Friday, November 30, 2012

Challenge of Color - Earth As Art!


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Colors...can't imagine life without them! In fact, I printed out something today at work, went to pick it up, and couldn't quite recognize my print-out...because it was in black and white. I was expecting some colorful pictures! And Erin and Brandi Hussey have given us just that! Lots of colorful, actually surprising, pictures of our beautiful home...Earth!

This is actually the third time Erin of Tesori Trovati is hosting this challenge. This time she teamed up with Color Girl, Brandi Hussey, to bring us  a brilliant visual exploration of our planet. They gathered satellite pictures of Earth from the "Earth As Art" image gallery maintained by the USGS, and Brandi created color palettes from these pictures. Each of the participants were given two color palette choices to play with. There are 80 participants, and that is a TON of hard work from these ladies! So a big round of applause for them before we move on! Thank you SO much, both of you!

I was offered these two choices:





Both are beautiful, but I knew I would have time only for one. So I picked the Okavango Delta because of the wide range of colors in this palette! And I guess I always gravitate towards warmer colors like these.

So....a little about the Okavango Delta. I had never heard about it before, and am having a tough time saying its name ;-) It lies in the northwest of Botswana bordering Namibia.  It is formed by the Okavango River, which rises in the heart of Angola to the north and west, then flows over 1200 kilometres south, then east away from the Atlantic Ocean through Namibia into Botswana.  There it fans out into a huge delta approximately 15000 sq. kms in size and appears to disappear abruptly into the Kalahari Desert. And here is a map I found which looks EXACTLY like the photograph above, without the color! What a difference color makes! Wow!




Oh, right, you are here to see the jewelry I made using this as inspiration. To tell you the truth, I had a VERY hard time with this challenge. I had never used color palettes before, and this was like making me color inside the lines with a limited number of crayons ;-) Add to that the fact that while I love color, I usually do not mix them up, my designs are quite often monochrome, with a metal thrown in for contrast.

So I stared at the picture for a long long time, and decided to start with the greens. Rummaged through my beads, and found these headpins I bought from Humblebeads during a retreat I attended last month in Michigan.

They had pretty much all the shades of green that I needed! After that point, it was easy going, actually. I hit my pink and purple bead boxes, found the rest of my ingredients and made these:


 I bought the purple swirly beads during that trip to Michigan as well. In fact, I met Erin there! And that's when she told us about this upcoming challenge and I signed up as soon as she announced it :)
Coming back to the purple bead...it has some lovely shades of pink, lavender, purple and blue, and a really wonderful shape.

 This is just another view of the purple bead so you can see its shape. Isn't it cute?
 
This is how I would style them....oh, am already thinking of Spring now!




The earrings are available in my Etsy store!

I was hoping to make more pieces...but.......sigh....

And now its time to visit the other folks using these magical images to create more magic!
Oh, and Erin is going to give away a prize to one of her visitors who leaves her a comment...so go do that too!

