Halo Earrings in Wintergreen

I've been reluctant to use and share my new ceramic components. But at the encouragement of friends I am revisiting them and warming up to them a lot more! It's like when you think something is going to be one way and then it ends up being something else. But then you realize that what it actually came be to be is just as great or even better...

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself with talk of winter when last week I was admiring the autumn leaves? It's cold and more cold is moving towards us from Canada according to the weather reports.

I am bundling up in my winter coat and will be digging my gloves out today!

I think this set would look great with a big fluffy white or pale blue-green sweater & jeans.
Casual, rustic.

For this set I have used a set of my own hand fused fine silver rings. I have hammered on one side to reveal a smooth silver surface on the other. I love smooth silver - and often turn the hammered side away.

The ceramic beads and dangles are handcrafted (Cindy's Art & Soul).

How do you see Winter? White and fluffy or maybe red & green? Or maybe neither of those? Maybe you are headed to the beach for a swim? What color is your winter?

☮ Cindy
Art & Soul Jewelry 

PS
Don't forget to check out this months Earrings Everyday Blog Challenge inspiration! Please join in the fun! Anyone can play and I think we'll see a lot of participants this month. It's going to be a lot of fun! You can check out the link over to the left of the page ---> or click here to go there now! 

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

We're All Ears :: November Inspiration

Okay. Trying something new this month. I was not sure where I wanted to go with the We're All Ears inspiration for November, so I went to Google and typed in 'art inspiration november'. Oddly enough, I found a site I had never heard of called Art-Spire. New follower, here! 

I scrolled down and mention of a short film by students from Gobelins caught my eye. Gobelins, located in Paris, France, is 'a pioneer school in the fields of digital communication, interactive design and entertainment.' Clearly, their students are quite accomplished since this was a graduation film for some of them.

So I watched the roughly 3 minute film. And I was entranced. I wanted to see more. I could definitely see this as a full length animated feature some day. Where did this creature come from? What purpose is it there to serve? Who is this young girl? What magical land does she live in? What is the message that this fim imparts? Watch this movie and see what questions it inspires in you. 

 

I think that this little short embodies the colors of late autumn and the mystical and wistful feel that this time of year always evokes in me. The hazy grey of the mist in the forest of tall dark trees. The olive green leaves clinging to the rocks and the soft rusty tones of the treetops on the hillside. The little girl's sort of ethnic-inspired coat with the fur and the embroidered trim. The mystical creature energized by the water to create wings to fly. Spectacularly magical. 

Below are a few stills from the animation to inspire you, but to get the full effect, please watch the film!

What inspires you about this amazing short animation?

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To participate in the We're All Ears creative challenge:

Make earrings inspired by this inspiration.

Write a post on your blog.

Add your exact blog post URL link to the
InLinkz code right here on 

Friday, November 21st.

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Moorland

It seems an age since I posted here last. I haven't made that many earrings recently but I did rustle up a few pairs at the weekend for a market last Sunday. I wanted some simple designs, just using lovely components in a simple way.

You've got to love a freebie and Petra of Scorched Earth is always so generous with the extras she sends.  These spikes were included in my last order and I just love them.  I'm so glad I got them because I probably wouldn't have instantly picked them out in her shop, but the colours are so luscious in the flesh. They remind me of banks of heather on moorland. 

They're a great match for the pyrite and frosted mookaite and the little jump ring embellishment / what-do-you-call-it (what do you call it?).  They're available here in my Etsy shop.

Bye for now, Claire

www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

www.somethingtodo.etsy.com

A Twisted Gesture

So have any of you ever taken an art class where the instructor had you do gesture drawings? Quick "first impression" line drawings that are less about accuracy and more about getting a feel for shapes, perspectives, and movement. They can almost be called a scribble or a doodle...capturing a macro idea in a short period of time, usually in about 30 seconds.


Well, the birth of my playfully named "twisted root" earring series is loosely grounded in this idea. Take textured copper wire, beat and twist it to hell, and then solder it into conceptual shapes. Do it quick and hot without a focus on perfection and more of an emphasis on instinct. The end results are deliciously primitive, organic, and wickedly pagan. I've had so much fun the past few months playing with this concept. I find it allows for a completely different kind of freedom from the traditional beaded approach. 

This particular pair has been set aside (read: hoarded for myself). The shape was inspired by the "devil's nests" from the TV series "True Detective". Yes, I'm a dork. But I just couldn't stop thinking about those dark mysterious beautiful little bundles.

It's fun to explore chaos in design. It can produce surprising results :) 

Happy Wednesday!
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Sands of Giza

Sands of Giza Earrings

In their quest for immortality, the pharaohs of ancient Egypt were compelled to build these awe inspiring monuments to serve as their tombs. Other theories suggest they were actual places of residence for the pharaohs after their earthly death, because they may have thought of themselves as gods. It is speculated that pyramids could have been astronomical observatories, or archives to preserve valuable information for future generations. They may have been built "just because they could", to demonstrate to potential enemies that Egypt was superior to their neighbors and dare not be challenged. Whatever the reason, the pyramids of Giza are still with us after 5,000 years and iconic as they were intended to be.

My earrings echo some of that desert mystery in the distressed pewter charms and their raised pyramid pattern. These rugged ancient looking drop charms are from Vincent at Inviciti, who has developed his own distinctive style of patinas for his cast pewter components. The coin shaped beads are called green line jasper for obvious reasons. I love the sandy color of these beads and they combined beautifully with rustic apatite rondelles. I prefer to mix the metals because it adds contrast to the distressed pewter and soft colors of the stones. The wrapping wire is antique brass, and the ear wires are handmade from oxidized copper.

Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry on Indiemade
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Autumn Splendor Earrings

I don't know what is about leaves, but they sure do speak to my soul. The changing leaves make me want to wrap up in layers with soft sweaters and cozy scarves. Pile on the layers!

Just like these earrings are layered with textures and colors with Czech glass, wire and copper chain accented the handcrafted artisan leaf charms. Find them in my Humblebeads Jewelry shop.

 Hand-knitted Infinity Scarf by K.M. Hutton

Cotton Gauze Scarf from the Chic Artisan

Hand-Painted Silk Scarf from Silk Scarves Etc.