Build A Line Challenge from B’sue Boutiques, Mary Craig of Jewelry Alchemy, Part Two

Welcome back to Jewelry Alchemy! I’m excited to show you my progress over the past month, and to read about what my fellow participants have accomplished.

The month since our last blog hop has been a challenge. I like certainty. I like having a plan and working the plan. But creativity doesn’t want to work on my schedule, and I’ve spent more time than I care to imagine being frustrated over that reality.

I started the month with lots of concepts and design directions. By writing things out and talking with friends, it became apparent that, in fact, I had too many ideas. I needed to simplify, to streamline, to pick one direction and go for it. So that’s what I’ve done. My design brief (below) outlines my current approach to the B’Sue Build a Line challenge.

The name of my jewelry line is Cleopatra Reimagined. The inspiration is Cleopatra and the jewelry she might wear if she were suddenly transported to 2015.

My color palette is lapis blue and gold, with accents of carnelian red:

The components that I am using are a mixture of raw brass and antiqued brass. To add a sense of history, I’m mixing in antique African trade beads and accents of lapis lazuli.

Lapis Lazuli was among the most highly prized tribute paid to Egypt, obtained from the oldest mines in the world, worked from around 4000 B.C. and still in use today. In the dry, barren land of the Egyptians, this deep cobalt blue color was a spiritual contrast to their arid desert hues. The gold flecks were like stars in their night-time sky and by meditating on these colors they felt supernatural forces would transform their lives. (www.crystalvaults.com)

I have been experimenting with patina on raw brass with some fun results. Below is a picture of B’Sue’s large beetle in raw brass, and then the same beetle after his transformation. He’s been joined by a couple little brass frogs that have been tucked away in a drawer, but now have earned their freedom!

Below is a preliminary assembly on my first necklace. It features B’Sue’s beetle, circlets, and chain, in combination with African trade beads from the 1700s and contemporary lapis beads.

I’m currently experimenting with patinas on several other elements, as well as trying some etching. If all goes as planned, they will be combined with more African trade beads into two more necklaces as well as an assortment of earrings–all of which I’m hoping would do a modern-day Cleopatra proud!

Please visit my fellow participants (listed below). Happy Hopping!  ~Mary