The theme for the We’re All Ears earring design challenge this month was “cornucopia.” The cornucopia is a symbol of plenty in the shape of a goat’s horn that’s filled to overflowing with flowers, fruits, and grains. The design challenge was to create earrings inspired by cornucopia and all they represent, from Greek mythology to modern fall feast celebrations.
I don’t have any goat horns in my bead stash. Even if I did use animal parts in my jewelry designs, which I absolutely do not, I’m pretty sure earrings made from actual goat horns would be a little too large and heavy to actually wear. What I did have in my stash were some filigree bead caps that are roughly the same shape as some woven cornucopia baskets I’ve seen.
My original idea was to fill the cornucopia bead caps with beads in fall colors, like rust, orange, mustard, and avocado. I was going to use a mix of Czech glass and gemstones like brown goldstone, poppy jasper, and unakite. Then I got distracted by another project and didn’t put those earrings together.
These brass cornucopia bead caps are dripping with beads. They are not heavy but they have plenty of swing and make a delightful sound as they move.
When I came back to the bead caps later, I decided to use glass pearls and AB crystal beads to fill my cornucopia. I started by adding a single glass pearl in the largest size I have in the center of each bead cap. Then I draped antique brass chain from beneath the pearl and loaded the chain with smaller glass pearls and AB crystal rounds.
I adore the combination of antiqued brass and gleaming white glass pearls in these earrings. It’s elegant with a vintage feel. These are shoulder-duster length and overflowing with glamour.
I waited until the last minute – the night before the reveal – to put these earrings together for this challenge. I was making up the bead placement as I went, working back and forth between each one to make sure they would match, and adding a bead here and there until I was happy with the balance. They came together easily and I only wasted one headpin with a misplaced dangle.
These earrings will be available in my Cactus Frog shop on etsy. Many thanks to Erin Prais-Hintz for the design inspiration. Please head over to the Earrings Every Day blog to see how she interpreted this challenge and then hop around the links to see how the other participating jewelry artists represented cornucopia in earring designs.
Oooooh, we DID use the same type of cone bead cap in such different ways! I love the waterfall effect of the beads coming out of yours. You did such a great job getting the balance right. I always seem to struggle with that when working with dangles on chains. Beautiful job!!
Thanks so much, Hope. I think the best way to get balance with chain dangles is odd numbers. Odd number of chains, odd number of beads, odd lengths. 🙂
I smiled when I saw that we both used bead caps for our horn of plenty. I love the waterfall effect of the beads coming out of it. That took time and patience! I think they are just beautiful.
Thanks so much, Kathy. I think bead caps were a natural for this theme. 🙂
This is such a labour of love. It must have taken you forever to wrap all these small beads and create a pattern that produced the best possible drape with the chain. This is such a beautiful, elegant pair that you could wear at a party that will make you look absoutely fun and playful, yet in ladylike way.
Thanks so much, Divya. I didn’t time myself, but I think it was close to 2 hours for assembly. It was almost meditative, doing all those wire wrapped links. I think they would look great with an up-do hairstyle and a cocktail or formal dress. But, I would also wear them with faded jeans because I think every outfit looks better with loooong earrings. 😀
I love your earrings. And oh my, what a labour of love, the wrapped beads. It is so wonderfully done.
Thanks so much, Janine. Wire wrapping is where my jewelry design roots are and it’s good to keep in practice. 🙂
Wowzers! Your earrings have great drape to them and a rich quality to the design. Love them!!!
Thanks so much, Chris. I haven’t made super long earrings like that in a while and it felt good to put them together.