Angkor Wat Cambodia June Week 4 Exotic Locaitons Theme SRAJD Jewelry Challenge

To read more about our challenges and/or to get in on the action, click here. 

Our theme for June is “Exotic Locations” and the entries for this week’s design challenge were inspired by the theme of “Angkor Wat, Cambodia”.

Jo Pound of Jewelry by Jolane
The shape, color and especially the ridges remind me of the temples in most of the landscape pictures.

Regina Croteau of Fused Glass Rocks
Rich Bronze and Golden Amber colors make up this most fascinating tigress necklace and earrings. The rich large faceted tigereye beads are combined with faceted jasper rondelles and vintage bronze glass hearts. The three focal points on gold plated bails are bronze fused glass.
This necklace and earrings are not for the weak of heart. This is a bold one-of-a kind piece.
The fused glass was made by me in my home studio. They were kiln fused and annealed to optimum temperatures to create a sturdy and attractive piece.
The necklace measures approximately 20" long, the three focal fused glass points measure approximately 2" long and has a gold plated clasp.
The matching dangle earrings approximately 2-2/4" long. The matching earrings hang from gold plated french wires.

 
Kristine Peshek of Grey Feather Designs
This necklace has "Southeast Asia" practically stamped on it. The silver elephants are Hill tribe work, and the elephant with upraised trunk is considered to be good luck in both Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The other silver beads are sterling, "Bali-style", and of course, the beads are jade (probably color enhanced, but still good quality).

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard
I used a rainbow of natural and treated gemstone beads to represent the seven major chakras in this mala-inspired necklace with antiqued brass finish face of Buddha pendant.

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard
The focal of this necklace is a lotus blossom carved from chalk turquoise. It is strung on magnesite with red dyed howlite accents and a Bali-style silver toggle clasp.

Mary E. Mallia of Jewels for Scheherazade
This necklace consists of my own artist made decoupage beads bearing images of the women carved into the architecture at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Cheryl KauhaaPo of Jungle Beads
The grey stone buildings and temples caught my eye! Stacked "stone" earrings accented with Swarovski and sterling findings.

Nohline L'Ecuyer of Nohline L'Ecuyer
I tried to capture the spirit of Angkor Wat and the architecture and shape of the roofs with the use of vintage Afgan and Nepalese beads in silver and lapis lazuli. Pieces of viking knit in sterling join the beads. I tried to wire wrap in a loose fashion to show the roots of the trees holding everything together. Tiny (1mm) lapis lazuli beads are threaded onto fine fishing line on the other side. A Tibetan prayer wheel hangs at the bottom of the necklace.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of Pyxee Styx
"Holiday in Cambodia" - Angkor Wat was once a Hindu temple, turned Buddhist. It's unique in that it has the symbols of two different religions carved all over it. I carried this through into my necklace.
The elephant is sacred to the Hindu. They are considered the living incarnation of the God Ganesha.
The Om mantra, used for a toggle clasp, is of Hindu origins, but used in Buddhism as well. The Lotus blossom symbol and the Vajra Dorje are also used in both religions.
I carried the spires of the temples through my piece with the filigree beads, and in the pendant.
Cherry Quartz, Labradorite, and vintage lucite beads are strung on Irish waxed linen, with a mix of antiqued bronze charms.
The pendant is a postage stamp in a wire wrapped frame and sealed in lacquer. Embellished with Moss Aquamarine, Fire Agates, Moonstone dangles, and an enameled elephant charm.

Laura Bracken of Bracken Designs Studio Art Jewelry
For this challenge, I went untypically non-literal. I decided to just go with the feeling I got when looking through the photos of Angkor Wat and I ended up being inspired to work with some richly colored fabrics with golden embellishments. I wrapped the fabric around a hammered copper wire bangle using African trade beads and patinated copper wire. For the embellishments, I made three bronze charms and combined them with more African trade beads.

Check the previous blog posts to see all the weekly challenge designs to date. And keep an eye out for the upcoming challenges.

