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The Risk to Bloom


It all started with an acorn button and grew from there.

In an earlier post I mentioned this button swap blog hop, that I am participating in, and how I was immediately drawn to the acorn button.  Every day I would hold it in my hand, feel its essence, exam it, and then put it down.  This lasted for about 2 weeks.

Then I remembered I had etched an oak tree on to brass when making buttons for my partner Kylie of Lotus Out Loud. 

And...
so begins the journey of creating something with this wonderful acorn button, which only started yesterday. Haha!

 Etched brass was copper riveted to a piece of oak.  Merci beaucoup Papi for finding some oak!  
I am using what Jesse taught me in his workshop.  It was the first time trying his technique.  It worked beautifully!
The riveted brass was then captured with a piece of pierced copper.
Voila!

And then the day came 
when the risk to remain
tight in a bud was
more painful than the
risk to bloom.
~Anais Nin

Namaste
Kalaya

 Hop on over to see what others did with their buttons!
 Kim Roberts and Partner unable to participate at this time.
* Pam Ferarri and Stefanie Teufel (will share their reveal on a later date)
* Stefanie Teufel and Pam Ferarri (will share their reveal on a later date)
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Comments

  1. Pretty ThingsMay 13, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    That. Is. Gorgeous. You do amazing work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kalaya SteedeMay 13, 2012 at 3:03 PM

      Merci beaucoup! I am glad that you liked it. <3

      Delete
  2. ShirleyMay 13, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    I am just blown away by your work! It is just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kalaya SteedeMay 13, 2012 at 6:57 PM

      Merci beaucoup Shirley. Your words are very kind. <3

      Delete
  3. ThoughtfulhandsMay 14, 2012 at 12:40 AM

    That is so cool, your metal work is awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kalaya SteedeMay 14, 2012 at 7:15 AM

      Merci beaucoup for the awesome comment! ♥ ♥ ♥

      Delete
  4. AntiquityTravelersMay 14, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    gorgeous! what an amazing piece!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AliceMay 14, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    What a unique and beautiful pendant! I love the techniques you used to make it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Billi's Paper BatiksMay 14, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    Wow! Beautiful pendant. I am truly fascinated by what you have created. I will appreciate my acorn charm even more now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. CindyMay 14, 2012 at 1:25 PM

    I enjoyed your post so much - your project is entirely different than any I have seen in the button swap blog hop! Thanks for the link to Jesse and his work - I am amazed at his brooches, earrings and necklaces - his style is so original. And it looks like you must have learned so much in his workshop to then transfer to your own design because your pendant is beautiful! I like how you riveted the metal to a wood backdrop and suspended the button from the pendant - a very symbolic piece and so attractive at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kalaya SteedeMay 17, 2012 at 6:24 AM

      Merci Cindy for doing this Button Blog Hop and for your wonderful comment. It was my first time doing a swap of any kind and I enjoyed it tremendously. This particular piece speaks to me so it will be difficult to part with. That is if I part with it at all. Ha! Thanks again. ♥

      Delete
  8. HollyMay 14, 2012 at 2:15 PM

    Oh.
    My.
    Goodness.

    Your awesome pendant (?) blows me away. It's so gorgeous. The work is so intricate and detailed and just lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  9. SaltistoMay 14, 2012 at 7:09 PM

    Looks like Kylie's acorn had a lot to say to you. Such a good listener. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Kalaya SteedeMay 14, 2012 at 9:06 PM

    Wow! Merci, Merci, Merci for all your wonderful kind words. You guys are the best! The journey was sweet. ♥♥♥ Namaste

    ReplyDelete
  11. CraftyHopeMay 14, 2012 at 9:20 PM

    Oh, this is fabulous! I love that you carried the theme of the oak through the whole piece. Very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amber Leilani May 15, 2012 at 8:13 AM

    gorgeous, as always, my friend!! and i see that other blogs i follow were part of this! so awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mystic IndigoMay 15, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    You are so, so creative!! Wonderful application of thinking out of the box with your object...you show such caring and continuity with this...awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kalaya SteedeMay 15, 2012 at 6:49 PM

    Ahh...shucks you guys! :) Merci beaucoup for all your sweet and thoughtful words. ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  15. JuliaMay 15, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    Wow... I love it!!! I can feel the love that you felt for this piece, both while making it and thinking about it. The tree on front and back couldn't be any more perfect, and that acorn button is so cute!

    Thank you for sharing this project with all of us... it is beautiful, and I love your passion for it! <3

    *~* Julia *~* http://beautifullywhimsical.blogspot.com *~*

    ReplyDelete
  16. Firefly VisionsMay 16, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    I love the finished piece. Thanks for sharing your work in progress pics as well. This piece is AMAZING. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. JennaMay 16, 2012 at 6:04 PM

    So lovely. So thoughtful and intentional. And so creative. Really enjoyed reading about and watching it become. :) Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  18. KayzKreationzMay 16, 2012 at 9:01 PM

    That is absolutely gorgeous. I love how you riveted the button to the oak and then framed it with the pierced oak from the back. Very unique.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kym Hunter DesignsMay 17, 2012 at 6:03 AM

    You received a wonderful set of buttons and I love what you created with the acorn button!

    ReplyDelete
  20. playsculptliveMay 18, 2012 at 7:13 AM

    I love the surprise element of the back with the tree. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete

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