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 - 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!