Erin Prais-Hintz    http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Rebecca Anderson    http://songbeads.blogspot.com
Kris Auderer    http://strandedinthecity.wordpress.com
Chrizette Bayman    http://beadsoupmix.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud    http://artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Courtney Breul    http://beadsbybreul.blogspot.com/
Lynsey Brooks    http://yellowunicorncreations.blogspot.co.uk
Stephanie Buss    http://maxandlucie.blogspot.com
Iveth Caruso    http://www.creativeatelier.net/
Shannon Chomanczuk    http://www.formysweetdaughter.blogspot.com
Lisa Cone    http://inspiredadornments.blogspot.com/
Cece Cormier    http://thebeadingyogini.com
Lori Dorrington    http://lorisglassworks.blogspot.com
Dawn Doucette    http://designsbydawnmarie.blogspot.com
Jeannie Dukic    http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog/
Kim Dworak    http://cianciblue.blogspot.com/
Beth Emery    http://storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com
Janice Everett    http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com
Pam Farren    http://www.re-maker.blogspot.com
Donetta Farrington    http://simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com
Gloria Ferrer    http://judetaama.blogspot.com.es/
Cherrie Fick    http://designsinthelight.co
Therese Frank    http://www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com
Patty Gasparino    http://www.mylifeunderthebus.typepad.com
Tanya Goodwin    http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Ambra Gostoli    http://chicandfrog.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/3rd-challenge-of-color
Jess Green    http://tabbiekoshka.blogspot.co.uk/
Denielle Hagerman    http://somebeadsandotherthings.com
Mary Harding    www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Karla Hartzog    http://www.karlakrafts.com
Kim Hora    http://www.kimmykats.com
Brandi Hussey    http://brandigirlblog.com
Emanda Johnson    http://ArtemisiaStudio.blogspot.com
Jennifer Justman    http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/
Sue Kennedy    http://suebeads.blogspot.com
Ema Kilroy    http://emakaye.blogspot.com
Lee Koopman    http://Stregajewellry.wordpress.com
Linda Landig    http://www.LindasBeadBlog.com
Kirsi Luostarinen    http://kirsiluokorut.blogspot.com
Cynthia Machata    http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/
Alicia Marinache    http://www.allprettythings.ca
Beth McCord    http://www.ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com
Mary K McGraw    http://mkaymac.blogspot.com/
Karen Mitchell    http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Cheri Mitchell-Reed    http://creativedesignsbycheri.blogspot.com/
Aimee Moisa    http://threecatsdancing.blogspot.com
Karla Morgan    http://www.texaspepperjams.blogspot.com
Penny Neville    http://copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Becky Pancake    http://beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel    http://sadafulee.blogspot.com
Alice Peterson    http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com
Kayla Potega    http://www.teejewelry.blogspot.com
Debbie Price    http://greenshoot.blogspot.co.uk
Bobbie Rafferty    http://beadsong.blogspot.com
Caron Reid    http://caronmichelle.blogspot.com.au/
Nicole Rennell    http://nicolerennell.com/blog
Cynthia Riggs    http://cynthsblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/3rd-annual-challenge-of-color.html
Andrea Ross    http://silvermapledesigns.blogspot.com/
Sally Russick    http://thestudiosublime.com
Annie Scherz    http://www.studioluma.ca
Pam Sears    http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/
Renetha Stanziano    http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Sandra Stein    http://sannipanni.wordpress.com
Kristen Stevens    http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman    http://www.tracystillmandesigns.com
Sherri Stokey    http://www.knotjustmacrame.com/2012/11/challenge-of-color-reveal.html
Lola Survillo    http://www.beadlolabead.blogspot.com
Kay Thomerson    http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Jo Tinley    http://daisychaindesignsjewellery.blogspot.com
Emma Todd    http://www.apolymerpenchant.com
Cory Tompkins    http://www.tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Traub    http://www.klassyjoolz.blogspot.com
Melissa Trudinger    http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Michelle Tucker    http://michellescreativemusings.blogspot.com/
Shelley Graham Turner    http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Monique Urquhart    http://ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/
Rachel Van-Walsk    http://balancedcrafts.com/blog
Patti Vanderbloemen    http://www.myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt    http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lynn White    http://lynnwhitejewelry.com/
Joan Williams    http://www.lilrubyjewelry.com



67 comments:

  1. Gorgeous colors and beautiful earrings.

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  2. Lovely how the headpin design mimics the ripples of the delta in the inspiration picture. The purple beads make an unusual colour play, don't they, but one which works well... not bad for a lover of "monochrome", Kashmira!

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    1. Aah....your words are always so poetic! Love how you make it all sound so much better :)

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  3. These are the first earrings that I've come across with this challenge! They look great and really capture the color scheme. Wonderful!

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    1. Thanks for appreciating that, Marcie! I was feeling a bit inferior that all I made was earrings, which didn't really take too much design talent. So thank you, this makes me feel good :)

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  4. Love the texture in both the green and the red-blue beads ... yummy! Really like these!

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    1. Yeah, they are very intricate! Hats off to Heather Powers!

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  5. Those Humblebeads head pins were perfect for this challenge. The beads you added were great.

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  6. I really like your earrings, they match the palette perfectly!

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  7. There really is something about the colors in the palette you chose that really screams, "PICK ME"! After that, I would imagine it to be a struggle to get them all in one piece. Girl, you did it though and on such a small scale. Earrings! Who woulda thunk you you jam that much color into something so little? Wow, amazing work!

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    1. Hehe, Heather Powers thunk and made those head pins :) Am loving them more with every gleeful comment I am getting here!

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  8. A beautiful pair of earrings for this fun challenge. I like that they even have that sort of sprawling abstract feel in your inspiration photo.

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    1. Thanks Heather! I am not sure what I would have made if I didn't have those headpins!

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  9. Weren't the Challenge of Color palettes just beautiful? I was so happy with the ones I got. You made such adorable earrings with yours! You did a fantastic job on this challenge!

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  10. Your palettes are sooo beautiful - they have all been! I would have chosen Okvango Delta also, such rich, vibrant colors. Your earrings are perfect! So happy and colorful, love them!

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    1. Yeah, happy is the word! Especially on these drab rainy days, looking at them definitely makes me happy :)

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  11. Oh, these are very cute! The colors are great, and I love how the pattern in the large beads mimics the way the river spreads through the desert in the inspiration photo.

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    1. Yes, yes, the rivers in the delta are all there :) And the swirls and all, I love it all :) I feel lucky to have this palette and those beads in my stash!

