Stacked Earrings Challenge Reveal

WhooHoo, it's time again, for a Stacked Earrings Challenge Reveal. It's the fifth time around. Five ladies from around the world have taken turns in sending each other a bead lot with creating earrings from them in mind. This time we were all working with a bead lot put together by Heidi Post from New Orleans USA. Oh my, what a lovely and inspiring collection of classy semi-precious stones, nature materials, glass, plastic and metal bits.

I made five pairs all in all, the last one I finished today actually, and took the photos of them today also, so hence my slight delay from everyone else. Sorry for that.



1. The first thing I was drawn to was the copper curved tubes and those cute small green and brown facetted beads. I made my first pair directly when I had received my parcel a few weeks ago. With the larger couple of the tubes. And the other beads in them all come from Heidi's lot, apart from the head pins and the ear hooks. These earrings have actually become a favourite private pair of mine. I've been wearing them a lot lately. I call them Long Legs. Anyway, the aqua blue opal stones are wonderfully almost glowing. I don't know what stone they are. Does anyone else?

2. Next a pair with the beautiful large facetted Llanite rondelles. I love these stones. And I just read at Heidi's reveal post that she didn't remember what they are, but that there was a special story behind her getting them. Well, I recognized the stone when I saw it. So I checked one of my favourite sources for info on semi-precious stones: the Swedish site/webshop of www.StarEyes.se. There I read this: Lllanite is a rare stone, mined only at one place on earth. The little town of Llanite in Texas USA. It is composed of a mixture of granite and lilac-blue shimmering quartz. The colour of the quartz is believed to come from a mineral called Ilmenite. I just have to show you this mesmorizing close up below :-).

3. In the pair below I stacked some of the natural beads from Heidi's lot with the rhinestone spacers, adding swirly patterned polymer clay discs by HumbleBeads. Hanging from sea blue patinated boat shaped links by MissFickleMedia. Handmade copper earring hooks and copper findings






4. My fourth pair - I was so fond of my first pair of earrings with the long legs, so I had to try to make another similar pair with the smaller tubes. The purlpe stone discs are really pretty, kind of glowing when the light falls on them. I do not know what they are though.

5. My final pair that I finished today. This is an unusual construction for me to make, with the two rings joined like that. Therefor I was hesitating about finalising them. But I decided to give it a go, because I really liked the way they looked when I had layed out the beads (but before putting them together). It's the three beads stacked in the center of the inner circle that come from Heidi's lot. A cornflake pearl with a beautiful brownish shimmering colour, and two glass pearls. The large circles/hoops all come from MissFickleMedia.

Finally a group shot of all my earrings. I will be listing them soon in my Etsy Shop. Welcome!
www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/MalindeKoning:



Now you must head over to my friends' web sites to see their reveals. I promise, there are so many great looking earrings to see:

Rebecca Anderson – SongBead – www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Leah Curtis – BeadyEyedBunny – www.beadyeyedbunny.blogspot.com
Heidi Post – ExPostFacto – www.expostfactojewelry.blogspot.com
Claire Lockwood - SomethingToDoWithYourHands - www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com

All my best,
Malin

Stacked Earrings Challenge

I invited four dear friends in the international online beading community to join me in a Stacked Earrings Challenge. The reason being simply only a lust for an inspiration boost by some designers I really like.

• Claire Lockwood - Something To Do With Your Hands
• Leah Curtis - Beady Eyed Bunny
• Rebecca Anderson - SongBead
• Heidi Post - Ex Post Facto
• Malin de Koning - Beading By Malin de Koning

"
Dear Ladies, 
Would you be interested in a small humble earrings challenge arranged by me? The idea is that I give each of us the same set of beads. Beads that I believe would be nice to use in earrings. Nothing exclusive, and no art beads. Just a group of different beads that I myself believe can be used in fun and interesting ways in earrings in a stacked style.

Over the last few months or so I have been particularly fascinated in stacked designs in earrings. So most of the beads I have picked are of that nature. I am only including the beads, no hooks or studs, or fibers or other components.

I love the way all of you design, and I find a lot of inspiration in looking at your jewelry. I am longing to see how we all use the same things but in different ways. I am thinking we could all make at least one pair of earrings, but hopefully more. And that we are free to add our own extra beads and/or other components, if we at least use three (3) of the beads from my set in each design. How does that sound?
"

Here's the set of beads. I did not use all of them myself. For instance I tried several things with those shiny silvery beads, but was never happy with what I created. As well as for the milky white flower disks. I am really looking forward to see if any one else managed to use them in a creative and/or attractive way. And I am longing to see all of your designs and be inspired by them.

I created 5 pairs of earrings.
I didn't do all my designs exactly the way as what I had had in mind myself in the first place when I put this challenge together. But that is the beauty of it all I think. Self-surprise! Is that even a word? Well, I guess it is now ;-).

My first pair. A bead stack hung from a pair of sparkly links (SmittenBeads) and oxidized silver ears hooks.

If you are already familiar with my design style, you might already have noticed that I am very fond of messy wire wrapping. In the two following earrings I didn't only use the technique/style for the assembling, but also for making whole components on their own. That was fun, and I am sure I will keep playing around with that.

The stacking in these ones consists of the three wood beads on top of each other. I made the fabric links myself with recycled sari silk and two different gauges of oxidized copper wire. A heavier one for the inside, and a thinner one for the wrapping around. I think they turned out rather attractive. A soft bohemic style to them. Oxidized copper ear hooks.

Back to a combo of many different beads stacked on top of each other. I made the messy wire wrapped circular dangles/charms myself. I will definitely continue doing such things. Fun to do/make and a very versatile way to use in my designs. Rustic and bohemic. Oxidized copper ear hooks.

Was this cheating? I don't care, because I really like the way they look. I only stacked three stripey seed beads (and not different beads combined). Using a ball head pin for the wire wrapped link. Hung two patinated copper charms by MissFickleMedia. Oxidized copper ear hooks.

Oh, and another cheating one perhaps ;-). I only stacked two beads (not three). I do have more of those gold painted square wooden beads, and I could easily have used three or more. But somehow I liked this better, so … looks goes before rules. At least in my book of design. Patinated copper dangles/charms by lovely MissFickleMedia. And oxidized copper ear hooks.


Here again are the links to the other participants in this challenge. Hop on over to their blogs and check out many fun, exciting and lovely designs for earrings. :-)

Claire Lockwood - Something To Do With Your Hands

Leah Curtis - Beady Eyed Bunny

Rebecca Anderson - SongBead

Heidi Post - Ex Post Facto

Malin de Koning - Beading By Malin de Koning

All my best,
Malin

Wishful - for Gems!

Oh, lovely gems. Most of them from StarEyes a great Swedish online bead shop. I am dreaming away, and may soon very likely place an order. I first just wanna hear what Heidi Post thinks about an offer I've gave her. (Hi there Heidi! This post is mainly for you :-)) She has posted on her blog about some super nice gems she recently aquired. Check it out her post here.

Hydro Grossular Garnet 8mm - StarEyes.se

Snake Skin Jasper 14mm - StarEyes.se

Moonstone Heishi 5mm - StarEyes.se

Larvikit 8mm - StarEyes.se

Golden Obsidian 8mm - StarEyes.se

Trumpet Shell With Resin 16mm - StarEyes.se

Rainbow Moonstone 7mm - FireMountainGems

So, are you drooling now?