June’s themes and deadlines: Exotic Landmarks
June 2nd Kyoto, Japan
June 9th Deadvlei, Namibia
June 16th Antelope Canyon, USA
June 23rd Angkor Wat, Cambodia
June 30th Marble Caves, Chile

July’s themes and deadlines: Iconic Painters
July 7th Pablo Picasso
July 14th Piet Mondrian
July 21st Leonid Afremov
July 28th Henri Rousseau

Click here to see our blog post with visual inspiration for the June and July weekly challenges.

Please enter your challenge designs by clicking here.
And/or read the original blog post about the challenges here.

Announcing the Winner for Elements Theme Jewelry Designs

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the second month of challenges. The results of the weekly Elements challenges can be seen here:

Earth
Water
Air
Fire
Overall Elements, non-specific

The administrative staff at SRAJD selected one overall winner for April. This person's designs were chosen as best exemplifying the challenge themes.

Congratulations Sue Ranbarger of Suzie's Little Shop!

These were Sue's entries for the weekly challenges:

Earth



Water



Fire




Sue, what prompts you to embrace the SRAJD jewelry-making challenges?

The SRAJD Jewelry Challenges are the first and only motivator that took me out of my comfort zone. It allowed me the freedom to create from that place that's on fire in my mind, to feel that passion as you work a raw material into a piece of art. It's like getting on a bus to an unknown destination and loving the journey as much as the end result.

How did you learn your craft?

I've always been creative, starting with wood working then drawing. I spent a few years working with clay doing sculptures too. But stumbled upon beading, metals and adorning scarves with pendants a year ago. I learned by reading posts, watching videos, talking to others, but didn't really begin to fully understand more of the intricacies until I joined the SRAJD group and starting learning from experienced artists. I have a long way to go, but where would the fun be if there was nothing more to learn?

What do you think is the most interesting thing about your creative expression?

Creative expression in its self is interesting, we each have our own style and you can get to know an artist though their work, or know who made a piece just by looking at it. I have many facets to my styles and expressions. I don't think I could be happy with just one way to express myself. I do love stone, natural stones such as agates which you can find in the majority of my work.

What themes do you pursue?

Most of my jewelry is made for the average everyday beautiful woman to wear to work or out on a date but I love for jewelry to be fun too. The only theme I have is to make comfortable, wearable jewelry that is a compliment to a woman's outfit and personality.

Did you always want to be a jewelry artist?

Becoming a jewelry artist is something that has matured over time. It takes time to develop yourself and skills. There is so much to explore and embrace. I don't think we ever reach a point when we can say I'm there, I'm the best I can be and I've done all I want to do.

What are the biggest challenges that you face as a self-representing jewelry artist?

There are numerous obstacles to face as a jewelry artist although most of them we do with a smile. We face challenges each day. Going from a structured job to being responsible for an entire operation is very challenging. For me stepping outside my comfort zone and being social has been the biggest one. Learning social media and learning to talk to customers, sales venues and other artists, but you need to develop those skills along with many others to support your business if you choose to turn what you love into something you can share with others.

What role does the artist have in society?

The role of any artist in society is vast and breaches all boundaries. We bring feelings to life in the form of art. Art allows us to express or evoke any and all emotions. It can reinforce or change prospective. Art is everywhere and as artists it is our duty and joy to create responsibly and with passion.

How has your art changed over time?

Expressions of art change for me as I mature and change, just as life does. I draw from life and nature and I hope I always will.

What does the future hold for you?

My future will be exactly what I put into it so I'm going full steam with positive thoughts and with great artistic influences to guide me I hope to do great things.

Sue, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. It's a great pleasure seeing your work and getting to know you better!

See more of Sue's beautiful jewelry here: Suzie's Little Shop

Antelope Canyon June Week 3 Exotic Locaitons Theme SRAJD Jewelry Challenge

Our theme for June is “Exotic Locations” and the entries for this week’s design challenge were inspired by the theme of “Antelope Canyon, USA”.

To read more about our challenges and/or to get in on the action, click here.

Jo Pound of Jewelry by Jolane
This necklace reminds me of the colors in the caves with a hint of purple around the stone. The curves remind me of the twists and turns.

Sue Ranbarger of Suzies Little Shop
The flow of Antelope canyons comes to life in the curves of this copper necklace. Hammered into shape and finished with Alcohol Inks and fire. Adorned with aluminum and Czech glass beads, finished with leather cord and a hand made clasp.