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  12. Your earrings are simple but really pretty. Love the colors. Cheri

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  13. I can empathize with your monochromatic instincts. I used to be that way till I got in my first blog hop. Now, I love experimenting. YOu did a fine job. Those earrings are perfect!

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    1. Thank you! I guess my brain just thinks in one color until it is pushed into a corner like this one. And then it does a good job when it realizes it has no way out, lol :)

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  14. Ooooh - loved your color palettes and especially love the funky and fun look of those earrings - could picture me wearing them :) Super job! JLynn

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    1. Thank you, Janice! I do try to make my work as wearable as possible, and am quite happy with this one :)

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  15. Kashmira, I love your earrings. They bring out the colors of the palette is such a beautiful way. The pinks and greens are lovely together and I love the bit of "bling" from the crystals.

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    1. Thank you, Tanya! That bit of bling was me trying to break out of my boring store-bought earwires! Hoping to get more creative with those going forward!

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  16. Your earrings are gorgeous, and you are correct-the shape of those lampwork beads is so unique! Vwry pretty design!

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    1. Thank you, Patti! I had to turn them around so many times to figure out what the shape really is, and then gave up, deciding that whatever it is, I like it ;-)

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  17. Look at you - really mixing up the colors. These are great earrings. Andrea

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  18. Hello, palette 'sister' :) Your take on the Okavango Delta is so different than mine: just to prove how we can all look at one picture and see something else, but equally beautiful!

    I love your earrings - they are playful :)

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    1. Exactly! So different, right! Were you able to find any other palette sisters? Let me know if you did!

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  19. I love that you took this a step further added styling. Nicely done!

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  20. I knew when I made the Okavango Delta palette it'd be a tricky one to use, but you did beautifully! I love how your earrings pull out the colors - perfect.

    And I especially love how you've styled them! I can definitely see how great they'd look, and am now a little obsessed about purple dresses.

    Thanks for the inspiration, and for playing along!

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    1. Thank you, Brandi! And let me tell you I would NOT have been able to figure out the colors without the palette laid out like that! That is just super awesome what you did with the photos!

      I just started using polyvore, so am loving playing with it these days :) Glad you liked my styling!

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  21. Heather's beads were perfect for your palette! You made lovely earrings!

    Ambra

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  22. Absolutely divine! How clever of you to co-relate with a wardrobe, great visualization!

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    1. Thank you, Caron! Yeah, just discovered Polyvore, so thought of adding that too!

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  23. Great job on your earrings. It was interesting to see your pic of the delta without the colors.

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    1. Thank you, Becky. I was so surprised to see that map as one of the first images to show up when I searched.

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  24. Kashmira, I love, love, LOVE those earrings!! They are BEAUTIFUL!!!

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  25. Very sweet earrings Kashmira. I love your outfit design too! Aren't those earrings just perfect for the whole look!!!!

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    1. Thank you, Ema! I did have a lot of fun with the styling :) Love polyvore!

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  26. Your earrings are gorgeous. My favorite colors.

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  27. These are lovely earrings. The colors work beautifully together and do the paletted justice. I love the styling at the end!

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  28. Very pretty earrings! Great choice with headpins and you matched the color palette perfectly!

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  29. Fantastic interpretation of your color scheme. Wow!

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  30. The earrings are gorgeous, and I love that you used polyvore for styling suggestions...it's perfect!

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  31. Yes, yes please bring on spring, I will happily skip all the snow and cold about to come. I think you rocked it and you can safely say you can design from a palette with ease. It is a very unexpected combination but toattly clicks. Bravo!

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    1. Thank you, Emma! It sure was tough to get to this point. Looked at so many beads and cords and silk and thread and ufff...finally the headpins came to the rescue!

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  32. It is always such a delight to meet my online friends in person. You are adorable and I am so glad you were with Heather and me in Michigan! I can't believe how perfect those polymer clay swirls are from Humblebeads! They really give a flow to these earrings and have all the perfect shades of green. But bravo to you for taking the plunge and immersing yourself in color! I hope that you will continue to push your creative limits in this way! Thank you, Miss Kashmira, for joining me in this Challenge so enthusiastically! Enjoy the day. Erin

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    1. Thanks Erin! Was lovely meeting you and Heather and everyone else in MI too! It was my first retreat, or even a class, and I loved it.

      This challenge did help me "grow" in terms of how I planned (rather, did not plan) my designs :) So thank you :)

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  33. Very pretty earrings. Great color mixed in to all the beads. Made the palette stand out.

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  34. So sorry to have missed being in this challenge this year. I so enjoyed it last year! Your earrings are fantastic, Kashmira! Trying to take in a few reveals even though I wasn't part of the event and everything I'm seeing is so creative! Your beads with their wonderful swirls of color are just perfect!

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