Bits & Pieces

I have saved all the bits and pieces from past projects for (at least) the past ten years!  I use mainly vintage chain because I'm so in love with the natural patina and quality, like the tube links above.  I'm embarrassed to tell you though, just how long it took me to find the right way to connect these so they would hang correctly and not turn.  Sure, it looks easy... sigh!  As I'm sure you know, each project has it's own challenges no matter how simple it may appear!  lol

These lovely enamel charms are by Cathleen Zaring of Blue Hare Artwear.  I remember seeing them in her shop and nearly jumping out of my chair!  I'm especially fond of her rustic work like these.  That beautiful celadon peaking out of white enamel and pops of dark copper - swoon!  I also had perfectly matched tin-cut crystals from the 1930's - The size and cut are perfect and doesn't interfere with the enamel design but still adds so much life.

➼

These vintage tin charms by Tracy DiPiazza Metalworks are so well made.  They are double faced so no matter which way you turn them they show the same image- how great for short or pulled back hair!  She also solders the edges so there are no sharp or rough spots.  Tracy's attention to detail is just one of the reasons I love her.  That might be an understatement - I lovessssss her soooo much!  Last year I purchased one of her necklaces and I've never been able to put it away, I just leave it in an open box on my dresser so I can look at it as I pass by- I kid you not!  :D

Again, I used all sorts of vintage bits of chain, links, and connectors.  The oval ornate jump-rings below have a slight twist and were originally one long chain. Adding them gave a bit of dimension, especially since the overall design is very flat.

Many thanks for taking the time to pop in! I'll be back in a couple of weeks!

Loralee xo

www.loraleekolton.etsy.com

loralee kolton - artful in beads on facebook

Cube With Facets or a Wrecking Ball

Large faceted acrylic beads. Over the years I've managed to collect quite a few of them. In different colours and shapes. So attractive I just have to buy them whenever I come across them. However, so far they have rarely come to use in any of my jewelry designs. So the stash of them has gradually built up. With many of them I have only just a pair. So suitable for making fun and exciting earrings.

And finally, over the last few months I have been on a roll with them. Having so much fun. Each pair of earrings in this 'series' has it's own distinctive character, still with the common factor of large faceted acrylic beads. 

Which ever style you use or method of designing the main purpose should of course be that the earrings shall look great when being worn. These ones do I think. To me they are everyday earrings, but with a touch of boldness. Simple and dramatic at the same time. They are long and dangling yet still light weight. Handmade earrings hooks in heavily oxidized sterling silver. I have a feeling I will wear them often over the coming period.

On another note:
If you have read many of my blog posts over the years you might have noticed that my designs often mirror something going on in my subconciousness. This connection I always discover firstly after the design is finished and I take a step back and look at them. It's rather fascinating. Almost like a sort of diary in design.

With these earrings I think it is rather obvious that they could be a version of a wrecking ball. Like in the song by Miley Cyrus. It's not a style of music I generally listen to and the video is a bit too much in my opinion, but that aside some of the lyric lines in that song I can definetely relate to. But mostly there are some things in my life that could do with ...  deserve some serious treatment by a wrecking ball ...

ALL MY BEST,
Malin

Super Long

Oh, I am so much in the mood for really long earrings lately. As you might have noticed in my last few posts here. These ones however break my own record so far. They just barely touch my shoulders when they sit in my ears. It doesn't cause any discomfort at all, since the chain is very supple. I really like the combination and contrast of the classy rich glitter of the Swarovski crystals and the rusticity of the chain and the other heavily oxidized metal parts. I already love to wear them. These earrings are keepers.

Ingredients:

Swarovski bicones in different colors and sizes

Large champagne coloured Swarowski rondelles

Rustic chain

Heavily oxidized copper wire gauge 20

Heavily oxidized sterling silver handmade earring hooks

-------------------------------------------------------

My etsy shop is on vacation again. I'll let you know when it's back on.

All my best,

Malin de Koning

www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Rock And Chain

Art Beads:
Facetted polymer clay rocks by Barbara Bechtel of SecondSurf/Floridity.

Other components:
Brass chain and findings

I really like the three-dimensional shapes that are created when this type
of chain hangs vertically and freely like this. I lack the words in English
to properly explain what I mean, but I hope you understand from looking
at the picture above.

Note:
I am so lucky to still have quite a few of Barbara Bechtel's components
in my stash. She is/was one of my favourite art bead artisans. A wiz with
the polymer clay. Inventive and groundbreaking. Check out those faceted
rocks. She was the first one who started making them some years ago.
Now we see many using that style, and in different materials. Nowadays
she is focusing on her art carreer more than the jewelry side.

These earrings are not for sale at the moment. They will be worn on
stage by one of the singers in my son's band.

