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Friday, September 15, 2017

We're All Ears :: September :: Here Comes the Sun{flower}

Sunflowers never fail to cheer.

Today, I stopped at the local farmer's market downtown on the Square and picked up a humongous bouquet of fresh flowers. I was attracted by the bright colors, the gorgeous purple cabbage roses and the mini sunflowers. I had enough flowers to make three smaller bouquets that I shared with office-mates and the financial firm next door (I won the Packer pool last week, so I felt that I should share the love!), and one large one that graced my desk all day. All for $6. It makes me smile to see it.


In making the sunflower earrings for this challenge I wanted to focus on the iconic yellow and black tones of the blooms. That was kind of hard to do since I don't often buy yellow....anything!


I found these little neglected ceramic drops in the dark recesses of my printer's cabinet drawers, white with black polka dots, from Jennifer Heynen of Jangles. She isn't even making beads anymore (she is a brilliant fabric designer and quilter), and she hasn't been to the Bead & Button Show in many years, so these are practically vintage and totally one of a kind! I paired them with some frosted faux sea glass in a sunny honey color, wrapped up in blackened steel.

Next up I pulled out some new charms that I just made as part of my Papilio line, inspired by butterfly wings in macro photography for the challenge over on the Art Bead Scene Studio (come see our new website and you can read about my behind the scenes inspirations!). Yellow is a hard color for me and I don't have a lot of beads in that color, so this was serendipity that I had just made these. I like making a stack or grouping of spacers. Of course, they work well as a bumper between beads, adding texture, but together they pack a punch. Finishing it off with a golden Swarovski gives this just enough bling that ties in with the flecks of glitter in the wing charms.


Finally, I pulled out some enameled drops and mixed up some yellows and oranges, attaching them to an oval ring that recalls the shape of sunflower seeds. Up close the rings remind me of the black sunflower seeds in the center of the head. I like the movement they have even though they are very simple. I think I might have to wear these today for a pop of sunshine as I move about!


Now it is your turn to show off your sunny accessories! Add your links to blog posts or even Facebook or other sharing site below. Looking forward to seeing where this sunny inspiration takes you!

14 comments:

  1. Wow, Erin!! I thought the first pair was my favorite then I saw the petals at the end and squeeeeeed!! So fantastic!! You rocked this!

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    1. Yea.... I like to finish with my favorite! They were so simple and I tried out art beads, but they just worked as they were. I have more of these drops in various colors so I think I will be making more Petal Pushers in different shades! I love it when I can come up with something I can make for the upcoming holiday shows in particular!

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    2. I know, and how the dark rings look like the centers of the sunflowers...omg...so great!

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  2. Erin, what great earrings! They all rock the overall concept and yet they're all totally different, and I love them all. Your stack of beaded spacer beads just knocked me out. Brava, lady! xoxox

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  3. I am amazed at the diverse forms and patterns that you have explored in each of your earrings. Thank you for this fun and sunny inspiration; I had great fun with it.

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  4. That last pair - awesome! I love movement in earrings and it's amazing how much like sunflowers they appear.

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  5. I love how 'just' one flower (even the beautiful sunflower) can inspire such amazing earrings - and it's a good reminder that yellow especially can be such a powerful colour :)

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  6. I love petal pusher earrings and name. Too cute!

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  7. Great challenge and great earrings. Especially the last pair. The movement in these. Dancing sunflowers in your ears!

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  8. Petal pushers so much like the flower itself, but my favorite are the here comes the sun. I luv use of multiple spacers for texture and they match the center of the sunflower so well.

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  9. Wow! particularly love the petals on the hoops -stunning!

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  10. I don't have anything to add to the linkup but just adore sunflowers and your earring creations, especially the petal pushers!

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  11. What a fantastic bouquet! I had pulled out some polka dot lamp work beads and daisy spacers but they didn't work - now I'm glad about it because you used them in special ways and the earrings are beautiful! The last pair is striking but I prefer the notions locked in the first pair!

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  12. Ack! I thought I had commented on this... but apparently I didn't. Oops! As always, I love all of your earrings! That first pair really speaks to me.. those polka dots! That last pair is probably the most "sunflower" to me with the awesome petals. I know I've seen you post since this that you've now made a rainbow of Petal Pushers. So fun!

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