Showing posts with label Erin Prais-Hintz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erin Prais-Hintz. Show all posts

Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Challenge of Music


Welcome to the Challenge of Music blog hop
hosted by Erin Prais-Hintz!

We were challenged to find a piece of instrumental music that spoke to our soul. The goal was to find a piece without any choral accompaniment, so that we had the freedom to interpret the colors, textures, shapes, movements or images that it evokes.

I knew immediately that I wanted to use


This song has always been one of my favorites. Even back in the 80's when I was sporting a paper white mohawk and dancing to imported industrial vinyl, it spoke to me.

It makes me think of New York and Chicago in the 1920's when steel was king and we were a hopeful, industrious nation. 

My goal with this piece was to give it a retro industrial art deco kind of feel. I love to work with steel wire so I fashioned steel beams that are connected by copper rivets. These rivets allow the rigid steel beams to have movement. I chose to frame a beautiful vintage Russian stamp that has an amazing industrial deco image from 1970. The pendant is allowed to move across its' beam via a bail crafted from a link of steel bicycle chain.

close~ up of pendant

When I was two years old my Mom, Dad, Grandmother (aka Great-mother!) and I drove to New York for the 1964 World's Fair. I have a few remembrances of this trip to New York. I remember the elevated train tracks in Brooklyn (apparently, we got lost), the Ford Magic Skyway and the Unisphere. So, it seemed appropriate to add a vintage teal carnival token to the back of the pendant.

close-up of the back ~ a vintage carnival ticket

The necklace is finished with linked chain and a clasp that are
hand-crafted from steel and copper wire.

I can't wait to see & hear what inspires everyone else!


































***Pam Farren***






 
 
 
Images & Text © re-maker
All rights reserved.
 
 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Challenge of Color 2012


Welcome to the 2012 Challenge of Color!

I decided to jump into this challenge for two reasons...
The first is because color is a challnge for me every day!
The second is because I love an Erin Prais-Hintz challenge!

Erin chose an assortment of amazing satelite images and sent each participants two from which to choose. I loved both of mine, but chose to go with the Colima Volcano because I really like the contrast between the hot and cold colors.

And a shout of thanks also goes out to color guru Brandi Hussey who created all of the beautiful color palettes!

 My inspiration photo courtesy of USGS

The focal is a very large "Mountain Jade" which is actually dyed dolomite marble. I've created a bezel setting by wrapping it in an oversize flower stamping from Nunn Design. On the back you'll find a small paua shell which has been dyed a beautiful blue. The chain has segments of wire wrapped apetite and red bone beads.
Bright blue tin bezels

The bezels are canibalzed from a link bracelet, also from Nunn, and are "set" with pieces of a vibrant blue cookie tin under glass cabs.

Close-up of the pendant back.



Be sure to check out my fellow participants
simply click on the links below...







You Are Here! Pam Farren

Friday, November 2, 2012

Michael's Toast of the Town Blog Hop


I decided to join in the Michael's Toast of the Town Necklace Blog Hop!

The lovely & talented Erin Prais-Hintz designed the Toast of the Town Necklace and challenged her readers to join in a Quick Fire Challenge.

The only requirement was that the instructions for the construction of her necklace be followed. We could use beads from our stash
or head to Michael's to find more!

Since I have an extensive collection of beads I knew that wouldn't
be a problem. Which ones I would choose, however, presented a challenge! My necklace is a combination of turquoise heshi, wood and copper rounds, Mill Hill seed beads (from Michael's), fire polished and pressed glass leaf Czech beads, funky freshwater pearls and chain.

I didn't have a large toggle clasp, so I decided to make my own.


Close-up of handmade copper and tin toggle clasp.

I had some scrap copper sheet that I had roller printed for another project. So, I punched the disc and cut the bar from the copper and then rivited scraps of printed tin with a leaf pattern to the back of each to add a splash of color. I think they look pretty cool!


View of necklace with strands twisted.

Here is Erin's Toast of the Town Necklace... it's a beauty!

Image © Tesori Trovati

If you'd like to make your own Toast of the Town Necklace simply click here for the materials list and instructions.

If you'd like to see more variations check out Erin's blog.


Images & Text © re-maker
All rights reserved.