We're All Ears :: October Inspiration :: Harvest Moon

What's in a name? that which we call a moon

By any other name would shine as bright.

 (With apologies to William Shakespeare)

I love the sky in October. It is my favorite time of year. There is a crispness in the air that I swear makes colors brighter against the blue expanse of sky. The sunsets are richer, and seem to catch fire to the trees that respond in kind with sunset robes of their own. 

Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

Did you know that there are names for all the moons throughout the year? There's the Wolf Moon, Crow Moon, Flower Moon, Fruit Moon and the Frosty Moon. But the moon that I always remember is the one that rose last night, October 5, 2017...the Harvest Moon.

"Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we call the closest full moon to the autumn equinox the Harvest Moon. In 2017, the September equinox came on September 22. And the September full moon came early in the month, on the night of September 5-6 for the Americas. Thus, for the the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon of October 5 – the closest full moon to our autumn equinox – is our Harvest Moon." 
from EarthSky.org

Photo by Tony Detroit on Unsplash

The Harvest moon is pretty special. It was named such because farmers could use the bright illumination of the full moon to bring in their burgeoning crops into the night. The full moons closest to the autumnal equinox rise sooner after sunset than at other times, just 35 minutes versus 50 minutes. That early moonrise gives the appearance that it is hanging low in the sky, so close that it looks as though you could reach out and pluck it from the sky. This is called the Moon Illusion. The orange color is just a trick of your eyes. The atmosphere at the horizon is a greater thickness than higher overhead. The increased thickness of the atmosphere at the horizon scatters blue light in the spectrum the most allowing red light to pass to your eyes which is why the hue will appear more yellow, orange or reddish.

So go out and take a peek a the Harvest Moon tonight or this weekend and get inspired. If you miss it, you can set your calendar for the Hunter's Moon, which is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon and will set the sky ablaze on November 3rd and 4th as a supermoon, meaning it will be even closer in orbit to the horizon causing it to appear HUGE!

Are you up to the challenge? What does that mean? I am glad you asked! Here's a recap of the challenge to hopefully encourage you to play along! Won't you join me? Reveal date: Friday, October 20th.

Hair'em Scare'em

Velcome, beady peeps!
Loralee, here - Von't you come in...

I enjoy taking different spins on Halloween designs.  For me, it's not just about witches and goblins, but, how the season makes you feel deep inside. Shorter days bring a sense of urgency and a bit of drama with the darkness.

I had started out with these silky, glossy, long, black tassels.  At first, when I purchased them, I wasn't even sure what they were going to be used for. However, I knew I loved them and that's always a good place to start.

I was picturing a night out, something special to wear with that black dress. Something a bit out of the ordinary....perhaps even a little 'witchy'.

I attached the tassels to some tribal inspired connectors by Jana of Happy Fish Things.  I wanted to keep the focus near the top and not interfere with the long strands so I added some short, beautiful, vintage, faceted crystals on each side for some sparkle.

This time last year, a sweet friend, Lena Moore, sent me a pair of extremely fuzzy fiber wrapped beads by Sagahus,  I didn't get a chance to use them, so I tucked them away until now.  It was a good thing, too, because, recently I discovered a wonderful bead artist in France with the shop name, Verreet Cuivre. I'm not sure she intended them to look like candy corn (is candy corn even a thing in France???) .....but, they sure do, in a more sophisticated way!

I love the rustic texture surrounded by the hairy softness of the fibers.   Ha, I don't think I've have ever written that description for earrings before...."the hairy softness"...lol  Anyway...lol

Last but not least, another photo of hairy softness, his name is Vincent, and he's turning 6 months old!

             
                  

 Loralee Kolton Jewelry - artful in beads

                                                 

Wishing you all, the best of this wonderful season!

L ~

Quartz points

Hello! So October is here already, and I suppose I should be posting something seasonal. However, I'm not terribly good at seasonal earrings. If you ask me to make something Autumnal, or for Halloween -I'm stuck! I just like making things which catch my eye. This design is a firm favourite. A bit fiddly, but worth it I think.

The starting point was this pair of pretty purple quartz points. I love that they are jagged, natural and non-uniform. I popped them on a longish piece of oxidised copper wire to make a teardrop shape. Next - a bit of fiddly wrapping of wire to keep the quartz in place and the addition of some pretty turquoise seed beads (who doesn't love purple and turquoise together?). Another bit of fiddly wire wrapping with some juicy purple beads on the teardrop and some very pretty tiny amertrine rondelles. And to finish off -very sweet little turquoise czech flowers to match the little seed beads. And there they are. A little bit boho. And not at all seasonal! But I hope you like them.
They'll be available at my next showcase over on The Earrings Show on Facebook on 30th October.

