Springtime Frills

The beauty of Spring is truly amazing! I'm captivated by it every year. The weather is warm, the birds are chirping and the flowers and trees are in bloom. There are bursts of color everywhere and the air feels light and uplifting. It has me feeling energized and wanting to create things, like this bracelet I'm calling Springtime Frills. I stayed up way too late last night in the studio, but I couldn't help myself. I was feeling inspired by these Spring components from Earthenwood Studio.

Springtime Frills

Birds nest charm and new crackle egg component by 

Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio.

Are you feeling that Spring fever yet?
You can find Melanie's new crackle egg components for a limited time at her Etsy Shop and bird nest charms on her website.

Earthenwood Design Team - Key to My Affection

It's been quiet on the jewelry front around here. Every spare second I have is being devoted to writing our upcoming jewelry book. I tell ya, I've never worked so hard on something in my entire life. It's all I think about and to tell you the truth, it's all I want to think about. It's the highlight of my life, my jewelry-making career to be creating this publication with Lorelei. I can't wait til we are able to share more. ANYWAYS. That's not what this post is about! lol! I'm rambling off topic here.

There's been no time for ordering beads or going to the bead store these days. Luckily for me, I have Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio! She sends me her gorgeous handmade creation every month and for that, I'm grateful. Melanie has started a new line of components called Earthen Oxide.

 

I got to play with this red resin heart key with a love description on it. 

Here's the piece that I made. I'm calling it "Key to My Affection".

A long, simple necklace. I love these brass heshi African trade beads! They give this necklace a cool vibe. I wish I had more of them in my stash. I strung the brass heshi up on some rust color waxed linen cord. I made a knotted bail for the key pendant. The turquoise beads add a shot of color, along with one of Melanie's new crackle-glazed ceramic links. You can find Melanie's crackle items in her Etsy Shop right now.

I love being apart of the Earthenwood Design Team! 

Thank you to Melanie and thank you to you for being here with me.

Here are the other fabulous members of the team: 

Andrew Thornton

Gaea Cannaday
Denise Yezbak Moore
Erin Prais-Hintz
Heather Powers
Lorelei Eurto
Lori Anderson
Jean Yates
Marie Dodd

Earthenwood Design for February

Valentine's Day is just days away now, so it's time for more hearts! This cool heart lock pendant arrived in the mail just a few days ago from Melanie of Earthenwood Studio. I love this pendant! It looks like an antique locket to me. I started working with it as soon as I opened Melanie's package. I just couldn't resist! She sent heart pendants and a few other link pieces to all the design team members this month. I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the things she sent, but you can see all the beads on her blog!

I made a simple, delicate necklace this time around. Romantic, but a little dark. Actually, as I was working out the design, I thought of that girl from the vampire movies! It does feel a little Twilight inspired, don't you think? I call it Lovers Locket. Three strands of red waxed linen cord braided together with faceted black onyx beads. Drops of pear-shaped faceted garnets and tiny hemite beads dangle from one side and with the heart pendant as well. Finished off with a Vintaj brass hook clasp and a gunmetal chain extender with a garnet drop.

Lovers Locket

I'm looking forward to seeing what the other design team members do with the beads this month! Here's the list:

Andrew ThorntonGaea Cannaday Denise Yezbak MooreErin Prais-Hintz Erin Siegel Heather PowersLorelei Eurto Lori AndersonJean Yates Marie Dodd