We're All Ears :: March Reveal :: Owls

Alas, you get no credit for the best laid plans.

I had grand visions of finding glass beads that looked just like those haunting eyes and pairing those with a multitude of feathers. While I found some glass beads in my stash, but none of them seemed quite right.

So then I set about to create some components of my own. I had this idea to make an owl head tablet bead. I succeeded in making eight of them. But then I couldn't quite decide how to finish them and everything I did seemed to make it look worse.

Then I decided to switch gears away from the obvious owl face and focus on the feathers. I came up  with a new feather design, one that required sculpting each so they would be unique.

Still, none of this was quite right, or at least not how I envisioned it in my head.

But it is my party, and I figure that I should share with you what I made, even if it feels a bit more like cocktail weenies than prime rib. Plus there is always a lesson to be learned in the process....like using different colors of clay, or coloring it before baking, or simply don't wait until the very last minute to gather your materials (!).

"Perfection is the enemy of done." So here is what I made. Now I know that I have the spark of some ideas that I can revisit and refine another time.

Whoooo else made something to share? Add your link to the blog hop below and have fun flying around to see what everyone else created!

Living By The Water

Two pairs of earrings from me today! A little while back I made a pair of earrings combining some Scorched Earth decal droppers with some lovely feathers that I've been hoarding for some time. I was pleased with the design and they sold quickly. I still had a few pairs of feathers left and when Petra listed some earring charms with feather decals, I knew just what to do with them.

I love the fluffy, downy, afterfeathers on this pair; they look almost like fur. The next ones are slightly smaller.

I've been doing a lot of rearranging in my flat in the last week or so.  Whilst about it, I came across an old compilation cd that I've been hunting for, for an age. Inevitably, I've been listening to it quite a bit since it turned up. These earrings have a certain feel to them but I haven't really found the word for it. However, this Anne Briggs song seems somehow in tune with their spirit.

(Warning: this link leads to hardcore FOLK)

They're available in my Etsy shop.

Bye for now, Claire

www.somethingtodo.etsy.com

www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

www.somethingtodobeads.etsy.com

Bohemian Spirit

I wanted to make myself a pair of earrings to wear on my birthday and I wanted them to be long because I have long hair and most of the time my earrings just disappear behind my hair. I have seen similar earrings on Pinterest and in stores but usually the beads make a chevron pattern (that is SO in, but I am not a fan of the chevron pattern) so I made these without it. These were quite simple and quick and since I haven't had much time for jewelry lately, I was happy about that!

          I made a necklace that is similar to these earrings and just listed it on my website here.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend! 

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations

Dotty

I've never worked with feathers before. I've meant to and have a number in my stash, including a lovely selection that I picked up a while back from Lima Beads. Now I've tried them I wish I'd ordered more, because when I finally got them out of the pack I realised just how beautiful they were.  And, of course, they are now out of stock... There were two of each of the different feathers in the pack so they kinda demanded to be made into earrings.

I've paired the feathers with some fabulous hand-painted pebbles from Plymouth Rocks.  I just love these pebbles and I frequently check Tammy's shop to see if she's produced any more.  These have a mix of neon shades dotted onto them. (Personally, I've rather enjoyed the neon trend.)  I've topped them with a black czech glass ring and a pop of hot pink glass.

These are now available here in my Etsy shop.

Before I go, a quick reminder: tomorrow is the day of the monthly We're All Ears challenge blog hop.   There's still time to join in and get a pair made!  For all the details and to see the challenge inspiration image, click here.

Bye for now, Claire 

www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

www.somethingtodo.etsy.com

Graffiti

Twice in one week!  Here I am again, with another pair of earrings.

They had an odd evolution, this pair.  I came across this little (ever so simple!) cold enamelling set that I acquired years ago, and realised that I had a small selection of blanks that I bought to use with it.  These feathers looked fun and it seemed a shame to leave them unused, so I roused the enamelling set from its rusty, dusty slumber and splashed some red on the feathers. I then blackened the tops with LoS, and gave them some brushing, etc.. 

I had this earring design in mind and I made one but it wasn't quite what I planned - there was supposed to be more going on.  Undecided, I put it to one side. I came across it some weeks later, when I had some time to kill.  Still in two minds, I made the second earring up and, lo, despite all my havering, I actually liked them!

Bye for now, Claire

something to do with your hands

Etsy shop

Faded Feathers

I've got a bit of a thing about faded shades.

I got this strand of cheery ceramic cubes recently from my local bead shop.  It's an unusual mix of colours. 

At first glance they appear to be a mix of spring pastels and brighter sherbet shades, with some denim blues thrown in - all very nice, to my eye.  Then when I took the strand apart, I found some of the colours varied around the body of the bead.  I particularly loved this pair which shaded from pale blue to a nude/stone colour. I've mixed them with some czech glass and some vintage feathers. 

The feathers were originally copper plated - I'd assumed they were solid copper. When I tried to treat them with liver of sulphur the plate simply came away, revealing a nice warm silver shade, which really suits the taupe cubes, I think. They also really match the outfit I'm wearing today but I've resisted the temptation to put them in my ears and have instead listed them in my Etsy shop.

Bye for now, Claire

(something to do with your hands)