Challenge - Kanagawa oki nami ura by Hokusai Katsushiki

Well, it's nearly the end of the month and I am just now getting around to finishing up my entry for this month's Art Bead Scene challenge. I must admit that I wasn't too terribly excited when I saw the Hokusai print that the challenge was based on this month. Not that it isn't a beautiful woodcut, it truly is, it's just that it didn't initially incite any great ideas or inspirations for me. So, I was going to skip it this month. Until... I was sniffing around Michael's last week, completely drooling over their new and hugely improved bead section, when I spied with my little eye these completely perfect tiny ceramic dot beads. I fell in love (hard) and knew right away what to do with them.

I built the necklace around two of my porcelain rings, which represent the boats in the print. That is about as representative as I get in this piece, other than colors. Oh, and the very cool little vintage glass beads that look like tiny bubbles of white water, I can't forget them. They represented the foam spray from the waves perfectly (see the close-up below)!

The overall design came from moving and shifting all the components around until I was please with the arrangement. I was determined to use the ceramic dots in clusters but that proved to be more of a challenge than I had expected. In the end I figured out a way to keep everything attached securely and without any floppage.

The cobalt beads are recycled glass and the larger white glass beads are vintage.


This is what it looks like on. People always ask to see these challenge pieces being worn so I listened this time. The necklace looks great but my face was channeling the Exorcist so I cropped like the wind. ;)

Comments

pam ferrari said…
I LOVE IT! At first it wasn't doing anything for me until I saw it on. It hangs well and the colors are great.
mairedodd said…
this is incredible - you are such an amazing artist, always so exciting to see what you create...
Rosanne said…
Oh Nancy...you are the best! So orignal in the designs yo do for ABS. Love that necklace and it looks great on you........
Rosanne said…
I am challenged tonight when it comes to spelling, but you get my meaning...lol!
TesoriTrovati said…
I just came back from the Flickr pool to check out what was updated...I LOVE YOUR NECKLACE! The design is brilliant...and I am so glad you showed what it looks like on because I thought it might be impossible to wear. It looks stunning on you. What a great find at Michael's...I haven't been there for beads in awhile but I did notice that they were changing things up...and I am glad to know that I am not the only one who is late in submitting...I just submitted mine, but it was impossible to photograph! Thanks for the awesome inspiration.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
AWESOME!!!!!Absolutely love it :0)
Unknown said…
those dot beads are really cute! Nice work - very creative and fun piece!
Emi
Katie said…
What an awesome necklace! I saw it on the ABS site this morning and thought it was kinda neat, but seeing the picture of how it looks on just makes it so much more awesome!
Jen Judd said…
You're work is fantastic!! I love this necklace!!!

I spent an hour wandering the clearance bins at Michael's the other day but didn't feel nearly as inspired. :) I'm going to have to go back and try again!! Thanks so much for the motivation!!

Jen
Round Rabbit said…
Thank you so much, everyone, for all your kind and encouraging words! It is always amazing to me how supportive and inspiring everyone is - what a wonderful thing!
planettreasures said…
i think it's a wonderful interpretation and the model looks great!
Erin Siegel said…
I'm a little behind catching up on all my bloggie favorites, but I just wanted to tell you I love this! So incredible! I think it would be amazing enough if it were more of an art piece and not wearable but it's SOOO wearable which is even more amazing! It looks wonderful on and you are a great model!

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