Friday, March 20, 2015

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!

31 comments:

  1. Beautiful earrings. I love the leather ones.

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    1. Thank you, Alice. I'm glad you like the leather ones. I imposed a jewelry supply spending freeze for myself a while ago but just crumbled and ordered more leather. It is a definite weakness for me, especially that gorgeous, soft deerskin. :)

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  2. All so lovely! I like the way you selected different components if the inspiration pictures to focus in. I love the leather. It adds a softness to earrings. The color of the second come through clearly. And I love the simple design of the last pair (but deceptively simple...I like the stacking of the disk beads for texture). I, too, complicate everything I make. That is why I like this quick fire challenge! Thanks for joining in the We're All Ears challenge! Enjoy the day! Erin

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    1. Thanks, Erin. This was a fabulous "quick fire" challenge. Love that! Your inspiration offered so many possibilities on this one. Can't wait to see what you dream up next!

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  3. Wow! What a great collection of inspiration earrings. Love how all are so different. I really love the soft edge the leather strips add to the first pair...so unique!

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    1. Thank you, Lynda. I was all over the map on this one, and loved every moment of the trip. :)

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  4. I love the earrings you made! I also participated in this challenge.

    Greetings, Metal Bunny
    http://metalbunnysfreakshow.blogspot.be/

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    1. Thank you for your comment and for joining us this month!

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  5. Great interpretations - but I like the leather one the best

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    1. Thank you, Divya. I had lots of fun playing with this challenge.

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  6. Each one is utterly splendid in its own way. Wonderful diversity!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I'll take "utterly splendid." Can't get much better than that. :) They are indeed very different from each other, that's for sure.

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  7. Terrific designs. Spot on interpretations.Genius use of the yellow leather. I think they are my fav.!

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    1. Thank you, Terri. This challenge was great fun. I think I am partial to the leather ones, too. So soft rubbing against the neck. :)

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  8. Your earring designs are all great. I particularly like the leather pair. Well done!

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    1. Thank you, Kathy. I do have a fondness for leather, especially soft deerskin. It seems to be a material I really gravitate toward lately.

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  9. Beautiful interpretations. That second pair is definitely my favorite. Lovely designs.

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    1. Thank you, Tammy, for your kind comment. I love playing with paint, and those colors were fun to work with.

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  10. What a great use of leather !! So very unique, luv them :)

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    1. Thanks, Terr. I'm always on the lookout for new ways to use leather. It is definitely one of my favorite materials to work with, especially deerskin.

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  11. Three great pairs of earrings! I really love what you did with the leather in the first pair. good use of the beaded beads in the last pair too.

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    1. Thank you, Sarajo. I loved this month's challenge. It sparked some cool stuff from all of us!

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  12. Beautifully done. I love the second pair

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    1. Thank you, Millie. Any time I can play with metal, I am happy! :)

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  13. Cindy, you came up with such beautiful designs! I'm speechless! The pair #1 is very unique! Great job.

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    1. Thank you, Oksana. You are so kind. We all had some creative designs this month for this clever inspiration.

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  14. Love #1, #2 and three, beautiful, just love them all.

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    1. Thank you, Gloria. I really had fun with these!

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  15. These are great. You certainly were busy. I think the leather ones are my favourites too.

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  16. Thank you. Sorry I'm so tardy in replying to your comment. Making jewelry is a great kind of busy. :)

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