Kim Forrer of Kim Forrer Designs
I Have had this piece of petrified wood for quite awhile, never knowing what to do with it. However after looking at images of Antelope Canyon, it looked like the perfect piece for this challenge. The curves and the colors represent the canyon, the chain is the beam of light, the orange lampwork bead represents the sun and the silver "hands" wrapped around the stone are from people down in the rocks.

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard
I used imperial jasper and purple agate to reflect the colors of the canyon in shaded light. I kept the design simple because the beauty of the beads needs little embellishment.

Cheryl KauhaaPo of Jungle Beads
I liked how the Sardonex coins reflected the motion and color of the Antelope Valley rock. This necklace is 23-1/2" long accented with copper rondel disks and handmade copper hook to close.

Diana Brandt of dianaBdesigns
I wanted to create something that gave the impression of the movement of the wind in the caves as well as highlight the dramatic colors. This pendent is made from 18 gauge copper wire, hammered for texture and then shaped. It is colored with various mediums allowing the copper color of the wire to show through. The rustic finish is completed with a suede cord.

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs
I hoped these polymer clay earrings would evoke those lovely ridges and swirls in the inspirational pictures of Antelope Canyon, USA. I backed them with black PC and added some black ceramic lentils for pop. I had a completely different idea to start, but here's where I ended up...sometimes that is how art works for me.

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard
This bracelet combines red banded jasper and yellow calcite beads to represent the banded Navajo Sandstone formations of the canyon in full sun.

Nohline L'Ecuyer of Nohline L'Ecuyer
Antelope Canyon, AZ - Copper cuff (20g) with a square wire frame, printed through rolling mill, and fire patina. Rubbed and polished with Renaissance Wax.

Laura Bracken of Bracken Designs Studio Art Jewelry
I wanted to created the idea of layers within the color scheme presented so I saw pierced three pieces of copper sheet into this overlapping design, then textured the center piece, emulating the ripples of the Antelope Valley rocks. After soldering the pieces together, I added a variety of patinas to give the piece the ethereal feel as seen in the inspiration photos.

Check the previous blog posts to see all the weekly challenge designs to date. And keep an eye out for the upcoming challenges.

June’s themes and deadlines: Exotic Landmarks
June 2nd Kyoto, Japan
June 9th Deadvlei, Namibia
June 16th Antelope Canyon, USA
June 23rd Angkor wat, Cambodia
June 30th Marble Caves, Chile

July’s themes and deadlines: Famous Painters
July 7th Pablo Picasso
July 14th Piet Mondrian
July 21st Leonid Afremov
July 28th Henri Rousseau

Click here to see our blog post with visual inspiration for the June and July weekly challenges.

Please enter your challenge designs by clicking here.

And/or read the original blog post about the challenges here.

Links to Informational Blog Posts

Just thought I'd list a few of the posts from my own blog that SRAJD members may find interesting...

FREE SIMPLE HEMP CORD BRACELET TUTORIAL

WATCH OUT FOR THE DUPLICATE CONTENT FILTER

ADDING AN ETSY LINK TO YOUR ETSY LISTING

Organizing the Things on My Workbench

A WEEK OF ACTIVITIES TO BREAK CREATIVE BLOCK

Artistic Confidence, Being Nice, and Finding Your Artistic Voice

Follow Up to Encouraging Artists to Feel Good About Their Work

What is Metal Clay

Are You Wasting Your Energy Worrying About Your Competition?

What Are People Pinning From Your Website

The Nature of Handmade... TRULY

USPS Postage Increase January 26, 2014 with Instructions for Updating Etsy and eBay Listings

Adding Off Site Links to Your Etsy Shop

Deadvlei Namibia June Week 2 Exotic Locaitons Theme SRAJD Jewelry Challenge

Our theme for June is “Exotic Locations” and the entries for this week’s design challenge were inspired by Deadvlei, Namibia.

To read more about our challenges and/or to get in on the action, click here.

