Springtime, at the Edge of Winter...

It's nearly Winter Solstice, but I'm still loving florals, especially 

when they're as pretty as the flowers created by

Beth Mellor and Raida Disbrow, here and below.  

These earrings can be found and purchased here.

Such gentle beauty and color from Beth's glass tulip beads (with their blue petals laid over

 underlying green) and Raida's lovely floral enameled copper charms!  I complemented them

 with small blue Czech glass tulip beads, 4-mm olivine Czech glass discs, tiny rosy bicone 

Swarovski crystals, and small leafy copper bead caps.   

Thank you so much for reading!  I'll be back soon. 💗 The happiest of holidays to you all!

xoxo
Meridy
Two Trees Studio

Spring in Mind

I know we are in the run up to Christmas but I've had enough of seasonal jewellery already! I started making for Christmas about 3 months ago and peaked last weekend so I'm now on the other side and looking forward to spring designs. My January copy of 'Vogue' arrived this morning and I've already got some new colour combinations planned.

Recently I've been excited by Helen Backhouse's venture into ceramics. I've made a few pairs of earrings which have all flown out but I saved my favourite pair for today's blog post.




The detail on these is quite incredible - the veining, the colouring. I've turned them in opposing directions for added interest.  Above the connectors are some of my favourite lampwork beads from Emma Ralph - great shapes, colours and textures - with bronze spacers from Anna Chernykh and opaque emeralds. Earwires are (of course)  by Lucy Haslam.

                   Below are chunky matte kyanite beads and tiny pieces of silvery leaf chain.

They'll be in my Etsy shop if you'd like them. And I shall be back with you all on Boxing Day - so from me and my family to you and yours - have a very Merry Christmas!

                                                                            Lindsay  x

                                                                         My Etsy shop

                                                                     My facebook page

Textures of porcelain

I have a love of wildlife and quite often I like to use birds in my designs. These two pairs of earrings feature porcelain components by Emma Wilson and both have a bird theme. I just love the detail and texture as well as subtle colours in Emma’s organic designs. Her pieces are small and dainty so I feel require a delicate and sympathetic touch when designing with them.

For this first pair of earrings I have used Emma’s components with a bird design and chose to highlight the pink/red colours with lampwork spacers and headpins by Linsey Peck as well as using a hint of gold with the seed beads and bead caps. The bronze ear wires are by Louise Goodchild.

For the next pair I have used Emma’s fan shaped components that have an Art Deco feel about them and thought that these adorable lampwork birds by Juliette Mullett would fit perfectly. Again, I have matched the pink and blue colours with lampwork spacer beads and some shimmery textured Czech glass daggers that reflect both colours. Then I've finished off with brass/gold colour bead caps. The ear wires are gold filled.

Thank you for reading. Both pairs are available in my FB group as from today - Nicola Morse - Jewellery & components

We're All Ears :: 4th Annual Use Your Leftovers Challenge!

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving was a full TWO WEEKS AGO! That early Thanksgiving has left me a bit bewildered and it makes December seem that much longer. I am not a big fan of the cold (today, as I write this I am refusing to wear socks! Keep in mind that I live in the middle of Wisconsin with snow!), but I am a big fan of the traditions of decorations, baking, singing and, of course, gifting. 

I am sure that if you are here we are kindred spirits and you surround yourself with an overabundance of beads and baubles and bits that are cast-offs from your flurry of frenzied making in these past weeks. When you are a creator there is no way that you can escape the curse of leftovers. And that is exactly what this month's challenge is all about.

There is only one thing to do with a bead feast craftermath like mine: use your leftovers.

So in the spirit of the holidays, I invite you to take part in the  

4th Annual Use Your Leftovers Challenge 

Are you ready to play with me?

Make your own Keep Calm poster at http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

First, take a picture of the craftermath from your bead feast. Believe me, if it looks like mine it won't be pretty! My studio hardly has a path for me to walk through much less space to create. My table is littered with beady crumbs of all sorts. But think of those bits as delicious morsels waiting for your inspiration to strike!

Next, find a divided box, bin, baggies or small bowls and go through the stash on your festive table picking out coordinated sets that you can use to create earrings. They don't need to be same... this is a good time to practice asymmetrical earrings! Put these pieces together with ear wires, chain, findings, etc in each division of the box. I have found that a mini-muffin tin is a great way to corral these bits! Work quickly! Don't take too much time, just focus on filling the sections.Think of this like your staging area for Leftover Transformations.

Now, kick your creating into high gear! Put on some fun music (I have recently found the Spotify playlist Songs To Do CPR To really gets me up and moving and creating). Consider this a Quickfire challenge...Set a timer (challenge yourself to see how many pairs of earrings you can create in an hour...or 15 minutes... or make one pair a day for 7 days... whatever works for you!). DON'T think about it too much (leftovers are supposed to be easy!), just make it happen. Sometimes the best things happen when you are on a deadline and you can't afford the time to overthink! 

Finally, share your bounty of tasty Leftover Transformation creations on Friday, December 21st by adding your link to the Linky Tools party right here. I would be surprised if you didn't make multiple pairs of earrings from this exercise. The bonus is that you will now have a ready-made collection of quick gifts for stocking stuffers, teachers, co-workers and friends just in time for celebrating all the winter holidays and festivities! (Or a different pair for you to wear each day until the new year!)

In the spirit of giving, I will offer a giveaway of an Emergency Earring Making kit - with beads and findings from my prodigious stash for you to use to make multiple pairs of earrings - valued at over $40. But in order to be chosen, you have to participate in the blog hop starting on December 21st. Winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries on December 31st (that will give you more than one full week to make your Leftover Transformation magic happen!). I'll even leave the LinkyTools party open until December 31st so you have lots of time to play! I will announce the winner in the first challenge of the New Year on January 4th!

Let's get this leftover party started...tell your friends to join in the fun, too! *<]:-}}}}

Whirlwind

Hello hello.
Today I am showing you earrings I made last week. You should have seen me, my little bags of tiny colorful beads spread all over the bed, me frantically looking for The Perfect Bead combinations. My  sari silk ribbons haphazardly thrown all over the couch (hubby barely had space left to sit). Yes, making these earrings were kind of a whirlwind process.
For these earrings I wire wrapped the sari silk with a combination of Czech glass, crystals and delica's in a whirlwindy fashion. Hence the name :)

Glass head pins by Linda Newnham Copper ear wires by Lucy Haslam

Glass head pins by Karen Klomparens
Copper ear wires by Lucy Haslam

Glass beads by Grace Ma
Copper ear wires by Lucy Haslam
















These will be available in my Etsy shop shortly.
Thank you so much for looking and your support for Earrings Everyday :)
And you know I love to read your comments, so don't be shy and leave some words.
See you in two weeks.

Wishing you all a wonderful day, full of joy, laughter and whirlwinds of positive energy,
Janine
Esfera Jewelry

Dear Heart ♡

Oh, deary, deer!  Winter came early here in the Midwest and I'm buried up to my neck in coats, sweaters, and scarves!  For this reason, and season, I like to create shorter designs ♡

These lovely little deer charms were made by Vincent Cav of Inviciti. I am drawn to matte finishes and these are a new favorite!  Inviciti makes charms in an array of colors and combinations.

I purchased the large freshwater pearls from Allegory Gallery.  They are the most beautiful and subtle peachy-pink with a slight opalescence.  Andrew has such an eye for choosing beads for his shop and this is a favorite haunt for me, even if it's only online.  Those lucky devils that live nearby - I'm so jealous!

The distressed finish also looks amazing with vintage faux pearls; there are so many directions I could have taken these charms.

 I was having just as much fun playing with the photography (if you haven't noticed) as making the earrings themselves!  It's been so overcast that I'm surprised I got as many good shots as I did.

Well, that's me for now!  I'll be back in two weeks, just before Christmas! 

 ♡ Stay cute and cozy! ♡

Loralee xo

www.loraleekolton.etsy.com

A blast of colour!

Hello!

Although it's December, I've decided against a wintry theme and instead have gone for gorgeous explosions of colour! All these beautiful charms were hand-painted and sealed with resin by the uber-talented Suhana Hart.

First up, these glorious hearts! The detail on these is just beautiful. I used oxidised brass hoops as a base, chrysocolla rondelles and some pretty oxidised black chain at the front.

Next up -these fantastic painted fiery daggers. Love the colour of these. However, making them involved much swearing. Quite a lot of expletives. Sorry. 

First, I started with a brass triangle frame. Then added some co-ordinating seed beads to match with the colours Suhana used in these charms, and added some pieces of filigree brass chain (lots of expletives at this point). Finally, some beautiful cerise lampwork spacers to finish these dangly boho beauties. 

The final pair, I'm hiding at the end, as they are a birthday gift for a fab friend's significant birthday! I don't think she reads this blog, so I'm safe...Beautiful circular charms with pretty purple, green and pink lotus flower patterns on double brass hoops, with African silver spacers and semi-precious rondelles (I've forgotten what these are! But they are from Sylvia Stungo's shop).

Hope you've enjoyed all the colour. These beauties (apart from the last pair!) will be available in my shop. I'll be back in a couple of weeks :-)

Sue x