Gaea's Copy Me Challenge

Gaea decided to challenge us,  and requested that we take inspiration from this bracelet and reinterpret it in our own way. You can read her original post here.  I was one of the lucky ones picked to create a piece for the challenge.  The others that were chosen at random were:

 Michelle
Erin
For My Sweet Daughter
SueBeads
Spirited Earth


At first, I was a bit stumped. The "Copy Me" challenge was taken a bit too literally and I started out creating a bracelet that looked scarily too much like this original. So I revamped my piece into a more "lorelei" style and ended up with a necklace in the end.



The focal on my necklace is a pewter heart lock from Lynn Davis. I hoard many of Lynn's pieces, but was finally willing to let this one go. I tend to really really love each design that features one of her pendants. Some people are just SO TALENTED. seriously.

I dispersed the Mermaid rounds that Gaea sent to all of the participants, in between some cranberry glass rounds, and chain, in darkened silver tone, and brass. Mixing metals is always a great way to create a true vintage inspired piece of jewelry- but it modernizes it just enough.


I wire wrapped a couple of garnets by the LOVE focal, which plays off of the garnets used in Gaea's original bracelet design. The stamped Love focal is actually from Jeanette Blix of Fundametals.
This was another of my totally random beading projects where I didn't lay out the final design but instead just grabbed beads and and components and put them together randomly.

I really loved this challenge and hope that Gaea hosts something like this again soon. It's a great exercise to stretch your imagination and creativeness and teaches you how to be inspired by the overall design without completely replicating the piece of jewelry bead for bead. I hope that the people who struggle with this task, learn something great from this post.


Comments

  1. It's beautiful! I wish I could randomly put things together and have it look as good as this. I have to work a little harder at it.

    When I first saw Gaea's Copy Me challenge I was unsure how it would work. Now I think it's a great way to teach others to use a concept and weave in your own ideas--as opposed to outright copying the design.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Nice job Lorelei! The components all flow well.
    Bead Happy!
    Michelle

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  3. this piece is so very pretty! And it's balanced to perfection. I would have thought you spent hours planning this out. I LOVE every element in it!

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  4. This one is waving it's arms madly and yelling "Lorelei made me!!" and I want to love it, hug it and bring it home and call it "George"...sorry, had to contribute to the copycat theme! ;o}

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  5. I am loving that blue and red, sparkly and ceramic combination. They play well off each other.

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  6. Nice job Lorelei. I especially like the extra love you put into the wrapping on those cranberry rounds. That is a very nice detail. I will have to try that sometime.
    Enjoy the day.
    Erin

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  7. that is great! i love how you used chain & red and how you wire wrapped the dangles. neat!

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  8. This is fascinating to me - it came out so *Lorelei* LOL - it's beautiful!!! I have to go check out the others.

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  9. Lorelei, I love your interpretation of Gaea's design! In two ways: the design itself is gorgeous (I'm not a necklace-wearer, but I'd wear this one!), and the creative process you followed is brilliant. Your discussion is a very straighforward guide to what most artists *should* do when we see a design we like in a magazine or book. Instead of actually copying, you've implemented several of Gaea's design elements in your own way. Kudos to you, Lorelei!

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  10. P.S. Did you forge the LOVE focal yourself? LOVE it!!!

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  11. Awesomely fantastic job taking inspiration and components from Gaea's original bracelet and making a piece of jewelry that is totally your own! LOVE this necklace!!!

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  12. Great job! I'm a Lynn Davis hoarder, too, LOL! Nice to see one of her pieces finally get used ;-)

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  13. Lore I think your necklace is gorgeous. I do think the same about all your creations. I also made a necklace :)

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  14. Lorelei

    i think your necklace was soo nice.

    very different to your usual but in a Lorelei way.
    more like this would be very tempting.

    caRol

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  15. Gorgeous! and truly in the "lorelei" style! Everything is perfectly placed. A work of art!

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  16. Just absolutely Fine Wine Lorelei!!
    Really Love this~!!!!

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  17. Love the LOVE! And Lynn's charm is super cute!

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  18. Very pretty and very "Lorelei" Love it and I love the wrapping you did on the drops. Very creative!
    Shannon

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  19. love this necklace ,lynn's charm is a perfect accompaniment
    beautiful

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  20. Turned out just great! I'd love to see this one on :)

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  21. Your work is so amazing- I love it. Must hint to my husband...

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