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs

This set is made from black Premo polymer clay, red variegated foil leaf and faceted black glass with copper tone accents. As soon as I scanned the challenge inspiration photos I knew it needed to be tribal and rustic, but with some polish too. Not my usual type of piece, but I enjoyed the challenge.

Jo Pound of Jewelry by Jolane

The stark and simple landscape with just the colors to give any kind of definition made me think the earrings should be simple and defined by the colors. Therefore the smooth mountains, golden sand and bright blue sky seemed most prominent.

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard

I used a combination of river jasper, red aventurine, and sodalite beads wrapped with antiqued bronze wire to represent the colors of the bleached clay pan, rust red dunes, clear sky, and scorched trees of Deadvlei.

Laura Harrison Bosch of Multibeadia Designs

I looked at a lot more pictures of this beautiful place. The colors - purples, blues & oranges inspired my necklace. Charoite, Fire Agate & Gold Plated Nuggets accent the Pendant. The wavy shape of the Charoite reminds me of the undulating sand. I went with simple stringing, I wanted to colors to be the story.

Kim Forrer of Kim Forrer Designs

I love the colors you achieve with a flame on copper and thought it resembled the beautiful orange backdrop of a desolate desert landscape. Painted the blackened tree with acrylic paint.

Cheryl KauhaaPo of Jungle Beads

My greatest challenge is to use the inventory I have and (gasp!) not buy anything new right now! Created with oval red aventurine, faceted blue seed beads, accented with sapphire Swarovski and carnelian beads, I tried the reflect the movement and color of the sand and sky. Necklace measures 15-18 inches with copper extension chain. By participating in this challenge, I'm hoping to come out of the bead closet (!) and finally finish my Etsy page!

Nohline L'Ecuyer of Nohline L'Ecuyer

Deadvlei (Doodvlei to some) in Namibia, stark and barren with amazing light. Picture Jasper in fine silver. Reflections of the dunes, the light, the barren trees and dedicated to my amazing photographer friend who died some 28 years ago on her way home from SWA.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of Pyxee Styx

"Still Standing" - a tribute to the incredible survival power of mother nature. 
Raku ceramics, fire, etched, and crackle Agates, lampwork glass, African bronze, leather, waxed linen

Laura Bracken of Bracken Designs Studio Art Jewelry

I feel like I could do this weekly challenge every day for a year.  I am in love with the photos of this exotic landmark.  For my piece I cut out two copper disks, then saw pierced the smaller one with the outline of a dead tree.  I soldered the pieces together then added layers of enamel to the top, darkened the tree, and tried to clean up the edges.

Diana Brandt of dianaBdesigns
This necklace is a wire crochet piece using the colors of the Deadvlei Marsh. I didn't want one particular color to stand out as they all combine to give it a powerful impact when viewing photos of the desiccated land. Two things that are striking however are the sand dunes that reach 350 meters and the trees that still stand waiting for a rainfall that will never come. I used bright copper wire to crochet the seed beads and then wove together the crocheted strands to create the illusion of sand dunes shimmering in the heat with threads of the dead trees peeking through.

Check the previous blog posts to see all the weekly challenge designs to date. 

Click here to see inspiration for June and July.

June’s themes and deadlines:  Exotic Landmarks

June 2^nd Kyoto, Japan

June 9^th Deadvlei, Namibia

June 16^th Antelope Canyon, USA

June 23^rd Angkor wat, Cambodia

June 30^th Marble Caves, Chile

July’s themes and deadlines:  Famous Painters

July 7th Pablo Picasso

July 14th Piet Mondrian

July 21st  Leonid Afremov

July 28th  Henri  Rousseau

Click here to see our blog post with visual inspiration for the June and July weekly challenges.

Please enter your challenge designs by clicking here.

And/or read theoriginal blog post about the challenges here.

KYOTO JAPAN June Week 1 Exotic Locations Theme SRAJD Jewelry Challenge

Our theme for June is “Exotic Locations” and the entries for this week’s design challenge were inspired by the theme of “Kyoto, Japan”.

To read more about our challenges and/or to get in on the action, click here.

Tammy Adams of Paisley Lizard

One thing I noticed in my image search for Kyoto were red pagoda structures. I decided to try a little wire-weaving to make this pagoda-ish pendant. I used the same gold artistic wire to make the fancy chain, beaded links, and clasp.

