11/4/11

October Challenge Reveal

When Andrew Thornton put the October Challenge together, he envisioned crisp, clear autumn skies. When I tore open the package, I saw stars. Sirius. Polaris. Fomalhaut. Fomalhaut? Sometimes called the Autumn Star, Fomalhaut is best viewed in October and November where you will find it shining bright, silvery and alone near the southern horizon. You can track its nightly progress here.

The base of my Autumn Star pendant, in silver and nickel delicas from my stash, incorporates a square and four elongated triangles from Diane Fitzgerald’s Shaped Beadwork. A simple star washer, embellished with the smallest silver-lined seed beads, tiniest rondelles and pearls from the challenge mix, adds an elegant layer, using techniques I learned in a Laura McCabe Master Class earlier this year.  

I loved that the luxury mix of beads embraced the spectrum of blue from lavender to sapphire to navy and inky blue-black. I chose a few in all those shades to highlight the artisan beads in my simple neckstrap, which uses another star washer as its toggle closure. (The gorgeous glass headpin by SueBeads and Andrew's silver skull bead, this month's mystery component, are being reserved for other pieces.)


Click over to Andrew's blog for links to the designs from all the October challenge participants.

12 comments:

  1. Absolutely beautiful!

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  2. A beautiful, beautiful piece! I love the beaded focal and the lovely dark blue beads just above it. I love that your inspiration came from a star.

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  3. Love that star! You did a beautiful job of incorporating it into the necklace!

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  4. That star is amazing! Looks great on your necklace, too.

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  5. Gorgeous pendant!! Very nice pieces.

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  6. What you did is SO fabulous! The beadweaving is great, and I really love how you used the washers -- a trip to Home Depot is on my errand list now!

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  7. What a work of art! I am in total awe of anyone who can stitch with teeny, tiny seed beads!

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  8. I love your necklace and the star pendant is awesome.
    Therese

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  9. Gorgeous!! The star pendant is amazing!!!

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  10. Very nice! I love the pendant too! I loved those little beads, wasn't it the greatest mix?

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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