This month’s Component Of The Month was made by Art Jewelry Elements (AJE) team member Niky Sayers. Niky, who is from London, England, used 2 old farthing coins to make a very cool bead. I didn’t know how much a farthing was worth or when it had been in use, so I looked it up. A farthing was worth a quarter of an old penny and there were also half farthings and 3 quarter farthings. They were taken out of circulation in 1961.
I knew that I wanted to make a multi-strand bracelet with my farthing bead. I thought this raku bead, from Odd Designs, would add some color while also tying in with the coppery color of the coin. At that point I decided to go for blue and coppery brown in the whole bracelet, along with some smaller spots accent colors.
The blue lampwork glass bead (above, right) by Jen Cameron of Glass Addictions was perfect for my third focal bead.
Each of the three strands of smaller beads has a mix of blue and brown glass beads, with some accent colors and some small copper heshe.. Although each strand is different, they all have some blue glass seed beads with a copper sheen and some of the copper heshe. These common components help to tie the overall design together. I finished the bracelet with a handmade ceramic button by Karen Totten of Starry Road Studio.
Thank you Niky for sharing your awesome metalsmithing skills with us in the form of this uber-cool bead! In addition to the AJE team members, 3 lucky guest artists also received farthing beads. My Farthing Bracelet is available in the bracelet section of my shop.
Check out the blogs listed below to see what everyone else made with their farthings.
I am always delighted to read your comments! Hope to hear from you.!
Very cool, this is very unique and groovy Linda!
Thanks Jenelle! ❤
What a beautiful design Linda, It’s fab how you have tied the overall design together with your cleaver use of beads I’m not good at working with colour and really admire those who can use it so well! I also love how you have used Karen’s button as a clasp!
Thnka Niky! I’m glad you like it. Your farthing bead is so unique and fun to use!
Such a pretty bracelet Linda – great use of colour to frame Niky’s focal.
Beautiful! I love the blue and copper with the coin bead. Great choice of accent colors too. Excellent job!
Such a gorgeous bracelet, Linda. I love the combination of colours, texture and shapes. It really shows off Niky’s bead. Thanks for including me in this challenge.
Beautiful design Linda, I would never have put those colours together… they look amazing!
So cool Linda! I love all the color you incorporated…and that we both used peanut beads in the same way!
I am in love with the little bird piece? Do you sell them?
Lovely! That’s a really yummy bead soup mix in those three strands!
As I commented on Facebook – I love this! The textures and colors all come together very nicely. 🙂