We're All Ears :: March Reveal

This month's earring inspiration is macro photography by Martin Amm, a German nature photographer. These extreme close ups are of dragonflies or damselflies covered in morning dew. 

Interestingly, the very first We're All Ears monthly challenge in February 2014 was a pair of damselflies. As our hostess Erin pointed out, we are coming full circle in our monthly challenges. I love stories with circular endings! I also find it interesting that the only challenge that I missed participating in was the February 2014 damselfly one. I guess it only took me a full year to finally create something! :)

Erin chose the words "positively effervescent" to describe these images. I couldn't have chosen a better adjective, so I am stealing hers!

Photo #1

In this photo, I was struck by the gorgeous yellow of the flower and the long segmented insect tail.

Earrings #1

Lately, I have been addicted to riveting leather, and this caramel leather seemed perfect for this image. The "long strings" of leather echo the insects long tail. The wire-wrapped ends reflect the tail segments. Of course, the dragonfly connector is a ridiculously literal interpretation, but I have a ton of them, and I couldn't ignore the opportunity to use them. The Czech glass flower bead represents the flower in the photo. (I guess I should have turned the connector upside down so the insect's head was in the flower. Ah, hindsight.)

It was such a gorgeous day, I decided to experiment with taking photos outside in my garden. Tricky. 

Photo #2

Just look at these gorgeous drops of morning dew and beautiful colors.

Earrings #2

Again, I was drawn to those firey reddish-orange and yellow tones, which I captured with patina on some embossed discs and overlayed with brass dragonfly connectors. What I really wanted to capture from this photo, however, were those luscious dewdrops. These gold-etched clear glass beads did the job perfectly.  I've been hoarding the striped orange Indonesian glass beads forever. 

The colors in the discs really pop in the natural light outside; the clear beads, however, look like stone or brass. Advantages and disadvantages of outside lighting. 

By the way, here is the whole outside set-up. I love this blue heron in my garden. 

Photo #3

Aren't these pastels beautiful? I love the way the dewdrops magnify the hive-like pattern underneath. 

I cropped the original photo to magnify the pattern even further.

Earrings #3

It was with these last earrings that I had a significantly profound realization. Making something quick and simple can be fun and rewarding. My usual process is most often complicated in some way - cutting, forming, and coloring metal; wirework; fiberwork, etc. By the time I complete umpteen steps, I sometimes lose my momentum on a project. I can't recall the last time I simply stuck some beads on a headpin and called it good. These earrings came together in a snap!

 It all began with these funky beads. 

I have no idea where I got them, but I've had them in my stash f-o-r-e-v-e-r!  I never really knew what to do with them. Until now. When I looked at them, I immediately saw the hive-patterned sphere and the glossy sparkle of the dewdrops. This one was all about texture and pattern.  After adding some soft rose quartz, textured silver beads, and beaded earwires, I sat back and smiled. Way too cute. Sweet sparkle. Feminine and fun.  I just love them. 

Thank you, Erin, for another great challenge. Check out all of the other creative designs at Earrings Everyday!