Trying out some new stuff

Spending time in the Netherlands has it advantages. There are many arts & craft shops in the small town where I used to live, carrying a myriad of things. As usual, I couldn't resist so I bought textile hardener and some acrylic paint pens to play with.

These earrings are my first try-out of both. I made a “cage” with wire and covered it with bright orange sari silk. A great way of using left-over silk. 

I “painted” the sari silk with the textile hardener and let it dry.Voila, handmade, lightweight, paint-able headpins.

The textile hardener turned the bright orange color into red. I painted some primitive motives with the acrylic paint pens on the headpins, added some old trade beads and strung them on handmade ear wires made by Lucy Haslam (Faerystones). The end result is completely different from what I envisioned as well as completely different from my usual style (if I have any) but I am very pleased how they turned out.

Thank you for looking. See you in a couple of weeks.
And you know, I am always happy to read your comments, so don't be shy and let me know your thoughts. I will always reply.


Wishing you a wonderful day full of joy, sunshine and butterflies.
Janine
Esfera Jewelry

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Mali Clay Earrings

African Tribal Earrings

I am captivated by ethnic beads. So these handmade African black clay beads from Mali were irresistible to me. Their shape and pattern are simple but bold, so I used copper beads and spacers, with a bit of bright red vulcanite to accent the earthy clay focals. The copper and vulcanite are also handmade in different parts of Africa from recyclable materials. I think it is the slight irregularities and imperfections that I find so appealing in the African beads, and I use them frequently in my designs.

My hammered copper dangles seem the perfect shape to blend with the African beads. I hammered a texture onto them and added a darkening patina to get that aged look. When I need heavy copper blanks, I know I can find unique shapes at SupplyDiva on Etsy. The owner, Laura, has set up a workshop in Mexico to train women in metal work but also in other skills that they can use to be independent and productive.

So there you have it! A blend of handmade components from Mali and Mexico assembled in a tribal earring design.
















Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Shaman

African Shaman Earrings

Images , oral traditions, and historical descriptions show women as invokers, healers, herbalists, oracles and diviners, ecstatic dancers, shapeshifters, shamanic journeyers, and priestesses of the ancestors. In western Africa, the sorceress Kulutugubaga has the power to heal all and bring the dead to life. (from Woman Shaman by Max Dashú).

My earrings were designed to evoke a Shaman mood of mystery and spiritualism, using striped African barrel beads, African brass trade beads, and primitive pewter charms from Inviciti. Handmade black glass with stripes of ruddy red and white blend beautifully in color and character with the dark patinated pewter drops. A powerful combination, as the Shaman is a powerful position within a tribe, emanating strength and recuperative power for those who depend on her.

© Melbyika | Dreamstime.com - Himba Woman Photo











Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Sands of Giza

Sands of Giza Earrings

In their quest for immortality, the pharaohs of ancient Egypt were compelled to build these awe inspiring monuments to serve as their tombs. Other theories suggest they were actual places of residence for the pharaohs after their earthly death, because they may have thought of themselves as gods. It is speculated that pyramids could have been astronomical observatories, or archives to preserve valuable information for future generations. They may have been built "just because they could", to demonstrate to potential enemies that Egypt was superior to their neighbors and dare not be challenged. Whatever the reason, the pyramids of Giza are still with us after 5,000 years and iconic as they were intended to be.

My earrings echo some of that desert mystery in the distressed pewter charms and their raised pyramid pattern. These rugged ancient looking drop charms are from Vincent at Inviciti, who has developed his own distinctive style of patinas for his cast pewter components. The coin shaped beads are called green line jasper for obvious reasons. I love the sandy color of these beads and they combined beautifully with rustic apatite rondelles. I prefer to mix the metals because it adds contrast to the distressed pewter and soft colors of the stones. The wrapping wire is antique brass, and the ear wires are handmade from oxidized copper.

Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry on Indiemade
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Earth Maiden

Woodstock Earrings

A bit of a flashback to the late 60s, these fringe earrings would have fit right in at Woodstock or Monterrey. Earth Maiden is just my idea of a potential Earth Mother figure, who is still being groomed for the position, sort of an apprentice type situation. You can almost smell the green meadow where dancers twirl about in a carefree frenzy, until the next morning when they wake up dehydrated, sunburned and covered with insect bites. Earth Mother and Earth Maiden will be there to nurture the wayward souls.

These earrings started out with the turquoise deerskin lace and the darkened copper ring and grew from there. I added nylon cord in blue and green, and the seed beads in chartreuse and turquoise with accents of African red orange seed beads, resulting in a tribal Bohemian fringe design. I make the ear wires from 19 gauge copper wire and oxidize them for that primitive look that is characteristic of my work.



Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Last Look Back

Fall is here on Long Island. The leaves are falling and the nip in the air is feeling more like
winter is at the back door. Our neighborhood is coming alive with bright mums and pumpkins
everywhere.

I drove down to the beach yesterday to take in the beauty of the ocean. I go down there as much as I can.
It is beautiful at anytime of the year . It was very windy yesterday as I walked along the shore.

I will make a few more trips down before it gets too cold, to take one last look back at the summer that is now the past.

I love designing with nature in mind. So much inspiration. And for me the ocean is my place to refresh and relax, and let my creative juices flow.

These earrings are earthy, primitive and rustic. I found the shells on one of my treasure hunts.

I wrapped the simple copper hoops in sand colored sari silk and added rustic African turquoise,  copper paddle charms and  gorgeous apatite gemstones.

When you take your last look back at summer, what inspired you?
Find me here at Mojowoman Jewelry

Going Tribal

African Krobo Bead Earrings on Etsy

 



My earliest pieces of jewelry were slightly southwestern in style. It is the tribal element in southwestern that is so appealing to me. Along the way I have discovered other tribal styles including Hill Tribe silver, Peruvian ceramic, Asian mala, Indonesian glass. I love them all!

 

My personal favorite for variety, vivid colors and imaginative use of shape are the African beads. Primitive hand painted Krobo beads are captivating and full of personality. Brass beads are cast using the same method for a thousand years and maintain that ancient character. Large and small trade beads (originally from Europe) in bright colors have circulated within tribal Africa for hundreds of years.  These amazing African beads are now becoming more readily accessible, and they inspire me to go more and more tribal.

Gloria Ewing

 

 



Rustic Copper & Trade Bead Earrings

Saturday Morning by Gloria Ewing

 

Yellow Sweater $390 - Henry Christ, Boot Cut Jeans $100 - Rock Revival,

Ankle Boot $155 - Mimco Rebellion, Scarf $330 - Etro, and Hobo Bag $395 - Brahmin