Showing posts with label New Earring Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Earring Monday. Show all posts

Monday, December 28, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 51 and 52

Well, it looks like it's the end of another year of New Earring Mondays for me!  Time just keeps flying on by!  With the holidays and trying to get out a last batch of special orders, I haven't had a ton of extra time or energy for creating, but I did manage to eek out a couple of last pairs of earrings for the year. 

Actually, this first pair of earrings was one of those special orders!  One of our neighbor girls had been asking me if had any hot pink earrings back at my Holiday Open House.  Sadly, I did not, but I did show her a set of beads from Heather Powers of Humblebeads and they were just the ticket!  Her ears are newly pierced, so the lightweight polymer clay paired with sterling silver was a perfect choice!  They ended up being a Christmas present... I hope she loved them!


Next up is a pair of earrings that I made to go with one of my new snowflake necklaces.  I love the crackle effect of the matte crystal quartz... perfect for a Winter Wonderland look!  


Since this is my last New Earring Monday of the year, I'm throwing in a bonus pair!  This last pair was another special order for someone at Unearthed Arts.  A gentleman wanted a pair of earrings to go with one of my necklaces that he was buying so I made two different pairs to give him options.  The ones he chose were a version of a pair that I've already shared here, so I'm sharing the pair that he passed over.  I love fluorite so it's tempting to keep these babies for myself!


I just want to say a special thank you to everyone who has played along with me this year in my little earring challenge.  It's been so much fun seeing what each of you has created and also to see you grow and try new things!  (Don't forget to put your links in the comments below.)  I also want to thank my readers who have followed me through all my crazy earring adventures!      

I think I'm going to take some time off from New Earring Monday for a while (I've been doing it for over 2 years now!) to make room for some other challenges and projects.  Do not fear, I LOVE earrings and will keep on making tons of them... I hope you'll keep creating too! 

Monday, December 14, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 49 and 50

Sorry it's been a little quiet here on my blog the last week.  I tend to go into a little bit of hibernation after a show plus we had family in town giving us a nice break from our usual routines!

This week I'm sharing a couple of special order earrings that I created before my Holiday Open House.  (Thanks again to everyone who came out!!  It was a super fun day for me!)

So, first up I have a little pair that I whipped up when my friend wanted something for a teenager who loves The Hunger Games books and movies.  I didn't have anything that specifically fit the bill but I had just gotten some new brass bird charms from Vintaj, so I whipped a little something up.  They aren't actually mockingjays, but I thought that they still had feel that worked.


My other two pairs were made as possible gifts for someone else on that same friend's Christmas list who loves all things butterfly.  Unsure of what necklace length to choose, she decided that earrings would be a better fit.  I got some color preferences from her and started to play.  


Now it's your turn!  Please add your links to your own earring creation in the comments.  I love seeing what everyone else is making too!

Monday, November 30, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 47 and 48

As another year of New Earring Monday posts winds down, I hope that you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving last week.  I think I may still be in a turkey coma, but earrings wait for no man (or bird!)  This is a very special New Earring Monday for me since, in addition to the two pairs I'm sharing here on my blog, I'm also a guest blogger over at Earrings Everyday today!  I'm so honored to have been asked to do a post for one of my favorite blogs about my favorite thing to make.  I hope you'll check out that post HERE.

When I got the invitation to be a guest blogger I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to share over there so I worked up a few different pairs.  For this installment of New Earring Monday I'm sharing the other two pairs that were under consideration.

First up, I received a couple of ceramic headpins from the talented Mary Harding (thanks, Mary!!).  The colors made me think of some photos of tulips we took on a trip to Amsterdam and I ran with that idea.  Here is a little taste of my inspiration.


Since the headpins were mismatched, I went for asymmetry but tried to keep things pretty balanced.  Sometimes it feels like I have all the flower beads, so I knew that I could find suitable "tulips" to top my little earring stacks in colors to coordinate with the headpins.  To round things out, I chose a piece of faceted carnelian (one of my faves!) and an English cut Czech glass bead plus silver plated bead caps and wavy discs.  I realize that mismatched can be challenging for some customers, but hopefully these little cuties will find a good home.  Personally, I'm just proud of myself for getting brave and actually using fancy headpins instead of being terrified of messing them up! 


