Opportunity came knocking on the door of sweet bead studio recently.  Christine Damm, the artist behind Stories they Tell sent me an email that was one of the most exciting invitations I’d received in a long time.  She asked, would l like to collaborate on a submission for the current Objects and Elements Design Team blog challenge?  Would I?  You better believe it!  Although we didn’t have a lot of time before the deadline, and I was heading for the beach, I knew that working with Christine was a chance I didn’t want to miss.  My stamps, hammers, wire and tumbler were packed and went to Ocean City too.

The flurry of emails while working on the challenge was exciting…I love a little deadline pressure.  The best part was sharing ideas…hearing Christine’s artistic vision, and seeing them unfold.  The challenge theme was “Summer Color”, and the ideas that Christine ran by me were ones that I would have never dreamed of…..bold and bright just came easy to her.  On my end, I created metal charms from copper, brass and nickel silver.  I had fun creating wire clasp options to work with the beautiful sari silk yarn Christine chose, available in the O&E shop.  The star of the show though is Christine’s focal piece – made with one of her signature discs in faux ivory, made from clay.  The focal is attached to the sari silk with a clever wire bail.   I can’t tell you how excited I was to see the finished piece, and so proud to be a part of this creation.   And if you notice those 2 hands dangling from the metal charms, well to me they represent us…two jewelry designers who have never met but who have become great online friends….and went on to create “Midnight in Mombai”. 🙂

Please visit Christine’s blog to read more from behind the scenes.  She just has a beautiful way of putting thoughts in to words…and ideas into pieces of art.  Oh, (please) do stop by the Objects and Elements blog to vote for your favorite submission in the Summer Color challenge!  I have several friends who have entered pieces as well.   You can win a prize just for voting!   The deadline to vote is August 26th, 10 p.m. EST.  Thank you!