Earrings in the Hopper

I was able to create for a couple of hours this past weekend, despite all the functions and things we had going on, and boy was it nice!

I actually played with wire and wrapped a few gemstones for earrings. 

I even made a few earring wires.

Haven't done that in a while!

Hopefully this coming weekend I'll get these finished, photographed and listed over in my Etsy shop. 

 It's rather bare at the moment so new items are needed! 

I've been inspired by so many different things lately. 

Here's some of my inspiration for these earrings:

Sea Caves, Taiwan

Glory Hole, Ozark National Forest

 

Nature is so beautiful, isn't she?

Stalactites Via Pinterest

What is it that inspires you?

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Natural Beauty!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Evolution

It's been a little over a year since going through the
Wallow Fire here in Arizona.

Looking towards Alpine June 1st, 2011.
Nutrioso is on the left. Auger Canyon Rd. to the right.

This summer as I look around I realize that being evacuated and seeing the devastation first hand last year was a good teacher.

Grandma Emma's Cabin after the Wallow Fire, Summer 2011

Change can be a bit difficult at times and this experience is just another form of the teachings that change is a constant but if we look with an open mind and heart, we can find the good. Or perhaps, the good finds us because we are open?

Life does return.

It's like evolution.

Aside from the scientific/biological definition of evolution,
one version goes like this:

A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.

Not sure if they're more complex or better, but my jewelry designs have evolved over the years.

Back in 2009, I named a line of my jewelry "Urban Chaos".

'Marsha's' - MiShel Designs, 2009 Urban Chaos Collection

 

I called it this because of the way I wire wrapped the pieces and because of what they represented to me at the time.

MiShel Designs, 2009 Urban Chaos Collection

 

This form of wrapping wire was quite the challenge for me. 

Urban Chaos Swirl Hoops - MiShel Designs, from the 2009 Urban Chaos Collection

 

I know, I know,...it looks quite simple (almost sloppy!), so what could be so hard, right? 

Marquis Madness - MiShel Designs
2009 Urban Chaos Collection

 

Going from all the neat and orderly wrappings I'd been doing for so many years to a rather chaotic, organic, chunky look and feel was a bit different. 

'Marsha's' - MiShel Designs, 2009 Urban Chaos Collection
Wire Wrapped 'Chaos' Pendant and 'Chaos' Wire Wrapped Beads

 

And, even though I was completely drawn to this style it just wasn't what I normally designed; nor was it what my customers asked for or wanted.

'Irish Eyes' - MiShel Designs 2011

But I loved the look, so I kept doing it.

And after a while, it felt totally natural.

Chaos Wrapped Pearls and Crystals - MiShel Designs, 2010

 

I still love to see (and create!) nice, neat and tight wire wrapped designs, don't get me wrong.

'In The Army Now!' - 2011 Urban Chaos Wrapped Bangle and Earrings Set

But this 'chaos' way of wrapping has started to

become my 'go-to' wrap.

"Snake Skins"- 2011 Chaos Wrapped Pearls, MiShel Designs
Copper Metal Clay Components - Kristi Bowman Design

Kind of my norm, if you will.

And, after seeing it all over the place in hand crafted jewelry designs for the last 4 to 5 years I've really come to love the different ways people get their jewelry to look with it.

 

"Shannon" - MiShel Designs, 2012 Urban Chaos Collection

It adds such texture and dimension!

And, I like how you can take something smooth and shiny and make it look a bit 'worn' just by the way you wire wrap it.  Almost grunge,...but not quite. 

MiShel Designs, 2012 Urban Chaos Collection

I also like how it can make your outfit, which might be all crisp and neat, look a bit more relaxed and casual while adding some fun as well, without taking away from your overall look and feel.

"Rain in the Forest" - 2012, MiShel Designs Spice It Up Collection

Being up here in the mountains againg this summer, all of this type of jewelry reminds me of the trees in the forest and the woods around me,....free formed, bent, twisted and yes, even the burnt ones,....beautiful (in their own way)!

'Desert Sunset' - 2012, MiShel Designs Urban Chaos Collection

What types of styles are you drawn to and in what ways have you changed things that you design over the years?

Chaos Wrapped Faceted Citrine Drops in 14K Gold Filled
MiShel Designs, 2010

Have you learned any specific techniques that are now second nature to you and show up everywhere in your designs? 

 

Mini Pearl Drops - MiShel Designs, 2009

Evolution (change) can be a good thing, yes?!

Horse Shoe Pass Earrings - 2012 MiShel Designs

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Embracing Chaotic Change!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Week 8 - YOJP 2011 - The Goddess Freya

Week 8 for YOJP 2011 was the theme “Gods and Goddesses – Freya” and since I can’t really hammer stuff comfortably just yet, I wire wrapped little ‘Freya’ here instead. (I did pick up the hammer and smack her around just slightly – but don’t tell anyone!)

Actually, Freya’s not so little. She measures just a smidge over 2 ½ inches and has two, super gorgeous freshwater cultured pearls and a tiny turquoise nugget bead – all showing themselves off to the world. Created with sterling silver 18g and 24g dead soft round wires, I have chosen this time to give you a small glimpse of my process here – so no laughing at my drawings! (My sis is the artist,…not me!)

Here’s the picture of one of the drawings. See how it looks NOTHING like what “Freya” actually turned out to be? Yep,…that happens pretty much all the time in exactly this same fashion! Then, I took some shots of her ‘naked’ – before she was given a dark patina with liver of sulfur. I kinda like her naked and shiny but she looks more dramatic after she’s been LOS’d. Not sure yet how I’m going to hang this pendant, or from what? Any suggestions?

Two things I learned while creating “Freya”. One: My wire wrapping skills have started to really go down hill and I definitely need to brush up a bit with some online tutorials over at JewelryLessons.com or Beaducation.com, to name a couple. Two: I might draw a pic or something, but I don’t write down all my steps, processes, etc. every time (like some artists I know) and I do things differently each time, even when it’s the same type of design, so creating a tutorial or class on this would be a slight challenge, but something I must get back in the practice of doing again!

I hope you’ve enjoyed Freya – the Goddess of Love and Fertility. She is a beautiful site (to me anyway!) and has her own special personality – just as the ‘real’ Freya does, too!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and all Goddesses RULE!

Cheers,

~Shel~