Exquisite Ellipse Earrings

These beautiful brass, ellipse shaped earring components were really inspiring to work with. They have such a soft, pretty turquoise patina and a silky smooth to the touch finish.

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I used pink Venetian glass cube beads, that are lined with Sterling silver foil, to top off the earrings. Gold spacer beads bring out the gold tone in the brass and turquoise ceramic floral bead caps finish the look.

The Exquisite Ellipse earrings are now available in my shop, Linda Landig Jewelry. I'll see you in two weeks. Stay well and take care.

Linda Landig Jewelry

Hedgehog Delight

My husband is from Germany and many of the German picture books that his family gave our children, when they were little, featured adorable hedgehogs. Here in the United States we don't have wild hedgehogs, although some people keep them as pets.  One summer, many years ago, we took a vacation with my husband's family, at a resort in Ronshausen. And that's where I first saw these cute little critters. I've been a fan ever since!

I've had these cute little polymer clay hedgehogs for such a long time that I no longer remember who the artist was that made them. Aren't they cute?

The ribbed, gold tone tubes were salvaged from a vintage necklace and I topped them with some luscious, faceted garnets. These cuties are now available on my website.

Linda Landig Jewelry

Autumn Leaves

A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Kristi Bowman Gruel, of Kristi Bowman Designs, sent me these delightful copper connectors that she colored and sealed with ice resin. I love how vivid her colors always are. I added polymer clay leaves, little ceramic flower shaped bead caps, agates and glass, along with my handmade copper ear wires.

 I'm in love with these! They are perfect for fall - but I'd wear them throughout the winter too, because these are my favorite colors to wear! You can find these earrings in my shop now. 

Linda Landig Jewelry

Scary Melting Faces

I was excited when these wonderful, copper, melting faces, from Kristi Bowman Design, arrived the other day. Such a great and timely inspiration.  

I linked the melting faces to some beaded components made by Anna Pierson. The rustic look of the beads looked great with the copper. I then wrapped Wooly Wire around the bottom links and added my own handmade brass ear wires. I love how they turned out. I hope you do too. The Melting Face earrings are available in my shop now.

Stay safe friends. May Halloween be the only scary thing in your life. See you again in two weeks!

Linda Landig Jewelry

Trying Something New

 I've never been a seed beader - too fiddly for me, and the need to follow precise, detailed directions is not really my forte. Maybe the pandemic is robbing me of my sanity, because, against all reason, I decided to make a pair of seed beaded earrings. 

About those directions....I decided to substitute these pretty metallic brass colored size 11 beads for the size 6's that the directions called for. I discovered that two size 11's were similar in size to one size 6.  I felt so clever. But look carefully and you'll see where I went astray. Did you find it? On the bridge, below the ear hook, I used two seed beads on one earring and one seed bead on the other. Oops! Oh well. These are going to be mine and if anyone is close enough to notice this mistake then they seriously need to back up! By the time I wove the third earring - yes, you heard that right, I had to totally rip out #2 and start over again...anyway earring  #3 was easier. 

My hat's off to all you masterful seed beaders. Your work is truly impressive!

The seed bead challenged beader

Linda Landig Jewelry

Winged Things In My Garden

 I've been enjoying sitting out in my small backyard this summer. It's so pleasant to read or eat meals there and watch whatever critters are buzzing around. This summer, I've been trying to increase our yard's attractiveness to birds and friendly flying insects (no wasps, thank you!). We've always put out bird feeders, but this summer we added suet feeders to attract a larger variety of birds. I also put out a hummingbird feeder, although it hasn't been very popular yet. Last week I added a butterfly puddler (Google it), although it's too early yet to see if it will attract butterflies. I've noticed a lot of dragonflies in the yard. I love to watch them; their wings glistening in the sunlight. Although I don't know how to lure them to the garden, I do know how to wear them, or rather their likeness, on my ears.

I've combined the lilac colored metal dragonflies with pink and purple lampwork beads. Lavender crystals sparkle at the top and bottom of these beauties. I'm quite infatuated with these earrings. You can find them in my online shop at Linda Landig Jewelry.

Although we usually have warm. sunny Septembers, I am starting to sense a subtle movement toward autumn. I'm going to treasure every last moment of warm weather. How about you?

Linda Landig Jewelry

Going Geometric

 Geometric shaped earrings are a big trend now, so I thought I'd make some geometric ceramic earring charms. I started with shapes you might expect. Half circles, triangles etc.

But then next I cut hexagons in half and then cut a half hexagon shape out of the middle! And those are the earrings I'm sharing today.

I used moss green and blue pigments on the clay and then a clear glaze overall.The are quite fun swing lightly from the earlobes.

I hope you are well and, if in the northern hemisphere, that you are blessed with sunny days. Take care my friends.

Linda Landig Jewelry

A Song Of Spring And Summer Summer

Spring, summer and even early autumn flowers make my heart sing. A bad day can always be made better with a bouquet of flowers, (fortunately my husband knows this about me).

I've been trying to transfer my obsession with flowers to my glaze paintings on porcelain. These earring feature my freehand glaze paintings, along with beautiful lampwork glass by Susan Kennedy of SueBeads. The Song Of Spring earrings are available on my website.

In mid- August a friend and I are taking a Zoom class on painting watercolor flowers.  I'm looking forward to seeing how I can apply what I learn to my work in clay. Have you taken any online classes during your pandemic isolation?

Linda Landig Jewelry

Purple Please

I recently received a lovely, large gift of beady goodness from Monica Pena of Mariposa Originals. Contained within the package were a gorgeous pair of lampwork beads. I was so inspired to use them right away. Just look at all the yummy swirls of color in the glass. Swoon!

I paired them up with my ceramic Ferris Wheel components and it was a match made in heaven! I used some purple and blue metallic hexagon beads in the middle. They flash in the sunlight.

Lastly the earrings have some Bali silver beads and spacers sprinkled throughout. Shout out to Monica for generously sharing her stash with so many others. 💓 The Purple Please earrings are available in my shop now.

Linda Landig Jewelry

Sunshine And Flowers

I made a bracelet last week, about which my husband said, "It's pretty, but aren't those kind of Autumn colors?". Well, yes. So today I decided to go for sunshine and flowers. No mistaking which season these are for!

I started with two of my handmade ceramic ovals which I combined with some new brass ovals. My first design had a large flower above the brass ring, but the earrings ended up measuring 3.25 inches long! Back to the drawing board.

In this version, I used smaller orange glass flowers which I topped with brass filigree bead caps. I dangled the flowers in front of the brass and the ceramic ovals. You can find these earrings in my shop now.

There's a lot of upheaval and unknowns in our world right now, which can make earrings seem almost frivolous. But the creative heart finds balance in the act of making. I hope you are doing ok, as we each seek to make the world a safer and more loving place. I'm sending out big hugs. 💕

Linda Landig Jewelry

Cork Fabric And Ceramic

I've been curious about cork fabric ever since Lisa Peters Russ started carrying it on her website and since Heather Powers did a tutorial with it last week. Specifically, I wanted to see how it would look with my ceramic jewelry components.

So what is cork fabric? Cork fabric, often referred to as an ethical alternative to leather, is made with a thin layer of cork that is permanently bonded to fabric. No trees are cut down or harmed, so it is a sustainable product. It is strong, durable and flexible. You can even sew purses out of it! It is easier to cut than leather and it comes in many colors and designs. There are tons of beautiful patterns, but I wanted to start with solid color sheets as a background layer for my ceramic pieces.

I thought these rounded teardrop shapes would pair well with my yellow and blue ceramic earring charms and some silver spacer accents. What do you think? I have lots of ideas percolating in my head now, for more cork fabric jewelry. It's a welcome emotional boost to have something new to create with while we all shelter in place. I think I'm onto something fun!

