"Vedauwoo Blooms"
available in my Etsy store
My friend, Christine Damm, makes the most incredible polymer beads. Quite a while ago, she sent me some to play with and I fell in love with her "Planetary" beads. You can see similar in her etsy store.
Christine is always particularly mindful of the colorways she uses in her creations. This one is especially appealing to me, of course, because of the blues and greens. She's thrown in a touch of complimentary orange for good measure.
This color scheme, and the divine texture of these beads, was the perfect match for one of my favorite stones...turquoise. I really wanted to make Christine's beads stand out so, instead of stringing them alongside the chunky turquoise, I gave them an organic, pod/flower look by adding large, vintage brass bead caps and my "signature" leaves and vines in copper.
The clasp is one of my favorite things about this necklace. I created it from copper and it's large without being clunky. I hear that copper and turquoise are a hot combination right now and I really like the look. The copper beads on either side of the clasp are African.
Oh, about the name... I've got Wyoming on the brain, I guess. Vedauwoo (locally pronounced VeedaVoo) is an area in Wyoming, near Laramie. It's an outcropping of huge rock formations and boulders and is known by the Arapaho Indians as "Land of the Earthborn Spirit." It's a beautiful place (more photos here)...legendary for camping, bouldering, climbing and, well, partying (the college is right there). Many stories circulate about Vedauwoo and there's almost an air of mystery surrounding it. My thought was that maybe, if you visit at the right time of year, and really search, you might find some secret, exotic blooms like this...never before discovered...
This is an asolutely delicious piece...everything about it is pleasing.
Posted by: pati | Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Gorgeous piece! Congrats on the PCD post!
Posted by: marcia | Monday, August 10, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Oh, I too love this piece. I love things will that organic feel. Your blog is so full of inspiration!
Posted by: joanna pierotti | Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Simply Sublime!
Posted by: Beth Bricker | Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 07:30 PM
Thanks so much for showcasing my beads, Deryn, in such a beautiful and unique way! I couldn't have wished for better!
Posted by: Christine Damm | Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 08:17 AM
I love the way the pins you have strung the beads onto are curved! They are adorable.
Posted by: jenn desjardins | Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 05:45 AM
Absolutely stunning as always Deryn! And I love that you shared what that word was and the place the inspired this piece...I would have thought that it was some scifi planet or alien nation! Great blooms you made, and yes, Christine Damm makes the most incredible beads! Enjoy the day! Erin
Posted by: Erin Prais-Hintz | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Wow...what a drop dead gorgeous piece of jewelry! You have truly showcased Christine's beads beautifully. I love what you have done with them...from the flower pods in the front to the sweet clasp in the back! I would love to work with her beads soon too. Oh, and your new Etsy banner is very pretty...is this another one from Susan?
Posted by: Cindy | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 09:13 AM
WOW this is awesome Deryn
Jen
Posted by: Jen Crossley | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 02:13 AM
fantastic !! I love
Posted by: Marie-Aimée | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 02:03 AM
Such an amazing piece! I love all of the textures :)
Posted by: Gillian Hamilton | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 01:53 AM
This is a lovely piece and the beads work beautifully with it!
Posted by: Marie | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 09:18 PM
You never cease to amaze me. Seriously, those are so awesome!
K
Posted by: Karla | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Just a beautiful piece, love the colors!
Posted by: Sandra | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Incredible necklace! You are so creative and inspiring!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Greiss | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 05:47 PM
I think you have perfectly captured the delicate colors of a mystical bloom growing in the dry rocky ground. The blossoms most cetainly represents the
interdependencies of the 4 elements Where else would the Earthbound Spirt's land be??
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan mx.
Posted by: Pattie | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Another homerun for you, Deryn. I visited Christine's Etsy site as well. Not only are the beads unique and truly outstanding but she has created beautiful names for them as well.
Posted by: annie | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Fantastic necklace, Deryn! Those beads really go well with the turqoise and I love the copper clasp (you know me, I just love copper...) The whole piece does have a very organic look.
Posted by: Renate | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Absolutely beautiful! Just stunning...I love the organic feel of it...and the flowers seem surreal! I just ordered some beads from Christine and actually was eyeing those apocalypto ones exactly because of the color.....I am in loooove with this Deryn!!
Posted by: sharon | Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 10:57 AM