed 2 beads, and this is the dainty result!



Even though my bead number was limited, I still wanted to make something with a dangle, so that is what I did for my second necklace. 

I've actually been putting together some bead kits (more on that at a later time!), and while I was doing so, I was inspired to make this with one of them:


Count them--there are 10 beads! They are all glass, paired with copper for contrast. (I usually pair silver with blue, but couldn't pass by the copper this time.)



So, there you go! Those are the two necklaces I made for this month's challenge.

I know that this is a simpler reveal than most--but it was also a challenge that highlighted simplicity. It's nice to know that, while I usually make elaborate complicated designs, I haven't lost the ability to pare things down. Sometimes less really is more.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, everyone! I hope you all have wonderful days!

Sunday, May 2, 2021

Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge - May Edition

So... it's no surprise that I like to make large necklaces. I can't help it--I like tassels!

But, as I was thinking about what to do for this month's challenge, I decided to revisit a challenge I did back in June 2016, when my husband challenged me to make necklaces with 15 beads or less.

Except this time, I'm going to make it harder. This time, I'm going to make jewelry (specifically necklaces) with 10 beads or less. 

...10 beads.

Or less.

Woo-hoo! Time to bring on the minimalism!

My favorite piece I made in that June 2016 challenge... 
the necklace is made with exactly 15 beads, including the triangle piece.


Oh, and some fine print... I can use as many findings as needed--chain, wire, beadcaps, maybe one or two tiny little seed beads to make sure that beads don't slide off headpins... You get the idea. If I use a pendant, it will count as at least one bead--possibly more, if there is more than one element to it. And, last but not least, I'm going to aim to not make anything that is just a bead on a chain--although, depending on how much my muse cooperates, it might come to that! ;)

So, come back on Friday, May 28th to see what I create for this challenge! This should be fun.

Thanks for stopping by today... Have a great day everyone! And Happy May!