February ABS Challenge - Mariposa

Amapolas, 1913

Illustration published in "News of Spring and Other Nature Studies

By Edward Julius Detmold

Watercolor, 208 by 124mm

Can you believe it? It has actually been a year since our last Art Bead Scene Challenge. It is great getting back into the groove of creating. I hope everything is behind us now and we can get back into making things for fun again!

Mariposa

So, mom drew up three butterfly patterns and we only got two of them sawed out. We then picked the one we both liked to make the pendant. As you can see the bigger one of the pendants is what we went with.

We are calling our piece Mariposa - no reason - except both mom and I dislike trying to come up with names for our pieces. I seriously give anyone a shout out on picking names for your pieces. Some pieces the name comes so easily but other pieces, "Mom, come up with a name!!!!"

The pendant was actually sawed out by me this time. We use 20 gauge copper, lay a pattern on it, saw it out, drill pilot holes to thread the saw blades through and then start sawing out each individual holes. Once the piece is sawed out - we file and sand to remove the rough edges. I then talk to mom about colors and once colors are picked out I enamel the pendant in a kiln.

I actually made specific beads for this piece but mom didn't care for all of the beads I made. So, we went through all of the other beads I made and pulled out the blue ones. Mom accented the lampwork glass beads with brass spacers and Jasper beads.

That is how the necklace came about. If you want to learn more about this month's challenge click here.

It has been so long since I have posted I guess I better go and read the instructions on what I need to do.