-----------------------------------------------

All my best,
Malin
www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas

This year I have been unusually late with the setting up of christmas decorations. I normally start a lot earlier. I love the christmas athmosphere. But only yesterday I got my tree up. Later today my kids and I will start to decorate it. And to set up all the other decorations in our house.  So the spirit has finally entered our house. :-)

As I write this blog post I am listening to my own Spotify list of all the best christmas music ever. And I am so happy with my christmassy earrings that I made, and I will wear them all the coming days.

Art beads:
Matte blue ceramic bells  - NadiaTerra
Red patinated chain - MissFickleMedia

Other components:
Handmade earring hooks in oxidized brass
Messy wrapped oxidized copper wire
Black seed beads (inside the bells)

BTW, here in Sweden the big day is on the 24th instead of on the 25th. 

Wishing everyone a 

Very Merry Christmas,

Malin

www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.com

www.etsy.com/shop/MalindeKoning

(I am way behind on updating my Etsy shop. Please let me know if you are interested in any of my jewelry that isn't listed there.)

The Fringes of Society

Some days we really do feel like telling everyone to just kiss off, don't we? 

All the expectations, obligations, mores, fashion ideals, traditions, and respectability in the world could not mean less to us in these moments. We're looking for a way to express the fact that we're tired of XYZ (insert whatever you please, here). We're over it. All of it. And we're looking for something different. 

See, now, many people may argue that you're being childish, you're pouting, you're rebelling in such a pathetically predictable way. I say this: it's those who are brave enough to leave the herd that are most capable of discovering new ways forward. Getting pissed off can be a good thing if we choose to channel that energy in a constructive way. 

The past month or so I've been coming to terms with the fact that this year has not been among the best. Perhaps I've been in the "anger" stage of coping, I'm not sure. But I'm not too proud to admit that I have had definite moments of rage--a rare emotion for me. 

So it makes sense that I haven't been creating as much in the studio this year. The spark is still there, it's just not burning in quite the same frenetic supernova blaze that it was last year. That's ok, because I'm going to give myself time. I'm going to tell my own self expectations to buzz off. I'm going to give myself permission to not feel guilty for saying "no" to custom orders. And I'm going to take things at my own damn pace. It's the most loving act of rebellion I can think of.

Today's earrings fall nicely in line with my "f-off" mentality, as they're big, they're wild, they're looong, and they refuse to be overlooked. They feature two carved horn shields from India that have been painted or shellacked, resulting in a lovely crackled honeycomb pattern. Truth be told, I could have just hung these charms from ear wires and been perfectly happy. However, I took the opportunity to add in some additional relatively lightweight components to turn them into real statement pieces. Rusty hoops added behind provide a layered halo effect, and a cascade of mixed metal chain fringe spills all the way down to your shoulders, creating music as you move. Everything hangs from my hammered dark copper ear wires and ends up being a lot less weighty than you'd expect. These earrings don't even need to be paired with a necklace, bracelet, or ring--they can stand strongly alone.

Happy Wednesday!
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Unusual, Irregular and kinda Sexy

I have absolutely no idea how this design came to fruition.  The hoops were actually irregular squares to start.  Taking my pliers to them, I worked them to long ovals. I don't remember where I was going with that thought, but looking across my work bench, I saw this enameled blue chain link that I purchased at Hobby Lobby a long time ago. The two looked pretty sweet together, however I had to get creative on how to attach the links to the hoops vertically and tight so they wouldn't slide all over the place.

Unfortunately the links did not match up to the size of my hoops, (keep in mind this was a design in progress and I would have made the hoops fit to size), nevertheless, I took 28 gauge thin wire and threaded it through the links winding it over the hoop ends reinforcing with a dab of super glue.  I know....super glue?? I don't have the means to solder in my current work space, but I'll tell ya, those babies aren't going anywhere.  I added the stones of Citrine at the bottom to bring out the tones of the brass around the blue links.  I was quite thrilled with the end result.

So that's my lesson learned for the day, as it turned out on a positive note.  I plan on making more of these with different chain links and drops, the possibilities are quite endless.

Thanks for visiting and we'll see you again in two weeks,  

Lynn♥

Yucca Bloom on Etsy

Pebbles On A Chain

2016, 
and my new year has started very well. The other day I received an absolutely wonderful gift for my jewelry making, from a Swedish friend Mia Christensen. She picked all the stones and pebbles herself. Drilled them and tumbled them. They all come locally from an area in Ostergotland Sweden, nearby where she lives and where I also grew up. Many of them are small and perfect for earrings. I just had to start creating with them immediately. The ones I used in these earrings are just over 1 cm, or just under 1/2 inch.

Patinated verdigris delicate chain - Shannon German of MissFickleMedia

Drilled pebbles - Mia Christensen

Sterling silver (oxidized) handmade earring hooks

Messy wrapped oxidized copper wire

In this picture below you can see about half of the stones I got as a present from Mia. She is in the process of setting up an Etsy-shop, but until it's done you may contact her via e-mail: kaffe.nu[at]hotmail.com

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year,

Malin de Koning

www.beadingbymalindekoning.blogspot.se

Suavity Swinging

 Once again I was put to the task of designing a set of earrings whose main components were so complete unto themselves that I didn't feel much needed to be added to complete the design.

