More Neck Lace Exploration

Oh, this neck lace stuff is fun!!!  I'm starting to explore with different kinds of lace, and I made a whole bunch of different samples to try and push my creativity...  I'm starting to paint white lace and colored lace and found some cabochons in my stock of supplies, so I am really getting a kick out of this!

I even ordered a couple gross of heat-set rhinestones from a local rhinestone purveyor...  Sue's Sparklers was recommended to me by a fellow theatrical costume technician whose emphasis is more toward the crafting bent... She knew all about rhinestones and pointed me toward her supplier.  Wow.  I can't recommend it enough!  And it's local to San Diego!!!  I was thrilled!  She's going to start a blog of her own and she just started a new Etsy shop specializing in rhinestone shoes, but I'll share the link later once she's up on her feet and moving forward.

Needless to say I've purchased enough rhinestones to outfit Lady Gaga for years.  Well, maybe not that much.  But close.  Very close.

I wanted to share with you a few of my latest little explorations.  I can't express how much fun this is!  I am going to have to do a tutorial soon.  But until then, here are a few more of my explorations.  The first pic is a piece I'm calling "Relished Amber."  I had some beautiful plastic cabochons that looked absolutely yummy against the metallic rusts and brass of the painted lace.  I think it looks more butterfly-ish this way, too...

The second pic is one of a simple little black and yellow butterfly I'm calling "Relished Sunshine."  The dripping rhinestones in the center hang loosely from the top.  I think it could be cute clubbing attire for that young crowd...  All I need is for Snooky to wear one and I'm set. LOL!  Hm.  Maybe I don't want Snooky to wear one... Is that actually good or bad?  Haha!  And for those of you who don't know who Snooky is, count yourself blessed--you've avoided bad reality TV and are better off!

The third pic is a bit of a departure from the chokers I have here...  It's more of a traditional necklace.  Well, as traditional as I think I can get, frankly...  I'm calling it "Relished Phoenix."  When I folded up the lace and spread out the top ends, I thought to myself that it looked rather like Aztec hieroglyph bird in a way... Loosely...  At least in my contorted mind...  So I dangled some beads from the end to give it a sort of contrail feel, and added bugle beads in the curves of the lace.  The paint ended up being quite fiery, so I decided a phoenix might be an appropriate allusion.  And then just to add more sparkle, I sewed a piece of rhinestone chain to the center, just to add more flash.  Like it needed more... Haha!

Interestingly, all three of these are made with the exact same lace.  They're just painted differently.

Anyway, there ya have it.  Of course, all of these are now available on my Etsy store if you're interested.  I'm off to the store tonight to get more organza ribbon, and I'm exploring a bit of "little girl" butterflies with pink lace!  Turns out those hand-painted lace tutorials I watched are actually going to turn out pretty relevant!  Woohoo!