Stone and Wood Cairn Earrings

Hi Everyone!

Today, I'm taking some time to play.  I haven't had time lately to try a challenge, but I finally have the energy and time to try one.  One of my favorites is on the We're All Ears challenge with Erin Prais-Hintz on the Earrings Everyday blog.

Here's February's We're All Ears challenge.  It's based on the land art by an artist from Wales, Jon Foreman.  His website, Sculpt the World, shows his amazing natural art.  He uses leaves, shells, stones and sand drawing to create wonderful patterns.

Here is one of his stone patterns:

Sculpt the World

Here are the amazing beads Erin created for the Reveal:

I was so inspired, I had to try something similar.  I had some polymer clay lying around that I bought to try some time ago.  It is Sculpey Premo in Granite, so it's perfect to create rock beads.

Here's what I created - some stone beads, a molded face and a donut.

I took some of the stones, some wood chips and some waxed thread and created some rustic earrings.

Stone and Wood Cairn Earrings

I like the natural woodsy look of these.  Working with the polymer clay turned out to be so fun!  I'm ready to try more!  Now, I need a bead rack, some mica, a clay oven, etc. etc!

Take a look at more of our inspiration at Sculpt the World.  And, check out the other wonderful designs at the Reveal.

We're All Ears:: Encapsulated Potential

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by.  Today I created a pair of earrings inspired by Erin Prais-Hintz on the We're All Ears post from May.  This is the photo inspiration from the post.  It is Ruth Asawa's wire sculptures.  Read more about her and her amazing art on Erin's post.


Here is a set of earrings that were inspired by Ruth Asawa's sculptures:

This doesn't show any encapsulation, but I like the way they came out.  Getting the globe to sit well on the wire was solved with the bead caps that sit inside the mesh bead.  The next photo shows how they sit in the large hole.

This was a fun challenge, but I was too late to post a photo on the blog.  Go here to see the other designs inspired by this amazing wirework.

Autumn Earrings

I just have a little time left to participate in this month's blog hop over on the Earrings Everyday: We're All Ears site.  The inspiration from Erin is fall and she provided this wonderful set of fall leaves in all the glorious splendor that is autumn.

Three weeks later, and I missed the chance to participate in the fall leaves earring hop above.  But, no matter, I finally have a chance to create some new fall earrings and that's what is important.  Create when you can!

Here's one pair that I created with some copper wire - an abstract kind of leaf.

Abstract Leaves Earrings

Here's the link to take a peek at the other fall earrings that were created!  And, here's the reveal for the plaid inspiration earrings for this month.  I've still got time, maybe I can get another pair made!

Here's another pair that I made:

Hammered Leaf Earrings

For these, I cut leaves, hammered them, oxidized them and added Ranger antique copper patina over the top.  Serpentine and faceted glass rondelles are strung on copper wire.

We're All Ears: Fabric-Inspired Earrings

Hi folks,

Today I'm taking the time to create some new earrings.  I love them; they are one piece of jewelry that I always wear.  And, they are quick and easy to create compared to other more extensive pieces of jewelry like a necklace.

The inspiration comes from the Earrings Everyday blog.  This month, Erin chose fabrics from Spoonflower.


So much fun!  Now, to pick one or two and create some earrings to go with the fabric.  Lots of fun ones, but I decided on the fabric on the bottom row, second from the left.  There are a lot of interesting mandala-type circles there and I thought I'd try to imitate that in an earring.

I found some buttons that were perfect to work with and used embroidery thread to sew a pattern in the buttons.

Mandala Earrings

These were a lot of fun to make.  I've got to try more of this on other filigrees.

Thanks for the inspiration, Erin!  Take a look at all the other lovely designs on Earrings Everyday.

We're All Ears - Calder Inspired Earrings

Hi Everyone!

Today I am creating along with the We're All Ears monthly challenge on the Earrings Everyday blog.  This month the inspiration is the art of Alexander Calder.  Thanks, Erin Prais-Hintz, for the inspiration.

Rouge et Noir, 1955, Alexander Calder

We are trying to capture the movement and momentum of his kinetic sculptures in a pair of earrings.

This is perfect for me as right now I am in the midst of teaching lessons on Calder to the homeschool group for which I am an art tutor.  So far our group has created stabiles and worked with clay.  Next week, we will create a circus in wire and recycled materials inspired by Calder's circus.

