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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Kingfisher

 
 
In the northern English village where I live we have an area of land we call The Wetlands. Up to 10 or so years ago, it was home to three Victorian working reservoirs which provided water to an extensive surrounding area, including a huge textile factory about a mile away. That closed in the late 1980's and eventually the reservoirs were decommissioned. Last week they were given over to the village to be kept as a nature reserve in perpetuity.
Home to thousands of birds including black swans, canada geese, many species of waterfowl and passing curlews (we had over 500 last year), it's a real little oasis in our increasingly busy lives. The view of the sunset up there across the Fylde Coast is spectacular.
 
 
 
What's this got to do with earrings, I hear you ask?
Well, one of the birds I would dearly love to spot up there would be a kingfisher. I love the bright colours - turquoise and orange, darting through the trees and flashing beak first into the water after a fish. 
 
 
In lieu of seeing the real thing (maybe one day?) I used the colours of the kingfisher to inspire this week's earrings.  
 



The triangular ceramic components are easily identifiable; one of my favourite ladies Jana Bliznakova. Cheerful and bright, just as she is! The cute enamel flower beadcaps were from Susan Kennedy, and the greek metal textured patina rings are from Smitten Beads.

Sitting here, although the weather is grey today, I can feel Spring is definitely on it's way!

See you in two weeks
 
Lindsay x
 
 





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30 comments:

  1. They're lovely Lindsay.
    I too live in a Lancashire village. I was born here 60+ years ago and haven't moved (except for an 18 month period while we renovated our first house).
    One of the things I love about Lancashire is the way we have utilised our, once working, reservoirs into areas of natural beauty now the mills have gone. Even though my village is no longer as rural as it was when I was little, I am still only minutes away from farmland. A 15 minute walk takes me to a vast country park or the reservoirs and a 15 minute drive finds me in the beautiful West Pennine Moors.
    There are tiny areas of nature still preserved in the most secret of places. My friend walks her dog in the next village to mine. She walks along a public footpath, through a church yard and the area opens out into beautiful woodland. She rang me one day just to tell me she had just seen a deer feet away and a kingfisher diving for fish in the stream.
    Xx

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  2. Sounds wonderful Wendy. We're luck to be where we are - such outstanding natural beauty around us x

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  3. That would be quite the spot Lindsay - a KingBird - and your Earring combination with all the lovely Artisan components look like they were made for each other. Beautiful design and beautiful inspiration too! I would have to combine three of our birds here to get those colors! I hope one day you get to see one in the Wetlands :)

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    1. So do I Janice - although strictly speaking they are river birds. Still, here's hoping x

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  4. Your design is truly inspired and thanks so much for creating something special for the blog.
    I must say it wouldn't be instantly recognizable as a Lindsay creation but shows that you are ever evolving and have that creative flair that never fails to highlight your design skills.
    (Was that wordy or what? My morning Typhoo has just kicked in!)

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  5. Still drinking that? But of course....large sack! Thanks Kim xx

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  6. Fabulous earrings and a great colour combo! x

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  7. Fabulous; I love the colors and all the textures.

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  8. killer! You pulled it off really well <3

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  9. What a gorgeous wetlands area--I always love to roam around places like that. We're lucky to live just a minute's walk from the American River here in Sacramento, a beautiful big river bustling with wildlife from coyotes and beavers to geese and blue herons. Your earrings are wonderful, Lindsay--what a wonderful use of Jana's components. They capture the rich colors and the sassy spirit of the kingfisher perfectly.

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    1. Then you are even luckier Meridy - would love to have an otter - one was glimpsed once but not again since.xx

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  10. My word. That is a beautiful bird and an equally beautiful interpretation in earrings! Thank you for sharing all the great information! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  11. Lindsay, I need to come up with more adjectives. They are so beautiful! Both fresh and wild. Awesome. Thank you for the incredible inspiration!

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  12. Absolutely gorgeous earrings Lindsay. I have nothing more to add to all the beautiful words being said by all the others. They all say it so well.

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  13. Gorgeous Lindsay, colours are just wow😍

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    1. Thanks Suhana - bit out of my box but there you go! Does you good sometimes x

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  14. Being a birder the description of this wetland makes me jittery inside, oh how I'd love to visit it!! I've seen Kingfishers but none like the one you have pictured, they are all such wonderful birds. Now the earrings you made are such a beautiful match to your inspiration. Each of the little touches you added are so perfect! Good luck in your show!!

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    1. Thankyou Kristi. I'll invite you to like the Facebook page for the Wetlands - you might like it x

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  15. Oy, these are just GREAT - evocative of the bird without being a clowny parody. Love the color and texture combo!! :)

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  16. Wow! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Great inspiration! I love to see that your type of Kingfisher is different in coloring than the ones we have up here. Ours are various shades of blue with white and grey. Your earrings are fabulous!

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    1. So lucky to have wildlife aren't we? Thanks xx

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