Amethyst Aether Blog Hop Challenge

Andrew Thornton has done it again! He has put together another fun and fanciful Blog Hop Challenge kit with an assortment of tantalizing goodies. This time the theme is "Amethyst Aether" and the kit contents have a Steam Punk appeal. The palette is rich with purple tones from lavender to deep, mesmerizing amethysts and the metallic components include watch gears, which are also reflected in the Mystery Component. The Mystery Component is a polymer clay pendant hand-crafted by Andrew. Along with the bead soup and luxury bead blends are fibers such as Irish Waxed Linen, Sari Silk and leather cord. In addition to my contributions, I have a special Blog Hop guest, to be revealed at the end. Let's jump in!

Here are the components included in the kit along with the luxury bead blend:

I drew inspiration for my main design's theme from a favorite movie: "The Matrix," starring Keanu Reeves. I used the seed beads in the bead soup and paired with the tube of milky lavender seed beads in an intertwined circuit of Herringbone Stitch to create the bracelet below. Metallic hex beads are the anchor points for the herringbone strands. The bracelet reminds me of cyber circuitry, a portal into another dimension.

 

 



I used quite a few of the beads and findings to create mix-n-match earrings. I always think of earrings as an afterthought until I want to wear a coordinating set of jewelry...DOH! Now I have plenty to choose from! The last pair is missing an earwire...that is so ME!... I have so many UFOs due to not having the right kind of component or the wrong finish, size, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, I'd like to introduce my blog hop guest: my 11-yo daughter, Athena! She saw the Amethyst Aether kit and was immediately smitten! Purple is her fav color, so she wanted to play along. I decided to get her started on one of the Freeform Peyote designs that I've posted in past challenges. Here is her start to the bracelet she is making:

 

 

 

 

 

I love that she is interested in learning the craft of Bead Weaving! She and her peers are the next generation to learn and carry on the techniques and skills of beading as well as push the boundaries of the craft.

 

 

That is all I have for this challenge. You can find more participants' designs at Andrew's blog: The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton.