Athena Earrings

I have an extensive collection of pearls, including some beauties from the Sea of Cortez, some salt water pearls and large cultured freshwater pearls (as shown here). I've been hoarding them for some time, and I do make the occasional special jewelry with them, but other than that, I keep my stash close to my heart.

I've decided that they really need to come out and play. It's not fair to keep them stored away. They are meant to be enjoyed and worn. It's just hard to let go sometimes...

So today, I introduce you to my Athena pearl earrings, featuring a pair of large (~10mm) natural cultured freshwater pearls, wire wrapped in 14kt gold-filed wire and surrounded by an eclectic cluster of sparkling Labradorite gemstones that seem to 'dance' around the pearls.

These sassy earrings would go great with this adorable little quilted Jeans dress, don't you think?

Athena Summer Outfit by nathalie-lesage featuring a flower arrangement

You can find these modern flirty pearl earrings HERE on my website.

I will be making more in various colors of pearls/gemstones combinations... they make me happy :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget to participate in our We're All Ears May Challenge! (details HERE)

Nathalie Lesage

Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist

www.NathalieLesageJewelry.com

Sea Salt

This. bead. Love this bead. As soon as it came out of the kiln and was cleaned out I was making a bracelet with it. After that was completed I asked my husband if he could please make tiny shell beads to match because this bracelet just HAD to have a pair of earrings! I was pleased with the result.

And here's a full shot of the bracelet...

The earrings are available HERE and the bracelet HERE. If you are interested in having a shell bead or two for yourself please check out Bubby & McGurk Beads or their Facebook page where a flash sale is held every two weeks. Next one is tomorrow (Saturday May 10th) at 2pm (EDT.) and there will be shell beads and shell beads for earrings offered. The sales are lots of fun and beads are offered at a lower price to save on website and Etsy fees, etc.

Oh and speaking of shells....before I close, don't forget about the "We're all Ears:: May Inspiration" by our very own Erin Prais-Hintz.

Thanks for checking out our blog and have a fabulous weekend!

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations 

Kristy's Kreations Jewelry Blog Spot 

Kristy's Kreations Facebook page

Kristy's Kreations Website 

 

Graffiti

Twice in one week!  Here I am again, with another pair of earrings.

They had an odd evolution, this pair.  I came across this little (ever so simple!) cold enamelling set that I acquired years ago, and realised that I had a small selection of blanks that I bought to use with it.  These feathers looked fun and it seemed a shame to leave them unused, so I roused the enamelling set from its rusty, dusty slumber and splashed some red on the feathers. I then blackened the tops with LoS, and gave them some brushing, etc.. 

I had this earring design in mind and I made one but it wasn't quite what I planned - there was supposed to be more going on.  Undecided, I put it to one side. I came across it some weeks later, when I had some time to kill.  Still in two minds, I made the second earring up and, lo, despite all my havering, I actually liked them!

Bye for now, Claire

something to do with your hands

Etsy shop

At First Blush

Let's talk about our feminine sides for a sec, kay? 

 

My whole life I've considered myself to be a tomboy. Sure, I like to wear cute retro dresses every now and then, and I can really rock a pair of '40s heels, but in my heart of hearts, I've never identified with the pink-loving girly girls out there. In fact, for years I've vehemently maintained that I hate the color pink.

 
Like, HATED it. 


 


But over the past year something miraculous has happened. I've had a change of heart. I've really warmed to the color pink. Now, mind you, I will never be partial to hot pink or bubblegum pink or barbie pink. But lately I've really been loving blushy salmon coral pinks. A little bit faded and dusty, a little bit of old romance, a little bit of organic girly.

 





One of my signature staple styles of earring is a wire wrapped natural stone slab. When I saw these plume agates I knew that I had to have them. Dreamy, blushy, a perfect celebration of spring's tender petals. Who says earrings have to be overworked and complicated? When something this amazing can be mined from the earth, cut, and polished, who needs much else? I'm a rockhound, what can I say? I guess that goes along with being a tomboy, too, huh?



Happy May <3
Nikki 
LoveRoot on Etsy

Chieftess

Rustic Copper Shield Earrings

Sometimes we need a little boost to feel great about ourselves. You know that outfit in your closet that effortlessly works and always makes you feel like you're at the top of your game? I think we all have one of those. So you don't have to actually be the "Chieftess" or the "Alpha", just feel like one every now and then. That is what these earrings say to me, "Look out, here I come!". Maybe I should call these my attitude lifting earrings?

To the wonderfully rustic copper shield components from Kristi Bowman, I added hammered copper wire arches and wire wrapped loops, and niobium ear wires. Sherbet orange Czech glass drops and tiny turquoise rounds add color and positive energy to the design.


Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Indigo and Iolite

Deep, deep indigo and iolite - two of my favourite things.  It's the thick inkiness of both that I love.

I got the patinated hoops from Natalie of Grubbi.  The little ceramic droppers are from Scorched Earth.  

These earrings are available here in my Etsy shop.  

Short and sweet from me today!

Bye for now, Claire

www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

We're All Ears :: May Inspiration

Zigzag Nerite shells - Neritina Communis - from Atlantis Shell Co

God is the most marvelous artist.

There is such beauty in this world. And a lot of it is so tiny that we don't even get the chance to see it!

Case in point... this month, at the suggestion of our editor Linda Landig, I discovered the Zig Zag Nerite shell - neritina communis. The Greek legend is that there was a boy of astonishing beauty named Nerites. He was a lover of the sea-born Aphrodite. When Aphrodite was invited by Zeus to join the gods on Mount Olympus, she invited Nerites to join her. He refused, preferring to stay in his home, the sea. In revenge she metamorphosed him into a seashell.

Now all shells are simply amazing, but what I love about these tiny treasures - just over a 1/2" in size - is that each one is completely unique. Within the same population of these creatures found in the brackish mangroves in the Western Pacific, each shell will be completely different from the last. The typical shell is black and white, but can have colors that range from cream and yellow to red and burgundy, proving to be a very variable species. Of course, the more colorful, the more highly sought after!

Zigzag Nerite shells - from SeaLifeGifts.net

Check out this link to a blog post about the 12 Most Common Nerite Shells to see even more variety!

What inspires you from this marvel of nature?

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

Make earrings inspired by this picture.

Write a post on your blog.

Add your exact blog post URL link to the InLinkz code right here
on Friday, May 16th.

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