My second pair is a rare foray into making post style earrings.  I bought these cute copper plated flower earrings from Ezel Findings when Lima Beads was discontinuing them.  (Not only are they adorable, but I also appreciate that the post itself is sterling... great for folks with metal sensitivities.)  Anyway, I attached lengths of decorative leaf chain to the loop on the bottom of the flowers and then further embellished the chain with some tiny crystals in a teal and bronze color.


Now it's your turn!  Please add your links to your own earring creation in the comments.  I love seeing what everyone else is making too!


Monday, November 16, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 45 and 46

The year just keeps marching on... finding us at weeks 45 and 46!  The last couple of weeks have been busy ones in my world.  We've seen our friends' play, caught the new James Bond movie, gone to two concerts, and had a whole weekend of birthday fun for my sweet husband.  On the jewelry business front, I participated in a small craft show at my husband's workplace and delivered a collection of jewelry to the West Side Perk coffeehouse in Bloomington.

My first pair of earrings this week were designed to compliment my newest necklace design that was made in response to this month's Art Bead Scene challenge.  (If you missed that post, you can check it out HERE.)  I didn't want the earrings to be too matchy matchy with the necklace so I started with the same leaf shape but in turquoise with a Picasso finish.  This pair is a twist on an earring design that I haven't made in a long time.  I pulled in some dark read Czech glass beads and plated hematite to round out the design.


Next up is a special order that a friend requested.  They are destined to be a gift so I won't out who they were made for!  My friend brought me the little "drink me" charms and asked me to make some Alice in Wonderland themed earrings.  Today is seriously dreary making winter photography even more challenging than usual so you can't really tell that the jet beads have shiny polka dots on the otherwise matte surface.  I chose them because I felt they give a playful feel to the red and black design.  I'm hoping my friend loves them... otherwise it will be back to the drawing board!


My Inlinkz account isn't playing nice today but I still want to see your earring creations!  Please share you link in the comments so I can pop by and see what you've been busy making!

Monday, November 2, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 43 and 44

>Happy New Earring Monday and welcome to November!  I really thought that October was going to move at a more leisurely pace, but that's not really how it went down.  I think that it might be time to admit that life will probably always be a whirlwind!  Despite that fact, I vow to try and savor every moment and experience I can... two more months to enjoy what 2015 has to offer.

I'm super excited to share this first pair of earrings for this installment.  While digging around in my messing studio for something else entirely, I stumbled upon a pack of cool silver colored filigree pieces that I bought from my friend Marcia when she was destashing some items she no longer needed.  Even though I'd looked at this pack many times before, suddenly the light bulb went on and I had a clear idea of what I wanted to try with them.  

I pulled out some Arte Metal rectangle blanks from Vintaj and matching rivets and then sat down with my hole punch pliers and my hammer... and bingo!  I would love to make another pair, but I seem to have lost the filigree pieces in my mess of a space.  (I really hope that Marcia doesn't read this!!)  It may be past time to do some studio clean up... maybe next week.


I decided to keep with a riveting theme for my second pair of earrings... I really don't play enough with this technique and I really should do more!  This time I mixed copper and Arte Metal for a leafy pair that feels like fall to me.


Monday, October 19, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 41 and 42

Wow!  We are week 42 of 2015 which means only 10 more weeks in the year... and only 5 more New Earring Mondays left!  That just blew my mind a little bit.

This week I'm going to kick things off by sharing another special order that came out of the Art Wander.  In this case, the customer had seen a necklace she liked at my house on the Wander, but ended up walking away.  When she got to Unearthed Arts, where I have my jewelry all the time, she saw a similar design and decided to buy it as a gift... just one problem, she needed earrings to go with it!  We finally got the chance to meet up and design what she wanted and here it is what we came up with...


Next up, I've been playing with a design that I debuted at Art Wander... my long oak leaf and owl earrings.  I've been trying some new colors (love these beads!).  I've only sold two pairs of this style so far, so I should probably slow down on production, but I love this design!  I'm in desperate need of an Etsy shop revamp, and I'm thinking I'll list these there and see what happens.  I know long isn't for everyone, but I'm hoping that the right person will find these little hooties.