See you in a couple of weeks :-)

Utterly Lovely Stuff

Kokopelli

Fertility deity, spirit of Music, and Trickster god, Kokopelli has been a favorite of mine for many years--not too surprising, I guess, since I  lived almost half my adult life in Colorado.  He is one of the most recognizable figures in the petroglyphs and pictographs of the Southwestern United States and is often pictured with a consort, a woman the Hopi called Kokopelmimi:

The Hopi Kokopelli was often represented as a human dancer, which seems appropriate, given his connection to music (and fertility rites, for that matter), and in my research for this post I found a lot of dancing "Kokes" and female partners...and even entire dance parties:

In recent times, Kokopelli has been adopted as a symbol of the Southwest U.S. and is a common figure all over the area (and is fairly common in other areas as well).  You'll find his flute-playing (or dancing, or drumming) figure all over, from stained glass windows:

...to garden ornaments:

...to tribal tattoos: 

...and jewelry.  You knew I'd get to that at last, didn't you?  :)  Our friend Kristi Bowman-Gruel made these beautiful Kokopelli components, and I had to make some earrings!  In the true Trickster spirit, I decided not to make them in classic Southwestern colors, but to choose whatever palette suited me:  

Trickster Dance  

Earrings "recipe":  colorful swirled lampies in teal, olivine, and chartreuse with black; little faceted ocean blue jade beads;  copper bead caps and beaded beads; all tied together with green Irish linen cording and hung from my petite ear wires.

I like to think that the two dancers on Kristi's copper teardrops are Kokopelli and Kokopelmimi, but whoever they are, they're a beautiful couple.  💗 

Thank you so much for reading--I'll be back in two weeks!

xoxo

Meridy

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Ancient and Modern

Something old....something new. In this case, some things VERY old indeed. A friend contacted me last week and asked if I was interested in any roman coins - she had come across a supplier and thought of me. I chose a couple of pairs on her recommendation and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the relief on them - really good for 2000 years old! I bit of googling and I could even identify the Emperor - Trajan.

Those connectors are new from Lucy Haslam - copper, soldered with silver but left rough and old looking. Topped with crusty old roman glass. Look almost like they have just been excavated. We have an old excavated Roman fort about 5 miles away at Ribchester - any place name ending in 'chester' came from the Latin 'castra' - a camp - and often go for  a wander round the museum.

Now I'm off in the 'ancient' mood, I dug out the pair of ammonite fossils I got at the Rock and Gem Show. From the Dorset coast, which is a treasure trove for them. Even older than roman coins. Millions of years probably. So special, I let them have my last pair of Basha Beads (but I have ordered more!) Just look at the light that emanates from within. Magical.

 

 

 

Both these pairs have already gone, but I promise more roman goodies soon. Have a great week everyone, and see you again in a fortnight. 

 

Lindsay x

 

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Spiral Path

I've had these spiral design ceramic tubes for so many years that I no longer even know when or where they came from.

So it's beyond time that they were put to some good use!  The design is simple, but the bold spiral lines make for streamlined earrings with a nice impact.

I paired the cream and black tubes with black and white striped, faceted stones, that I brought home from Oaxaca, Mexico a few years ago. I wrapped the brass wire down around the tops of the stones to create a decorative bead cap effect. I think these will be versatile earrings that can be worn year 'round.

Linda Landig Jewelry

"I Change My Mind As Often As I Change My Shoes"

Jetta again...I am here with my latest earring adventure.

I love the idea of getting several looks from one design. I have taken this idea to make necklaces become bracelets or two necklaces, but never earrings. So I played around with some ideas and came up with three Halloween/Fall/Gothic looks.

The first pair I am giddy to show because I used some of my newest Jetta Bug Jewelry ghost charms. I wanted to glam them up for an unexpected look. I had some vintage rhinestone sections of chain that was connected with jump rings. So I took two sections off and added even more glam with my newest ear wires from Lucy Haslam of Faery Stone. I used figure 8 jump rings and some tiny lobster clasps so I could just clip on charms to match my mood...bring on the charms!!

 

 

 

 I really thought I would be all over the place on what style the next charms would end up being. I guess because I started out with a Gothic feel I just kept being drawn to something not normally paired with rhinestones.

I found these darling matte chocolate brown ceramic hearts from Scorched Earth. Paired with the rhinestones and those amazing dark patina ear wires I could see these being glam enough to go with a little black dress or posh with jeans.

And last, but not least, I dubbed these Witch's Fingernails! Aren't these enamel charms fantastic?? I stumbled on this little shop that sells lampwork beads and enamel charms called Verre et Cuivre . She is in France and I love everything she makes. I highly recommend giving her shop a visit. I have been dying to use these charms and next to the rhinestones I am in love.

I hope you have a great week filled with creativity and beads,

Jetta