We're All Ears :: October Reveal

 I haven't been as faithful to watching the Project Runway shows each week. It is something that my daughter and I like to watch together and since she is back in dance, Thursday nights she is gone from 4:30-9:00pm. So I have a few weeks to catch up with (don't tell me what happens!).

And of course, I left this until the last possible minute. So here I am (I won't tell you the hour, but you might guess what it is...) finishing up my earrings.

I know I said just PICK ONE of the outfits that you wanted to design earrings for, but I am the Host, and as such it just wouldn't do to not have a variety on hand! I truly loved all the looks. So I sat down first to sketch. Each and every one ended up being very long and streamlined, but with subtle differences for each outfit. That is when I realized that I should think like a Designer.

When a fashion designer is making a collection, they put in elements that are a common thread throughout. Color. Pattern. Textile. Shapes. So that is when I decided that I should make ONE COMPONENT that is a comment element in all six designs (and exactly why it took me so much longer to complete this challenge than my normal last minute efforts!).

Since the shape I kept coming to was long, I decided that I could make a dagger out of polymer clay. I wanted it to be long and thin (perhaps because these lovelies are all so long and thin?), with texture, and a little bit of shimmer. I rolled balls of black, dusty plum and magenta in some metal leaf, rolled that on a texture plate to make the shape and rough the surface. Baked. Then painted with a mixture of gloss black and dark antique copper. Wipe to reveal some of the surface treatment. I guess I could have used all the same clay as the paint really made them all the same!
 

 A :: Flirty with a little bit of added color to the deep plum, reinforcing the flower shapes with the different petal bead caps.
B :: The black Vintaj fairy petal bead cap mimics the lace pattern with a deeper purple crystal and subtle touches of copper to bring out the metal leaf.
C :: This monochromatic look is rocker, but a bit subdued. I kept it simple and sleek mixing in a silver tone for drama.

D :: This one shoulder dress is my favorite look. I bet that would look good on a variety of body types! Because of the built in asymmetry in the dress, I decided that just one shoulder-dusting earring positioned over her bare shoulder would be the way to go, with a bit of regal bling.
E :: This girl is badass, yet she has a softer side. I have had these funky vintage brass nesting beads in my stash for years. They seem to project the right attitude while the faceted lilac pearl softens it.
F :: The soft drapes of this dress almost have a geometric shape to them. I thought that just one long earring peeking out would heighten the drama. I used seed beads for the shape that sort of came together by accident.

So... what do you think of my designer collection? Did you think like a designer, too? I would love to hear how you approached this challenge and decided what to make and if you made more than one, whether you made them a cohesive unit or completely standalone. Do tell!

Now it is your turn to "make it work!"

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We're All Ears :: October Inspiration

I admit that I am not the most fashionable person (as confirmed by my snickering teenage daughter), but I do love those that have a sense of style. I also don't follow trends or fashion magazines, but I am a Project Runway junkie (something my daughter and I can share). I just learned of a documentary that is out about Iris Apfel, that quirky and oh-so-colorful nonagenarian fashion icon that I simply must put on my Christmas wishlist. With the recent close of the New York Fashion week for fall, I started turning my mind to the changing seasons and the fashions that go with it as I swap out my own wardrobe (again, not nearly as stylish).

 
I did a little googlifying "fall 2015 fashion" (just putting in random words and seeing what comes up) and I spotted a set of aubergine hued dresses from designer Monique Lhuillier that really impressed me (there was also a rich teal that was lovely, and a drop dead gorgeous liquid copper dress, but I want to keep things in the same color family). The deep, saturated colors... the mix of patterns with lace... the layering effect... all of these make this Fall 2015 collection from Lhuillier really spectacular. She is known for her corseted looks, her dreamy romantic wedding ensembles, and stunning red carpet gowns, so this collection is a bit of a departure for her. I am not usually a lace or pattern person, and I could never pull off any of these looks, but I love it! (Okay...maybe I would rock that furry coat ;-)

What impressed me was that each of these pictures, while obviously part of the same collection, seems to exude a completely different woman. From young and hip to stylishly classic. So I thought that a fun challenge would be to pick the one woman (or more!) from these pictures and design earrings to go with her outfit. The only thing that is lacking in this collection is the jewelry, so why not provide it for her!

