The Artisan Whimsy UK Blog Team has issued a challenge to create a piece of jewelry or a jewelry component inspired by a city where each of the team members live. Read more about the challenge and check out the other entries by visiting Artisan Whimsy.
I chose Liverpool because that is the home of the Beatles and I was in the fourth grade when the Beatles began wanting to Hold My Hand. They were a huge part of my youth - I owned every Beatle record, singles and albums. I wish I still had them but once I married, I lost interest in stuff like that and I really have no idea what even happened to them. Probably ended up in a yard sale or something.
Enough talk - let's see jewelry.
Anyway, about a year and a half ago, Diane Long made me this bracelet connector for the Beatles song "Let It Be". While it was made for a client's request, it was never used for that project and when I saw this challenge I knew that it was time to use "Let It Be". To go with the copper connector I searched my stash for things that were inspired by Liverpool - Beatles - peace signs - mood rings, etc.
I made a matching bracelet, necklace and earrings. Now, for the details.
In addition to "Let It Be", I used a pewter peace charm and bead. I can't think of the Beatles without thinking about the iconic Peace sign.
On each side of the connector and on the backside of the clasp, I used modern mood beads. In the 60's we had these in rings - remember the Mood Rings?
It was cold the day I took these pictures, so all of the mood beads are black, but in normal ambient conditions, they glow from yellow, blue, green which mirrors the main beads perfectly.
Now a word about those main beads. I have had these beads for at least twenty to twenty five years. They are glass with a metallic spattering of gold, red and green on them. They are really quite ugly - except in this set.
They reminded me of the neon that was popular during the 60s and I am tickled to pieces that I finally have found a set to use them in. They really are quite pretty used here.
I also used a couple of mood beads, a pewter peace pendant and made some little dangles out of silver lined red, green and gold seed beads on my own ball end copper headpins.
Those rings are antiqued and textured copper rings by Trinity Brass Co. At the back, I used a circle ball and circle clasp.
And, last but not least, matching earrings. I made them a bit asymmetrical because I like them that way.
You can really see the psychedelic nature of these beads in this picture. I even had them in two sizes. I'm telling you, I can't believe I held onto them for 25 years just to find the perfect project for them. As one commenter pointed out, they do resemble tie dye.
The Hosts
Lesley Watt Gossiping Goddess
Lesley Watt Gossiping Goddess
Rebecca Anderson Songbeads
Pippa Chandler Pip's Jewellery
Teresa Hulley Bo Hulley Beads
Natalie McKenna Grubbi
Jo Tinley Daisychain Designs
Dorset
Gale White Bantering Bird on Flickr
Ginger Bishop Lilmummylikes
Cece Cormier The Beading Yogini
Therese Frank Therese’s Treasures
Cilla Watkins Tell Your Girlfriends
Sherry Baun
Edinburgh
Therese Frank Therese’s Treasures
Kashmira Patel Sadafulee
Caroline Dewison Blueberribeads
Pam Sears Crazy Creative Corner
Sherry Baun
Leigh Thow Jewellrleigh
Lucy Haslam
Bath
Cynthia Machata http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com
Pam Sears Crazy Creative Corner
Sherry Baun
Isle of Wight
Duane Clark Bizzy Bead
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson Sharyl's Jewelry
Leigh Thow Jewellrleigh
Jean Wright Just Beadey
D Lynne Bowland Islandgirl’s Insights
Lisa Lodge Pine Ridge Treasures
Sherry Baun
Liverpool
Jean A. Wells http://www.jeanawells.blogspot.com
Shalini Austin Jewellery by Shalini
Doris Stumpf Glaszwerg
Sherry Baun
Lennis C Windbent
Southampton
Sherri Stokey Knot Just Macramé
Sherry Baun
Leigh Thow Jewellrleigh
Kathy Lindemer Bay Moon Design
And, of course the team members are offering prizes. I am hoping to win a beautiful set of ceramic beads by Natalie McKenna of Grubbi. Wish me luck.