Linda Landig Jewelry

Chrysanthemum Earrings

One of my Pandemic Projects has been cleaning and organizing my studio. It had gotten so bad that I had no space in which to work. Oh look! I've organized one corner!

I won't share any other studio pictures, as the rest is still a disaster zone. I'm taking it step by step, otherwise the task is too overwhelming. Anyway, while I was cleaning, I found a pair of earrings that I had started, but never finished. So I finished them up in time for today's post.

The copper shards are the work of Kristi Bowman Designs. They remind me of the rays of petals that circle the center of chrysanthemum blooms. I used enameled headpins by Sue Beads to wire on a pair of carved fluorite flowers. The fancy copper ear wires are by wire wizard, Joan Langmo. 

The Chrysanthemum Earrings are available on my website.
Do you have any Pandemic Projects you're working on? Let us know in the comments. Stay home and stay safe friends!

Linda Landig Jewelry

Harbinger Of Joy

 I always feel like spring is on the way when I see the first crocuses pushing up through the soil or peeking out from the snow. Spring flowers fill me with joy and hope (much needed these days).

The purple and yellow earrings I'm sharing this week remind me of the colors of these pretty, little crocuses. But they could also be reminders of purple Dutch irises, with their yellow centers or purple tulips with their vibrant yellow throats. All of these signal joy to me!

You probably recognize the polymer clay tube beads as being the work of Heather Powers, of Humble Beads. I paired them with hand enameled beads by Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads. I love the way the ribbing, in the metal beads, stands out as a contrasting texture. Buttery yellow ceramic floral bead caps and yellow faceted fire polish beads provide the accents.

Polymer clay is very lightweight and the enameled beads are hollow, so these earring are very comfortable to wear. You maybe thinking, "But who needs earrings now?" Well I have found that wearing a little handmade jewelry actually cheers me up a bit. There were a few of the early isolation days where I never got out of my PJs, but I still wore a blue stretch bracelet (hey, it matched my PJs, so why not?). I have resumed getting dressed daily and creating a normal daily routine, as much as possible. It helps. The Spring Crocus earrings can be found in my shop here.

I hope you and your loved ones are staying home and staying safe. Plus you are saving the lives of other vulnerable people, when you shelter at home. Hang in there and enjoy the spring flowers.

Linda Landig Jewelry

Night Sky at the Cafe Terrace

Look up on a clear summer night. The parade of stars and the moon light up the evening sky and turn it from a flat black to luminous shades of midnight blue. I can see that night sky represented in the lampwork glass beads I chose for these earrings.

 The midnight blue glass has swirls of yellow green in it, that remind me of the night sky in van Gogh's painting Cafe Terrace at Night. 

The ceramic flower beads accent the yellow green swirls. Semi-hidden under the flowers are midnight blue Swarovski crystals and then, suspended from the crystals, is sterling silver chain with Swarovski crystals dangling at the end. Bold, without being gaudy. Sexy and elegant.

Thanks for visiting Earrings Everyday. Maybe I'll have some Easter earrings for you when I come back in 2 weeks. 

Linda Landig Jewelry

Serendipity With Buttons

I had no idea what to make for this week's earrings, until I sat down at my work table last weekend. There, at the table, were all the leftover beads from a bracelet I'd made last week. I know, I know I should clean up after myself, but that's a whole different story.
Among the debris, I found these buttons that I'd bought at an antique/vintage store a couple of years ago. When I made the purchase, I planned to use them to create button closures for bracelets. But I suddenly saw these buttons in a new light.

I realized they could be used like earring charms or dangles! I dug through the other beads on my table and came across these really cool, rustic ceramic discs that I'd picked up at a bead show somewhere. They have very large holes in the center, so that when I attached them to the wooden buttons, the discs covered up the button shanks.

I added some accents and connected it all with brown Irish waxed linen. I love how they turned out. It tickles me that I could come up with a new, unusual way to use some old buttons. You can find these earrings in my shop now. Thanks, as always, for visiting Earrings Everyday. We love hearing from you in the comment section!

Linda Landig Jewelry