The Design Seeds inspiration for this week is ‘Urchin Tones’. I was very excited as I had been holding onto a polymer sea urchin connector waiting for just the right time to use it. So I lined up all the beads on my bead mat and they looked amazing. Unfortunately when I started putting the piece together, the polymer connector broke at the hole. I was heartbroken, as this was THE perfect piece for this project. Also, this was the second polymer piece in two weeks that has broken at the hole. Maybe I was too rough on them. But I noticed the urchin was very soft, even though I’ve had it for several months. I don’t know much about polymer clay, but I’m thinking I will stick to only round polymer beads in the future. Here's what it looked like all lined up.
So I switched out the polymer connector with a Vintaj Brass Sand Dollar. I wasn't sure if it would work since I already connected the beads with silver wire. It looks OK as it picks up the browns in the beads beside the Sand Dollar.
Below is the broken connector and the tiny pieces that broke off. I did try and salvage the connector by sanding and gluing those tiny pieces together, but you can see the cracks just a bit. Next I’ll glue the urchin to a piece of metal and see if it can be salvaged. Crossing my fingers…..
This piece includes lampwork beads by Twinstar, a drilled river rock I snatched from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bead Box, a Vintaj Brass Sand Dollar, sterling clasp, and silver filled wire.
Yes, I do know it's not Friday, but tomorrow is the reveal date for the Andrew's Spring Challenge so I'm doing this one early. Thanks so much for stopping by. Please visit Shannon’s blog tomorrow to see what she made, and to play along next week.
4 comments:
Hi Alice,
So sorry about the urchin connector, but glad that you will be able to salvage it. Your final bracelet is gorgeous. I'm so glad you were able to complete the theme you had started with the sand dollar connector.
Therese
I Love this piece! So very, very beachy! I think the mix of metals works perfectly! I broke a polymer sandollar yesterday while wire wrapping it...it didn't break at the hole..it broke right in half. I feel your pain! But, you did a great job salvaging your last piece for the ABS challenge...best of luck in salvaging this one, too!
I think I love the second bracelet better anyway. I love the focal. I should try a beach bracelet too. That would be a great challenge huh? I love how you worked that color pallet. When I first saw it, I thought, "how boring", but you made it anything but boring! Great work!
This is so pretty! I love the polymer connector but the sand dollar is also lovely and the rich antique brass tones perfectly. Peaceful and reminds me instantly of the sea.
PS have your poppies arrived yet?
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