Friday, February 15, 2019

We're All Ears: February 2019: Frozen


This month's theme for the We're All Ears challenge is Frozen.  Well, Erin could not have chosen a more apt prompt for this month, at least for those of us living in the great stretch of the country dealing with the polar vortex and stupid amounts of snow.  Minnesota is already having the 4th snowiest February in history, and we're not even half way through the month.  Whoever pissed Elsa off needs to apologize!!! 

I have to admit that at first blush, I honestly wasn't sure I had much to use for this month's challenge.  I used lots of snowflake themed items for the December Art Elements Theme of the Month (which was "White."  You can see that post HERE if you like.)  I was surprised at how many ideas I suddenly had when I shifted my thought process from actual snowflakes to beads with an icy feel!

My first trio of earrings all focus on frosted or Mercury finished Czech glass.  These all have a winter woodland theme going on with leaves and wee pine cones.


Next up, a couple of pairs of earrings with long ear wires.  The ones on the left feature some vintage plastic from Allegory Gallery paired with snowflake bead caps and dyed agate.  The pair on the right uses some cultured sea glass under some of my favorite pewter bead caps that remind me of lily of the valley.


I didn't ignore my art beads either!  The pair on the left has some fun swirl pattered ceramic charms by Marsha Neal dipped in teal matched with polymer clay discs by Humblebeads, crystal, and brass.  The pair on the right is totally fit for Elsa!  Photos don't do the sparkles in the clear pale blue lampwork glass justice.  I added crystals and leafy bead caps to the design and topped things off with some Swarovski crystal and sterling ear wires.


I wasn't done yet... but I'll say that these last two are a bit outside my normal design comfort zone.  I played with some oval pewter links and iridescent Czech glass teardrops for the pair on the left.  I'm unreasonably happy about the pair on the right which are in no way my normal style!  I've been working on getting my studio under control and have been sorting through beads and supplies.  In this process, I found these fun caged gems that I got in a goody bag at a retreat.  I didn't have anything appropriate to hang them from, so I got out some copper wire and my hammer!  Although I like how the hammered copper curves in this instance, I do wish that I was capable of getting this sort of thing to stay straight!  I like the way the gold and copper tones work together in these shoulder dusters. 


Pop on over to the Earrings Everyday blog HERE to see what everyone else was inspired to make this month!

8 comments:

  1. Wow. You really were inspired for not having much to work from! LOL! I love all the moods of winter that these earrings embody. I think those caged beads were from the cruise last year because I have some too. I think I most adore the wee lily of the valley ones (they will be popping up soon, right?!) and the woodland frosty themed ones with leaves and pinecones. All magnificent! Thanks for playing along with us on the We're All Ears Frozen challenge! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  2. Sarajo!! You always do such marvelous work looking at all the twists, turns, and possibilities of a theme! I love how you think...and my favorite of this collection has to be the last pair. The copper pendants with the caged gems is magic.

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  3. Good grief! I hope the weather gets better for you. You must be frozen in your jewelry room to produce so many inspired earrings. Each one is wonderful. The last is amazing.

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  4. Lovely earrings! You are so talented!

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  5. Lovely, lovely combinations of components, Sarajo! I love the splashes of copper / brown that complement the icy blue wonderfully.

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  6. wow, you have indeed made enough earrings to stock up a store. It good to see so many interpretations of the theme

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  7. For someone who didn't think they'd get much made, you blew this challenge away! I love those mercury glass finish beads. I'm totally going to have to find some! You keep using them, and every time I see them, I just stare! I think we may have both used the same cultured sea glass beads in a pair of earrings. Funny. And, I ADORE those caged beads earrings. I think the hammered copper is a great handmade accent for them. It warms them up a little. Excellent job with all of these designs!

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  8. Wow! You've been busy! My favorites are the ones with the copper connector on tip in the middle!

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