Jumbo Jasper Jubilee & Violet Leopards

Jumbo Jasper Jubilee: wonderfully weighty 

 I've been getting positive feedback on my simpler designs lately, so these two pairs are a throwback to my earlier, simple days.

The colors in the jumbo jasper pair are mostly green and tan, with some highlights of pink or gray. A tiny tourmaline bead tops off the jasper stack and a tiny sterling silver bead adds a little sparkle.

The violet colored tiger jasper discs are a dark wine color with lighter violet swirls that resemble a leopard print. Rawr.

*** UPDATE *** Both pairs have been snapped up by a coworker! Contact me if you're hugely disappointed-- I have similar materials and could make new pairs.

Violet Leopards, made with tiger jasper discs

Revamped Earth Ovals

My co-worker wanted a pair of earrings for her friend, made from chrysocolla beads.  I had made a pair called Earth Ovals back when I started to design earrings last fall.  They looked like this:

I decided that since I had made this pair so long ago and they hadn't sold, I'd reuse the beads and make them into a pair my co-worker could give to her friend. She wanted them to look more like the Elephant Footprints pair: 

So I made these, Revamped Earth Ovals:

I hope she likes them!

Combining Beads & Some Inspiration

Designing earrings can be difficult, since when you see beads laying in their boxes or on the table, they can look totally different once they're put on a wire.  It depends on their size, where their holes are located for the wire and how they balance.  

Here is an example: 

Loose beads on the table

Once they're stacked on a headpin, they look a bit different!

And the finished product: Waikiki Bungalows, available on my Etsy page

 Below are a few different beads I have. Sometimes just looking at them and combining them in different patterns is a great source of inspiration. 

Shells and assorted wooden beads

Freshwater pearls

At other times, I need some inspiration from the natural beauty around me. 

Kailua beach, Oahu Jan. 2013

Kapiolani Park and Waikiki, from Diamond Head, Feb. 2013

 Appreciating the beauty around you helps when you're trying to be creative and design something beautiful yourself.  ^__^