Stack 'em up

Hello there earring people!

So, I've been busy learning some new silversmithing skills, and so to be honest, I've not been paying attention to my beads and wire. I can get like this sometimes. If something takes my attention, I can be quite obsessive about it. But I wanted to create something non-silver for this blog, if only to prove I can still use that bit of brain!

So, I came across these glorious ceramic gold headpins and textured inky blue ceramic beads by the fabulously talented Claire Lockwood. There they were - having been hoarded in my beady stash for quite a while (I'm always reluctant to part with Claire's pretty things).

 I recently bought some very pretty lapis lazuli rondelles - two types - shiny/ smooth and rough and some pyrite. The inky blue of the lapis and the gold sheen of the pyrite are a good match for the colours in Claire's ceramics, don't you think? I thought they looked good all stacked up on the gold headpins. I like the matching colours, but also the contrasting shapes and textures. Stacking beads is a fairly simple design, but  a good opportunity to play with different shapes and colours.

That's me done for July! I'll be back in September
And these earrings will be available in my August showcase over on The Earrings Show in Facebook Land

Sue x
Utterly Lovely Stuff

A Boy called Hilda.

This week I thought I'd introduce you to one of my favourite photographic props. It's the tale of a boy called Hilda.

 

'Hilda' was one of the myriad of antiques/objets d'art/bits of tat my mother used to collect when she retired from work. As well as some wonderful beads and pieces of broken antique jewellery; that's for another day. 

 

Hilda is a beautifully carved native head in a solid hardwood, well polished by age. 'She' had pride of place on one of my mum's many cabinets, and when my kids were younger they always used to turn 'her' head towards the door as they left and tell my mum it would afford her protection from robbers while she slept. So it became a bit of a tradition, and when Hilda passed to me we always made sure 'she' was facing the door in our home. And yes, touch wood, we have never been burgled.

 

You will, of course, all have noticed that 'she' is male, but my mum would never have it and so 'Hilda' stuck. I'm guessing he's from some S. American tribe - but if anyone can enlighten me please do.

 

Hilda has provided an atmospheric backdrop to many, many pairs of tribal style earrings  and I wouldn't be without 'her'!

 

 

 The earrings this week I've called 'Arrowhead'. I imagine Hilda with a bow and arrows, maybe with tips poisoned with curare! The dramatic arrowhead shaped ceramics in green and bronze are by one of my favourite ceramic artists Mari Carmen Rodriguez Martinez and I've wired them to beaten wrapped oxidised copper rings by Irish metal artist Colleen Campbell. Faceted pyrite chunks echo the bronze cast to the ceramics, and they hang from fab beaten copper circular earwires made for me by Lucy Haslam.

 

Have you a favourite photographic prop to share with us? Or maybe you could think about using them a little more - they can provide great atmosphere and add meaning to your work. 

 

See you next time

 

Lindsay x

 

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