Friday, May 3, 2013

Hats Off Challenge/Blog Hop from Churchill Downs

Bobbie from BeadsongJewelry gave us a challenge to use what inspiration we had gotten from BSBP.......



Worried what you might do to occupy your beady imaginations after the BSBP?  Come join me for the first Hats Off Challenge!

This springs from my observation a couple of years ago that the timing of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding and the Kentucky Derby were very close, so I took it upon myself to declare it Hat Week.  I found pictures of some of the fabulous hats being worn in London and Louisville, and paired them with jewelry from my worktable that seemed reminiscent of them.  See here and here for some examples.

This year, I'm expanding the celebration by kicking off the Hats Off Challenge, where participants will create a piece of jewelry inspired by one (or more) of the fabulous hats below.  Look through the photos (it is a little photo heavy), get inspired, and leave me a comment below to sign up.  Then on May 4th, we'll get in the mood for Derby by blog hopping to enjoy everyone's creations!.

Then she gave us a group of hats to choose from you can check them out here:Bead Song Jewelry Hats Off . I won't show them as there are a lot... But from the lot I chose 5 I liked...then I narrowed it down to 3 then chose this one...















This is the necklace I came up with:

I used a large Orange button, then crocheted a cover for it. I then made the fringe from some Home Dec trim I had. I took each fringe piece and restrung it on thread then attached it to the crocheted bottom rim. I have aqua and clear glass beads around the inside and a gold metal bead cap stuck in the middle with a clear crystal bead strung on the top with the thread going through the button holes and being tied on the back.  I then strung it on a orange cord and finished off the ends.

So there you have it.  My take on Hats Off!

Thanks Bobbie it was great fun and I can't wait for next year!

19 comments:

  1. Is that beautiful,all the colors come back in your design, wow... The crochet work is great, you made a ♥beautiful necklace!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stunning necklace...the detail is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. so festive! no doubt would be gorgeous with that hat and a lovely spring dress!! wonderful piece

    ReplyDelete
  4. The hat choice and the necklace are both wonderful! You captured the fun in the hat beautifully. I'm not sure I would dare wear the hat, but I would wear the necklace anytime. The fringe and the colors are gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What fun! I love the combination of techniques you used, and that you finished up with a piece that captures the celebratory feeling of the inspiration hat and the Derby itself! The hat makes me smile, and your necklace absolutely does the same thing! Thanks so much for being part of the challenge!

    ReplyDelete
  6. How to end the Blog Hop with a bang! I totally COVET this stunning necklace! It is flat out beautiful!
    jean yates :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fun and pretty piece! It looks like the garden is having their own party :-) Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW!!!!! This is a fun piece. I love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow...its beautiful! It is a little dreamcatcher-ish...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Perfect perfect match, so elegant with the hat. A really beautiful piece.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful Vera,
    I am amazed at all the different piece that were inspired by the same orange hat. Your piece really captured all the beautiful colors that are in the inspiration hat.
    Therese

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful and fun necklace....great work!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fun necklace, your colors are great, and your work is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful necklace, you captured all the colors in the hat perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Bright and colourful, my favourite combination :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome piece of jewelry, love the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A very creative approach to your design - thanks for sharing your process. You have me intrigued about the idea of combining crochet and buttons. Love that the gorgeous orange still peeks through. You've created a one-of-a-kind treasure, just like your inspiration hat.

    ReplyDelete
  18. A woman after my own crocheting heart!!! I love what you did with that button and your mad crochet skills ... such a fun and colorful pendant!

    ReplyDelete