Saturday, July 6, 2013

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!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Snow Ashes

Snow Ashes 
I received an order to create a mostly gray and black pair of earrings, so I put to use this beautifully mottled pair of snowflake jasper beads. Added rainbow black opals, septarium and lapis lazuli beads, plus a pair of sterling silver round beads to make them sparkle a bit.  Voila!  I hope they meet expectations!

***UPDATE (7/11/13)  They were a hit, and have solicited a follow-up pair, this time with main stones of royal blue!*** 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Beachcomber and Meadow Nest

Beachcomber
Hawaiian monk seal, Poipu Beach, June 2013


Meadow Nest
 




Kalalau View, June 2013

Lime Margarita and Anemone Dream


Keauhou residents

Lime Margarita

Anemone Dream

Kona Sunset, June 2013




Sunday, April 21, 2013

April Update

I've officially sold six pairs of earrings, one pair on Etsy and five locally!  ^__^ 

Prices of these pairs range from $10 to $20, and include the pairs called Water Wheels, Botswana Doubledecker, Rainbow Tiers, Onyx Dangles, Jupiter Leaves and Jasper Ice Cream.

I'm really excited to share my hobby with others, and love feedback on color combinations, shapes and the materials I use.  As I'm making more pairs, I find myself using some beads more often, such as the tiny sterling silver round beads, which add a bit of light and sparkle. Wooden beads are great, adding a bit of calm without the weight of a darker stone.

I'm looking forward to soon going to a farmer's market here in Honolulu to see how I could sell my earrings at a booth.  This may involve leaving work early during the week, or getting up early on a weekend depending on which market I try.

I've made a few pair this weekend and they're a bit darker than my earlier earrings. Tiger jasper and snowflake blue goldstone are featured in these pairs. Hope you like them!  :D

Midnight Whispers (Tiger Jasper)

Hookah Magic (Snowflake blue goldstone)

Hookah Magic 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

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!