On the Edge

I'm on the edge. The edge of a vacation, that is. 

That delicious pre-vacation period where you're ALMOST THERE and are filled with the anticipation of having time to step away, breathe, clear your mind, get yourself out of the workweek rut.  My mom always said that the pre-vacation is better than the vacation itself. Part of me doesn't want to believe that, but there certainly is something to be said for it. 

Next week my other half and I are headed to the mountains of West Virginia. We stayed in a cabin for one day last year as we were passing through, and it struck such a chord with us that we vowed to come back this year and stay for more than just a day. The cabins are nestled at the foot of a towering cliff, and a clear, clean river winds its way past the base. Last year we saw a bald eagle soaring right above our heads. I was even able to convince my husband (who is not afraid of heights, definitely not afraid of heights, no, never) to climb the nearby mountain with me. We got to the top with a mixture of exhilaration and sheer white-knuckled terror. Quite a memorable combination!

We toured one of the region's many caves and experienced TD, or "total darkness"---where the guide leads you deep into the cave, gives you fair warning, and then turns out all the lights. If you've never experienced that kind of sensory deprivation, it's incredible. That is, unless you're claustrophobic or scared of the dark or have a fear of being trapped underground. Yeah, probably not so good for that.

We also spent a couple hours walking next to the river, which was filled with tons of perfectly rounded, water-smoothed rocks. Each rock was glazed with a soft, slippery layer of mossy-green algae. And when I say slippery, I mean, "Nikki fell on her ass while trying to cross the river". Hey, I at least had to give it a try. That's just me. 

The green lushness of those memories from last year remind me of this pair of polybells I made a while ago. I took polymer clay, formed it into two rough poddy bells, textured them against some piece of random organic matter, cured them in the oven, hand painted them with acrylics, and then sealed them. The mossy green pockets, slate blue peaks, and silver-kissed highlights bring to mind a deep craggy forest.

Hope you have a wonderful week while I'm off playing mountain woman!

Happy Wednesday,
Nikki 
LoveRoot on Etsy

Jingle (Poly)Bells

It's that time of year again---when we're lucky if we can find five spare minutes to rub together in the studio. I don't even need to say it cuz I know you already know---December is a crazy month.

So instead of scrambling to put together a new pair of earrings for you today, I'm going to give myself a break and revisit a pair of my beloved polybells. 

It seems like I always end up using the adjective "beloved" whenever I talk about my polybells. I think it's because I feel so motherly to them---each is its own unique little species made completely by me. No two are alike, so once they're gone, they're gone. I form them out of polymer clay, cure them, hand paint them, seal them, sweet-talk and coo over them...yep, I'm a freakin' weirdo.

This particular pair always reminded me of frilled wood mushrooms or maybe rock lichen. Subtle piney green dappled with bark brown and oyster gray. I balled my own copper headpins using a torch, gave them a simple wire wrap up top, and hung them from my signature long ear wires.

I've had a sincere intention to make more polybells for the past, oh, year or so. At the rate I'm going, maybe I'll get to it by next June?! I mean, hey, flowers don't bloom until the weather warms up, anyways, right?

Happy Wednesday and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

The Light of the World

Those of you who know me already know that I love using evocative (sometime provocative) quotes to complement my jewelry. I'm an avid bookworm and am infamous for peppering conversations with arcane underused words. My husband always gives me the eye-roll when I pull some old-timey phrase out of my hat. There are so many nuanced words out there - why stick to the same boring limited lexicon?

When I'm reading and come across a passage or phrase that haunts me, I dog-ear the page so I can come back to it and pull the quote. Sometimes they're humorous, sometimes beautiful, sometimes they hurt.

My bread and butter is 20th century fiction---pre-1980s, if I can help it---and I've been on a huge William Kennedy kick lately. His Ironweed series mixes darkness, humor, beauty, and verve in a really delicious way:

" 'Four hundred dollars there, boy,' he said. 'Feast your eyes. The sky's the limit on this trip.'

I took the money into my own hand, counted it (fifties and twenties), tapped it on my knee to even its edges as I would a pack of cards, folded it, felt its thickness and heft.

'It's nice,' I said. 'What are you going to buy with it?'

'I'm going to buy the light of the world and bring it home,' Peter said.

'Where's the light of the world?' I asked.

'I'm not sure,' Peter said, 'we'll have to go shopping.' "

When I was creating these polybells, the little radiant textured suns never really struck me until they were already formed. Earthy warm hues, abstract glyphic textures, ragged organic forms. I formed these from polymer clay, textured, cured, painted, and sealed them. They're deliciously lightweight. Once I looked on the finished bells, I knew I needed to give them a name that dealt with light. The above quote was just perfect.

Art inspires art - a wonderfully endless circle!

Happy Wednesday :) 
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

White Christmas...or not?

I don't know about you guys, but I get all warm and fuzzy inside when I think about a nice fluffy blanket of pure white snow on Christmas morning. A soggy, gray, 40F day just won't cut it. I need icicles hanging on the eaves, biting cold, frozen breath, and plenty of quiet crystalline snow.

 









Well, here in Ohio it's not looking very festive weather-wise. Granted, Christmas is a week away, but I'm hoping we can get our act together and get some snow on the ground in time for the holiday festivities. 

Today's earrings are another in my series of "polybells" that I form out of polymer clay, texture, hand paint, and then seal. This pair just shimmers with snowy white, a lacy texture, kisses of silver, and a raggedy edge. And they're lightweight like you wouldn't believe - like wearing snowflakes on your ears. Finished off with a pair of my extra long copper ear wires, and you'll look like a Snow Queen. OK, perhaps not, but at least you'll be properly festive!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Holidays!!!

Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Gnarled, Sweet, Fiery Autumn

It's no secret that I like to emulate the organic in my pieces, especially when it comes to my beloved polymer clay bells. I bite off all my nails every time I sit down to create them because it's hard enough to get one bell ~just right~. Getting a harmonious pair is almost impossible. 

Last week the deliciously crisp fall air here in Ohio was calling me, so I slipped on some grubby shoes and headed down the road for a hike at French Park, an old heavily wooded area famous for the variety of trees it showcases. 
 




Talk about a feast for the senses - as soon as I stepped foot on the trail, the beauty of autumn washed over me. The spicy sweetness of leaves crunching underfoot, the floral potpourri of freespirited goldenrod bending in the fields, birds twittering, the thump of dropping nuts as squirrels scurried to store for the winter, a crisp breeze against my cheek, and a smoky woodfire burning somewhere in the distance.

 

I came home envigorated, headed up to the studio, and created this polybell pair. The colors remind me of fiery fallen maple leaves - rich mustard, burnt orange, crispy edges, and a hint of natural decay. They're incredibly lightweight - not quite as light as leaves, but almost.

It's a labor of love to form, texture, paint, and seal each bell, but the results make me squeal every single time.

Hope everyone is enjoying the change of the season!

Happy Wednesday,
Nikki

LoveRoot on Etsy

A Little Rosiness

For my first post here on Earrings Everday and for the week of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be appropriate if I showcased a little rosiness. Those of you who know me, however, know that I'm not really a conventional "hearts and flowers" kind of chick. I'm all about the organic, the weathered, and the primitive. 
  

I've been playing lately with making textured handpainted "polybells". I take polymer clay and fashion it into raggedy bell flower shapes and then hand paint each one for a layered, antiqued look. A little whimsy, romance, and nostalgia, all mixed with a dash of curiosity - especially in this pair. I like to think of each bell as its own species, made unique by my two little hands. 

This pair features a wine-colored base that has been layered with honey brown and beige. A quick wire wrap at the top plus some of my hand hammered oxidized copper ear wires, and that's all you need. 

My favorite part of this pair are the frilled wilted ends. And the great thing about polymer is that it's strong enough to be pulled thin. It creates an extremely fragile look while remaining quite strong. Quite the durable material, light as air, and they won't break if you drop them!  

And let's not forget that pop of wineberry inside of each bell...a little surprise that's enough to make you squeal.

I'm tickled pink (pardon the pun) to be a part of the Earrings Everyday blog and look forward to sharing some drool-worthy pairs with you all in the months to come. If you like what you see here, check out my Etsy shop for more ear candy: 

LoveRoot

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveRoot

Happy Tuesday!
Nikki