Elephant Sunset

Hey guys!  Not only have I been craving warmth these days but I've also been working on some animal themes for an upcoming charity event.  Mix the two together and voila!

The lovely drenched pewter elephants are by Kelly Luttrell of Soul Relica.

The accent beads are by polymer great, Jon Burgess.

I used blackened annealed steel, heavily oxidized vintage spacers and topped them off with a coiled wire bead cap. 

Thank you for stopping by my worktable!  See you in a couple of weeks!

Loralee xo

https://www.facebook.com/loraleekolton.jewelry/

Gala

What jewelry would you wear if you were invited to the Oscars?

The dream would perhaps be if you could borrow some really exclusive jewelry. Like the movie stars do. Something dramatic, bold and utterly glamorous. With diamonds and saffires.

Or would you wear something of your own make? Or made by a friend? You could of course still choose something bold and glamorous, but also fun, quirky and exciting. Something unexpected and unusual so that it would no doubt catch everyones eyes.

Like these ones for instance. They move wonderfully when you move your head. Super light weight and so very easy to wear. Because you would of course like to party like crazy all night without having to be worried about anything else.

Ingredients:
Orange large acrylic facetted bicones
Bright red silky covered polyester chains
Oxidized copper wire and large jump rings
Oxidized Sterling Silver handmade earring hooks


All my best,
Malin

Raiding the Sewing Cabinet

Let's talk about thimbles. 

They're wee, they protect our precious fingertips, they are passed down from generation to generation of nimble-fingered women. Even the word puts a smile on your face. I'm not even sure if thimbles are used much anymore? Then again, I'm not a seamstress. I'm sure if they made finger protectors for metalsmiths, I'd be all over it. 

I enjoy incorporating oddball found objects in my earrings, so antique shops can be a treasure trove when it comes to sparking my muse. One of my favorite Etsy supply shops sells lots of vintage, old, crusty, imperfect artifact bits from Eastern Europe. These items range anywhere from 100 years old to a few decades old. 

During one order (read: binge) I came across these vintage brass thimbles and the first thing that came to my mind was BEAD CAP! The edges are ragged and they have a dark green verdigris patina on them, and a lot of people may look at them and think "junk, gross, why would you want to wear that?" 

But to me, they bring to mind previous generations of strong, make-do, self-reliant, hard-working women. Women who tended and cared for those they loved. Women like my grandmother who lived through the depression and still mends towels and undershirts and socks to this day.


To turn these thimbles into wearable art, I carefully punched holes in the top and hung them with natural spotted jasper stones in complementary hues of sand, terracotta, army green, and vermillion. I then gave the stones blackened silver soldered caps and hung everything from my extra long ear wires. They dangle freely beneath the thimble, making for really unique nostalgic statement pieces.

Happy Wednesday!
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

 


We're getting closer and closer to my favorite holiday of the year - Halloween. When else do we get the legal (and sane) opportunity to dress up and assume a different identify? And to celebrate all things dark, taboo, and disturbing? And to eat candy...guilt-free?

I'll admit I've always had a fascination with the darker side of life. As the saying goes, you can't have the light without the dark. I lived through quite a few dark years in my 20s, and I wholly believe that my struggles then have made my happiness now that much more sweet. So it's no coincidence that my designs reflect this fascination and respect for the dark. 

 



This pair of earrings is perfect for any time you're feeling a little brooding, a little mysterious, a little edgy. And the colors are very Halloween-ey without being cheesy: sooty grungy black pewter charms from Inviciti, vintage African bauxite trade beads, and my own mossy green polymer clay nuggets.

So start counting down the days...and make sure you've got your black eyeliner handy ;)

Happy Wednesday!
Nikki


LoveRoot on Etsy

Change is a-Comin'

Let's face it, we all have a favorite season: 

...the quiet white introversion of winter...
...the unrestrained energetic rebirth of spring...
...the saturated free-wheelin' heat of summer...
...and then there's the spicy moody deliciousness of autumn...my favorite, the best.

Every time this year a little kernel of excitement starts to grow in me as I realize that fall is right around the corner. By the time the leaves have burst into flames and pumpkins are on every porch, I'm in full-blown heaven. And Halloween - oh, the mystery and the wickedness!

Lately I've subconsciously found myself gravitating to designs using the patron colors of autumn - burnt orange, rusty red, golden honey, warm brown, and faded sage green. It's as if even my design sense realizes that change is coming. 


One of nature's little miracles, Picasso jasper, happens to capture all of these hues perfectly in one stone. When I saw this pair, I knew that some angular primitive metalworked post earrings were in order. I bezel-set the stones in sterling silver and then soldered a few hammered bars on for a spray of movement. When worn just-so, the shape of these stones accentuates the ear perfectly. 

