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Friday, November 20, 2015

We're All Ears:: November Inspiration

Papilionaceae seed pods
This months inspiration on the Earrings Everyday blog is seed pods.  I couldn't resist trying to make some earrings for this challenge.  As a student of biology and botany, I love these old illustrations, and nature has such a variety to choose from that the possibilities are just about endless as to fascinating shapes to try.

The only problem I had was deciding on which media to make them in.  I've seen some great ideas with wire and paper that look great.  Polymer clay is a possibility, though I can't say I have a great deal of experience with it (but when has that ever stopped me!)  I like using paper bags to make jewelry and I have used that quite a bit, so I could use that.  I've been wanting to try some metal working though, so maybe I should try that.  Hmmm....so many ideas, so little time!

Well, time ran out and I went with something simpler.  I took a antiqued gold fluted metal bead and added some Ranger Patina in Cinnabar, then sanded it a bit to bring out some highlights.  I decided the bead was still too much one color, so I added splotches of tan acrylic paint over the patina.  Then I strung a small fluted bead cap and the bead onto a head pin and capped it with a matte terra cotta E bead.  I added brass metal rounds and more E beads on the ear wire. 

Seed Pod Earrings
Seed Pod Earrings

Now, I've really got to try some of those other ideas this inspiration generated!  Stop by the Earrings Everyday blog to see all the great designs from Erin Prais-Hintz and a host of others!

Happy Creating!
Terry

7 comments:

  1. Fantastic...Love the color and what you did to these beads ..they really look like seed pods!

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  2. The earrings are beautiful! What a coincidence: I used very similar beads only silver ones :)). Great job on the challenge.

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  3. Sometimes I tend to overthink things and get in my own way when the answer is staring at me all along! I think that this is a great option. I like that you made it suit the challenge by grunging it up a bit. But I really want to see more of those ideas... paper bag earrings? Color me intrigued! Thanks for joining in the challenge with me. Check back on December 4th for the next We're All Ears Inspiration! Enjoy the day! Erin

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  4. These look fantastic and I love how you embellished the ear wires too. I would also love to see what you can do with paper bags, sounds intriguing!! xx

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  5. These are beautiful. Your painting and distressing is fabulous. I hope you do find time to make the paper version.

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  6. Thanks everyone for your kind comments! I guess I really will have to try out the paper idea now!

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  7. These are great earrings - you did a perfect job painting and distressing the main components. And I liked the addition of the cinnamon beads on the earwires. I'm intrigued by your other ideas too. I hope you have time to continue playing and experimenting with those ideas! - Sarah

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