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Monday, October 5, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 39 and 40

Hey folks... it's already New Earring Monday again!  I have to admit that the last two weeks haven't been super productive in the earring department.  Leading up to the Art Wander I was in mostly bracelet and necklace mode.  The week after the show was mostly spent tagging jewelry and restocking my area at Unearthed Arts... and recuperating from a busy September!  I welcome October and a (hopefully) slightly less hectic schedule.

I haven't been a total slacker.  I did manage to complete two of the four special orders that came out of the Art Wander that were for earrings.  So I guess that's my theme this time!

First up, a pair of earrings made for a new customer.  She brought me a pair of earrings on long, arched ear wires with some bright lampwork beads.  She liked the style but wanted something more neutral.  I didn't have any art beads that fit the bill for her, but I was able to pull out a couple of other boxes of beads to show her some options.  She ended up liking some Czech glass saucer beads in s funky iridescent light blue and brown.  There's color there but it's subtle.


My other special order came from an ex-coworker who found a necklace that she loved but needed earrings to go with it.  Again, I was able to pull out some of my bead boxes to show her some options for custom earrings.  (This is one of the best things about being a studio on the tour instead of a guest artist... I've got all my supplies at my fingertips and can easily adapt a jewelry piece or make something new for a customer.)






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Monday, September 21, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 37 and 38

Happy Monday everyone.  I don't know about you, but I'm looking down the barrel of a super busy week.  If you haven't heard me mention it yet, this weekend is my big three day art show... The Edge of the Big Woods Art Wander!!!  I've got tons to do before the show starts Friday afternoon and, per my usual way, I'm sure I'll be scrambling until the last minute (and possibly beyond).  Luckily, I thrive under pressure.  It's a super fun show and totally worth all the frantic energy that goes into it.

Last month I shared all my art bead spoils from Bead Fest Philadelphia HERE... I've managed to make a pretty good dent in my new found stash.  I'm proud of myself for getting in there and using so many of my new pretties instead of just rolling around in them and hoarding them all!  (Of course, I probably shouldn't give myself too big a pat on the back since using them meant that I didn't need to put them away!)

Time is at a premium, so I'm going to let the earrings mostly speak for themselves.  Enjoy!  And if you're in the local area, come see me this weekend at Studio J on the Art Wander!

Left to right beads by: Firefly Design Studio, Humblebeads & Jenny Davies-Reazor, Humblebeads & Firefly Design Studio

Left to right beads by: Humblebeads, Humblebeads & Nichole Valentine, Humblebeads & Spacer Bead Shop

Left to right beads by: Humblebeads & Nichole Valentine, Humblebeads & Firefly Design Studio, Humblebeads





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Monday, September 14, 2015

New Earring Monday Special Edition: Art Wander Preview!

I'm not due for another New Earring Monday post until next week, but I've been so busy making new earrings for the Art Wander that I thought a special edition was in order!  (Also, I shared some of them in my email newsletter that went out yesterday, so the cat's out of the bag so to speak!)

The Edge of the Big Woods Art Wander is a three day studio tour that takes place throughout Carver County Minnesota.  My house is s studio on the tour again this year with guest artist Jules Rentz of Jules Loft.   Here are the basic details for my local followers and friends:

Studio J
1966 Fountain Lane
Waconia, MN 55387
651-283-2680

Art Wander Hours:
September 25 - 27

Friday, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Saturday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm 

For full Art Wander details visit: www.artwander.com 




Ok, onto this week's extra does of earring goodness!  I hope you'll stop by next weekend if you are in the area... Jules and I would love to see you!

Some fall inspired leaves and owls!
I'm not ready to give up on flowers just yet...
Art beads in action with polymer clay from Humblebeads mixed with lampwork from Tanya McGuire and ceramics from Firefly Design Studio

Monday, September 7, 2015

New Earring Monday: Weeks 35 and 36

Happy Monday, everyone and also, for my American friends, Happy Labor day!

As promised in my post on classes at Bead Fest, I'm sharing the last of my class projects here today for New Earring Monday.  Kathleen and I decided to try out one of their 45 Minute Beginner Workshops that were new this year.  The idea for these classes was that they would be quick, fairly easy, and you wouldn't need any supplies.  Unfortunately, that may not have been made super clear to all the instructors...more on that in a minute.

Anyway, we decided to sign up for the Faux Fire Opal Earrings class that used ICE Resin and what they call their Fire Opal inclusions.  I steered us toward this particular class for a couple of reasons:  1) Earrings are my favorite thing to wear and to make, 2) I'd already signed up for classes that would yield 2 bracelets and 2 pendants, 3) I've wanted to try ICE resin but have been chicken.

