May Art Bead Scene Challenge

 "To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."  ~Jane Austen

This month's painting was Cache-Cache by Berthe Morisot.

I love this painting with its quaint little village in the distance, the fun that the mother and daughter are having, the ruffly umbrella and the peek of sky in the clouds. But I will admit that the color palette stumped me a bit.

I am drawn to the dark green and the pops of red, so that is what I pulled out first. Green goldstone is one of my favorites, with its flashes of sparkle in the right light. The red blooms on the tree were the red velvet glass rondelles. To repeat the oval pattern I pulled in some great hammered oval chain. I am hoarding the last foot and a half that I have of it, I love it so. I needed to pull the greens into the piece. I found this Mary Harding toggle that was perfect in tone. I added the goldstone into it, and raided my stash of silks from Marsha Neal and came upon these different shades of green. I decided to wrap the links. No other embellishment is needed to highlight the toggle by Mary. And the best part is that you can wear it any which way...with the toggle in front, or off to one side, depending on what you feel like.

I call this necklace "Seeking Solitude."

I really loved the little village in the background of the painting, so I decided to do one more. I happened to find a pair of little house beads that I believe are from Jubilee that was a perfect match. I used the same green goldstone this time paired with cranberry colored pearls and brass bead caps. I have these funky marquise shaped links from GemmeTresor. I decided to use the same seed beads in the beaded part to wire wrap the links just for interest and to tie in the beading wrapped on the hook clasp.

I call this bracelet "Finding My Home."

Be sure to stop over to the Art Bead Scene on May 31st for the monthly Blog Tour that I host rounding up all the fabulous pieces that were inspired by this months' art.

(And I will also be announcing the ONE WINNER of the HUGE BEADS 2011 GIVEAWAY at the end of that post! Someone will be very lucky indeed!)

Enjoy the day!