I have always admired Calder's mobiles, but I have learned so much more about his life and art as a result of teaching about him.  Did you know he created jewelry as well?  Here's an example of some of his pieces:

More inspiration!  I love the hammered brass.

So, with Calder in mind, here's a pair of earrings that I created:

"Got that Swing" Earrings

These have a really nice motion to them and swing as you walk, hence the name I chose.  They also have a little rocking movement as the wire in the spacer is smaller than the hole and slips back and forth.  I have combined silver metal spacer bars, gold beads and spacers and gunmetal head pins.

"Got that Swing" Earrings

Such a great inspiration this month.  Thanks, Erin!  The work of Calder is enough inspiration for a lifetime!  I am working on some hammered brass wire earrings, too.  I hope to show you those soon!

Hope you are inspired to create!

Terry

We're All Ears - Chandelier Earrings

Hi all,

Having a little fun today with the February challenge on the Earrings Everyday site.  This month's challenge on We're All Ears was chandeliers.

To find out what kind of chandelier style appeals to me, I took the short quiz from Hudson Valley Lighting.  You should take it - it's quick and fun.  I got Classic Heritage, which suits me perfectly.  Choices that appealed to me included a country farmhouse kitchen, wingback chair, footed bathtub and an airy white bedroom.  It said I like Neoclassic, Gustavian and Victorian styles.  (I had to look up Gustavian; it's a restrained version of the Louis XV and XVI styles.)  And, if I were a city, I would be Williamsburg, Virginia.  It also said I liked finding a good antique.  Pretty accurate, all around!

So, I decided to delve into my stash of Victorian-style components and create some chandeliers from those.  Easy enough, since I still have lots from the book I designed a few years ago.

Here's what I created:

Regal Chandeliers

I think that I can wear these to the opera!  Check out all the other fabulous ideas on the Earrings Everyday post.  Thanks for the inspiration, Erin!

We're All Ears - Leftovers Challenge

Hi!

I've got a list a mile long of things that I want to get done today.  We don't have a Christmas tree yet, I need to pay the bills and send out cards - and I haven't finished my shopping yet!  (This was last week!)  But, I'd rather be beading!  I should get a shirt that says that!

So, I'm making some earrings - because they always make good gifts, too - so maybe I can cross a couple of items off my list at the same time!

Erin challenged us to take a picture of our work areas.  Take a look at hers here.  And, I think I can match hers.  I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it does leave me with plenty to work with in making earrings!

Here's my workbench:

At least, there is the possibility of finding some space to work here. 

But, my desk looks pretty hopeless!

Oh my!  What a disaster!  Right after Christmas, I'm tackling this mess.  (Right!)

Earlier this week, I made some earrings for friends.  I like to make easy holiday earrings.  This year I made some snowmen.

Snowman Earrings

They were fun to make once I figured out what to use for the hats (sequins and seed beads).  I might add little scarves though I like them this way, too.

Here are a couple with little scarves of Kreinik ribbon.

Now it is the 24th, and, unfortunately, circumstances did not permit more beading.  Maybe next year!  I'd like the gift of time for Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Wishing you peace and joy and happy beading in the New Year!

Harvest Moon Earrings

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by!

Today I'm participating in the Earrings Everyday monthly challenge.  The inspiration this month is the harvest moon.  I love moon watching.  My husband and I usually head out to our ranch to watch the harvest moon come up as the sun sets into the ocean.  We didn't make it out this year, but we have many special memories.

Here's what I cam up with for the harvest moon challenge.  I had some shell discs that I thought would be perfect.  I wanted to show the moon through the branches of a tree.  I tried wire, but that wasn't looking quite right.  Then, I discovered some copper branch components in the drawer.  Those and a little chain to tie it together did the trick.  The branch can swing across the moon as it would in the wind and the chain can go over or in back of the moon.

Harvest Moon Earrings

I ended up taking a lot of shots of these earrings to try and show the features of the shell discs.  I like to try different backgrounds, too.  The above was on a rusty pot.  It usually takes about ten shots to get a good one for me!

On paper bag collage

On plane tree bark

I think I like the tree bark the best.  It shows the gold and black in the chain and one moon is showing the shell surface well.

