"Cleopatra's Prize"

Inpiration:  "The Colors of Egyptian Art"

Leafing through a catalogue recently, I came across an example of Egyptian art.  I cut this part out because I love the combination of colors and wanted to use them in a bead embroidered cuff bracelet project.

I've covered up a part of the writing in the lower left corner to make it less distracting - but the colors are black, terra cotta, turquoise/verdigris and a subtle, light gold color.

The above photo shows the beaded bracelet on the foundation before it was attached to the inner brass cuff.

It's always easier to see the whole design flat like this, instead of wrapped around the circular cuff.   

click on any image to enlarge

The turquoise that I chose for my bracelet is a much stronger color with a deeper intensity than what is shown in the example of Egyptian art above.  I was happy with the colors I chose, and the ones in the example were merely a jumping-off point.  Perhaps at a later date I'll use the same inspiration but choose a true light verdigris and incorporate the light gold, as well.

For now, I liked the stronger palette - and I always go with my first instincts.

The turquoise stones in this bracelet are dyed Jasper. These small disks were arranged flat with a size 15 terra cotta glass seed bead as a "stop" bead to hold them down.  They showed more of the Jasper placed this way, instead of lined up flat, side to flat side.

 I've decided there just isn't a "look" that Jasper can't fill in for - it's been my go-to gemstone for most of my projects.  The central oval cabochon is also Jasper, and this one has a rich terra cotta color that works so well with the turquoise.

The round stones with an orange glow are Carnelian.  This stone marries well with turquoise, as it is a very close complementary color (green-turquoise + red-orange).  In addition, I added in some faceted crystals with a turquoise and gold, and a number of turquoise-colored glass pearls in two sizes.  The rest are seed beads - all glass beads, in sizes ranging from 8 to 15.  The blacks are both the shiny opaque black (Czech size 12) and the matte black (Japanese size 8) for added interest.  Tiny light turquoise seed beads are intersperced in any areas where the round stones left a bit of a gap.

The edges of the cuff are finished off with a picot edging,
and the underside is a very soft teal-colored UltraSuede. 

As usual, my work is hand-sewn and embroidered on Nicole Campanella's NBB, the foundation that is perfect for this work.  There is a brass bracelet blank inside sandwiched between the top beaded part and the underside UltraSuede, which is in a rich teal color.

For more information on my preferred bead embroidery foundation called NBB, please click here:
http://beadwright.com/

Contact me if you are interested in sources for brass bracelet blanks or UltraSuede.

"Verdigris and Sepia" Tags

The  VERDIGRIS and SEPIA  TAGS

The patina formed on rusted copper and some other materials such as brass and bronze that are exposed to the elements is called VERDIGRIS for its lovely green-gray color.  Often a turquoise shade that develops due to outdoor weathering can be seen as well.  This is one of my favorite colors, and nature herself creates it!

The vintage photos of olden days in SEPIA tones also intrigue me.  That distinct yellowish-brown-gray color found in ephemera of times past is another color I gravitate to quite often.  There is a *stop and take a look* calmness and serenity to sepia-toned photographs. 

To celebrate these favorite two colors of mine, I created the "Verdigris and Sepia" Tags which are displayed on a burlap-covered board.  This is third in a series - the first being the Christmas Tags, and the second set being the RED tags. 

                                                        "Verdigris and Sepia Tags"


*Click once or twice on any of the photos in this blog to see an enlarged image.

*RUST*

*RUST*

An altered art book created by Lynn Lindley

that celebrates the beauty of RUST ~

focusing on the color of rust and verdigris,

and featuring the unique texture of rust by inclusion of actual

rusted embellishments such as washers, nails, S hooks,

keys, pins, paper clips, and other 3D pieces,

all with a vintage flair.

This altered art book also includes hand-dyed silk ribbons,

vintage ephemera, lace, words/text/pages from old books,

distressed tags, buttons, stickers, photographs, tiny faux jewels,

images from outdated magazines, letters and envelopes from

the 19th century, glass, seashells and anything else that

struck my fancy that was rusty or defined "rust" such as

entries from old dictionaries. 

Oh, and paint. Lots of paint.

Below are the pages from the book, along with selected notations

of what is on the page (mostly cut-0ut text from old books) but

is difficult to read in these photographs.

Click on the pictures to see a larger image

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are the photos of the pages in the book.
(After the photos are the words on each page.)

Woman says: "I admit that I have an inexplicable fondness for rust."

 Myth: Rusty Nails Cause Tetanus

The lock was impenetrable due to the rust

on the ancient key plate.

 The box was forever sealed shut with rusty nails.

The Gifford Sisters, Mathilda and Maude

Writing on left side (cut-out words from the text of an old book) reads:

"Mathilda was a lovely and gentle nice girl but Maude

she was a hovering witch and the most beautiful of the

two women ... Mathilda and Maude were also trying

desperately to marry powerful, young men from London."

 "Do you love me?"

"Yes, my lord." "Of course."

Was he infatuated with her at that time?

Yes, very much in love with her.

 Quincy invented Rust-OLeum.

I tell you that I know he's the

only man who had this formula.

 Their inheritance amounted to nothing

more than an old bucket full of rusty nails.

 Alice St. Cyre

She was a tough little button.

She was too proud to acknowledge her poor

relatives, Rusty, Miranda, and Little Luke.

 Carmen ~ She worked in the bookstore at #5 Rusty Lane.

 He was a regular at the Rusty Nail Pub

sitting at the bar ordering *Rusty Nails* and

waiting for his friends to show up.

 The gleaners removed the rusty nails from

the old abandoned structures and

used them to reinforce their own homes.

 Her hair was the color of rusty nails.

The very dangerous neighbors ... Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Hunt, and Mrs. White ...

"specially exasperating, slightly rebuking old fogies"

Rusty washers were the only things

holding their relationship together.

Georgie was a laundress who specialized in

the removal of rust stains from fine linen.

Her heart was hammered shut with rusty nails.

The solution called for a tincture of rusty nails.

She collected seashells and rusty nails.

Inside of back cover of *RUST*

*RUST* by Lynn Lindley ©

"HOME" Altered Art Book

Altered Art Book

"HOME"

by Lynn Lindley ©

Here is the cover of my latest altered art book titled, "HOME" which features a verdigris finish with old, rusty house keys, hand-dyed silk ribbons, and a paper piece from a 19th century women's magazine partially titled HOME.