Friday, December 03, 2010

Color Challenge Blog Hop

When I first read about Erin's Color Challenge Blog Hop, I thought it sounded like lots of fun. So, I signed up.

And then, in typical me fashion, I promptly forgot about it.

Until this arrived in the mail:






And had me going "What the heck? who on earth would mail me a paint chip palette?" Then I turned it over, saw Erin's name and it all came rushing back so I had to race to her blog to check on the deadline.

On the positive side - I hadn't missed it (whew!)

On the negative side - it was set for just a couple of days away from another major deadline that I was working towards.

Rats!

And then that sneaky voice in the back of my head (the one I don't usually admit to in public) said "y'know, you COULD make one item that satisifies BOTH of the project guidelines."

But I argued myself out of that on the basis of it maybe being kind of a sneaky thing to do (which is why it was suggested by that sneaky voice - see how these things work?)

And then I immersed myself in the other project, and the holidays happened, and the paint chip got lost for a week in my kitchen clutter, and the kid had ginormous amounts of really annoying math homework and that whole sneaky idea? Started to seem like GENIUS!

Except I still couldn't find the paint chip so I had to go for it from memory and this is the result:






I used a textured novelty yarn, size 5 DMC Perle Cotton, seed beads, Swarovski pearls and patinated brass chain from Patina Queen to create this necklace





The focal is a ceramic "petroglyph" style pendant from Star Spirit Studio on Etsy.


It was only days after I finished the piece that I found the color palette and held my breath as I put them next to each other to see how it all turned out:




Thank goodness that one of my few ACTUAL talents is the ability to exactly match colors - even from memory. If you show me a particular bead, I can walk into a bead store and pull every single other bead that exactly matches it.

Can't do anything contrasting or complementary to save my life, but if you want matchy-matchy monotone...I'm your girl!





And also? Thank goodness for multi-tonal novelty yarn. Both the "Porch Swing" and Dusty Spruce" colors were captured in the same yarn.
The patinated chain and deeper browns on the pendant were a good match for the "Picnic Basket" color and the golden Swarovski pearls represent the "Cottage Timber" color perfectly.

As for the sneaky aspect of things - Erin told me she didn't mind if I "killed two birds with one stone."

So I did.

Enjoy the rest of the blog hop! A complete list of participants can be found on Erin's blog.

KJ

32 comments:

  1. Kelly, Your necklace is gorgeous! Love the aqua and bronze metal. But, you seriously need to write a book ... you're like a modern-day Erma Bombeck! Too, too funny!

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  2. The necklace is amazing! The pendant is awesome and I loved how you used yarn in the necklace. The different textures are brilliant. I also killed two birds with one stone with the paint chip challenge and another challenge, thank goodness Erin is so nice!

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  3. Wow - great interpretation. And I'm totally in love with the yarn.

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  4. I love multi-strand necklaces and the focal. Despite all the mishaps, you did it. Bravo!

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  5. It's really beautiful! Love the colors!

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  6. Oh KJ were you thinking of me too? You know I have a thing for those gorgeous seahorses! I love the look of this necklace and I bet it feels great when you wear it! Awesome work as always my friend!

    Hugs

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  7. Great job matching that missing palette. Your necklace is wonderful!

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  8. The paint chip really stuck to your mind. You did a great job. Love the combination of materials and the focal.

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  9. Wow! Good call on the match up!
    I lost my chip too, only to find that it was tucked away BEHIND the couch.... that made me remember my 5 year olds facination with it and her asking to hold it for a bit. :-)

    I love your necklace! It looks very warm weather to me!

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  10. Yeah!!! - Isn't that awesome when it all works out??? Beautiful necklace and you totally slammed the color palette!!!

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  11. Perfect! Love the necklace, all of it - colors, texture, pendant.

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  12. This is really great Kelly!

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  13. Very Nice! I love your color palate.

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  14. Ever since I started reading your blog (it's been a while, now) I have felt like twins separated at birth. Another thing I have in common with you (there are so many times I read your words, and it's stuff I have actually said!!), but the matchy-matchy thing is totally true about me. I can match colors from memory, but I never can seem to mix them in one design. So bravo KJ - I know how hard it is to do - and you really did it well!!

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  15. Love how you matched your necklace to your palette - from memory. Kudos, girl! Very beautiful piece.
    And don't be so hard on your sneaky voice - it has good sneaky ideas, no?

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  16. Brilliant! I am all about multi-tasking and this is a perfect example. Dang. But you are good with color memory. I love the focal. Thank you for introducing my dwindling bank account to yet another lust-worthy artist. I just knew those colors were you and I find it so funny that you got my postcard and said What the...? Too funny. Thanks for sharing your color with the world and for being such a fun friend to have.
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin
    P.S. Best of luck with the other bird!

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  17. You crack me up! You sound about as organized as me. ;-) Beautiful piece!

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  18. this is so different. what a fun idea to use yarn. I also love that pendant....

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  19. It turned out beautifully, I love the yarn. Quite impressive, it's like you have chromatic "perfect pitch"!

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  20. I love this palette and I would never in a zillion years have chosen it on my own. The combination of fiber, pearls, beads, chain makes a fantastic necklace. I am also super impressed by your colour memory. It's an unusual talent but a really good one!

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  21. I am so impressed that you were able to remember the colors so spot on! And the necklace is gorgeous too - I want that focal! Isn't this hopping about so much fun?

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  22. Amazing piece...I so love the combination of fibers. You obviously work extremely well under pressure.

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  23. This is lovely! And I'm in awe of your ability to recall any color from memory - what an awesome skill!

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  24. Love what you've done here! I'm a big fan of matchy-matchy monotone, don't knock your skills!!

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  25. Wow! for Not being able to remember your colors, you sure did a great job! I love it!

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  26. Love the colors and the pendant, great necklace.

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  27. This is so pretty!

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  28. I like the fiber in that!!!

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  29. Well we sure have a lot in common: lost my paint chip card too and I love matchy-watchy.
    Your necklace turned out just so stunning...love the multiple strands and the colors! You pulled it off and must be so proud of the results.

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  30. Your contribution to the Blog-Hop is amazing. Love it
    Be Blessed

    SandysColoringBox.blogspot.com

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  31. Oh you got a gorgeous colour palette. I love the seahorse pendant... beautiful piece. Well done!

    Karyn
    Australia

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  32. Lovely piece. Great colors;.

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