WHITE December Challenge Reveal & Blog Hop

Ouf! As we say in French. I just barely got my item done in time for this month's Art Elements Theme Challenge chosen by Claire. She gave us the pure, neutral, very vast choice of White as the theme to design away to our heart's content. I had an idea a couple of days later and set to work ordering a couple of things. I usually like to try a new-to-me technique and so I chose leather. White leather, of course. No tools, paints, stains ... nothing else purchased, but hours were passed gathering 'intel' on internet.
Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada          Photo by Mike Yip

I settled on a White Raven Wing to tie in with some Outlander-Inspired jewelry I've been doing for our online gig. You know, kill two birds with one stone? Pun intended. If you don't watch that Series, or haven't read the books, White Raven is the name the Indians have given to Claire, one of the main characters.
Here's a link to Ravens & the Native Americans:  http://www.avesnoir.com/ravens-in-native-american-culture/ 

Just when I was raring to go with my Raven Wing, I had a couple of orders for a pendant that's been pretty popular and Peg's sister Rob asked me to make a custom jewelry piece for P's Christmas Gift. That made three little hiccups in my carefully (ha) planned timeline. But I must confess that revenue-generating jobs take precedence over 'leisure' activities. After I got those little works of art on their way I remembered that I still had a couple of things for Sissie to make. And since Xmas Day was before the Big Reveal Day, a little more creative planning was in order.
I originally thought this would be a nice, big focal neckpiece but then decided upon a shawl pin since I had ordered some wood hairsticks for Peg's piece and didn't use them.


























When I finally got back to Challenge business, I cut the wing pattern on white leather and added some textural interest with some scoring on the surface, with the rounded edge of my little metal ruler no less. I decided the leather was too soft and thin (like me 😜) so back to the Big "G" to find out how to stiffen it.

I dipped it for a couple of minutes in some very hot water with a drop of ammonia, draped the feather around a ceramic bowl to give some shape and then placed said bowl in front of the little space heater in my 'dungeon' work/live space at Sister's to dry for several hours. That's my pet name for their very nicely finished basement, which is anything but dark! South-facing windows galore.


Break Time! Espresso with a little cashew milk, Magic Cookie Bar & Bourbon Balls.


My next great idea (since I just have to add more) was to paint along some of the scored (barely there) areas to bring out some definition & create texture. Well, that turned out mediocre, Ho Hum ... and I think this will become a focal necklace after all. Maybe.

In spite of this project not turning out as I'd imagined, it was definitely a positive learning experience and I'd like to continue leatherworking. I gleaned so much insight by 'researching' that now I need to procure the correct weight of leather, a few proper tools and create one awesome Feather Scarf Pin.

We had a large turnout for this Challenge, so give us all a little Holiday Love 💟 and join in on the Blog Hop below ... Comments are very much appreciated by all participating Artists. Don't feel pressured to do it all in one day, I usually take a couple of days to get through all of the fab entries.

Have a Safe, Fun & Happy New Year,
Alysen

Guest Artists  
Alysen (you're here)  Anita   Beth   Cat    Divya   Elaine   Hope   Jill   Karin   Kathy   Lucy   Rozantia    Sarajo   Susan  Tammy 
 Art Elements Team
Caroline   Cathy   Claire   Laney   Lesley   Marsha   Susan  

Comments

  1. A wonderful post! I really like the idea of the white raven as an inspiration and I'm looking forward to see a feather as a scarf pin although I love the idea of a pendant, too.

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    1. Thank You Cat! I will perservere and a Scarf Pin will definitely be done in January!

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  2. My first thought for this challenge was feathers to, although not in leather. I love your feather and would love to see it finished as the pin ;)

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    1. Laney, I've said it before: Patience & Perseverance are a couple of my middle names!!

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  3. Great progress amidst all the holiday interruptions! Hope the suspense of whether it becomes a scarf pin or a necklace focal is resolved soon. :-D

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    1. Thank you Anita! Going blog hopping soon & interested to see who else had the same idea ;) ...

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  4. I love the white raven theme and your feather will make a beautiful pin, or necklace

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    2. Oops, had a computer hiccup ... Jill, thank you. It's all a learning curve ...

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  5. It's awesome that you always try new things, and also awesome that the Outlander heroine Claire is the same name as Claire who chose the white challenge! :)

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    1. Acck! Another compie glitch!!
      Well Sue, I need to strettttch myself and these Challenges force me to. Yeah, I noticed that while writing the post, Claire / Claire ... spelled the same too!

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  7. It's been a while since I worked with leather, so it was a delight for me to go through your leather moulding process and recollect what I used to do

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    1. Just beginning with leather Divya, so hoping to refine the molding process. Along with tooling, dyeing, etc!! I've always been a late bloomer, and this is no exception :)). Al.

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  8. You came up with a great idea and took on something new. Good for you. I took great interest in your work with the leather. I am starting to do more with leather. You are braver than I. It is lovely.

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    1. Thanks Kathy, but I don't think I'm braver than you ... I just figure if it doesn't work the first time, I'll try try again. Like I've said, I embrace each Challenge with the thought of doing a new-to-me technique ... but then again, there are only so many :) . I don't have bottomless pockets and I will have to lug any purchases back home one day. I'm not trying to have a full workroom with everything one could possibly imagine.

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  9. Oh, this was indeed a great idea! I understand having to work on the paying gigs first for sure. But, that you time for this to marinate. I do like seeing the scored lines in your final product, but hate that it's not how you had envisioned. I can't wait to see what else you do with leather now that you've done the research. I bet it's going to be phenomenal. Now, I need to start watching Outlander at some point! ;)

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    1. Actually Hope, the painting is growing on me. I ruminated over it today (you know, picking it up, leaving it for a time, looking again). I definitely marinate ideas! Phenomenal is a huge word, maybe Interestingly Accomplished? Outlander is the only Starz (or cable) series I watch. And the books are divine! Al.

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  10. Oh how fab... Working in white leather seems fun.... I would love to see how it turns out when you have made your decision....

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    1. I love your play on words Chattylaine! I really love the different hues of white, recently I made a piece I'll probably list soon and it's mostly white/silver with a greyish microsuede cord. I love these AEChallenges because they push us to try somethine we might not try if just designing a new piece to sell.

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  11. Good for you, pushing yourself to try something new. I know nothing about working with leather, but it looks as if you're off to a great beginning for whatever the feather becomes.

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    1. Tammy, I think I just like hearing myself think / say 'leather feather' :)))). I know nothing about leather either, other than I like the feel & smell. And like leather fringe! Anyway, I would have had a nicer outcome IF I had known what I was doing, methinks.

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  12. I think it turned out beautifully.... Loved reading about your process!

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    1. Thank you Caroline. I was up til 3 a.m. finishing the post & actually forgot a few pix. Oh well ...

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  13. I love the idea of the white raven feather (also thank you for sharing the raven information - it was interesting to read). I love the look of the feather and the texture you added. It sounds like you had fun doing research - can't wait to see more done in leather!

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    1. I'm so glad you actually clicked on the link and read it! I certainly do whenever someone includes a link, I just make time for it. Oh, research is always FUN, n'est-ce pas? But time consuming.

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  14. So cool seeing into your process! I love the way the texture looks on the feather :)

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    1. Thanks Marsha! As I mentioned in a reply above, today the texture / painting grew on me. Now I've got to seal it with whatever I have available ... these are acrylic paints so it can't be water-based. But might as well give it a go.

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  15. Love the feather! Can't wait to see the finished project - pendant or pin. :)

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    1. Me too! I did spray the feather with a matte protective stuff.

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  16. Looking lovely - great inspiration.

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  17. What a wonderful idea! I am curious how the feather will turn out but I can already imagine it being a gorgeous focal point for a necklace! (mh... but thinking about it... it would alsolook cool in a mixed media art piece... choices...) I can so understand the desire to try out new methods, materials, and techniques! There is such a joy in experimenting and learning! Thank you for participating in our Art Elements challenge (and the first one I hosted) :)

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    1. Well, Claire, you gave us such a great theme, hard NOT to find some inspiration somewhere ... didn't know it was your first! I look at it every day and being me, I want to add some embellishment to it, but at the same time maybe some chains .... and figure out how to hang. Never done rivets either, but have some ...

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  18. I'd be too scared to try a completely new medium for a challenge but kudos to you for the idea and having the focal done! It looks great and will certainly make a nice piece of jewelry!

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    1. Thank You kindly Rozantia! Oh go ahead, take a small chance for the next challenge ... if it doesn't work out you can recycle it into something else ... someday :)

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  19. Not sure if my first comment posted? LOVE the paint accentuating the texture! Glad you could join us this month!

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    1. Jenny, I had some uploading glitch and it could have gotten deleted. I accidentally replied to the wrong person!! Perhaps just user problem too.
      Thank you for your upliftng comment about the paint, I thought it looked funny but it's growing on me!

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  20. Sorry to be late hopping (again!) You're feather is looking really cool. You'll figure out what to do with it!

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    1. Better late than never! :)) Thank you for the encouragement Sarajo.

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