Welcome to my corner of the “Inspired By…..The Challenge of Color” blog hop!  When Erin of Treasures Found::Inspiration is Everywhere put out a call for a color challenge/blog hop, I decided to join in!  If you know Erin, you’ll know she inspires us in blogland in so many ways with her thoughtful posts and encouraging words.  Today her latest {and wonderful} idea comes to life, as many jewelry designers will share their new designs on their blogs – all around the globe! 

The Challenge of Color “rules”, as described by Erin:

• Select a color palette to be inspired by. This could be something you were comfortable in, something that was a challenge or a complete surprise. 
• I then sent a paint chip color palette to each participant (my apologies if you did get a duplicate – but I am sure that even if we all had the same palette our pieces would all be very different).
• Create a piece of jewelry that uses the color from the paint chip palette. Try to use all the colors! Feel free to add or subtract a color. The goal is to use color and have fun!
• Use of art beads is encouraged!
• Name the piece of jewelry from something on the paint chip palette.
• Have fun! Be inspired!

Cranberry Whip

So I’ll admit I did not opt for the “complete surprise” option.  With such little time to create jewelry nowadays, I knew I wanted to use what time I had creating with a color that I love (but that I did not work with often).  I asked for a color in the burgundy color family….and recieved a paint palette with burgundy, silver, and chocolate brown.  Unfortunately in my recent move I, er, lost my paint chip card.  I found it then lost it.  “Cranberry Whip” is a stand-in for the color I received. 🙂  This deep, rich color is perfect for the holidays and wintertime.

In “Cranberry Palace”, I kept two of the inspirational colors:  cranberry/burgundy and the silver.  I’ve been in a vintage bling kind of mood lately, so I selected my focal first.  What to pair with a vintage rhinestone pin?  The pin called for something classic so I played around with a few shades of Swarovski pearls, but then decided on these natural pearls. I added Swarovski crystals in one of my favorite colors – Silver Shade.  In contrast to the dainty crystal and pearls, I used steel wire and chain to complete the necklace (oh, and a piece of vintage seam binding at the clasp).

sold, thank you!

Not only did I have fun with this rich color, but I really enjoyed the photo shoot afterwards.  Finding the right “props” and styling the photo is the final challenge. 

If you’d like to join in a future inspirational challenge, Erin is planning more already.   A great big THANK YOU to Erin for hosting this blog hop!  Please plan to visit the participant’s blogs see what others have created with their challenge colors!  I had some trouble copying the live links here with WordPress, so stop by Erin’s blog to see the list/links of those who have met the color challenge!