Rustic Gemstone Hoops

Copper Gemstone Hoop Earrings

It's not often that I have the patience to sit down and seriously attempt anything this intricate, but I managed to overcome my tendency toward ADHD and finish these wire wrapped hoops just in time for today's post. I used a new jig to form loops for the bottom of these teardrop shaped copper hoops, and then added a little more embellishment with the wrapped seed beads. My goal was to make a pair of gem laden hoops that aren't too heavy or overwhelming.

It can sometimes be difficult to capture all of its beauty in photos, but I have always loved using labradorite in jewelry. It has a lovely iridescent quality along with its tantalizing flashes of blue. Here the dangles are faceted onion brios wrapped in oxidized copper wire. As a contrast to the labradorite, I use London Blue Topaz for the center drops, wrapped in the same style as the labradorite.

The result is a boho southwestern mix of rustic copper and glittering gemstones.












Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

or Adiós a los Franceses

Mexicans celebrate this day as a victory in battle against French occupation after the Mexican-American war. Americans are more likely thinking of the first great party opportunity of spring? Whatever your reason, it's a day to be festive and colorful and just have a little fun.

I chose bright orange carnelian as a contrast to the verdigris brass shields for my Cinco de Mayo earrings, along with tiny tube beads of green turquoise stone. The wonderful shield components come from Dime Store Emporium on Etsy. They actually come with three holes, but I punched in a couple of extra. Don't do this if you are concerned about the patina remaining totally intact, because it did chip a bit.

© Igorr | Dreamstime.com - Tequila And Lime Photo

My husband and I are aficionados of añejo tequila, aged at least one year in oak barrels. You don't need a lime with this smooth fragrant tequila, but the lime looks great in the photo.


Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry

Boho Navajo

You may have noticed that I have an attraction to southwestern and native American themes. The Navajo stand out among the native tribes for their skills in weaving, pottery, basketry and maybe most of all for their luscious turquoise and silver jewelry. I have always admired Navajo art, and purchased my first piece of authentic Navajo silver jewelry in 1984. You can probably see native American influence in much of my work.

For this design, I decided to keep the focus on the verdigris brass conchos from Dime Store Emporium on Etsy. The weight of these brass components is perfect and I absolutely love the rustic look of the verdigris patina. The conchos are stamped but not flimsy. Their weight is substantial but not overly heavy for use in earrings. I arranged tribal looking Czech seed beads in colorful columns to coordinate with the verdigris patina, and added copper and bronze accents.

Gloria Ewing




Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Maricopa Point

Southwestern Cross Earrings

I love the southwest! How can a person get to be my age and have never seen the Grand Canyon? I don't know, but it's true. So this year my husband and I traveled to some spots that I somehow have missed along the way. It mas May and still mercifully cool the day we drove from Las Vegas to the south rim of the canyon. One of the vistas on the southwest side of the canyon is called Maricopa Point. A beautiful name for a beautiful spot, but I was curious as to its origin. As it turns out the Maricopa are a native tribe that once lived in this area, along the Colorado River.

Our trip inspired me to design three collections, these earrings are from my Maricopa Point Collection. My first collection was called Joshua Tree, and a future one will be named for the eastern entry to Yosemite called Tioga Pass.

Maricopa pottery is still well known in the southwest. One of its characteristics is the distinctive reds and ochre, much like the colors of the Grand Canyon. This beautiful piece is from Andrea Fisher.

My native Maricopa inspired earrings focus around white copper southwestern crosses from Kristi Bowman, to which I have added colorful Czech beads for that tribal look and rustic copper accents and ear wires. Mixed metals make them more primitive looking, and I like the contrast it adds as well.







Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Boho Southwestern

Boho Southwestern Earrings

I enjoy overlapping design styles, boho, southwestern, tribal, rustic, primitive and ethnic. This crossover in styles seems natural and makes the designs more interesting to me. After all, these styles all have many common qualities.

In this pair of earrings, I have a mix of styles that always works well together for me. Smallish orange lampwork beads from Yvonne Johnson are capped with crusty looking pieces of eucalyptus in a dark blue green color. The rectangular copper drops have stamping and hammered edges in keeping with the rustic southwestern theme. Verdigris patina adds to the aged look and contrasts well with the lampwork glass.

What I wouldn't give to be able to wear a dress like this again! and look good in it. The dress is sort of tribal and minimalist, but still fits into the Bohemian realm.

This wonderful bag is definitely not minimal, but has elements of both tribal and primitive styles.






Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree Earrings

The desert southwest is one of my favorite places to visit. To me, the desert is both relentlessly harsh and remarkably fragile and beautiful at the same time. This dichotomy is intriguing and forces one to appreciate the history of this place and those people who are brave enough to remain there. Surprising green growth around the cool springs, and bright flowers sprouting from a cruel looking cactus plants make an indelible impression. On this trip, we covered large areas of Nevada, Arizona and California and I wish we could have stayed longer as I always do when I have to leave this part of the country.

I chose the name Joshua Tree for these earrings as the beginning of a new collection of pieces using the subtle colors of the desert, punctuated with bright accents. In my earring design, I try to capture some of the rugged feeling of the desert plants and their flowers. I cut freeform shapes from wavy textured copper and punched a hole pattern into each of the copper pieces. I applied a verdigris patina in a shade of faded green, not unlike the desert plants. The oval connectors have been wire wrapped with darkened copper wire and small beads of stone and glass.


Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Carefree Copper Earrings

 

Copper Arrowhead Earrings

We've waited a long time this year for an elusive spring to arrive. Now that June is nearly upon us, I think it is safe to say that it's here. Time to put away the sweaters and expose some skin. Nothing puts me in the mood for spring and summer like brightly colored earrings! So I used large Czech glass rondelles in orange/pink with accents of teal, along with these wonderful copper arrowhead components from Kristi Bowman for a striking combination.

Carefree by bohobeader featuring a beach bag tote

For more carefree spring and summer earrings, click here or here.