When I saw that Art Jewelry Elements (AJE) was doing a theme challenge for March, and anyone could join in, I got busy designing. The theme for the challenge is March Hares.
To participate, artists needed to design a jewelry component or finished piece of jewelry featuring hares, or rabbits. The AJE team created some amazing rabbit components, and we were also free to use or make a component of our own.
Prior to learning of the challenge, I had this adorable white rabbit connector from Jetta Bug Jewelry on my Etsy wish list. This challenge was the perfect excuse to order it. As if I needed an excuse, right? I am a big fan of Rejetta’s whimsical polymer clay critters. You can see a few of my other favorites from her shop in this feature article I wrote about her work.
Rabbits, or hares, are commonly associated with spring, which is when flowers start blooming. My little white rabbit connector has a tiny purple flower on her flank. That gave me the idea to make some purple crocus flower beads. Crocus are also harbingers of spring.
This “Harbingers of Spring” necklace features a white rabbit focal, with purple crocus blossoms and a robin’s nest, on antique finish brass chain.
Another thing people associate with spring is the robin. Although robins are around in winter too, I don’t think they get noticed as much as when they’re out in force hunting for worms as the ground thaws. And eggs, especially the decorated kind you hunt for? Those are symbols of spring. So, my necklace also has a nest with speckled blue robin’s eggs and little robin charm.
The speckled blue robin’s eggs in the nest and the purple crocus flower dangles were made from polymer clay for this necklace.
I don’t normally do asymmetric designs, but I often admire them. And I’ve been working on adding more of them to my repertoire. I won’t tell you how many times I rearranged the components in this design, or how many times I took bits and pieces off and put them back on in a different spot. Let’s just say, asymmetry doesn’t come easily for me.
The polymer clay components are accented with Czech glass leaves and Swarovski crystal pastel yellow pearls. There’s also an antique brass finish flower connector. The necklace is finished with a toggle clasp and chain extender.
I made the purple crocus flowers and the speckled blue robin’s eggs from polymer clay. The necklace needed some green, for spring leaves and to accent the vines on the rabbit, so there are some Czech pressed glass leaves. The centers of the crocus flowers are yellow like the center of the flower on the rabbit, but you don’t notice them as the blossoms are hanging down. I added some Swarovski crystal pearls in pastel yellow to bring more of that color into the design.
I wanted to add a little robin above the nest. Alas, I don’t have one in my stash of artisan beads, and I wasn’t up for attempting to sculpt a teeny tiny bird. So, I dug up this little metal charm in an antique silver finish. The wire nest and the chain are antique finish brass, as is the small flower connector below the crocus.
And did I mention the bunny is double-sided? Rejetta does such a wonderful job with her little polymer clay sculptures. This white rabbit is every bit as cute on the flip side as she is from the front.
This is the back side of the white rabbit component. She’s every bit as adorable from this view as from the front.
I am thrilled that the AJE team has decided to hold these theme challenges. This one was so much fun. I look forward to the next one later this year. I wonder what it will be? Until then, hop around to have a look at all the other March Hare designs from the AJE design team and other guest participants.
Art Jewelry Elements Team
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Caroline Dewison
Lesley Watt
Linda Landig
Niky Sayers
Melissa Meman
Rebekah Payne
Lindsay Starr
Guests
Aural
Heather
Cindy Martin-Shaw
Keren Panthaki
Jackie Ryan
Karin Grosset Grange
Pamela Traub
Tammy Adams (That’s me!)
Karen
Michelle McEnroe
You can’t tell by this gorgeous necklace that asymmetry isn’t your thing. From the soft colors, cascading leaves and flowers, the beautiful nest of eggs and the little bird peeping out of the branches to the rabbit bead, everything is so perfect! You have made my bunny bead very happy 🙂
Thanks, Rejetta. Sometimes a design comes together because the inspiration is so magical. Your whimsical white rabbit with the little purple flower on her flank spoke to me and guided this design.
Tammy this is just wonderful! All the symbols of spring, the cheerful colors of the flowers and eggs……..every detail is just perfect! You make asymmetry look simple with this great design! That bunny is adorable and it would be so easy to “overwhelm” him in a piece but you have given him the attention he deserves. Wonderful! Put him in your shop so I can pin him!
Thanks so much, Lee. I always worry about overwhelming an artisan component. They’re miniature works of art that need just the right amount of framing. And the necklace is in my shop, so you can pin away. 🙂
Such a great necklace! Its Spring incarnate! Im glad you had a reason to treat yourself to an artisan bead! And I think your asymmetry is spot on, great visual balance!
