Keychains · Ornaments

Helical Key Fob

Anita

This month’s Art Elements challenge has the theme of Seed Pods, and is hosted by Jen Cameron. When I signed up for the challenge, I didn’t really have any idea of what I would make, but soon after, I was reminded of seed pods from my school days. On our way to school and back, we would come across these helical seed pods strewn all around. I don’t see them anywhere these days, and I still don’t know what kind of trees they were from. I thought it would be awesome if I could represent them.

Research using the vague terms I could think of didn’t turn up anything useful, and anyway, I don’t think I even remember those seed pods that well, so I eventually ditched the research and focused on the artistic. That’s when the Cellini Spiral sprung to mind. I’ve admired the effortless gorgeousness of this stitch but had never worked on it myself. After trying and discarding a few color combinations, I ended up with a viable one – I just love these colors!

Helical Key Fob

The Cellini Spiral stitch itself is easy to learn because it’s essentially a tubular peyote stitch, but the constant color change requires some attention, so it’s probably not TV stitching. 🙂 Mistakes are really easy to undo, though.

Since none of my bead caps seemed to really suit this piece, I ended up using a 16-gauge wire for the finishing. I strung the wire through the length of the helix tube and formed the ends. (This wire was so hard to work with!) I also made a jump ring for some extra swing. Now that’s a key fob I totally adore!

So it looks like this project wasn’t about technique-oriented challenges for me, but it makes up for that with the happiness it brought. Thank you, Jen, for the chance to channel a tiny piece of the past into the present. 🙂

This is a blog hop, so please check out the insanely creative ideas from the other guests and the AE team!

Guests: Tammy • Raven • Alysen • Anita (You are here) • Cat • Kimberly • Rozantia • Sarajo • Divya • Caroline • Catherine • Kathy • Jill • Norma
AE Team: Claire • Caroline • Lesley • Niky • Laney • Susan • Marsha • Jenny • Cathy • Jen

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Published by Anita

A software engineer at heart and by profession, I take my creative skills seriously.

40 thoughts on “Helical Key Fob”

  2. It certainly looks like a fancy seed pod, reminds me of some that turn like helicopters when falling from the trees (don’t know the name of three) and the colors are beautiful! Makes me want to finish an UFO Cellini spiral bracelet I started at a beading class 🙂

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    1. Maybe the helical structure makes these turn too! (Wish I’d observed them more…)
      A Cellini Spiral bracelet would look gorgeous! Hope you get to finish it some day.

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  3. That’s such a beautiful piece, a wonderful bold color combination, and being hopelessly nostalgic I love the thought that it brought back a memory for you, too!

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  4. What a bright and colorful seed pod! I love your color choice for this cellini spiral weave. I would love to attempt that some day. I think the heavy gauge wire works perfectly!

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  7. I’m so glad this challenge brought back fond childhood memories for you and that you enjoyed the process. It turned out wonderful and looks like it would make a really pretty link in a bracelet or necklace. Thank you for participating and hopefully we’ll see you again in the next challenge.

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    1. Thank you for the fun challenge, Jen! Yes, I can see this fit perfectly in other jewelry as well – there may be more of these in the future!

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  8. LOVE these colours you have made bead work look effortless but I know from past experience it isn’t easy to tame those fiddly little beads!!

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  12. You say it’s easy because it’s essentially a peyote stitch like that’s easy too. 😉 It took me hours to get a basic peyote stitch started and I gave up bead weaving after one bracelet. Love the colors in your bead.

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    1. Lol, that statement was meant to be encouraging since the stitch looks complicated. 🙂 My first peyote stitch turned out pretty bad too, but the varied translucent colors that I used saved it.

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  18. Beautiful bead work Anita! Great interpretation too. You can anneal (heat up) large gauge wire to make it easier to work with. If you have a common kitchen crème brulée torch or even a lighter would work for 16 gauge. Then just sand to clean and twist away to your heart’s desire. You don’t need to pickle it or even heat til red.

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  19. You could try annealing the wire. It would make it easier to bend or loop. The bellini spiral is so interesting. Does this color pattern have a particular meaning

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    1. I’ll try annealing next time, thank you, Divya! I chose the green and the teal since they are the most organic looking colors I own, and the rest are compatible contrasting colors.

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