Here is a set of Claire Lockwood's ceramic glazed pod pieces.

I was surprised to notice when I received them that there was a little wire hanging from the inside that  made it easy to attach something.

I had saved out this little copper chain segment for years and thought it the perfect bit to hang some tiny numi-baubles from.

These pieces were a rescue from headpins from a set of headpins that didn't quite work somehow in another set. I had been holding on to them for a long time too.

The chain lends some movement to the design and the red baubles make a nice accent.

I've completed them with some of Faerystone's long copper earwires.

Thanks for looking at my NuminosityBeads Creations!

Kimberly Rogers

e t s y   www.numinositybeads.etsy.com

f a c e b o o k  www.facebook.com/numinositybeads

i n s t a g r a m  www.instagram.com/numinosity/

p i n t e r e s t  www.pinterest.com/numinosity/

and my f a c e b o o k auction and sale group 

/www.facebook.com/groups/967164829979604/

Innuendo

I spotted these charms in my news feed on Facebook and I just had to have them! They are stunning and they are by Inviciti.  If you haven't checked out their Etsy site, you really should. They have some awesome pieces.

I love pairing this shade of Chalcedony with antique silver. 

You will find these earrings on my website here.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations

Chains and Leather

We're into the swing of the Holidays, and this means lots of parties coming up!

Are you ready for it?

In my humble opinion, just like a woman's wardrobe is not complete unless she owns "That little black dress", the same goes for her jewelry box... You've got to own that perfect pair of earrings for your nights out on the town:

A little bit mysterious with the Black Spinel gemstones and Hematite Beads...

A little bit edgy with the Sterling Silver chains...

Textures that catch the light and dazzle the room...

A touch of Fire Engine Red lipstick and nail polish... your favorite black dress and it is time. to. party.

Black Leather Holiday Style by nathalie-lesage featuring black tights

I looooooove leather, and I couldn't resist creating a couple of Polyvore boards

featuring black leather :)

Of course, the board above features a more 'upscale' style, but these Black Spinel/Hematite Hoop Earrings would work equally well with this more casual leather outfit:

Black Leather Holiday Style 2 by nathalie-lesage featuring lace up ankle boots

Now that is versatility!

You can find my Belinda Black Stones and Chains Hoop Earrings HERE on my website.

Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Nathalie

http://www.NatLJ.com

Inspiration...

So I was watching the television show "How Do I Look?" and the host, Jeannie Mai, had on a really cool pair of earrings. It was hard to get a good look at them, but I could see a large pearl and some chain. So I decided to try my hand at making a similar pair and this is what I came up with. They are one of my favorite "go to" pairs. You just never know when inspiration is going to hit you!

I'd wear them with this ensemble, of course being 5'9 I would never wear heels that high!

Night on the Town by Kristy Abner on Polyvore.

These earrings are not for sale, but check out my website to see more of my work.

Thanks and have a wonderful holiday!

Merry Christmas

Kristy Abner

 

Kristy's Kreations

 

Flight of the Conchords

If you've never seen Flight of the Conchords, you should really take a minute and watch some of the videos on YouTube or Hulu it. It's so funny.  Oh but you're here for the earrings?
I created these using some sweet Jade Scott copper resin charms, copper link chain, and faceted czech glass. I love longer earrings lately, and these seem to go with anything. You can find these for sale in my webshop.

Oh you're curious?? Here's a good laugh for you then! Enjoy!

Fire and Rain

This week I created 2 pair of earrings using the same Rustic Drop beads by Outwest.

They were so cool on their own
I wanted to create very simple designs that let the wonderful beads shine through.



FIRE

I did really crazy messy wire wrapping on these beautiful red rustic drops.





RAIN



And super simple chain strung through these lovely blue beads.

 

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.Etsy

Girl on Fire Earrings

I love books for teens, don't ask me why.  My own teens could care less about Twilight, the Hunger Games or anything else that happens to be popular.  I however am not above the hype. We went to see the Hunger Games this weekend and Capitol City fashion is quite the inspiration.

In the story, the main character is presented in several outfits that have real flames, flicker like flames or shimmer with light to represent their coal producing district.  So I thought a pair of Girl on Fire earrings were in order. 

I added the silk ribbon and Czech glass as the flame and embers.  The birds are the iconic mocking jay in the story. I threw in the chain to represent the bondage of the districts to the fascist government and some of my branch beads to represent the main character's favorite hunting grounds and refuge.  Even the bow of the earwires are a nod to an integral part of the story.

 You can find these earrings in my Etsy shop.

-Heather Powers is the editor of the Art Bead Scene, the author of Jewelry Designs from Nature and the hands behind Humblebeads.