When I read that the theme for this month’s We’re All Ears earring design challenge was a tropical paradise, I wasn’t feeling very inspired initially. Our hostess was setting off on a Caribbean cruise, which would be one of my worst nightmares. I hate feeling hot and I get sunburned in less than thirty minutes even with sunscreen, so nothing about a tropical vacation could possibly be fun. But that doesn’t mean I can’t find some jewelry inspiration in the idea of a tropical paradise.
The reason I participate in these monthly design challenges is to see where I can let the theme take me. My muse and I played a little free association. The tropics are hot and humid, which makes tropical plants happy. Tropical plants are lush and green and the flowers are big and colorful. Green. Leafy. Flowers. Fabric. Batik. Oh, hey, I bet I can use my leaf and flower silkscreens to approximate the batik effect on some polymer clay veneers.
These are polymer clay veneers that I used to create some earring charms. Waiting for the ink and paint to dry is the most challenging part of the process.
Out came the alcohol inks, acrylic paint, and silkscreens. If you want to try silkscreening on polymer clay, I highly recommend this e-book and tutorial by the Blue Bottle Tree. It covers all the basics, and also trouble shoots common problems, plus has a great resources section to help you find all the tools and products you might need or want. It’s a super fun and easy technique and I may have gotten carried away making beads.
A few dozen polymer clay batik bead charms I made and which I didn’t have time to use for this earring design challenge.
As usual, I didn’t have any actual earring designs in mind when I set out making my batik beads. Also as usual, that meant I stumped myself when it came time to make actual earrings. Part of my problem this time was I decided to embed jump rings into the charms rather than making holes for stringing. My SOP for making earrings is to wire wrap a bead to a charm to connect it to the ear wire. What do I do when the earring focal has a loop rather than a hole? Why didn’t I think this through? What possessed me to deviate from my usual bead style? We may never know.
These may be the simplest earrings, in terms of components, I have ever made. I just put an ear wire through the loop on the charm. I was only able to be okay with that degree of simplicity in construction because of the effort I invested in making the charms themselves.
If you follow my blog, you may recall me stating how challenging it is for me to make simple jewelry. It isn’t because I don’t like simple. It’s because I don’t feel I’ve “earned it” – whatever “it” is – if I didn’t go all out with techniques, bells and whistles. One way I am learning to overcome this instinct to go overboard on the design is to make my own components. I can then be satisfied that there is enough of me in the design. Sort of. I still itch to add dangles and do-das.
This pair of polymer clay batik earrings use one of the few sets of charms in which I poked holes rather than embedding loops. Which allowed me to incorporate some beady dangles in what is still an overall simple design.
While most of the batik bead charms I made have loops embedded, I did poke holes in a handful of them. I had plans to make a big batch of assorted earrings for this design challenge, but there were set backs. Like not having any accent beads in suitable colors or sizes to create the look I wanted. And spending so much time making beads that I didn’t leave much time to make actual earrings. Oh, and I had to shut down the bead studio for a day to make cupcakes. Tropical-ish cupcakes, with mango, lime and mint.
These are the Matcha Mint Mango Lime cupcakes that somewhat derailed my earring production for this challenge. The cake part has matcha (green tea powder) with mint, and the frosting has mango puree, fresh mint, and a hint of lime.
After cleaning up from the cupcakes, I only managed one last pair of earrings because I realized if I don’t stop making earrings and start taking photos, processing photos, and writing this blog post, I wouldn’t have anything to show for the blog hop. Which was the whole reason I made the batik beads in the first place.
These trapeze style earrings have pink-purple floral batik polymer clay charms swinging from antiqued brass chain. They have little purple beaded dangles because I like beaded dangles. They complete me.
As I look at the pile of batik bead charms, I realize I am not likely to use them all in earrings. Sooo, as soon as I get photos processed, take measurements, and write product descriptions, I’ll be adding many of them to the Bead Shop section of my store on etsy.
Thanks to our hostess, Erin, for the challenge and inspiration. Be sure to head over to the Earrings Every Day blog to see how she interpreted this theme, and then follow the links at the bottom of her post to see what other earring designers were inspired to create.
Tammy-Your beads are just terrific. Lucky you to have so many too. I love the earrings that you made. I know what you mean about feeling that you need to make elaborate earrings, but I like to keep my earrings around 2 inches and simplicity is often the best. In your case, simplicity puts the focus on the beads and they deserve to be the focus.
Thank you, Kathy. I love long earrings and elaborate earrings. But I know some people prefer shorter or simpler, and that’s why I keep pushing myself to make them. Maybe some day I will feel comfortable with it. Probably not. LOL.
Oh, that batik technique is so neat! And, I think the embedded jump rings are cool too, but I can see how that would limit your design possibilities. I think all three pairs of your earrings are so pretty. I especially like the style of the third ones with the chain. And, I hate to hear you don’t like tropical locations. It didn’t seem to keep you from being inspired though!
Thanks! I think the embedded rings limit my options only because I’m not used to working with them. I need to loo at them differently and hope for inspiration. As for the tropics, I think there’s a lot of wonderful things there, like the flora and fauna, but I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it much because all I would be thinking about is how miserable the heat and humidity are.
These are all so cool! I love that you’re always pushing yourself to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. I would love to see that tutorial but the link isn’t going there… I’m intrigued by the process. I really like the way you embedded the jump rings for some of your charms but that last pair of earrings is my favorite!
Thank you, Sarajo. Sorry the link went to the wrong page. I have fixed it.
I love the batik components. they look so happy and peppy. The pink in the last pair with its contrasting bronze is stunning. I am sure that you would put more of them to good use later. If not you could always sell them or gift them – to me 😀
Thanks so much, Divya. And you are on — I am sending some of my “spare” components your way.
You and I have a lot in common, Miss Tammy. Learning new things, seeing where our Muse takes us, not thinking things through, making more than I could actually use, getting distracted (cupcakes!), not wanting to get sunburned….(actually, I never really sat out in the sun but one afternoon by the pool. On cruise days while the decks were jammed, we were in the bowels of the ship in the conference center taking classes!). I love the batik you made! That is something I should attempt. I l think that all of these are breezy and light and fun and perfect for a walk on the beach or even just a fruity drink at the bar! Thanks for playing along with me! Enjoy the day! Erin
Thank you, Erin. I always have fun with these challenges. I’m sure I would enjoy the bead part of a bead cruise, but not sure I could manage the rest of it. I’d likely spend all my non-class time in my cabin with a book.
I am absolutely in love with the batik charms that you made… they are perfect for this challenge, and just beautiful in general! Wonderful interpretation of this prompt! (And I’m with you–I get sunburn in under 10 minutes, and am ridiculously sensitive to heat. Ah well–I still get to enjoy other people’s pictures of the beach!)
Thanks, Jenny. I don’t think I’ve spent more than 5 minutes outside without SPF 40, long sleeves, pants, and big sunglasses since I was a teen. Some friends in grad school joked that I must be a vampire. LOL.
Love the batik earrings. Great designs! I enjoyed reading your write up too!
Thanks so much, Chris. It’s always nice to know when people enjoy my musings. 🙂
You nailed it with the batik patterns and the bright colors! It’s a constant battle between simple and more complicated design, isn’t it? I absolutely love the earrings you made! I like your sense of humor, too 🙂
Thank you, Rozantia. The struggle is real! 😉
I love those batik components. I can see a whole new world of earrings in my life!!
Thanks, Nadine. It took me a while to get them into my etsy shop. Taking/processing photos is not favorite way to spend time, especially when I’d rather be making more beads.