The classroom for these beginner classes was in a little area right off the show floor.  I think that the idea for these classes was giving folks another avenue to take a break from shopping and get a little dose of education squeezed into the weekend.  Our instructor for our little class was Jen Cushman from ICE Resin and it was fun to hear a little more about the background for their product and learn more about it's properties.  She also shared some of the challenges she and other instructors had faced with this particular classroom space (for instance no electrical and one of the classes required tools that had to be plugged in... oops!)  Jen had originally planned to have us make our own ear wires for this project, but when she realized that folks wouldn't be bringing ANYTHING to class at all, that part went out the window and she bought a mix of findings from a nearby vendor.  In the end, all most of us did was pour the pre-mixed resin with the fire opal inclusions (a shiny, colored plastic material) already added into the bezels.


After we poured the resin in, our bezels looked super cloudy... like almost white with all the bubbles.  Jen assured us that the bubbles would clear away as they cured but also showed us a trick to blow hot air from your mouth onto your bezels.  That helped a bit, but they were still pretty cloudy when we left them to cure overnight.  When we picked them up Sunday morning on our way out of town, they looked much better, but still have some bubbles in there (it's hard to tell from the picture I snapped).  When I got home, I tossed the findings and the original rhinestone rondelles that Jen had given us in favor of all brass findings and some different beads to make it more my look.  I think these will look great with the new Steampunk outfit I'm contemplating!

My verdict:  our class was a fun way to spend 45 minutes at Bead Fest, but they have some kinks to work out if they are going to offer this type of thing again.  While my finished earrings aren't perfect, I'm pretty happy with them and look forward to playing with ICE Resin in the future.  I'm going to get over my fear of mixing the two parts together... it will happen!

My second pair of earrings this week were designed to go with one of my new necklaces.  I made the necklace with a graduated strand of impression jasper but I pulled the biggest stones out because of the scale of the pendant.  I used those larger stones along with some of the smaller rondelles, some shell pearls, and brass accents.  Here are both the earrings and the necklace they go with.  The necklace features a ceramic pendant by Tracee Dock of the The Classic Bead.









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Monday, August 24, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 33 and 34

August is speeding by like nobody's business.  I can't believe it's almost September.  I just got home from Bead Fest Philadelphia (my first time attending!) and I might be having a bead hangover today.  I'll be sharing more about my experience in the upcoming days but, for now, it's time for New Earring Monday!

For this installment, I decided to play with some fancy brass bead caps that have been languishing in my stash.  I bought them thinking that they would make great cones for multi-strand necklaces (and they still will!), but for some reason they caught my eye when I was thinking earrings.

I did two versions in two different colors... a darker purple for the simpler version, and lighter purple for a two-tiered pair.  I was somewhat limited in my color choices for these since I don't have many 10 mm Swarovski pearls in my stash.  I finished both pairs off with little plated hematite spacers at the top of the cones.



Ignoring the color, which version do you like better?  The short and simple or the two-tiered?  I'd love your input since I'm officially in full production mode for the Art Wander studio tour.  Your thoughts will help me decide where to focus my attentions.  I'm thinking I'll add a few more colors of the pearls to my next online bead order so I can add more variety.



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Monday, August 10, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 31 and 32

Good morning everyone!  I have to admit that I'm a little groggy and more than a bit off my game today after having spent the last 11 days attending the Minnesota Fringe Festival.  We saw 42 1 hour performances along with a touring Broadway Show (Kinky Boots) over the course of this year's fest.  Too many late nights out on the town seeing live theater, eating out, and hanging out with friends didn't leave me with much time for making jewelry but I did manage to get my earrings made for today.

This week I'm revisiting the use of decorative chain in my earring designs.  I've been meaning to make more earrings with this stuff since I bought it, but just haven't managed to circle back until now.

My first pair features some little lampwork beads by Tanya McGuire.  I kept these really simple just wire wrapping the lampwork with some gunmetal beads and leaving the leafy chain unadorned.


Next up, I played with adding some additional beads to the leafy chain to switch things up a bit.  I used some little lucite flowers and crystals in shades of pink to give a pop of color.  I thought it would be fun to have the chain dangling from inside some floral bead caps.


