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.  ^__^

Ultimate Design Form

Do you want customized earrings for you, a friend or a whole team of bridesmaids? 

E-mail me at an.urbane.fashionista@gmail.com and I'll send you the form to fill in.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Jasper Ice Cream: New Listing on Etsy!

Happy Spring from Honolulu!

As the weather warms up in the Northern hemisphere, I celebrated by creating this pair of jasper and tourmaline earrings. The patterns in the jasper reminded me of melted ice cream, that classic warm weather treat. 

 With their natural variations in color (dark green, gray-green and peach), they are versatile depending on your wardrobe. If you're planning to wear your hair up, these will accent your neck and elongate it.  Matching or contrasting, these will definitely get you some compliments!  ^__^

First pair made with the Ultimate Design Form!

Rainbow Tiers
  ** made with rose gold

with Tigers Eyes, dyed coral, lapis lazuli and man-made cream beads all centered around malachite 

They measure 2", are "elegant, funky and rustic" and brightly colored for those outings to the beach or class/work. 

Materials cost: $10 + Design and labor: $10 = $20 final cost (plus any applicable shipping) 

Earrings for Sale! ^__^

To purchase earrings I've already made, please go to Etsy.com and check out my shop, AnUrbaneFashionista.  Payments are accepted through PayPal.

If you would like to commission a custom-designed pair of earrings, please contact me and I'll send you the Ultimate Design Form  which you can complete at your leisure and return to me. This form gives me an idea of the type of earrings that will be most agreeable to you, and helps me to design a pair just for you. I'll send you an image of my design and a cost estimate, which you can then accept or request a change. Then I'll complete the pair and send them to you!   

Please drop me a line at: an.urbane.fashionista@gmail.com

I calculate the price of a pair by adding up the cost of materials, then add a standard fee for design/construction. My earrings cost between $15-$25. 

Questions? Let me know!  ^__^ 

Keepin' 'em safe, prettily

My earrings are protected by a plastic bag, nestled in tissue paper and housed in either a sweet-smelling lauhala box (left) or a non-smelling buri bag (right).

And just in case you forgot where you got those fabulous earrings... ;)

Fresh Batch in February

Welcome to the urbane fashionista blog!  Here I'll post pictures of earrings I've made. I use sterling silver wire and earring hooks, semi-precious gemstones and shells, as well as a few beads made with man-made materials.

Do you like a design? Leave a comment for me! I love to receive feedback!! :D


Right: Purple Swirly

Cebu shells
man-made gold/green beads

     Left: Botswana Doubledecker 

     Botswana agates
     Garnets
     Blood agates
     Onyx

 Right: Watermelon Jasper
    *** made with rose gold
Jasper
Filipino mongo shells

     Left: Swirly Ovals

       Chrysocolla
       camel-colored blood agates

Right: Shiva's Watching

Shiva's eye agates
blood agates of various colors