Tammie Everly of TTE Designs

My pieces is called "Sakura". This is the Japanese word for Cherry Blossom. When I googled Kyoto, it showed many images of cherry blossom trees. I made this set using Premo polymer clay and a fun technique that incorporates artist pastel chalks.

Jo Pound of Jewelry by Jolane

The earrings represent the cherry blossoms and the fans from Japan.

Cheryl KauhaaPo of Jungle Beads

I love the color and shape of these beads! With their oriental influence, I felt black accent beads and Swarovski crystals complete the cultural look. Sterling silver findings, Swarovski crystals, Bamboo agate, carnelian, black E-beads. Necklace 23".

Pamela Hollis of Pebbles at My Feet

I feel that my style is to "paint" with stones and let the stones be the focus of whatever piece I'm doing. With these earrings in natural blue turquoise chips, pink coral, and black (probably dyed) onyx, I paint an impression of Japan - the graceful angled rooftops, cherry blossoms, and black lacquerware - using the varied shapes the placement, and contrasting colors of the beads.

Laura Bracken of Bracken DesignsStudio Art Jewelry

There is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto called Kinkaku-ji, which I think translates to Temple of the Golden Pavilion.  During restoration of the historic pavilion, the building was gilded (painted with layers of gold leaf).  It is said the gold employed was to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings towards death. My piece represents the pagoda style tiered roofs of the pavilion with homage to the gilding.  I’ve added three pink accents to symbolize the cherry blossoms of the beautiful surrounding gardens.

Laura Bracken of Bracken DesignsStudio Art Jewelry

For my second piece, I went with a Japanese design aesthetic of minimalism, while again paying homage to the same temple with dark steel representing the roof with a bronze accent as the gilding.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of PyxeeStyx

"Sadako & The Thousand Cranes" - The auspiciousness of the origami crane finds it's origins in Kyoto with the man named Abe no Seimei who works as a spiritual adviser to the emperor. He's believed to have mystical powers rivaling those of the Wizard Merlin. Legend has it that he folded a paper crane and turned it into a real one. Fast forward over a thousand years, and we meet Sadako. She was exposed to radiation of the atomic bombing at Hiroshima as an infant. By the time she was twelve she was dying of Leukemia. Hearing the legend she decided to fold a thousand cranes so she could live. When she realized she was going to make it she changed to world piece and an end to suffering. "I shall write peace upon your wings, and you shall fly around the world so that children will no longer have to die this way." – Sadako … I'm adding my energy to Sadako's wish for world peace.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of PyxeeStyx

"Fushimi" - A snuff box, upcycled from a mint tin. Decoupaged with Geishas and Japanese paper inside and out. Topped with a dragonfly, and finished with a long fan tassel. The red arch above the box is the traditional entryway to a shrine or temple. Signifying you are crossing over into a sacred place. This vessel will hold close whatever is sacred to you.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of PyxeeStyx

"Blue Dragon" earrings - The blue dragon guards and protects the Zodiac. He symbolizes leadership. These are made from upcylced cloisonne pens.

Kelly Hosford Patterson of PyxeeStyx

"Cherry Blossom Festival" earrings

Kelly Hosford Patterson of PyxeeStyx

"Byodoin" necklace - Named for the temple seen on the face of the ten yen coin. The Pheonix Hall at Byodoin is almost a thousand years old.

Check the previous blog posts to see all the weekly challenge designs to date.   And keep an eye out for the upcoming challenges.

June’s themes and deadlines:  Exotic Landmarks

June 2^nd Kyoto, Japan

June 9^th Deadvlei, Namibia

June 16^th Antelope Canyon, USA

June 23^rd Angkor wat, Cambodia

June 30^th Marble Caves, Chile

July’s themes and deadlines:  Famous Painters

July 7th Pablo Picasso

July 14th Piet Mondrian

July 21st  Leonid Afremov

July 28th  Henri  Rousseau

Click here to see our blog post with visual inspiration for the June and July weekly challenges.

Please enter your challenge designs by clicking here.

And/or read theoriginal blog post about the challenges here.