This month, October, was the turn of Art Elements Blog member Niky Sayers to host the Component of the Month and she created these amazing coin clasps. Each one features a hare and has been hammered into shape before attaching the clasp fastening. It was love at first sight.
Before it even got to me I knew what I wanted to do. Life has got in the way a bit (when hasn't it just lately!) of experimenting and playing but in my head this was much bigger than it became and of course it is un-finished but I am working on it still.
I knew mine would be a story of a hare. It was around the same time that I walked my dogs, as normal, down at the river in the morning but we were early one day and as we quietly - for a change! - entered the fields there sat looking across the river and into the early morning sunshine was a bunny rabbit. He sat there for what seemed like ages and luckily my dogs didn't notice him so I could watch and be reminded of all the Benjamin Bunny and Peter Rabbit stories from when my kids were little.
I wondered what he was thinking.
When I got home I quickly doodled him into an illustration and that was as far as I got for a few days.
The days became weeks and before I knew it I had a few days left and so I made a very simple concertina book. My plan is to do the illustrations and text on separate pieces of paper and glue them on to the pages I have created, both covering the ribbon I have used to attach the clasp and bulk out the 'book', which is why the clasp is currently a bit more loose than it should be. Fingers crossed it will all come out right.
You can find more of Niky's work on her blog
http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/
I am looking forward to seeing what the others created with this clasp and you can click below to follow the blogs with me.
Guest Designers
Art Element Team