26 comments:
Well, those are really far out, Jean! The Let it Be connector is particularly groovy. I mean, it is really out there, man. Peace!
vickie
Vickie! You goofball! Yeah, man.
I mean psychedelic for sure!
Wow I really love this! I'm a peace sign freak. Love how the beads kinda resemble tie dye.
Wow, these look amazing! So pleased you chose my home town! :D
Very cool pieces. Love the year of the peace charms and the beads you used are awesome.
Love the peace charms, I especially like the earrings!
Great tribute to the Beatles :)
And you are so right about those "antique" beads, they do look perfect in this set (and this set alone)!
You had me at mood beads:) Peace.
Wow... I didn't know you could get mood beads! How fantastic! I love your design and the idea of it changing as you wear it!
Good luck with your entry x
Really cool piece, Jean! Love how you worked in the mood beads, the peace signs and the "let it be" connector with your 25 year old stash. And didn't we already talk about the hoarding issue...?
GROOVY! Digg'n the mood beads ... wonder if they make lava lamp ones? I am a HUGE Beatles fan ... every record (vinyl all the way baby!). I actually wore out 2 cassette tapes of the white album to the point of warped and tangled in my player. Give me vinyl I say! Now I play Rock band with the kids and my favorite is of course ... wait for it ... the Beatles :) I LOVE what you've done here! These pieces are perfect! so very Sgt. Pepper's :O
Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments. Antiquity--wouldn't lava beads be fantastic!
Supere67: yes, but its things like this that make me reluctant to get rid of ANYTHING! ANYTHING! You just never know. Kasmira: I laughed so hard at your comment "they do look perfect in this set (and this set alone)!" I have about 15 of the little ones left - is there anything in the world they could be used for?
Jean
Yeah, I know. That's my problem too! And it's times like this that seem to justify the hanging on to things ;) But beads, they're just small anyway - they don't take up much room :D
P.S. I do like how you made the earrings assymetrical.
Great work!!! :-) Hugs, Doris
ABSOLUTELY LOVE! So clever!
Luck! If you can remember where you hid those beads from so long ago, your pieces deserve to win! You certainly saved them for the right occasion. Well-done!
Doris, Lori and Gale. It was so nice of you guys to visit my blog and share my Liverpool inspiration. Thank you for your supporting comments. They mean a lot.
I love your creations, immediately I was singing (in my head of course) Let it be!!
Hi Jean,
Awesome oh wait that is 90's speak, I mean Far out man I am really digging those mood beads and peace signs!
Your necklace bracelet and earrings are so right on for your Beatles inspiration. "I want to hold your hand" was the first song I can remember, I was 5 years old when it came out in the USA.
Therese
I was 7 when She Loves You... hit the airwaves in Canada! Peace signs bring back memories of the late 60's and San Francisco! Awesome job love your let it be Bracelet!
YES! There just has to be an element of music in anything inspired by Liverpool :-)
Fabulous set! Love it!
Beautiful creative pieces Jean - you've transported me back many decades to my psychedelic bedroom and wardrobe content...calming influences don't seem important when you;re young do they? I love how everyone has picked different elements as their influence - thank you so much for joining in our challenge.
Wonderful work Jean! I'm loving seeing all the different designs that have come about through our six starting points! Thank you for taking part in our challenge.
Fun and faithful to your style. I thought of that great Lennon quote: "So advertise yourself that you're for peace if you believe in it." Interview on The David Frost Show (14 June 1969)
Jean, everything you make is so "spot-on!" This set is terrific in every way! --Sharyl
P.S. I've used modern mood-beads in a couple of creations--one I wear out-and-about quite a bit. It always draws attention and comments! They are so fun, and a lot better than the old ones I remember! You've sure put them in the right place here--perfect for your necklace!
Great set.
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