My second pair serves a second purpose beyond my personal earring challenge as well.  I have been receiving monthly bead boxes from Blueberry Cove Beads for a little while now.  Each month they issue a challenge to subscribers to make something with a particular item from the current box and share it.  Participants get a chance to win the next month free.  This month's challenge was to use the lucite "cherry blossoms."





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Monday, July 13, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 27 and 28

It's hard to believe that this year is already more than half over.  Gulp.  But I'm still at it with the earring making!  This round I was challenged with a lack of time and good lighting, but here's what's new with me on the earring front.  Check back this Friday for more earring creations from me when I share my July We're All Ears post!

I decided to revisit some fun brass decorative drops this time.  I haven't made anything with these in quite some time and I thought I was overdue for something fun and flirty.  I paired them with some of my smaller gemstone beads... Green paisley jasper for the first pair and fluorite in the second.








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Monday, June 29, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 25 and 26

Happy Monday!  Boy, the two weeks since my last New Earring Monday have just flown by!  With trying to get caught up from a trip to San Diego, several jewelry design challenges, and a quick weekend trip to San Francisco, I've been burning the candle at both ends.  Luckily I've still found time to keep up with my personal earring challenge.

I thought I share a couple of pairs of earrings that are sort a jumping off from the most recent We're All Ears challenge.  Full disclosure, I made this first little pair a few weeks ago (yup, sometimes I keep things back for when life throws me a curve-ball).   They totally fit with the tide pool inspiration, but I figured since I made so many other pairs for the WAE challenge that I would "save" these for today!  I embossed some small brass circles (loving this new to me size!) with mismatched sea life designs and added a little aqua paint before sealing with Renaissance Wax.  I paired them with some Czech glass rondelles in coordinating colors for a perfect beach-y pair of earrings.


Next up is a pair that is similar to one I made with starfish charms for the WAE challenge.  This time I used some pretty little polymer clay leaf charms from Humblebeads.  To keep them more affordable, I paired the charms with some Czech glass rounds wire wrapped with brass filigree bead caps, more glass, and tiny coated hematite beads with little facets.







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Monday, June 15, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 23 & 24

Good Monday Morning!  How has June been treating you so far?  It's been a busy one for me so this is going to be a short post.  We just got back from a week long trip to San Diego for the National Homebrewers Conference and now I'm busy playing catch up... so let's dive right in!

This week's theme, if you will, is using up some of those pesky random in my stash.  Lately I've been splitting my time between making new jewelry and trying to bring some much needed organization to my out of control bead stash.  Most recently I've been focused on getting my metal components and findings to a point where I can actually find what I'm looking for and along the way I've re-discovered a lot of things that I totally forgot I owned.  Instead of taking the time to find a home for some of these little components, I decided it would be easier to just make something with them... so I did!

First up, a pair I whipped up with some fun fan-shaped connectors and a mix of Amazonite beads.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but the small rounds are a matte finish that I just love.


Next is a super simple pair I made with some small copper connectors and faceted beads in coated hematite.  They are more of a vibrant purple and burgundy than my photo shows.  I think they have a regal feel to them.



And here's a bonus pair... I made them to go with the necklace I made for last month's Inspired by Reading Book Club.  You can see that piece HERE if you missed it.  These are fluorite and bronzite with brass.



Monday, June 1, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 21 & 22

Happy New Earring Monday and welcome to June!  This year is really just flying by me... I've got no idea where the time has gone other than away.

This installment is all about texturing metal with hammers.  Maybe it's just me, but I find taking a hammer to a piece of metal to be super therapeutic.  Anyway, I'm starting to have a serious little collection of hammers and I know I don't use any of them as much as I should.  I decided I would pull a couple of them out and take them for a test drive!

First up is a little pair of Vintaj Arte Metal blanks that I whacked textured with a riveting hammer.  I sanded over the pieces to bring out a little of the silver metal underneath the blackened surface giving it an almost birch bark effect.  I also sanded the little leaf charms to make them more silvery and add some contrast.


I got a little fancier with my second pair.  I used one of the faces for my interchangeable texturing hammer to add some sharp dimples to the copper blanks.  I then rubbed turquoise colored paint into the depressions to add a little pop of color that I then echoed in the Swarovski crystal dangles that added to the dragonfly charms.






