Angels in the Architecture EBW Challenge piece

I listed my December EBW Challenge piece yesterday.  The theme for this challenge is Simon and Garfunkel.  I've been a big Paul Simon fan ever since I was little so there was no way that I could skip this challenge.

I talked a little about the background for this piece during my preview post, so stick with me as I recap for anyone who missed that.  One of my favorite Paul Simon songs is You Can Call Me Al from his Graceland album.  One of my favorite lines is "Angels in the architecture/spinning in infinity."  It seemed like the perfect inspiration for a beading piece so I went with it.  And this is what I created.
 

I combined beadweaving and wire work, which was a first for me.  I have two strands of double chain links on the outside with charms.  I have three right angle weave pieces of beadweaving in the middle.  The one in the middle also has charms while the two white ones surrounding it don't to create balance.

There are over half a dozen different angel charms as well as chapel charms, literally the "architecture" for the angels.  The tallest ones, which you can see prominently here, are 1" tall.

I think you have to see this piece on someone to appreciate how well it hangs.  It's a very comfortable cuff.  The charms do make it a little weighty, but if it fits right, you really won't notice it too much.

The beadweaving that I did was pretty simple, but it was challenging to put everything together for this piece so it wasn't too chunky and so that it hung right.  When I started creating the different components, I honestly didn't know exactly how it would fit together.  But I'm really happy with the final result.

And I have a handful of angel charms left over.  I will most likely make a pair of earrings to coordinate with this bracelet.  There will still be some left after that, so if anyone is interested in a different angel piece (like a more traditional charm bracelet), let me know.

If you've never watched the video for You Can Call Me Al, please go watch it.  Even if you know the song, the video is still well worth it.


You can purchase this piece here.  Voting for the December EBW Challenge will take place on the EBW blog December 9-15.  I'll post more information about it as it gets closer.

angels in the architecture preview

As some of you already know, the December EBW Challenge theme is Simon and Garfunkel.  I've been a big Paul Simon fan since I was little.  I still particularly love his Graceland album.  One of my favorite lines from You Can Call Me Al (which is on that album) is "Angels in the architecture/spinning in infinity."  That's what I'm using as the basis for my challenge piece.  I got my angel charms in the mail earlier this week and started laying out the piece.

I'll have more information about the song and about the actual beadweaving/jewelry constructing process later.  I just wanted to give you some background for this piece so you weren't left wondering what all of these angels had to do with Paul Simon.

I'm going to combine some beadwoven pieces with some charm bracelet style links, completed with a toggle clasp.  I have never put anything like this together before.  So far it's shaping up nicely, but it's hard to know exactly how this is going to go.  I may hit a snag in the process, but I'm determined to finish this before the deadline.  I can't miss a Paul Simon challenge!

I may post some more progress pictures or sneak peaks along the way, but I'll leave you with this for now.