I haven't been as faithful to watching the Project Runway shows each week. It is something that my daughter and I like to watch together and since she is back in dance, Thursday nights she is gone from 4:30-9:00pm. So I have a few weeks to catch up with (don't tell me what happens!).
And of course, I left this until the last possible minute. So here I am (I won't tell you the hour, but you might guess what it is...) finishing up my earrings.
I know I said just PICK ONE of the outfits that you wanted to design earrings for, but I am the Host, and as such it just wouldn't do to not have a variety on hand! I truly loved all the looks. So I sat down first to sketch. Each and every one ended up being very long and streamlined, but with subtle differences for each outfit. That is when I realized that I should think like a Designer.
When a fashion designer is making a collection, they put in elements that are a common thread throughout. Color. Pattern. Textile. Shapes. So that is when I decided that I should make ONE COMPONENT that is a comment element in all six designs (and exactly why it took me so much longer to complete this challenge than my normal last minute efforts!).
Since the shape I kept coming to was long, I decided that I could make a dagger out of polymer clay. I wanted it to be long and thin (perhaps because these lovelies are all so long and thin?), with texture, and a little bit of shimmer. I rolled balls of black, dusty plum and magenta in some metal leaf, rolled that on a texture plate to make the shape and rough the surface. Baked. Then painted with a mixture of gloss black and dark antique copper. Wipe to reveal some of the surface treatment. I guess I could have used all the same clay as the paint really made them all the same!
A :: Flirty with a little bit of added color to the deep plum, reinforcing the flower shapes with the different petal bead caps.
B :: The black Vintaj fairy petal bead cap mimics the lace pattern with a deeper purple crystal and subtle touches of copper to bring out the metal leaf.
C :: This monochromatic look is rocker, but a bit subdued. I kept it simple and sleek mixing in a silver tone for drama.
D :: This one shoulder dress is my favorite look. I bet that would look good on a variety of body types! Because of the built in asymmetry in the dress, I decided that just one shoulder-dusting earring positioned over her bare shoulder would be the way to go, with a bit of regal bling.
E :: This girl is badass, yet she has a softer side. I have had these funky vintage brass nesting beads in my stash for years. They seem to project the right attitude while the faceted lilac pearl softens it.
F :: The soft drapes of this dress almost have a geometric shape to them. I thought that just one long earring peeking out would heighten the drama. I used seed beads for the shape that sort of came together by accident.
So... what do you think of my designer collection? Did you think like a designer, too? I would love to hear how you approached this challenge and decided what to make and if you made more than one, whether you made them a cohesive unit or completely standalone. Do tell!
Now it is your turn to "make it work!"
