Bits & Pieces

I have saved all the bits and pieces from past projects for (at least) the past ten years!  I use mainly vintage chain because I'm so in love with the natural patina and quality, like the tube links above.  I'm embarrassed to tell you though, just how long it took me to find the right way to connect these so they would hang correctly and not turn.  Sure, it looks easy... sigh!  As I'm sure you know, each project has it's own challenges no matter how simple it may appear!  lol

These lovely enamel charms are by Cathleen Zaring of Blue Hare Artwear.  I remember seeing them in her shop and nearly jumping out of my chair!  I'm especially fond of her rustic work like these.  That beautiful celadon peaking out of white enamel and pops of dark copper - swoon!  I also had perfectly matched tin-cut crystals from the 1930's - The size and cut are perfect and doesn't interfere with the enamel design but still adds so much life.

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These vintage tin charms by Tracy DiPiazza Metalworks are so well made.  They are double faced so no matter which way you turn them they show the same image- how great for short or pulled back hair!  She also solders the edges so there are no sharp or rough spots.  Tracy's attention to detail is just one of the reasons I love her.  That might be an understatement - I lovessssss her soooo much!  Last year I purchased one of her necklaces and I've never been able to put it away, I just leave it in an open box on my dresser so I can look at it as I pass by- I kid you not!  :D

Again, I used all sorts of vintage bits of chain, links, and connectors.  The oval ornate jump-rings below have a slight twist and were originally one long chain. Adding them gave a bit of dimension, especially since the overall design is very flat.

Many thanks for taking the time to pop in! I'll be back in a couple of weeks!

Loralee xo

www.loraleekolton.etsy.com

loralee kolton - artful in beads on facebook

Wired Butterflies

Hi, everyone!

I tried something a little different with these new earrings, which feature a pair of Cathleen Zaring's beautiful butterfly enameled-copper earring components: 

FYI, my usual go-to technique to use with components with top holes like these would be something like these earrings I made three years ago...

...and, believe me, I love these earrings and adore working with fiber and knotting this way.  But lately I've been having fun going back to playing with wire too.  

I'd made antiqued copper wire connector components before for necklaces (below is a detail) but had never tried to use them for earrings, and had never added beads to them. 

I thought it might be fun to see how the round connectors would work with this type of earring component, with just a few small beads in coordinating colors wrapped to them (and with a bead wrapped to each matching ear wire too!).  I didn't know what to expect, but they have a sleekness, a simplicity, and a modernity that I like--and I don't always end up liking my experiments.  😏  

They were also really fun to make.  I hadn't gotten my hands really messy in liver of sulfur in a while!  

These earrings can be purchased at Two Trees Studio.

Recipe for Wired Butterflies 

Enameled "handbag-shaped" copper earring beads by Cathleen Zaring

22 ga. round antique copper wire wrapped connectors

3 mm Czech glass rounds in amethyst and wine

15/0 Miyuki Delica yellow seed beads

Thanks for reading--I'll be back in a couple of weeks!

xoxo

Meridy 

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Glass Mosaics

It's good to be back here at EE!  Things have been hectic around Casa Meridy for a while now, but I finished these color-drenched new earrings just a couple of hours ago (as I write this on Wednesday afternoon) and wanted to share them with you. 

I'd had these beautiful Cathleen Zaring (Blue Hare Art Wear) charms for a few months, but it wasn't until yesterday that a design idea came to mind.  I probably would never have remembered the gorgeous lampies used here if they hadn't just happened to be on my work table, in a bag paired with something else.  I'd had the beads for quite a few years and had never found the right design for them, but they sure make magic with Cathleen's charms--serendipity!  ❤️

I wire-wrapped the beads and charms together with some pretty copper bead caps, little iris Czech rondelles, and tiny orange-gold Swarovski bicones.  Given the rich colors and the lush detail of both main components, keeping everything else simple seemed right. 

And:  I don't know what happened to March, but clearly I missed a posting here one Thursday and didn't even realize it until much later.  To quote the great Thomas Dolby, "My brain is like a sieve."  My humblest apologies!  ❤️

Thanks so much for reading.  I'll see you in a couple of weeks--have a wonderful Thursday! 

xo

Meridy

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I'll Follow The Sun...

These completely knock me out of the winter doldrums! Stunning enamel charms by Cathleen Zaring of Blue Hare Art Wear.  I wanted to set that color off to its fullest, so I went with all black as the companion piece.  Extra fuzzy fabric beads by SagaHus  gave me the impact I was looking for....bold but still soft.  All you would need is a black top and you'd have an outfit!

☀

Hot enamel spikes by Spurwink River Arts!  I wanted to add more pattern but it keep a modern clean line, so I went with a nice thin black and white stripe with a pop of red on the top.  They have a nice tribal vibe.

