AJE Earring Challenge - Bursts of Spring

I have been literally watching the world outside my window transform into Spring  as I worked at my bead table this Easter week. I tried to capture some of those fresh bursts of color in my earring designs for Weeks 11 and 12 of the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge.

A large sterling silver and  trio of tiny BeadforLife paper beads dangle from Victoria Swirl lampwork beads by SueBeads. Lavender waxed linen keeps these light and swingy!

Blue sky jasper rounds are encircled by sterling silver and vintage bronze wrapped hoops. Enamel head pins are by SueBeads. This is my take on a project from Kerry Bogert's fabulous Aspire to Wire eCourse.

I hope you're finding extra time to enjoy the beauty of Spring with family and friends this Easter week-end.

AJE Earring Challenge - Wavy Discs

My earrings for Weeks 9 and 10 of Art Jewelry Elements’ Earring Challenge feature wavy discs, combining several different metallic tones from my growing collection.

Large sterling silver discs serve as a backdrop for a highly textured bronze disc and silver flower bead by Tamara Scott Designs. Freshwater pearls and round sterling earwires keep these simple and classic. Layered neutrals perfect for spring!

 

 

Plump blue-green lampwork beads by Kimberly Branch are bracketed by wavy discs in dark bronze and rose gold. A bit of copper chain, along with fancy copper head pins and earwires complete this design.

Click over to the Art Jewelry Elements blog, just the place to find lots of Spring color inspiration.

AJE Earring Challenge - Plum Yummy

Who doesn’t look good in purple? I’ve chosen the shades on either side of violet for my Week 7 and 8 designs for the Art Jewelry Elements Earring Challenge.

 

Starting with the warmer hue, I’ve framed red-violet enamel discs by Elizabeth Gerod with large bronze hoops from Saki Silver. They’re topped by a small stack of ceramic, firepolish and bronze discs. Gold-filled earwires and jump rings are by me.

 

Perfect for these late-winter, early-spring days, my second design pairs blue-violet charms from THEAtoo with my own wire-wrapped beads (from a tutorial by Deryn Mentock.) The pewter posts echo the design on the charms and allow these earrings to sit close to the ear.

Great earring designs await, so click over to the AJE reveal post and Pinterest board for lots of inspiration.

AJE Earring Challenge – 3rd Reveal

My  Week 5 earrings reflect our recent visit to the California Wine Country. They start with SueBead’s fittingly named Wine Terrazzo lampwork beads. With their red wine hues and striking silver foil, they combine nicely with a tapered column of black gold-plated wavy discs in 8 and 6mm. Vintage glass and metal beads dangle from black silk cord. These earrings have a lively swing and a nice sparkle.

Week 6 is my version of a class project from Kerry Bogert’s Aspire to Wire eCourse. THEAtoo’s handmade bronze charms in the colors of autumn are the stars of these earrings. All other components are handmade by me.

Click over to the Art Jewelry Elements blog and enjoy the Week 5 and 6 designs of all the challenge participants.

AJE Earring Challenge - A Day at the Beach

My designs for the second reveal of AJE’s Earring Challenge owe their inspiration to last week’s trip to San Diego. Although it was unseasonably cool, the sun was shining and the afternoons were warm enough for waterfront walks and a trolley tour of the city.

This pair was inspired by a late-morning visit to Ocean Beach, where surfers tested the waves, dog owners romped in the sand with their pets, and vintage-60’s fashions abounded. Ivory lampwork beads by Sue Beads top two-tone MOP disks and light-as-a-feather wood flower charms. Earwires by Saki Silver.

The sand on Coronado Beach literally sparkled and the water was postcard perfect. I searched my stash for shimmering pearls and 2.5mm crystals to complement a pair of Nikki Thornburg lampwork beads in the colors of the Pacific. The sterling silver earwires were rescued from the bargain table at a San Diego bead store. A little polishing and reshaping, and they’re back to perfect form!

Click over to the Art Jewelry Elements blog and follow the links to enjoy the designs of the 50+ participants in the second reveal. And there’s a pinterest board, too!

AJE Earring Challenge - First Reveal

I was quick to sign on when the team at Art Jewelry Elements issued their 2013 Earring Challenge because, as many hours as I spend at the bead table, I rarely take the time to design and create a pair of earrings. This is the perfect opportunity to remedy that!

The requirements are simple - just create one pair of earrings a week using a handcrafted artisan component. To make it easy for everyone to participate, the challenge is broken into 13-week segments, with a reveal every other Sunday.

Sweet and simple, my first pair features a hammered copper ring encircling a fine silver textured charm by Leslie Watt of THEAtoo. Sterling silver ear wires. These have not left my ears since I made them!

My second pair combines folk art mini flowers by Susan Barnes of the Fire Goddess with jet Swarovski and fine silver spacer beads. They hang from handmade, 19mm sterling earwires.

Now, click over to AJE and treat yourself to some amazing links!