Get your sweaters ready as you walk through the crunchy sweet leaves, hear the din of late year cicadas and crickets, feel the nip of cool evenings on your nose, and warm yourself around a blazing bonfire with a mug of hot mulled cider.

Happy Wednesday :)
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Designing for Yourself

One of the biggest perks of being a jewelry designer is the ability to create killer accessories for any outfit. If I see a dress that I'm dying over and can't stop daydreaming about, not only can I treat myself to it, but I can also create handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry to go with it. No need to shop around, find something that's in my style, compare prices, hem-and-haw...I can just sit down and make it myself. Your friends and family can all be jealous, it's ok.

 
Over the years, one of my favorite Etsy clothing designers has been Gaia Conceptions. Andrea makes "eco chic apparel for the global nomad" using "certified organic and sustainable fabrics which have inspired simple, timeless, and ethical designs rooted in comfort and multifunction". Love? Love. I've got quite a few of her skirts and dresses and find myself wearing them all the time, including this one.

I've been experimenting with creating bezel-set stone earrings in sterling silver lately. Up until now I've just been making rings, but I'm now starting to branch out and create these designs for ears, not just fingers.


 




These picasso jasper stones went perfectly with the rusty orange of my dress, plus added some summery sage green and magenta - they remind me of a sunset in the desert. Simple, organic, full of energy and color, yet not overwhelming. 

Sometimes I end up listing the jewelry I make for myself, and sometimes it ends up on the ~MINE~ jewelry stand. Hey, we've got to pay ourselves every now and then, right? :)

Happy Mid-week!
Nikki

LoveRoot on Etsy

Fire things up!

I've got a thing for rustic earthy colors, and copper is my metal of choice to convey that look and feel.

It is so beautiful, richly colored, luxuriously warm - I just love using it in my designs :)

Today's inspiration came from our weekly challenge over at SRAJD, and the theme was FIRE. 

So, you know that I HAD to go with Copper! :)

And I also HAD to hop over to my latest addiction (Hello Polyvore!) to make an outfit that I thought would go well... If I were several many pounds lighter, I'd definitely dig wearing this rockin' outfit with my earrings :)

Earthy Fire Outfit by nathalie-lesage featuring a sheer red lipstick

These earrings feature beautiful artisan Dichroic glass beads made by Paula Radke Art Glass. 

I love the shimmering burnt orange on the black base of Paula's beads, and the cool contrast between the textured copper and the smooth commercial glass slivers at the bottom.

Paula's beads have a flat back and rounded/domed top where the dichroic color is, so I had to figure out a way to showcase them to display their full beauty:

These one of a kind Copper earrings can be found on my website HERE.

Thanks for stopping by... have a fabulous day!

Nathalie

Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist

NathalieLesageJewelry.com

Coral Blooms

Oh how I adore the color coral! When I saw these art tiles from JLynn Jewels I knew I had to have them...they just popped with color! I wanted to keep them simple since the dog tag tiles are so vibrant, so I just paired them with a faceted coral glass bead and an orange bead that matched perfectly. The tiles are great because they are very lightweight and perfect for earrings.

I can picture them being worn with this fun ensemble....

Coral Blooms by kristyabner featuring summer straw purses

These earrings are available HERE in my shop!

Don't forget our April Inspiration Design Challenge. The reveal will be next Friday April 18th. 

Thanks for visiting our blog and have a fabulous weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations 

A Little Rosiness

For my first post here on Earrings Everday and for the week of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be appropriate if I showcased a little rosiness. Those of you who know me, however, know that I'm not really a conventional "hearts and flowers" kind of chick. I'm all about the organic, the weathered, and the primitive. 
  

I've been playing lately with making textured handpainted "polybells". I take polymer clay and fashion it into raggedy bell flower shapes and then hand paint each one for a layered, antiqued look. A little whimsy, romance, and nostalgia, all mixed with a dash of curiosity - especially in this pair. I like to think of each bell as its own species, made unique by my two little hands. 

This pair features a wine-colored base that has been layered with honey brown and beige. A quick wire wrap at the top plus some of my hand hammered oxidized copper ear wires, and that's all you need. 

My favorite part of this pair are the frilled wilted ends. And the great thing about polymer is that it's strong enough to be pulled thin. It creates an extremely fragile look while remaining quite strong. Quite the durable material, light as air, and they won't break if you drop them!  

And let's not forget that pop of wineberry inside of each bell...a little surprise that's enough to make you squeal.