I'm looking out the window as snow flurries whirl around a grey sky in Chicago.  However, it's nice and sunny inside :D  Hope I've brightened your day, too! 

Loralee xo

☀

Loralee Kolton ~ artful in beads

There she is again - couldn't stay away

Hello lovely peeps,

Remember my last – goodbye – post….. It was a very short goodbye, cause here I am again, remaining a regular EE blogger, albeit now once a month. Well, I did say “ goodbye for now” LOL. I will not go into details but I like to thank my friends and colleagues of EE and you peeps for your support, sweet words and for putting up with my silliness.

My share for today are earrings I made last year (time flies), forgot to list on Etsy and which are still part of my pile of “still to be photographed-still to be listed-jewellery”. Which seems to grow. I think I will have to start doing something about that.

 For now:

Beautiful enamelled charms made by the amazingly talented and sweet Cathleen Zaring from Blue Hare Art Wear, combined with rose quartz, Czech glass and mixed metals.

Wishing you all a wonderful day, full of joy, happiness, laughter and hopefully not to high temperatures. Yesterday we passed the 42 degrees Celsius mark. 

Thanks for looking!

 Janine

Esfera Jewelry

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Something blue

Hello lovely friends. I hope you are all enjoying Christmas with family and friends and that you are having a wonderful time. In the Netherlands Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and 26.  Here in Greece Christmas is celebrated on December 25, so only one day. Do you celebrate a second Christmas Day?

 As you might have noticed I haven’t been around since the beginning of November. I like to thank my wonderful friends and colleagues from Earrings Everyday for their support and taking the time to step in for me. My mom passed away November 4 and I still have to come to terms with that loss.

At the moment my beads are not “talking” to me so I hope you don’t mind me sharing a pair of earrings I made a while back. I am a huge fan of the beautiful enamel charms made by Cathleen Zaring from Blue Hare Art Wear. Here I paired them with lampwork glass beads from Desert Bug Designs, Czech glass and copper findings.

Thank you all so much for supporting me and my bead friends here on Earrings Everyday and I wish you all a joyful New Year’s Eve and a happy, healthy 2017 full of sunshine, joy, peace, success, laughter and beautiful earrings of course.

Thanks for looking!

 Janine

Esfera Jewelry

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Bold Colours

Hello, today's earrings feature a number of artisan goodies.  I got carried away as the colours matched so well. 

Ceramic caps by Claire Lockwood

Enamel connectors by Cathleen Zaring

and polymer charms by Elsie Smith

I have also added a pair of my own wrapped connectors.  Short and sweet for today.  Hope you like them. See you again soon <3

Suhana

Mt Etsy shop: Buttoned Up Beads

Autumn Moon

Hello and check me out!!! This is the first time I've actually named my jewellery :D. 

I don't tend to follow seasons, I just make whatever catches my eye on the beading desk.  For this post however I was determined to make something autumnal.  

I picked up these Muscha discs by Petra Carpreau as they had orange in them.  I wrapped some teeny leaves, orange seeds and of course rhinestone chain around big hoops and positioned the Muscha discs inside the hoops.  This was going to be it.  I was going to keep these short and simple.  But my Cathleen Zaring order arrived yesterday with these gorgeous moon connectors.  They matched the original earring colours so well that I just had to add them somehow. 




Muscha discs by Petra Carpreau

Luckily in the original design I hadn't cut off the excess rhinestone chain from the bottom of the hoops yet.

I added a moon connector to one of the earrings with the rhinestone chain hanging from the bottom.  I used some teeny leaves to fill up the gaps.  For the second earrings I decided to leave the rhinestone chain as it is and attach the moon connector next to it.  I think the asymmetry adds a lot more interest to the design.  I like the way they've turned out and hope you like them too.

Enamel moon connectors by Cathleen Zaring

Coming back to naming the earrings.  There wasn't much rocket science involved.  There were moon connectors and the colours were autumnal, hence Autumn Moon hehe.  There you have it.  My Autumnal earrings.  Take care and see you soon.

Suhana <3<3<3

My Etsy shop: Buttoned Up Beads

Rhinestone chain

Hello, I'm back again and this time I'm sharing some earrings with rhinestone chain, which I absolutely adore.  I try and add some to every piece of jewellery I make :D. 

First I have these made with my very first Bea Stoertz enamel components.  Also featuring polymer roses by Leah Curtis along with my wrapped hoops and rhinestone chain.

Here I have wrapped rhinestone and brass chain around Petra Carpreau spikes and Leah Curtis roses.

Petra Carpreau ceramic with Nikki Tunnah lampwork

And finally I have teamed rhinestone chain with Cathleen Zaring enamel charms.

That's all for today.  See you again soon.
Suhana <3

My Etsy shop: Buttoned Up Beads