Poseidon's Garden

Poseidon's Garden

These colors remind me of Caribbean waters.

View of Caribbean Ocean from Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island,
Courtesy Wikipedia Creative Commons

For these earrings, I started with a pair of my copper tulip caps, and gave them an aged blue-green patina. They made me think of blooms from a deep-sea garden! I chose gemstones in the same hues--I just love the way this aqua chalcedony glows, and the sea green aventurine nuggets match the patina on my tulip caps so perfectly. I dotted the earwires with Czech glass in a matching aquamarine blue.

I would pair them with a gown worthy of Amphitrite (especially if she was guest-starring on Downton Abbey--this dress is so Lady Sybil):

Amphitrite by lunebijoux featuring a chiffon dress

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tomorrow River Winding

I made a necklace and earring set for a very, very patient client name Jen who lives in the Tomorrow River area a short drive from me. When we met earlier this year, she described what she wanted by showing me a Pinterest board that she created (how clever is that?!). She started with pictures of my work, but that led her to other artists that she admired who were linked on my pages, specifically StaciLouise Smith. 

 For the earrings, I went with two polymer clay disk beads by Heather Powers that had similar colors but different patterns, and the same size. Then I found some different shaped but same sized links and wrapped them in Wooly Wire from Karen Totten. The client asked the earrings to be asymmetrical. I never have a problem with making asymmetry in necklaces but earrings were tough!This is really my first attempt at making earrings that don't match.  

What do you think? 

If you would like to see the necklace that goes along with these earrings, please hop on over to my blog

Treasures Found

Woodland Folk

Handcrafted sterling silver hoops are paired with artisan pewter oak leaf charms and wee acorns of copper and pearl beads.  Sweet and lovely earrings to go with a folk-inspired outfit. 

Oak Leaf and Acorn Hoop Earrings

Woodland Folk Outfit by humblebeads

Fuschia Disc

Mix Polymer Clay Discs, beautiful Lampwork Headpins and a little bit of Sari Silk, wrap them all up in copper wire and this is what you get. 

I'm finding myself using touches of Sari Silk in many of my new designs lately and I really love it. It just adds such a wonderful texture and dimension to all the other handmade bits and pieces.

I made the Polymer Clay Discs and the amazing headpins are by SueBeads.

These earrings are available HERE in my Etsy Shop.

Thanks for stopping by, I'd love to hear what you think of my new earrings!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

KristiBowmanDesign on Artfire

Bling

I'm in the midst of planning our holiday party and I have Christmas on the brain! These earrings were inspired by the beads, that I found at Michael's craft store! They have the most amazing coloring and AB coating that I've ever seen, along with this very unique etched matte flower design on them! I created these to go along with a bracelet using the same beads.  Definitely planning to make set for me to wear to my own party! Can't wait!

These are for sale in my Indiemade shop!

Changing Hands

My design features bright and funky enameled hand charms that I found on Sunday at a local Bead Bazaar, paired with powder glass Krobo beads from Ghana. The charms were made by Sara Lukkonen, and I thought they might be a fun way to help send a message. Personally, I love ethnic art and so it is not surprising that I like to use African beads in my designs. If more people were aware of the story behind these beautiful beads, they would grow even more popular.

It is uncertain how long the powder glass beads have been made in Africa, but these days they come mostly from the Krobo region of Ghana in West Africa, handmade from recycled glass by Ashanti and Krobo people. The beads play a part in local traditions, worn to identify families or to demonstrate wealth or social position. Bead making and other creative arts bring tourism to African countries and provide income for more and more people.

Krobo Beads: Bidding for Tourism Boom – By Kofi Akpabli

For more information on the process of making powder glass beads, click here. It really is a labor intensive method, but the result is well worth it.

Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Sun Ray Drops

I just recently began etching metal and I've really enjoyed it, and, except for the ferric chloride stain on my kitchen island, it's been a lot of fun. After etching these teardrops, I knew I wanted to use some Bubby & McGurk lampwork headpins that I have been hoarding.

                                                                                  Sun Ray Drops are on my website.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations

Hardware Fixation

I adore hardware--especially washers! These simple earrings are made from solid copper washers stamped with a flower design, and glass beads in cool periwinkle nested in copper wire.

