the "Nautilus" Goes Deep, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" - Sci-fi Blog Hop Reveal

   So I happened upon Crazy Creative Corner's blog post about the Sci-fi Blog Hop last night. Sounds cool, but unfortunately it's tomorrow, right. Keep reading.......ooh, I can still sign up if I tell her right now. So here I am. No, I'm not a masochist.  I happened to have something sitting on my bench that fit the category. You know that piece that's been on the to-do list to finish for way too long. This was the perfect excuse to push me to get it done... and photographed.... and some marketing at the same time.

Sci-fi reveal

     So this is a two part-er. The 1st piece I actually finished recently but hadn't even been photographed yet. and the second is along the same theme, but different. They are sort of an odd pair. 
    I bet you can guess what my inspiration was. Glub 
                                                                          Glub
                                                                             Glub

“On the surface of the ocean, men wage war and destroy each other; but down here, just a few feet beneath the surface, there is a calm and peace, unmolested by man” 
― Jules Verne

    The 1st piece I finished recently, but has yet to see the light of day. The "Nautilus" is described by  Jules Verne as "a masterpiece containing masterpieces." This cuff bracelet is layers upon layers. My base is Alpaca fiber wet felted on a wire armature. Angelina fiber is melted onto it creating the awesome iridescent textured finished. The nautilus swirl hammered copper clasp closure was the inspiration for the name. Embellished with an abundance of deep sea treasures. Crochet bullion sea anemones in hand spun wool. A giant chunk of crackled Turquoise makes an excellent reef for sea creatures to hide. Dangling seahorse swims through the reef. A raw chunk of coral is wire wrapped on. Sea shell charms in brass and Czech  glass and a Chalcedony briolette dangle. Pearls of every kind imaginable tucked into every corner and finally wrapped with black eyelash yarn for seaweedy texture. Because it is completely wired it's sizing is quite adjustable. Can be worn at the wrist, as an upper arm band (Cleopatra style), or as an anklet. 

the "Nautilus" mermaid cuff bracelet

“The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the Living Infinite. ” 
― Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

    The second piece "20,ooo Leagues Under the Sea" is the piece that has been on the back burner for a while. The bronze finding was given to me by a friend. It's a scrap of an old door bell. I immediately imagined a ships port hole window. Then a package from Greece arrived with these really cool octopus stamps, and the rest is history. 

"I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus's garden in the shade.
He'd let us in, knows where we've been.
In his octopus's garden in the shade.....
We would sing and dance around
because we know we can't be found.....
We would shout and swim about
The coral that lies beneath the waves.
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they're happy and they're safe....."

    This was my first attempt at something steam-punk, but it kinda looks like I used too much pyxee dust. It's a fun and fantastical piece though and I quite like the results.  The base of the cuff is cut out of metallic peridot green patent leather.  I wanted to attach the port window with rivets, but I didn't have any.  So I cut off some nail heads and glued them in place to mimic the effect.  The toggle hook is more decorative than functional. The cuff fastens with heavy duty velcro.  An octopus tentacle reaches, curiously through the port window. Felted on a wire armature with seed bead suction cups.  He is adjustable. He'll even hold something for you.  All sorts of barnacles attached themselves to the side of the ship. Greek octopus postage stamps as well as ransom style spinets about Jules Verne, and his famous novel adorn the wrist band. Accented with clam shell confetti and all sealed in lacquer. The toggle ring is accented with a brass seahorse, Czech glass clam shell and a spotted trout lamp work glass bead with sari silk fish tails. 

"20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" octopus cuff bracelet

“The sea is only the embodiment of a
supernatural and wonderful existence.
It is nothing but love and emotion;
it is the ‘Living Infinite...”
― Jules Verne
  
    It took a little longer to finish than I anticipated. After meeting Cat Kerr today http://inthelightofthemoon.blogspot.com/    http://www.etsy.com/shop/catcreations92b?ref=pr_shop_more
I was inspired to add a few more layers than initially intended. Like the effect I got.
    Then just when I was ready for my photo shoot I discovered a dead battery in the camera. Arrgh! I guess I should have charged it after last weekends blog hop. A watched battery takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to charge.

    Thanks to our hostess with the most-est, Pam (the crazier sister). Thanks for stopping by and looking.  Now go check out every ones crazy cool inventions.




Pam (the crazier sister) Host   http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Melissa Trudinger  http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Lee Coopman  http://stregajewellry.wordpress.com/

Skye  http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca/

Shelley Graham Turner   http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/

Denielle Hagerman  http://www.somebeadsandotherthings.blogspot.com/

Susan Bowie  http://susanbowie.wordpress.com/

PyxeeStyx (Kelly Hosford Patterson)   http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/