And, here's one with the earrings on a piece of cardstock.

Thanks for the inspiration, Erin!  Go here to see all the other designs.  Happy Harvest everyone!

We're All Ears July Challenge

Hi there!

Today I'm on a music-inspired design challenge from We're All Ears on the Earrings Everyday blog.  Erin Prais-Hintz has inspired us to design earrings using a visual representation of a music piece.  I chose Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue represented by Andy Fillebrown.  The piece (along with American in Paris) has been a favorite of mine since I used to listen and dance to it in my parents' living room.  I liked to do a lot of interpretive modern dance in those teenage years. 

Here's the link to the YouTube video created by Andy Fillebrown:
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFF2miSQ4Zg

I am not sure how to get a screen shot, so I hope you'll watch the video.

It is something like the opening to Star Wars as you watch the notes come toward you, stretch and disappear.  You can see all the notes being played as if by two hands as you go in toward the center of the piece, then ripple outward in the runs of the notes.  It gave me a deeper appreciation of the complexity of the piece and how it all fits together because it allowed me to see it all at once.  If I were a pianist, I'm sure I could explain it better, but I only poke at the piano using my right hand.  I've never really learned the base clef, but it was fascinating to see the chords being played out visually while listening to the music.

One can start out with one idea or impression for a design in one's head and then the design evolves and changes as you try to interpret it with the materials and skills one has.  Meaning:  I thought I had that material in that color and I can't find it anywhere in this pile!  And, oh, I forgot I had that, maybe that will work here!

So, after trying numerous materials and ideas with a few camera glitches thrown in, here is my interpretation of the visual representation of Rhapsody in Blue.

Rhapsody in Blue

After all the frustrations, I am pretty happy with these.  I think they reflect the visual representation of the music with the different levels of blue notes.  And, they are full of movement, reflecting the swinging jazzy music.

For more earrings inspired by these unique visual representations, go to the We're All Ears Reveal.

We're All Ears :: August Challenge

Hi everyone!

Today I'm playing along with the We're All Ears Challenge for August on the Earrings Everyday site.  Our challenge this month is to create earrings evoking a campfire. 

Here's a pic from the challenge:

[Photo Credit :: Alex Holt :: Unsplash]

This one captures a lot of wonderful memories of times around the campfire for me.  Camping was a big part of my life as a child.  Most of our family vacations involved camping.  And, I continued it with my own family.  Now, my kids are continuing the tradition with their own children.  That just makes me happy as I think of the traditions passed on through the generations.

I created earrings that capture the glow and warmth of the fire and these memories.  I happened to be working with some copper sheet and had cut and hammered some rectangles.  These make a reflective backdrop for some swinging Swarovski crystals.  A wire-wrapped wood bead represents the firewood and contrasts with the copper and crystal. 

Dancing Embers Earrings

Here's a couple of photos that shows the reflection of the crystals on the copper.

Dancing Embers Earrings

Dancing Embers Earrings

What a fun challenge!  Thanks, Erin!

We're All Ears :: Hot Air Balloons

Hi everyone,

Today I'm playing along with the We're All Ears challenge for July on the Earrings Everyday blog.  The inspiration this month is hot air balloons.  We regularly see balloons overhead here, and they are always fun to watch.

I've had these hollow copper filigree balls in my stash for awhile.  I thought the style and size were perfect for this challenge.  They are not bright and colorful, but the intricate pattern reminds me of the original hot air balloons.

Filigree Hot Air Balloon Earrings

I was thinking of adding rigging to the balloons, but that didn't fly!  So, to the filigree ball, I added a filigree bead cap and some spacers all in antiqued copper and strung them on copper head pins.

To see the other wonderful designs inspired by hot air balloons, go here.  Thanks for the fun inspiration, Erin!

We're All Ears - Arabesque Earrings

Hello!
Today I'm inspired by photos on the Earrings Everyday blog that Erin Prais-Hintz presented for the We're All Ears post.  She showcased arabesque art from the mosques of Iran as an inspiration for our earrings.  These stunningly beautiful sights are a wonder to behold.  Here is one photo she used, but be sure to take a look on the We're All Ears post for more amazing structures.

