Reach for the Stars

Every year I make myself something for my birthday. Most times it is jewelry, sometimes a knitted something. One year I was so into knitting that I made myself knitted bangles.

When Steampunk challenge announced their summer tic-tac-toe I knew I wanted to do the row with the leather prompt. I have been wanting a leather bangle for some time now. There are nice ones around, on Etsy (to buy), or on Pinterest (to drool over).

After a few false starts and "not-feeling-it's" my bangle is now finished. (Just in time for tomorrow.)

I started by cutting off a piece from the roll, then sanding the edges and bending it to shape.

Then I took my leather remnants and this dark celestial navy was talking to me. I paired it with a round shape from an electronic something-or-other (picked from the street no doubt). Since there would be heavy cardboard between the leather and my wrist I decided I could go with regular brads and eyelets.

Then came the part I was not looking forward to. I am no friend of words on jewelry. But as this had started to look like night sky with a moon, and I was using start brads and eyelets, and as I will be wearing it in fall when I start my studies in earnest - all this made me pick ad astra (Reach for the Stars).
I used metallic inks, Adirondack Dabber paint in Copper and Archival Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue.

The letters didn't make a good impression on suede. This suits me fine, the letters are more abstract now, though still readable.

 For closure I threaded through black leather ribbon. There are hematite beads, copper beads,  a copper charm I made in a copper craft class,

there is also a silver peace sign and word. I rubbed the word in with copper paint.

Participating in Steampunk Challenge Great Summer Special with this. I picked the row: Leather - Metal - Words.