Your challenge this month....select one of these looks and create a pair of earrings to accessorize it.

See you on October 16th for the reveal!

Beach Girl

The weather is changing here in WA state. They say we will be in the 80's later this week. My inspiration keeps turning to spring and even summer. Everything is SO green... and bugs are coming out again. This will be our first summer with our new (rescue) dog Molly. She cracks me up the way she chases bees and pretty much anything that flies. One of these days, I'm afraid she will catch one... 

One of my first jewelry stamps - the dragonfly. I think I've only used it twice before. I'm really pleased with how these earrings turned out. I feel like the Iolite with it's royal blue color invokes images of tall blue Iris flowers... and the dragonflies buzzing about... 

Beach Girl by cindybeads featuring etched glasses

These earrings are available at Cindy's Art & Soul 

 http://www.cindysartandsoul.com

Peace and Blessings ~ 

Cindy 

Turquoise Earrings - Or Why I Need To Go To France Soon

Since I started writing for Earrings Everyday, I've added a lot more pins to my Fashion Finds board on Pinterest, because I've always enjoyed the posts here that paired earrings with outfits.  It turns out that I've really had fun adding to this board (I'm more than a little bit addicted to Pinterest anyway).  I seem to be on a turquoise kick lately and I just fell in love with this outfit.

If you look closely, you'll see that it is actually a 2 piece outfit.  It includes a cute little vest with it.  The sleeves are semi-transparent and the whole thing looks all twirly and soft.

Here's what I'd wear with it.  That is, I'd wear these earrings with this outfit if I lived in France, because that's where this dress is sold.  I know...le sigh.

Lampwork discs by Outwest

Au revoir!

Linda

Linda Landig Jewelry on Etsy

Linda Landig Jewelry on ArtFire

Plum Poppies

Plum Poppies

These "fairy flower" lampwork beads from Mermaid Glass are a delicious, pale plum color. They make me think of poppies! And plum jelly. I love the burst of amber in the center. I've wired them onto sturdy 18-gauge copper earwires, and accented them with little square glass beads in iridescent butterscotch and lilac glass rounds.

As usual, I picture them with jeans! And some wild shoes.

Purple poppies by lunebijoux featuring lace up boots

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Hoot

It is safe to say that I am loving life being able to stay home and create on a daily basis. No more offices, fancy dress clothes and aggravations that come along with working outside the home. Although I do miss seeing the art every day at the Museum, it really has been wonderfully rewarding doing what I'm doing. These earrings were inspired by my love of jewelry and my mantra these days: LOVE LIFE
I cut out the copper and Silver sheet, hammered each piece, and oxidized them using liver of sulphur.  I stamped the words on the silver discs. Wire wrapped them with some copper wire and include sweet tiny kite charms from Elaine Ray.

Nothing is more fun than a little window shopping in the wee hours of the morning, so I put together an outfit that you could probably see me wearing if you stopped by my house unannounced.

hoot by lorelei-hill-eurto featuring ballet flat shoes

You can find these and other great jewelry at my Etsy shop!
Read my daily blog at: Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset

The colors in these earrings--from carnelian, lepidolite jasper, and Czech glass--remind me of the lilac Alpenglow of sunrise, and the deep tangerine of sunset. I just love combining opposites on the color wheel--I especially love orange and purple together. The earwires on these earrings are actually made from brass core, silver filled 20 gauge wire from Monsterslayer. I bought some mostly to see how it performed, and was impressed. These earwires are hammered quite a bit where the carnelian hangs from them, as you can see, and the thick, durable plating held up beautifully.

I'm feeling tough today, so this is what I would wear with them!

Sunrise Sunset by lunebijoux featuring a leather fur jacket

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tomato Blossoms

Tomato Blossoms

The color of the red agate beads in these earrings reminds me of tomato soup! I love it with the gunmetal color of the nickel beadcaps and the pewter cubes. Handmade sterling silver earwires.

I'm picturing it with winter white (in case you wanted Cream of Tomato soup instead) and denim, with matching tomato boots! I think it has a Victorian flavor.

Via Polyvore

You can see more in my shop by clicking HERE.

Desert Wildflower

Desert Wildflower

I love the classic Southwest color scheme of turquoise and tomato reds and oranges, with cool silver! I chose a pair of stones from one of my favorite strands--plump little roundels of red agate--for these earrings, and fashioned a pair of nickel beadcaps with a sun pattern. I antiqued them with Midas oxidizer for nickel, and tumbled and sealed them. I love the rustic look I get with antiqued nickel. I added petite turquoise heishi at the bottom to evoke that Southwest feel. Hand-forged sterling silver earwires and headpins.

Of course, you have to wear them with jeans. (I'm stuck on this Thelma and Louise thing.)

Via Polyvore

Enameled bangle stack by Bullfinch & Barbury; leather necklace by Inatanka.


You can see more earrings at my Etsy shop.

Island Vacation

Rum Punch with an Umbrella in it on the Beach in Jamaica

I need a vacation, and a tropical island would do just fine. I would wear these with a matching bikini and sarong. And some turquoise Crocs.

These charming beadcaps are made from vintage, printed tin by Donna Millard, with green aventurine roundels and green turquoise heishi. I used a pair of my hand-formed earwires, wrapped with glass seed beads in bright turquoise.

I'm thinking the sarong will have sleeves, buttons up the front, and maybe a hood.

A New Attitude

{A New Attitude- available on Etsy}

 When I was young, skinny and into driving 40 minutes to the nearest mall, I would head straight for The Limited. They had all the trendiest fashions for a girl in the 80s. A lot has changed since I was 16 but The Limited is still around. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can fit in there, figuratively and literally. I am not a size that can easily walk into a store like that and find something off the rack. But this past week I discovered that The Limited has launched an online website called Eloquii by The Limited that features beautiful fashions in plus sizes. 

I am usually one who wears very monochromatic looks, no pattern whatsoever. I am more of a jeans and t-shirt girl on most days. But I am strangely attracted to the bright colors, shorter skirts, graphic prints and very polished accessories that Eloquii is offering. (And I just took advantage of their sale to pick up 5 sweaters for under $60! Fashionable and frugal!) 

While poking around I found this one outfit that could use some awesome earrings. So I created my A New Attitude earrings (above) inspired by this look to bring a bit more funk to this already rocking ensemble. These long 4 1/2" earrings are made from steel and rhinestones. I am trying some new techniques and materials and I love that these give me a whole new way of looking at things. A bit of rocker chic to rock out at the next board meeting, don't you think?

 

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 new line of 'Simple Truths' in her Etsy shop.

High Flyin' with Zooey

I love Zooey Deschanel.

She is quirky and cute. She has a vintage style with an edge. She is beautiful and smart, sassy and funny. She is a breath of fresh air.

I love her show "New Girl." In it she is described as "simply adorkable." She truly is, but it is the perfect vehicle for her true personality to shine.

  

Zooey Deschanel, InStyle magazine, August 2009

Zooey loves dresses, especially ones with a sweet vintage flair, and she is always seen in the cutest shoes. Don't you think she could rock her style in this vintage dress with these High Flyin' earrings?



High Flyin' available in my Etsy shop



The lacy brass edge of the 'simple truths' style bird charm complements her vintage vibe, and the color would make her brilliant blue eyes sparkle.

I think that they are fun and flirty, just like Zooey.

Zooey Deschanel is definitely my IT girl.

If anyone knows her and wants to send her my way, I would be much obliged. ;-)

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 new line of 'Simple Truths' in her Etsy shop.