Bronze split-lock washers are a particular favorite of mine--the color is luscious! But it takes some real elbow grease to close them. They look fabulous with a subtle hammer texture:

I wrapped the split area with steel wire, but you could probably solder them too. They're deliciously substantial!

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Bringing back some favorites

To tell you the truth , I did not have anything prepared for today . The earrings I was making for this blog post are still sitting half made on my studio work table.

This has been a week and a half . And I have a lot of things to be grateful for.
My cousin and her kids lost everything in a house fire . The house was totally destroyed.
Thank God they all made it out alive . I held a sale in my Etsy shop to help her out .I can't imagine loosing everything . My family and I can not thank you enough for your prayers and support.
Blessings to all of you.

So for todays post I am bringing back some of my favorite designs to share with you.
                                               



I am sure that those of you that read this blog on a regular basis know who made these gorgeous copper roman shield components. Even before I was invited to join the bead chat group. I fell in love with Melinda Orr's beautiful work. The detail in her work is amazing.
I paired her copper shields with Campo Frio Turquoise mined in Mexico , wood jasper  and simple copper spacers.
A simple and casual  design  that goes so well with this trendy bohemian  outfit.





Mojowoman Jewelry

Going in Circles

It feels as if I am doing just that these days. I find myself struggling to catch up with all the things that I need to do for my business, have to do for my family, and want to do for my life. It is days like this that I just want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers up and ignore the world for awhile.

But then I think, hey, girl...you can only do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Why not look good doing it? So I roll out of bed and pull on a squishy sweater (like this yummy one from Lane Bryant that I am coveting) and some easy black pants and head out the door ready to take whatever comes my way.

{I *need* this sweater from Lane Bryant and I *wish* I looked as stunning as this, my favorite, model}

Erin Prais-Hintz invites you to go on a journey of inspiration at her blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere. You can view a gallery of her work at http://www.tesoritrovati.com/ or purchase her popular line of 'Simple Truths' in her Etsy shop.

A Little Early Holiday Cheer

I know, I know.  I shouldn't be dreaming of sugarplums or winter wonderlands just yet.  But I can't help it.  Christmas is my happy place and I start feeling a little giddy about the holiday around mid-October.  I have a stash of holiday craft and cook books that suddenly appear on the side table.  Pinning becomes increasingly holiday focused as November rolls around.  A few days into November and I'm already a little feverish with ideas of decorating and gift making for the season.  I do exercise restraint and wait until after Thanksgiving to officially begin any merry making. 

But I have been creating holiday jewelry and one of the my favorite designs this year are these Holiday Cheer Earrings.  I did them in several colors to reflect the season, because there is a lot of sparkle needed between now and the New Year.

 A silvery pair for celebrating the first snow. Or if you live in the north, maybe the second or third snow.

(Snow photo credit: Elena Kovyrizna via Pinterest.)

 A joyful and bright pair for holiday decorating and parties.

(Ornament photo credit: Little Red Polka Dots via Pinterest.)

A winter woodland pair inspiring by the snow and ice covering the trees. These look really great with my favorite accessory of the season - a hot cup of cocoa! 

 

(Pinecone photo credit: unknown via Pinterest.)

And cheery berry colored pair to sport when your whipping up holiday treats!

(Berry photo credit: Steven House Photography via Pinterest.)

Holiday Cheer Earrings

Tide Pools

Watery blues and tawny yellow are captivating in these beautiful lampwork focals from Leah Deeb. I have added transparent smoky blue etched lampies from Yvonne Johnson, and copper accents to finish the design.

Rocky Tide Pool by Ryan Eng

Bohemian and rustic, these earrings could be worn for work or play.

Tide Pool Earrings on Etsy
Gloria Ewing's Jewelry on Artfire

Copper Leaves

Ah..November 1st.....It is certainly feeling like Autumn as of late and the weather has inspired these earrings. It's my favorite season hands down....what's not to love? Gorgeous trees, colorful pumpkins and gourds, fire pits, hot cider...er, make that a salted caramel mocha latte from Starbucks for me.

 

Photo by Alice Gao 

These earrings feature lampwork beads by my most favorite bead maker in the world Bubby & McGurk Beads (um, he just happens to be my husband) as well as copper Vintaj leaves. 

These earrings are available HERE on my website. 

Thanks so much and have a great weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations