Poseidon's Garden

Poseidon's Garden

These colors remind me of Caribbean waters.

View of Caribbean Ocean from Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island,
Courtesy Wikipedia Creative Commons

For these earrings, I started with a pair of my copper tulip caps, and gave them an aged blue-green patina. They made me think of blooms from a deep-sea garden! I chose gemstones in the same hues--I just love the way this aqua chalcedony glows, and the sea green aventurine nuggets match the patina on my tulip caps so perfectly. I dotted the earwires with Czech glass in a matching aquamarine blue.

I would pair them with a gown worthy of Amphitrite (especially if she was guest-starring on Downton Abbey--this dress is so Lady Sybil):

Amphitrite by lunebijoux featuring a chiffon dress

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tomorrow River Winding

I made a necklace and earring set for a very, very patient client name Jen who lives in the Tomorrow River area a short drive from me. When we met earlier this year, she described what she wanted by showing me a Pinterest board that she created (how clever is that?!). She started with pictures of my work, but that led her to other artists that she admired who were linked on my pages, specifically StaciLouise Smith. 

 For the earrings, I went with two polymer clay disk beads by Heather Powers that had similar colors but different patterns, and the same size. Then I found some different shaped but same sized links and wrapped them in Wooly Wire from Karen Totten. The client asked the earrings to be asymmetrical. I never have a problem with making asymmetry in necklaces but earrings were tough!This is really my first attempt at making earrings that don't match.  

What do you think? 

If you would like to see the necklace that goes along with these earrings, please hop on over to my blog

Treasures Found

Woodland Folk

Handcrafted sterling silver hoops are paired with artisan pewter oak leaf charms and wee acorns of copper and pearl beads.  Sweet and lovely earrings to go with a folk-inspired outfit. 

Oak Leaf and Acorn Hoop Earrings

Woodland Folk Outfit by humblebeads

Fuschia Disc

Mix Polymer Clay Discs, beautiful Lampwork Headpins and a little bit of Sari Silk, wrap them all up in copper wire and this is what you get. 

I'm finding myself using touches of Sari Silk in many of my new designs lately and I really love it. It just adds such a wonderful texture and dimension to all the other handmade bits and pieces.

I made the Polymer Clay Discs and the amazing headpins are by SueBeads.

These earrings are available HERE in my Etsy Shop.

Thanks for stopping by, I'd love to hear what you think of my new earrings!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

KristiBowmanDesign on Artfire

Bling

I'm in the midst of planning our holiday party and I have Christmas on the brain! These earrings were inspired by the beads, that I found at Michael's craft store! They have the most amazing coloring and AB coating that I've ever seen, along with this very unique etched matte flower design on them! I created these to go along with a bracelet using the same beads.  Definitely planning to make set for me to wear to my own party! Can't wait!

These are for sale in my Indiemade shop!

Changing Hands

My design features bright and funky enameled hand charms that I found on Sunday at a local Bead Bazaar, paired with powder glass Krobo beads from Ghana. The charms were made by Sara Lukkonen, and I thought they might be a fun way to help send a message. Personally, I love ethnic art and so it is not surprising that I like to use African beads in my designs. If more people were aware of the story behind these beautiful beads, they would grow even more popular.

It is uncertain how long the powder glass beads have been made in Africa, but these days they come mostly from the Krobo region of Ghana in West Africa, handmade from recycled glass by Ashanti and Krobo people. The beads play a part in local traditions, worn to identify families or to demonstrate wealth or social position. Bead making and other creative arts bring tourism to African countries and provide income for more and more people.

Krobo Beads: Bidding for Tourism Boom – By Kofi Akpabli

For more information on the process of making powder glass beads, click here. It really is a labor intensive method, but the result is well worth it.

Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Sun Ray Drops

I just recently began etching metal and I've really enjoyed it, and, except for the ferric chloride stain on my kitchen island, it's been a lot of fun. After etching these teardrops, I knew I wanted to use some Bubby & McGurk lampwork headpins that I have been hoarding.

                                                                                  Sun Ray Drops are on my website.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations