Really Old :)

Hello! Our Dear Ms. Meridy is unable to be here this morning. She'll be back on her regular schedule two weeks from now.

These earrings are made with authentic Ancient Glass beads, and Antique Ostrich Egg Shell Beads. The glass these beads were made with, if not the beads themselves, was made along the River Niger and excavated in Mali. They’re referred to as Nila beads, or Dardig beads, and are 600 to 1000 years old, if not older. I have and had a good amount of Ancient Roman Glass. These beads are different. Their age is clearly seen in every bead I see and hold. I didn’t think I’d use them, wanting to keep them in my collection. But once I started, I knew it was not going to happen. They are incredible to work with.  I am always attracted to the old, things with history, and love combining them in my own way with my version of "today's" jewelry. Both sets of beads were purchased from the Rita Okrent Collection. The owner of the Collection, Jocelyne, the daughter of collector and artisan Rita Okrent, may be out of town but the shop is open. It may just take some time for her to respond should you message her. She has unique items.

There are three different pairs here. The remainder I made from 16 gauge wire, wrapped the tops in a thinner wire. They've been hammered a bit, etc.

I wish you all a super day, today and every day!

norbel
SheFliesAgain😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄

Country Chic

Hammered Copper Earrings

Warm weather signals lots of outdoor activities, art fairs, bar-b-ques, graduation parties. . .  you get my drift. Comfortable and fashionable clothes with one of a kind jewelry are in order for these casual events. 

I made these rustic copper earrings with hammered sheet copper, to which I applied a heavy patina. Then I added snippets of copper bezel wire, African copper heishi beads and tiny little aluminum eyelets for contrast.

Country Chic by bohobeader featuring plastic sunglasses

For more rustic copper earrings, check out my shops on Etsy and Artfire.

Rustic Indonesian Glass

The art of glass bead making in Indonesia dates back to at least 600 AD, with most of the oldest beads discovered near East Java. Indonesia is strategically located for trade, so the beads were used as currency. They were coveted for their protective powers, many people believed these beads could keep evil spirits from harming them.

These colorful glass beads add so much character to handmade jewelry and I like to use them often. This earring design uses rustic blue Indonesian glass beads in a triangular shape with hand forged oblique copper hoops, Greek bronze coated flake shaped ceramic beads and orange Czech glass.

Saturday Sweater by bohobeader featuring soaked in luxury

Quiksilver / Soaked in Luxury , $71 / H&M , $45 / Kenneth Cole Reaction platform boots / Bottega Veneta hobo handbag / Christian Lacroix cinch belt

To see more of my rustic earrings click here or here.

Going Tribal

African Krobo Bead Earrings on Etsy

 



My earliest pieces of jewelry were slightly southwestern in style. It is the tribal element in southwestern that is so appealing to me. Along the way I have discovered other tribal styles including Hill Tribe silver, Peruvian ceramic, Asian mala, Indonesian glass. I love them all!

 

My personal favorite for variety, vivid colors and imaginative use of shape are the African beads. Primitive hand painted Krobo beads are captivating and full of personality. Brass beads are cast using the same method for a thousand years and maintain that ancient character. Large and small trade beads (originally from Europe) in bright colors have circulated within tribal Africa for hundreds of years.  These amazing African beads are now becoming more readily accessible, and they inspire me to go more and more tribal.

Gloria Ewing

 

 



Rustic Copper & Trade Bead Earrings

Saturday Morning by Gloria Ewing

 

Yellow Sweater $390 - Henry Christ, Boot Cut Jeans $100 - Rock Revival,

Ankle Boot $155 - Mimco Rebellion, Scarf $330 - Etro, and Hobo Bag $395 - Brahmin