The Gossiping Godess Giveaway and Challenge

Remember about a month ago I won a spot in the Gossiping Godess (aka Leslie aka Thea's) challenge? Not only that - I got myself some gorgeous lampwork by Leslie's friend Kaz.

How gorgeous, you ask? Ooh - very!  I managed to not take pictures of the beads when they came (yes, I know... mind is away on vacation) - but they are splendid clear encased beads I adore.

My challenge? What to do with them. Why? They are large (maybe 3/4" in diameter) with big holes... and I didn't want to string them together. I wanted them to pop-up, to yell "Look at me, ain't I a beauty?!"

I spent weeks thinking what to do... I sketched (badly) many pictures... and in the end I coupled my love for wire with these beauties and this is what I came up with:

Not one, but three pendants; in three different styles :)

First it was the heart pendant:

I made the frame 3 times in copper - until I decided it's decent enough to try it in silver. I liked the idea of adding some copper, though - the red in the glass is going very well with the copper (or so I think). The heart is not perfect - but what heart is it, after all? Next time I will remember to 'coil' the wire *before* wrapping it together :)

The second pendant was this nice 'wisdom eye' - aren't those flowers on the bead lovely?

I needed a third different idea and it became a flower:

All they need now is their respective chains - I am thinking 3 different lengths so they can be worn together - what do you think? Yay or Nay?

Overall - I am quite pleased with the result :) of course there is room for improvement (the rawhide mallet scared the wire on the flower... not sure why) but I can't wait to wear them!

Many thanks to Lesley - for her generosity in sharing these beauties with us and the opportunity to play along in a wonderful challenge!

And many thanks to you, my visitor :)

Please make sure you visit all the other participants:

Lesley Watts (our hostess) &nbspwww.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com

Cory Tompkins: http://tealwaterdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Rebecca Anderson: http://songbeads.blogspot.co.uk/

Marie Cramp : http://skyejewels.blogspot.co.uk/

Claire Braunbarth: http://smittenbeads.blogspot.co.uk/

Heidi Post: http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Tiffany Smith: http://southerngalsdesign.blogspot.co.uk/

Sharyl Macmillan-Nelson: http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Ailsa Cordner: http://www.bramalfiebeadsetc.co.uk/

Linda Landig: http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/

Caroline Dewison: http://blueberribeads.co.uk/

Renetha : http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury: http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.co.uk/

Niky Sayers: - http://silverniknats.blogspot.com

Purple Cobwebs: http://www.purplecobwebs.blogspot.co.uk/

Cilla Watkins: http://www.tellyourgirlfriends.com/

Therese Frank: www.theresestreasures59.blogspot.com 

Claire Ennis : http://clairescrystalclassics.blogspot.co.uk/

Emma: http://apolymerpenchant.blogspot.co.uk/

Kathy Lindemer: http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.co.uk/

Alicia Marinache: http://www.allprettythings.ca/ <== you are here

Sandy Huntress: http://keepsakecrafts.net/blog/