Thank for joining us at AJE this month for the themed challenge! Hopefully you will continue to read and enjoy the blog and join us again for another challenge in the future!
Thank you so much, Jenny. And thanks for the perfect inspiration theme. I love reading the AJE blog and look forward to the next challenge.
Goodness this is a lovely necklace I love the rabbit bead and the flowers you made go beautifully with it, the nest with eggs and bird are just the perfect touch! I love asymetrical designs and make a lot, yours is especially nice.
Jackie
Thank you, Jackie. I think all the time I’ve spent admiring other designer’s use of asymmetry might be starting to sink in. But it’s definitely not second nature yet.
Tammy this is the perfect evocation of spring and Jetta’s bunny is adorable…very nice work.
Thanks so much, Lesley. Can’t wait to get my hands on some of your lunar hare components.
Love it, such a cute necklace and its cool to think of the Robin too
glad to be part of this challenge too,
Thank you, Pamm. There are robins in the holly tree outside my bedroom window all winter, so they’re often on my mind.
Stunning, your crocus beads make the whole design come alive. I bet this is fun to wear!
Thanks so much, Caroline. And it is fun to wear. I’m testing it out today in fact. 😉
It’s all beautifully done! I don’t do well with asymmetry either, but you sure seemed to have nailed it with this one 🙂
I love that bunny, so easy to see why you chose it!
Thank you, Dana. There was a bit of trial and error to get the balance. In the end, I’m very happy with it as a setting for the bunny.
What a great design! Your choice of colors, components is absolutely lovely and you master the asymmetry perfectly!
Thanks so much, Karin. All the color inspiration came from the little teeny flower detail on the rabbit’s flank. Starting a design with a great artisan component makes it all come together.
I love you necklace! It sings of spring! You nailed the asymmetry like a pro and the flowers and eggs in the nest are perfect additions. Awesome work! Thanks for joining in!
Thank you so much, Linda. It’s so encouraging to get such lovely comments from another designer.
What a lovely design!
Thank you, Sue.
What an amazing piece! I love your necklace just screams spring and you really have done so well with the asymmetry, it balances perfectly!
Thanks so much, Niky. That’s so kind of you.
Your necklace is beautiful…it feels perfectly balanced with design and colour and I love your purple crocuses!
Thank you, Karen. I really have to credit Rejetta for the idea of purple flowers. The bunny component practically came with its own color palette.
Your necklace really captures the essence of spring. Wonderful!!!
Thank you, Heather. This was a great theme to work with.
Omg…as soon as I caught the first glimpse of this beautiful white bunny, I knew it must be a Jetta Bug treasure!…I was hooked on your every word and read on! 🙂 (I have a few of her awesome treasures in my stash!). Your necklace is stunning, love the little nest complete with ‘momma Robin’ and your Crocus flowers are the perfect addition. It says Spring in the most delightful way…love love!
Thank you, Carol. And it’s true, Rejetta’s components are quite distinctive. And addicting. I have quite a stash, just waiting for the right design ideas.
Such a sweet necklace, Tammy. You look like you’ve been working with asymmetry for years. There is a certain something needed and you have it! You’ve made a wonderful bunny habitat….I’m sure she’s very happy! Your own beads and flowers are perfect too.
Thank you, Nan. I hope that the more I work at asymmetry the easier it will get.
I adore this bunny. I’ve been waiting to see what you were going to make with him since you first mentioned you were going to get him and enter the challenge. I agree that it’s harder to make asymmetrical designs, especially when you want them to look effortless 🙂 Each element in this necklace is so unique, but blends with the other at the same time, and as you say, starting out with a great piece makes all the difference. Someone’s going to be very happy to own him.
Thanks, Teresa. And thanks for following my blog posts. 🙂
Love this piece, such pretty colours and design, very spring like. I am sure you would get lots of nice compliments upon wearing it too.
Thank you, Keren.
Well Tammy, you did a great Job of Asymetrical design. Who’d a thought you would have had time to create this beauty concentrating on your BALC. Kudos too you. This Necklace is beautiful.
Thanks so much. I actually pulled this one together the weekend after the big BALC reveal and hop. I had the ideas in my head but no time to work on them before that. And of course, as I was doing it, there was this not so little voice saying “this is not part of your line, what are you doing making another OOAK statement piece?” 😉
What an absolutely perfect spring necklace! Your rearranging certainly yielded great results. And I love the flowers and eggs you made along with the addition of the green leaves and floral connector. Each element is just right to complement your lovely rabbit pendant.
Thank you so much, Ann. I envy people who make asymmetric designs routinely. I hope with more practice I will spend less time rearranging and just develop a feel for what will work.