Hi everyone,
I love to collect stuff. I love to collect all sorts of bits and pieces. I have boxes and bags and crates full of it – all labelled by the way, so I know where it goes!! I’ve been given lots of treasures over the years and you know, I remember every piece and where it came from. I’ve actually been using lots of these treasures in a large piece I’ve been working on for a National Contemporary Art Jewellery Prize here in Australia but while I’ve had everything out, I thought I would play around and just see where exploration took me.
I grabbed all sorts of bits and pieces – ocean inspired of course – and popped them on the table/floor/bench in the studio and went through them all.
I then decided to create a rustic style necklace (Shaman inspired) so chose a felted cord I had half created about 5 years ago and wrapped it with some fabric I had dyed…gosh about 8 years ago). I used wire to secure it all in place (recycled copper wire stripped from electrical cables). I chose a large feature button which I was so generously given by Lisa Lambright and Mary when I was in Denver last year (awesome button) and used this as a feature clasp. Some of the dyed fabric made a great loop.
Next came working out what to put on my necklace from my stash of goodies. I played around quite a bit actually. I dyed the fish scales but they didn’t quite match the colour. I ended up choosing all the sea urchin spines, cleaned them up and drilled a hole through them. These were then wired onto the main frame with a beautiful driftwood piece as the feature component. I then finished with some shells I collected especially because of the holes.
And this is the finished piece. It will probably never get worn but I’m getting a nice collection of “ocean inspired” statement pieces together which I just love. I hope you like this one too.
Until next time, happy creating you guys.
Love Deb
Hi Debbie, love these necklaces…so tribal and ancient looking. I have never seen sea urchins spikes like the pointy ones. Did you buy them…they are wonderful.
Hi Linda, I’m so sorry for the very late reply to your message. These ones are found actually. My son is a fisherman and these quite often wash up on the beach at the islands where he works – dead unfortunately. The spines are just beautiful and very easy to drill through so I’ve used a few in this piece and another one. I’m very careful what I do with them. Thanks for your lovely comment too Linda.