Do Over Ugly Challenge Blog Hop!

Jeannie posted an intriguing challenge last month - a Do Over Challenge. She told all who wanted to participate that she would send an old, tired, boring piece of her jewelry for FREE (her words) and our challenge was to rework it into something, hopefully, not boring.  You know me and challenges, I jumped right in, and a few days later I got this in the mail (moss agate, golden jade, brecciated jasper):


Jeannie's note with the necklace was so great, I saved it.  It read:  "I started making jewelry long, long ago and this piece is something I made when I did not know any better.  I did not know what an art bead was.  I did not know what I was doing.  The craftsmanship is not there and each piece reminds me how far I have come.  It brings me great joy to pass it on to you and breathe new life into it."  

Having recently received my credit card bill from my bender (ha ha!) at Bead Fest Wire, I wanted to stick with my "No New Beads Until The Hangover Wears Off" mantra and see what I could come up with from my stash:


Vintaj brass flowers, large disk from my holiday swap with Linda of Bella Bead Jewelry, and some bonus lampwork beads I got in an order a few months ago from Mermaid Glass.  Recently purchased Parawire in Vintage Bronze also worked with this group of goodness.  Put it all together and I got this:


I had plenty of the stones left, but only one of the Mermaid Glass beads, so what to do for earrings???  I had many more of bronze toggle I used on the necklace and decided to use two more for the earrings, making the ear wires by hand with the antique bronze wire:


I so enjoyed this challenge, thanks Jeannie!
There are many others to check out...hop on down the list and check them out:

Elisabeth http://www.beadsforbusygals.com <--- YOU ARE HERE :-)

19 Comments

  1. My Life Under the BusMay 25, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    Sweet! I love what you did! Happy Hopping and good luck coming down from the Bead Bender LOL!!!

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  2. Christine AltmillerMay 25, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    wow---beautiful and earthy---just perfect!

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  3. steufelMay 25, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    Love it. What a great transformation!

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  4. kimmykatsMay 25, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Oh, I love the colors you had to work with! What a fun beautiful necklace you created. Like One Kiss commented...very earthy.

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  5. NEDbeadsMay 25, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Really lovely!!

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  6. ShirleyMay 25, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    That is really pretty! Love how the focal piece set off the colors in the necklace.

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  7. Pretty ThingsMay 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    That turned out REALLY cool!!!!

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  8. AnonymousMay 25, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Oh, I love the beautiful earthy design! Very pretty!

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  9. JeannieKMay 25, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    That pendant with all the gemstones nuggests I sent you are made for each other. Very Clever with the earrings using toggle clasps. Thank you Elisabeth for participating.

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  10. TesoriTrovatiMay 25, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    I love that you have a bead hangover... I am gearing up for my bender at Bead & Button in a few weeks! This is beautifully remade, Elisabeth! I love the way you treated those little flowers. They are stars now. And so clever to use a toggle for earrings!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  11. Shannon ChomanczukMay 25, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Love the flowers :-) Very cool

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  12. CharlieMay 26, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    I love the new piece. You did a great job!

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  13. diane hawkeyMay 26, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    So very cool!

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  14. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Very cool! Love the flowers!

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  15. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    The note you received was so awesome... armed with that, I think your piece is so beautiful...
    What a fantastic project!
    Take care,

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  16. Green Shoot Jewellery DesignsMay 26, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    I love the pieces you made, really good job!

    Deb x

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  17. Linda LandigMay 26, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Great make-over. The pendant and brass flowers are perfect with this. And your earrings a so clever!

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  18. Niky SayersMay 27, 2011 at 4:30 AM

    That focal looks great with those beads such earthy colors!

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  19. ReginaMay 27, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Love your do over necklace, ingenious using the toggle as you did for earrings. Very creative.

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