Saturday 13 October 2012

History Hop Reveal!

Today is the reveal day for the History Hop. It's a hop that takes you back in time to appreciate the beauty and styles of jewelry - from the ancient to the 20th century.

This is the first blog hop I've hosted, and I couldn't be more pleased that 20 other artists decided to join me. I'd like to thank Sandra Wollberg again for sharing the beautiful blog hop button she made for us. Thanks Sandra!

And thank you all for participating! Now let the fun begin...




Ancient Rome

Ever since I went to the British Museum in London, I've been in love with Roman jewelry. That's probably the reason I started this blog hop. 

At the museum, I recognized some of the gemstones that Romans used. Carnelian, onyx, lapiz...Serpents, wire, bangles, and gold were popular.  I found a lot of helpful information here and used it as a reference for my design. 

What did I make? I didn't have a plan, really. I ordered some very thick 2.9mm brass wire from my friend Tanya, of PloiThai. I immediately started working on a bracelet. But instead of cutting it down, I used the entire length to make a meandering zigzag. What did that look like? A snake!


Coiling serpents were often used in Roman times and symbolized immortality. Mine wasn't real gold, but the brass polished to a beautiful golden shine. I shaped my snake, hammered it, and etched in a pattern for the scales. 

I didn't want to cover the snake, so I wire wrapped gemstones around the circular part. I dug through my stash and found carnelian, lapis lazuli, tiny topaz, and some blue sapphires Tanya sent me.

 I secured the stones with more brass wire creating a decorative pattern as I went. I didn't want to over complicate it. See the sapphires? There's a tiny topaz nestled between them.



The bangle can be worn with the snake going up or down the arm. It's a comfy fit mid-forearm or works well around the wrist with the tail trailing along your hand.

 Going up...

...and down.

I'm planning to make more Roman inspired jewelry, as well as exploring other time periods. I love how naturally this piece came together. It's Roman inspired with my own wire twist.


Below is the full list of participants. Be sure to check out their blogs as they post throughout the day. I can't wait to see what everyone made.

Happy hopping!


Ahowin - Art Nouveau www.blog.ahowinjewelry.com
Alicia Marinache – Victorian http://www.allprettythings.ca/
Becca's Place – Renaissance www.godsartistinresidence.blogspot.com
Beti Horvath – Ancient Egypt and Art Deco www.stringingfool.blogspot.com
Cherry Obsidia – Ancient Mecynae Greece www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.com
Cooky – Renaissance www.shepherdessbeads.com/Blog.html
Jennifer Davies-Reazor – Medieval www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Kathleen Douglas – Indus Valley www.washoekat.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel – Etruscan www.sadafulee.blogspot.com
Lady Grey – Victorian www.beadsteaandsweets.blogspot.com
Laney Mead – Pre-Columbian www.laney-izzybeads.blogspot.co.uk
Leah Curtis – Ancient Roman www.beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.co.uk
LiliKrist - Persia www.lilikrist.com
Melissa – Mesopotamian http://design.kcjewelbox.com/
Melissa Trudinger – Art Nouveau www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Micheladas Musings – Ancient Romans www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com
Sandra Wollberg – Art Nouveau www.city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.com
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson – Art Deco www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com
Tracy Stillman – Victorian www.tracystillmandesigns.com

38 comments:

  1. That is gorgeous!!!! Love how you tooled the snake out of wire! Its perfect.

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  2. I just am so excited about this blog hop. What an inventive and wonderful idea to pick different periods from history. Love your pieces and plan to look at all of them. Thans so much for doing this.

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    1. Thanks, Mary! I'm glad you're enjoying the blog hop. I will do another History Hop in the future.

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  3. That's a true Roman bracelet!! Absolutely perfect - love it!

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  4. Gorgeous! Great take on the time period ^.^

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  5. What a fantastic design! truly stunning!

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  6. You came up with a great idea for a hop. Thrilled to see all the cool pieces in it. I love your snake bracelet, and the wire wrapped stones really set it off. Great creativity!

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    1. Thanks so much, Shirley. I hope to do more History Hops soon.

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  7. Oh my goodness, I love it! You did a fabulous job on it! I love all the gemmies, and the brass turned out gorgeous! I love the snake look to it!
    Amazing, Leah. :)

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    1. Thanks, Heather! Glad you like it. I had no idea what I was going to make - it just happened!

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  8. Such a wonderful piece, Leah. I love how you've made that snake. I remember working on a project recently where a snake bracelet would have been ideal. I looked at it and said "no way!" I love that you looked at it and said "way!" ...and then made it happen!

    Thanks for hosting this fun event! I learned a lot and enjoyed participating!

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    1. Thank you, Sharyl! I learned a lot, too. There are some great resources out there on history jewelry. Hoping to do another hop soon.

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  9. Love! Very light and wearable, yet substantial!

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    1. Thanks, Beti, and thank you for taking part!

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  10. i love it!!! especially the colors you chose. well done

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    1. Thanks Paula! I was lucky all that was in my stash - love gemstones.

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  11. Wow! That really is perfect. The bracelet is stunning on so many levels!

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  12. I just love your coiled serpent, it's perfect for your chosen historic period too.

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  13. Love the snake theme and your wrapping is beautiful.What a great way to use wire that is chunky.As far as cutting it goes LOL use a saw.Side cutters just will not do LOL Love and hugs
    Tanya

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    1. Thanks, Tanya! Once I realized it was too thick for clasps, I knew it had to be a bracelet. And no way would my little cutters do the job! x

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  14. I've been away for a couple of days, so I'm just getting to commenting now! I love this arm band/bracelet, it really is very Roman! I can just see an elegant Roman lady wearing it ...

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    1. Thank you! I loved your reveal piece, too. So glad you could join in!

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  15. Thank you so much for hosting this hop! I am sorry I am late... Your bracelet really does capture the Roman aesthetic, and those gems together are stunning!

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  16. Leah that is beautiful, I love it, as well you know, your jewellery is a hit in this house! I am just about to post my effort on my blog, but am looking up those that are on time! Thanks for including me, I would love to do another blog hop, now I know what to do! x

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    1. Thank you Laney! So glad you could join in too. I'll definitely let you know of other blog hops.

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  17. Hi Leah I am a great friend of Laney and was delighted to see this blog hop as although I dabble with cardmaking my hobby passion is silversmithing and I have attended a weekly class for the last 10 years. I occasionally share some of my creations on my blog. I shall be most interested to look at the other entries. Thanks for organizing this, your pieces are really beautiful.
    Jane x

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    1. Thanks for stopping by my blog, Jane. Any friend of Laney is welcome! Glad you enjoyed reading my blog and seeing what everyone made. There were some beautiful pieces. I'll have a look at your blog - love silversmithing myself, but haven't tried it yet.

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