Celling of Hazrate-Masomeh’s mosque in Qom, Iran

As I contemplated these photos, I was struck by the similarities to other intricate, geometric designs.  Rose windows came to mind as I am teaching an art lesson on that now.  But, it is a very ancient and deeply embedded type of design in the human psyche.  Buddhist mandalas, Celtic crosses and Navajo sand paintings all share the same beginning in the circle, which represents the wholeness and unity of the cosmos. For those who want to see how these geometric designs are derived from the circle, see this: The Art of Islamic Pattern.

Now, how would I capture such intricate geometry in an earring?  Of course, I can only capture a small bit of it, an impression of it  I happened to have a couple of metal filigrees that would make a good start for the a patterned and divided center.  I layered on another filigree piece and filled the center with a turquoise rondelle and fluted bead cap.  But, it needed more, so I added dots of patina around the large filigree.  As is always the case, I debate with myself whether to add more or leave it alone.  What do you think?

Here they are:

Arabesque Earrings

And, another photo against the fence so you can see the effect of the patina and filigree layers better (but a little blurry!).

Arabesque Earrings

I would love to play with this idea more.  Thanks, Erin, for the inspiration.  I always enjoy your informative posts!

Happy Creating!
Terry

We're All Ears :: January Reveal

Hi!

Today I accepted the We're All Ears challenge on the Earrings Everyday site and have made a pair of earrings in the new Pantone colors.  There are two colors of the year for 2016 - Rose Quartz and Serenity - basically a soft pink and a soft blue.  I happen to like both of these colors and have created jewelry in both, but I have never combined them.  




Going through my stash of beads, I found this combination that I liked:  a frosted rose quartz faceted glass rondelle, an sapphire glass faceted cube with an AB finish and a clear pink E bead.  The AB finish on the blue glass picks up the pinks in the other beads.

Soft and Serene Earrings

These colors would be great for a wedding.  Making more of this same dangle and a vintage brass chandelier finding would be very elegant.  For a bolder look, add in the brighter pink or the darker blue from the 2016 Pantone colors.  Here's the full palette:





I think there are plenty of nice color combinations to last the year! That aqua and the tan, aqua and green and yellow, the grayish blue with the rose....yep, lots to work with!

Happy Creating!

Terry

We're All Ears Challenge

Hi Everyone!

Today, I'm playing along with the We're All Ears challenge on the Earrings Everyday blog.  

This month our challenge is to make earrings from the "craftermath" left on our tables from previous designing.  You know, the areas that never get cleaned up where layers and layers of beads and findings have built up, been pushed aside or worked over the top of--I understand this concept very well.  In fact, that seems to be the way I work.  My favorite method is to use divided paper plates to hold a project.  They are stackable and there aren't too many accidents that way!  Of course, when I look for something on my table, it becomes a bit of a frustration because I have to remember where I happened to use that particular bead or finding or fiber last!

We are to take a photo of our work surface to show our starting point.  No problem!  I'm just deciding which surface to show - they are all a hot mess! 

I decided on the work bench.  I recently order a bag of mixed brass stampings from a new-to-me vendor.  So, of course, I dumped that on the bench to see what it contained.  It's still there along with beads and findings leftover from previous designing.  Then, there are some things that I have purchased recently that I haven't had a chance to use yet - waxed linen, sea glass and hammered aluminum rounds. 

Leftovers

I have to admit that the above photo is staged.  Lots of other stuff was shoved to the side.  I tend to use a lot of plastic baggies to organize beads so there are a lot of those lying around, but they don't look very good in a photo.  Here's the other table that I work on.  Maybe looking at these will inspire me to clean up!

More leftovers

I liked the idea of the muffin pan for sorting, so I went from bench to table and it felt like I was shopping in my own "studio".  

I did use some of these combinations and beads from my tray, but I had others lying around that I used also.  After a week or so of hesitation, I finally put some together.

Earrings from Leftovers

This was my last pair.  I really like the combination of colors and textures here and the tribal/jungle/rustic feel.  And, I made my own ear wires from head pins.

New Paths Earrings

Thanks, Erin, for the fun times exploring my leftovers and coming up with new combinations and ways to create.  And, it's a good thing you left the challenge open for a week, because it's been a BUSY week!

Merry Christmas to all!  And, wishing you peace in the New Year!

Terry

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