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Monday, May 18, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 19 & 20

Happy Monday, everyone!  For this week's New Earring Monday I'm combining the themes of the last couple of weeks with another design that a magazine passed on and more decorivet fun!

First up is a pair of earrings that I made with ceramic flowers made by my friend Tracee Dock of The Classic Bead.  One of the categories for the Fall 2015 issue of Jewelry Stringing Magazine was "Big and Bold Earrings."  I thought these fit that description (and their color palette!) pretty well.  I mixed in some waxed Irish linen and brass beads and components.  



Here's another pair of decorivet earrings... this time with an oak leaf and acorn pattern.  I paired the blackened metal with brass and some pretty red maple leaf beads.  These might be better for fall fashion, but I am not one to pass up an idea when it pops into my brain!







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Monday, May 4, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 17 & 18

The theme of this week's New Earring Monday post is designs created for magazine submissions that weren't accepted... hey, it happens!  While you always want everything you submit to be accepted by a publication, that's just not reality.  The way I look at it, the worst thing that can happen by making something specifically to submit for a magazine is that they don't want it and you have a fabulous piece of jewelry to sell (or to keep for yourself!).  Really, it's a win win situation and they only way you are going to get published is to put yourself out there and try.

Anyway, I made both of these pairs in the flurry of activity that was the Muffin Tin Challenge hosted by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.  (You can read my post about that and see my overflowing muffin tin HERE.)  The timing of her challenge was perfect since deadlines were looming for two different magazines.  Both of these earring pairs were for consideration for Create Jewelry Magazine, a yearly special issue that Interweave publishes that focuses around color palettes.

The highlight of the first pair is the fun, bright lampwork from Tanya McGuire.  I paired her luscious beads with some Czech glass pinch beads, dyed agate, and brass.  I love how cheerful these are!


My second pair is far more subdued in the color department.  These feature lampwork from Mermaid Glass paired with Czech glass, pewter, and silver plated components on sterling silver ear wires.  They look really great with one of the necklaces I made for the same magazine (and also rejected) but I can't reveal that one quite yet.  I'm hoping to shop it around to a different magazine... we'll see what comes of that!





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Monday, April 20, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 15 & 16

Happy Monday!  Thanks for stopping in to check out my latest installment of New Earring Monday!

In my post last Friday for the We're All Ears April blog hop, I mentioned that I've been having lots of earring fun with Vintaj decorivets so I thought I'd share some of the fruits of those labors today.

Both pairs this week feature their Marcasite Peapod decorivets.  The first set has some awesome onyx beads that I bought from Allegory Gallery last fall when they had a Dakota Stones trunk show.  I love the matte finish with the shiny polka dots!  I used some Picasso finished Czech glass for the second pair.







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Monday, April 6, 2015

New Earring Monday '15: Weeks 13 & 14

Hello, and welcome back to my newest installment of New Earring Monday!  I'm posting a little later than usual this week... but it's still Monday!  Apologies for my photos... I was seriously fighting both time and the light.

This time around it's going to be the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar edition.  A couple of weeks ago, my friend and fellow jewelry designer Marcia and I went to this local bead show where we had a ton of fun and bought ridiculous amounts of fun new beads and supplies.  It's not a huge show, it's held in a gymnasium at a community center, but there are always plenty of treasures to be found!  (By the way, you can check out Marcia's website HERE... she creates great stuff!)

You might be thinking, well that's great, but what does that have to do with earrings?  Well, this week's post features earrings that I made with some of the great art beads I bought at the show!  

First up a pair of earrings featuring lovely lampwork from Jeff Barber.  I was drawn to the colors and patterns in this little pair.  They give off a sort of Monet feel to me that I loved.  They feel springy, but still subdued.  I added some little pewter flower petal spacers (also from the bead show) and some blue Czech glass.


My second pair features a cool set of little flowers from Tanya McGuire.  Pictures really don't do them justice... they are an amazing grey black with some iridescence.  They look almost oily, but in a really good way!  (I used a bigger version of one of these guys in red for the February Art Bead Scene Challenge.  You can check that out HERE if you missed it.)  I wire wrapped them with some fun silver plated "pringle" spacers from and plated hematite from the bead show and added a little bit of chain with faceted hematite and some silver plated charms for movement.






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