JAC April Challenge - Steampunk

Each month members of the Jewelry Artisans Community participate in a monthly challenge in order to challenge ourselves and our skills.  Taking ourselves out of our comfort zones and working in unfamiliar areas makes us better craftspeople and artists.  It also opens our minds to new techniques and ideas that we can put to use in future jewelry designs.  Plus, it's fun!

April's challenge was Steampunk.  The best I can describe Steampunk is technology/industrial meets the Victorian Age meets science fiction.  It often uses gears and other parts from old watches, machines, bicycles and the like that are combined with things like bits of lace, pieces of ribbon, skeleton keys, charms, crystals, pearls and small lengths of chain.

This challenge turned out to be much more difficult than I originally thought and gave me a new respect for the artists who create Steampunk.  It's not easy putting all of the items mentioned above into a design that works and that is pleasing to the eye.

Our first submission was from Michele of mcstoneworks who gave us this beautiful design.  I love the blue/green patina and the dragonfly combined with the gears.

Carina of Violetmoon's Corner created this lovely feminine and romantic piece that pairs lace with watch parts.  To complete the design, Carina looped dainty chain at the bottom of the pendant.

My contribution to this challenge were these two pieces.  Not sure exactly what I was going for, but I was pleased to have something to enter into the challenge!

I hope you enjoyed reading about this foray into Steampunk and seeing the creativity of the talented members of the Jewelry Artisans Community.  Great job, everyone!