I'm tickled pink (pardon the pun) to be a part of the Earrings Everyday blog and look forward to sharing some drool-worthy pairs with you all in the months to come. If you like what you see here, check out my Etsy shop for more ear candy: 

LoveRoot

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveRoot

Happy Tuesday!
Nikki

Peace Signs

I have a thing for peace signs and I love wearing them, be it a t-shirt, a scarf or a pair of earrings...they are always "in" with me. I made this pair last night using Bubby & McGurk head pins, Czech glass and Magnesite beads. The Irish waxed linen cord is from Ornamentea.

Here's a casual outfit that would look great with my earrings....

Stroll on the Beach by kristyabner featuring a maxi dress

 

 

You can find these earrings here on my website.

Thanks and have a great holiday weekend,

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations  

Sunshine Drops

In my last post, I was talking about how ready for Autumn I was, and today, wishy-washy girl/woman that I am, I am loving the sunshine!  Maybe because it was a bit cooler over the past few days here in my neck of the woods, but I actually enjoyed being out in the sunshine instead of dreading the hot, sticky,drippy feeling that being outdoors in sweltering heat can cause!

I made these the other day for a last minute addition to a craft show, which unfortunately bombed, but the earrings are sweet nonetheless!  Gorgeous sunny orange/yellow lampwork beads by Mermaid Glass, wrapped with copper and embellished with tangerine orange Czech glass flowers!

I'm definitely going to need better photos...the bottom one is the truer yellow shade of the lampwork! The top ones wouldn't stop moving, so they are a tad blurry!

Beautiful, simple drops of sunshine to keep your days bright, no matter what season or weather!

Melissa
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love.

Thumbelina's Gypsy Caravan

Thumbelina's Gypsy Caravan

These delicious little pumpkin-hued keyholes are the first of my whopping big enamel stash from GardanneBeads. I am going to be making a lot of earrings with enamel elements!! After I had put these all together, they had a colorful gypsy feel to me, and made me think of an ornate, old-fashioned gypsy caravan.   A tiny one! With a wee door and keyhole. As if Thumbelina ran away to join the gypsies and they gave her her own little caravan....

Of course you must have a gypsy skirt to go with them:

Rust Cotton Gypsy Skirt at loveitsomuch.com

Be sure to visit Gardanne Beads for an eyeful of fabulous enamel and unique lampwork! Etched lampwork spacers in blue from Julie Miller Glass, and striped Indonesian glass beads and copper spacers from Happy Mango Beads.

See more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tantalizing Orange

My mom is in love with these earrings. I will most likely make her a pair at some point, but for now these are for you! They have a really Vintage feel and a real splash of colour! I was inspired by Pantone's Fashion colours although this is not quite Nectarine, I still wanted to use something in the orange tones.

Here is a closeup of the amazing orange colour of the tear drop beads. I just love how bright they are! Can't miss them!

Listed in my Etsy shop for purchase now...

Marie 

Pomegranates and Marmalade

Pomegranates and Marmalade

I textured these hearts with a mid-century coin from Hong Kong, and adorned them with Czech glass in pomegranate and speckled marmalade.

If I could wear orange without looking like I was dying of H1N1 (or dying of food poisoning on Christmas Day caused by an ill-advised chicken-based pub dinner, whatever the case may be) this is what I would wear with these earrings:

pomegranate and marmalade by lunebijoux featuring sleeveless prom dresses

Lovely copper bracelet  above by Cindy Pack.

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Persimmon Lantern Earrings

A tassel of persimmon colored Czech glass beads sway below a polymer clay bead in a floral design. These remind me of Chinese lanterns and the 1920's.  I'm looking forward to the flapper revival thanks to the upcoming Great Gatsby! 

Lantern Earrings can be found in my Etsy shop.  Use discount code HOLLY for 25% off your entire purchase until 12/15. 

I have a Zen girl on my shopping list, my 16 year old daughter, and I will be making her a lantern style pendant like the one featured below.  If  you happen to have a girl who loves all things from Eastern cultures, you might like a few of the gift ideas below.   I know my holiday shopping is never complete without a trip to World Market and few interesting Etsy shops.

Zen Girl by humblebeads on Polyvore

Click on the thumbnails for details about each item.

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset

The colors in these earrings--from carnelian, lepidolite jasper, and Czech glass--remind me of the lilac Alpenglow of sunrise, and the deep tangerine of sunset. I just love combining opposites on the color wheel--I especially love orange and purple together. The earwires on these earrings are actually made from brass core, silver filled 20 gauge wire from Monsterslayer. I bought some mostly to see how it performed, and was impressed. These earwires are hammered quite a bit where the carnelian hangs from them, as you can see, and the thick, durable plating held up beautifully.

I'm feeling tough today, so this is what I would wear with them!

Sunrise Sunset by lunebijoux featuring a leather fur jacket

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.