We’re All Ears – September Challenge
This is my first time taking part in the “We’re All Ears” earring design challenge. I’ve been following along since I first learned of the monthly challenges on the Earrings Everyday blog.
How did I not know there was a blog all about earrings sooner? If you follow my blog, you know how I feel about earrings. If you’re just now joining me here – I love them. Love!
The inspiration photos for the September challenge theme feature macro photos of moss and lichen and tree bark. I knew I had to participate in this one. What’s not to love about the symbiotic relationship between a fungus and some algae? Or the lovely organic textures and rich earthy colors in the inspiration photos?
Photo credit TesoriTrovati.
The first pair of earrings I made use textured copper disc beads that resemble the crevices and lines in the tree bark. The Czech glass flower beads with a copper finish that are clustered below remind me of the shapes of the lichen. The earrings hang on natural copper ear wires that will develop a patina over time, adding to the earthy organic feel of the design.
“Lichen Blossoms” copper bead and Czech glass flower earrings on copper earwires.
“Lichen Blossom” earrings with textured copper and Czech glass beads.
I was so inspired by the images and theme, I had to make a second pair of earrings for this challenge. For this pair, Czech glass flower shaped beads with a picasso finish are clinging to dark patina-ed copper jumprings connected two-by-two. I don’t think that’s an official chainmaille pattern, but it does make me want to give chainmaille jewelry a try. There’s something very meditative about opening and closing jumprings to create a repeating pattern.
“Lichen Drops” earrings with Czech glass beads and copper wire.
“Lichen Drops” copper wire and Czech glass flower dangle earrings.
This pair of earrings is also on natural copper earwires that will darken over time, to a color close to that of the jumpring chain. The beads are wrapped on bright copper headpins that match the earwires. I like the look of “old” and “new” copper together.
I had fun with this challenge and translating the inspiration photos into jewelry. Not just jewelry. Earrings! Make sure you stop by the Earrings Everyday blog to see the other designs for this month’s challenge. And if you love earrings, bookmark that page. There’s a fresh pair of earrings to admire every day. Just like the name says.
I’m not nearly so prolific in my earring making, or my blogging. But be sure to stop back here at least once a week to see what’s new. If you want to be sure you don’t miss a post, subscribe to this blog by RSS feed, email subscription, or feed servers linked in the right column under my photo. You can also follow me on Facebook, join me on Google+, and tune in to my Twitter feed to get updates on my newest jewelry designs, new listings in my online store, and other design challenges and adventures from Paisley Lizard.
[Edit] The following are screen shots of comments on this blog. The challenge happened while I was in the midst of moving my website and blog from a Weebly to a WordPress platform. My apologies that the links back to the commenter’s websites are not live.
