It's time to show you what I've made with the AJE component of the month. With everything else that December brings I only just met the deadline for this one! I planned out what I wanted to make with Jenny Davies-Reazor's lovely ceramic labyrinth pendant a couple of weeks ago with the idea that I would bring everything up with me to the inlaws this weekend and make it up here. But you should know me by now - it's very rare that my jewellery designs stick to the original plan! I'd packed everything I thought I'd need to make a long necklace, and as you can see I ended up with a bracelet!
Jenny chose a labyrinth symbol for her component as, in her words, "As they are a path to the center, your center, your self...they can provide insight and at times inspiration", and so appropriate for the New Year when we try to have a fresh start. You can read more of what she wrote about labyrinths here. I always remember the labyrinth at the centre of the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, so I thought that one of my owl clasps would be appropriate as owls as the sacred symbol of the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of learning, and a symbol of wisdom. I've also used palm wood beads from Smitten Beads and made some lengths of chain from hammered sterling silver rings. I think I might still tweak the bracelet a little as at the moment I think it's a little too big and I need to replace the last bead with a jump ring or two. Just taking the bead out would make it too small, but of course as I was originally going to make a necklace I didn't bring any jump rings with me!
You can see what the rest of the Art Jewelry Elements blog team made with Jenny's pendants through here. We're off to Wales to spend New Year's Eve with good friends so I'll be back again in 2013! I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve wherever you are!
Very pretty Jo - love the earthy colours - very grounded.
ReplyDeleteHey Jo, Lovely design, your owl is an absolute beauty! (thank you so much for using some of my cubes, what a lovely surprise) Happy New Year, Claire xx
ReplyDeleteYour choice of design materials are just beautiful - owl, labryinth, and wood beads - very peacful. This is a fabulous bracelet design! Have a wonderful New Year!
ReplyDeleteAthena is why I love owls. And I love your owl clasp! I like the earthy wooden tones with the speckled blue grey glaze, lovely! The pix look fine! Hope you are having a lovely holiday!
ReplyDeleteTheseus trivia: Ariadne gives Theseus a skein of yarn, called a "clew" as he enters the labyrinth so he can retrace his path to exit. The origins of the word "clue"?
I am so glad to see a bracelet with this piece. I do like these beads you used.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous bracelet! Those wood beads are so rich...and of course I love the owl. I also am a fan of owls because of mythology...Greek mythology was my all time favorite college class.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love this Joanne! The wooden beads are so beautiful with the color of the ceramic piece...I'm glad you went with the bracelet design. And your owl...so pretty!
ReplyDeleteVery, very beautiful. Thanks for sharing :-)
ReplyDeleteI am left without words. I love this piece so much!
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmm chunky wood beads! Love it! I'd wear that in a second!
ReplyDeleteFabulous - love the collaboration between your work and the focal!
ReplyDeleteVery nice design and I just love the cube beads with the colour of the focal and the owl clasp. Happy New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat that you made a bracelet, love the owl clasp of yours - awesome design!
ReplyDeletevery pretty, love the wood beads with it in the perfect shape and the owl to set the whole thing off. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteI love it! The wood really sets off the focal.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know what you mean about beads and muses. I have one that I am heading down to work on that has morphed five times so far.