Tuesday, September 16, 2008

A Golden Opportunity: Collaboration with Heather and Katie

Last week I blogged about the collaboration with Heather Powers and Katie Hacker. What a golden opportunity it was! Working with two creative people - Heather, a fabulous beadmaker/designer and Katie Hacker, awesome designer of Ask Katie and author of Hip to Bead, was a golden opportunity! I'm so happy they've joined in on today's collaboration.

It begins with three creatives, two beadmakers (myself and Heather) and a designer (Katie). The beadmakers make and send a set of beads to each person. Then we set about creating! We don't share until the day we blog. (Don't forget to check out their blogs to see what they've made with the same set of beads.)

So dear friends, I haven't seen what Heather and Katie have made until today.

Wheeee!!!



Nor have they seen what I have created. I selected the Dandelion Bead in gold, green and white to use with my Ivory Bling Links. Lately,I'm into creating long chains that can be doubled up to wear as a shorter necklace for a dressy look or a long chain to wear with jeans.


In honor of the golden opportunity to work with two talented creatives, I've entitled this piece, "Golden Opportunity." A 38 inch gold plated chain was used to reflect the Dandelion Bead while complementing the ivory and earth tones made by the fine silver melted in the glass links.



For a variation on color, I added anodized aluminum jump rings, rolled glass pony beads and brass yo yo's. I love the jump rings to use as color while reinforcing the necklace in places where I've joined the chain. I don't like things to be too matchy-matchy so I used a brushed metal lobster clasp to complement the shininess of the gold plate and the jumprings.


I'm wearing my Golden Opportunity today around my neck. It will sing against the black sweater I'm wearing today.

Thanks, Katie and Heather for an amazing golden opportunity!

10 comments:

Deb said...

What a fabulous opportunity & an outstanding piece Cindy!!
I love it - like you I am heavily not into matchy matchy (lol - love that description!!).

The itself is perfection - I want to be you when I grow up ;o)

Off to check out the others blogs!!!

Deb said...

& OK - that should have been 'The title itself is perfection'...it's late I should be in bed ;o)

Katie Hacker said...

Looking good, Cindy! I like your chain idea...looks like chain was in the air! Thanks again for asking me to collaborate with you and Heather!

Heather Powers said...

This is very beautiful cindy. I love the mix of the colored jump rings for just a touch of added color. Love the flashy gold chain, an unexpected and lovely combination!

Melissa J. Lee said...

I can't believe how gorgeous your beads look with that chain - beautiful!

Lisa said...

I love what you came up with together!

rosebud101 said...

Absolutely gorgeous!

Amanda said...

Cindy, it's so unique! I love how many different colors you used - the various color combinations are so much more daring than those that I'm accustomed to seeing and using!

angelinabeadalina said...

Oh, yeah, I'll bet that necklace is singing a wonderfully funky and fun song with the black sweater...that is beautiful! I'm not a matchy-matchy girl, either, so I really adore the combination of goodies you've got in this!

Cindy Gimbrone said...

Thanks, All!

When Heather sent me her set of beads and I'd made mine, I set them out on my jewelry bench so they can tell me what they want to be. This group said gold! Of course, I had lots of silver chain but no gold - so it was a great excuse to buy some more beading supplies (am I addicted? ;-)

Heather and Katie were awesome to work with and wasn't their work amazing?!? It was great fun!

Keep creating, y'all!
Cindy