Autumn Design Challenge

I recently got the chance to participate in the Autumn Design Challenge using beads and components by Caroline Dewison (Blueberribeads) and Lesley Watt (Thea Elements). Caroline and Lesley, who are both based in the UK, combined their talents to put together little packages of goodies each containing a strand of ceramic beads from Caroline and a pair of bronze components from Lesley, and sent them off at a minimal cost to 20 participants randomly chosen from blog comments.

Although I wasn’t initially selected, I was fortunate enough to get chosen when one of the chosen participants pulled out. A couple of weeks later I received these lovely beads in the mail.

I decided to make three pieces using these beads. The first, using the pretty enameled flower from Lesley, is a simple but super-long necklace. I matched the colours in the pendant with a little bag of vintage Czech beads I received from Lennis Carrier (Windbent) in a swap we did earlier this year. According to Lennis, these beads, in luscious pinks, reds and purples, are from the 1920s and 1930s! The flower is wired to the pink melon-shaped ceramic bead as well as a couple of the Czech glass beads to make a substantial pendant.

The second piece is another necklace, this time using the chocolate brown ceramic heart bead made by Caroline, as well as the two larger dark brown ceramic beads. I added Czech melon beads in shades of pink, burgundy and dark bronze. I think I’ll call this one “Dark Heart”.

Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to finish the final piece, a bracelet using the pretty bronze patinaed connector. I’ve picked out some beads to use, but that’s as far as I have gone with it.

I’d like to thank Lesley and Caroline for putting together such a fantastic little package of beads to play with, I’ll definitely be back for more! If you’d like to see what other participants have made, here are their blog links:

Lesley Watt – http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/

Caroline Dewison – http://blueberribeads.co.uk

Gay Messander – http://gaysiemay.blogspot.co.uk/

Made By Jules – http://madebyjulesblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Heidi Post – http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Janet Bocciardi – http://www.honeyfromthebee.com/

Alice – http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com

Dolores Raml – http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com

Lucy Haslam – http://faerystone.blogspot.co.uk/

Pine Ridge treasures – http://pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com

Shirley Moore – http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Tracy Collins – http://travelsintimedesigns.blogspot.co.uk

Melissa Trudinger – https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/    YOU ARE HERE!!!

Mags – http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com

Pepita – http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo-Ann – http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels – http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Judith Johnston – http://www.judith-johnston.com/blog

Janine Lucas – http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Madeline Bunyan – http://madelinebunyan.com/mlj/

Chic and frog – http://www.chicandfrog.wordpress.com