Butterfly Bonanza
I always thought it must have been a wonderful time, back before the turn of the century, when the gentlemen had their naturalist collections of butterflies and plants. I wanted these pendants to have the look of butterflies under glass, like those old collections in glass display cases.
No butterflies were harmed in the creation of these pendants! I made up another new bezel shape, very industrial and simple, with a brushed metal front and a copper-bronze patina, to give them the feeling of age and a rustic look.
The trick is getting the butterflies the right size to fit well in the pendant, some of the ones I like the best are too large with their wingspan, to capture all of their beauty in the oval shape. I may have to make some that are round, and see if they will fit and show up that way.
I left the coppery-bronze patina with some darkened spots, hopefully to give a look of great age and wear. I'm enjoying these new bezels!
SEE THE POLL in the left sidebar? Please vote for your favorite Etsy styles, so I know what you like best, and I can make more of those! The Poll closes the middle of April - but don't wait, go ahead and vote now ... and thanks!
I think they would still look cool even if only part of the butterfly fit. like place one off center a little bit.
ReplyDeleteHey, Lorelei - you don't think it would look like I just "missed" and didn't hit the center? I was afraid it would look messed-up - but I'll give that a try next time and see!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback!
Hey, Lynn, I think that off center isn't going to look like you messed up. I think maybe you could look at putting the butterflies at an angle and just going for asymmetry in a determined sort of way if that makes sense. Love the shape and patina on these bezels.
ReplyDeleteLeAnn, I hadn't thought of that - I'll play around with the larger butterflies and a template frame in cardboard and see how that might look. Making the resin part (as you know!) is a time-consuming part, so I tend to be really cautious about making NOPERS - the ones I have to toss because "nope, they didn't work like I thought" - but I bet you never have NOPERS!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I am all about the creation of movement and it would look like a butterfly caught in a fleeting moment. But I love the look of these. They do look like those cabinet of curiosties. So awesome! Enjoy the day.
ReplyDeleteErin
I so love these! We grow butterfly bushes (they're practically tress now!) just to see them
ReplyDeleteI found an antique image of a monarch, I think I'll play around with it this weekend. I'm on grandmom duty with the granddaughter, so it will wait until Sunday - but at least I have an idea to fool around with.
ReplyDeleteI love monarch butterflies!
I agree that you dont have to have the whole butterfly. These are great and i thought that was wood not metal love the textures.
ReplyDelete