Showing posts with label hoop style earrings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hoop style earrings. Show all posts

Musical Inspiration

Everyone who knows me personally knows I'm a huge Jesse Cook fan - I love his music and rave about him all the time!


Jesse Cook

Jesse's the most amazing acoustic guitarist I've ever seen.
His music is referred to as "Flamenco Rumba" and then kind of Jesse's own style mixed in,...amazing stuff!

Bogota By Bus - Rumba Foundation, Jesse Cook

One of my favorites is Havana, off the Frontiers CD, but the video link I have here is one Jesse put together himself while on tour and it's really fantastic.
I've seen him in concert 5 times and I've dragged my hubby and son along with me at least 4 times and even had him autograph my son's guitar one year.

I listen to his music all the time when I'm creating jewelry. You could call it my 'go-to' music. It's there, with this rhythm that just moves me and speaks to my soul.

At one concert, a woman got up on stage dressed in what appeared to be a belly dance costume and started dancing. We thought it was part of the show but she turned out to be just an avid fan! 

Via Pinterst

The first time I ordered tickets to see him the conversation with the ticket guy went something like this:

Me: "Where ever I sit, I have to be able to see his hands!"
Ticket Dude: (total silence,....)
Me: "Hello?"
Ticket Dude: "Why?"
Me: "I cannot imagine anyone being able to do what he does with a guitar!"
Ticket Dude: "Cool. Okay, you got it."

I got seats close enough to see his hands!
Well, only during the slow parts. His hands move so fast on some songs they're just a blur,....seriously!!

George Benson (!!!) was in the audience that night too and Jesse played so hard he broke a guitar string and didn't even miss a note!  It was incredible!

Our friends emailed me a couple of weeks back that they want to meet up again this coming March in Wickenburg for Jesse's next visit to Arizona - sweet! And since the concert's really close to my birthday I'm hopeful I'll be able to pull off getting to attend again!


Wire wrapped oval hoops with Sari silk and seed beads

So, on my bead table today are these earrings from yesterday (it rained all day,...rather dark,...can you tell by the earrings?) 

I've got a few other things waiting around to be put together as well.

Leather and wire wrapped hoops with nut beads


And in the background,...yep,...Jesse. Turned WAY up! 

What do you listen to when you create?  What kind of music motivates you? Do you like just 'filter' noise or do you design around the style of music you have on?

You'd think that listening to the type of music I do,...Flamenco Rumba, Jazz, Blues, Rock, etc. that my designs would have a bit more color. I guess the weather was a big influence yesterday.

I've been listening to The Wanted for the past several months too - they're kinda 'bubble-gum' as my son puts it - but hey, I like that flavor. It goes well with hot, spicy Rumba!! ;-)

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Awesome Tunes!
Cheers,
~Shel~

2 Feet of Wire!

The theme for Week 12 of Year of Jewelry Projects 2011 was "2 Feet of Wire" and what a challenge it was, too.  I never really thought about it until I forced myself to stay within the '2 feet' limit and I found that the things I usually create take much less or much more wire.  I did pretty good and only cut minimal pieces off when I was ready to secure my wire wrappings - so I possibly have a smidge under 2 Feet.

So, here's the measurements:
Swirl Earring Wires - 4 inches of 20g. sterling silver round dead soft wire = 8 inches - Forged, hammered/textured.
Wire Wrappings - 2 pieces of 2 inches each of 26gauge s/s round dead soft wire to secure the loops = 4 inches
Wire Wrapped Pearls - 2 pieces of 6 inches each 26gauge s/s round dead soft wire to wire wrap these gorgeous greenish/grey freshwater cultured pearls = 12 inches

So, there you have it - 2 Feet of Wire!  And pearls, of course!

Known as the 'stone of sincerity,' pearls symbolize purity and represent faith, charity and innocence.  As the most widely used gemstone in weddings, pearls are believed to bestow the power of love, (and money, too).
They are thought to bring luck and to offer protection for the wearer, especially to children. Royalty often valued pearls above all other gemtsones and you know this "Pearl Girl" loves her pearls!! 

With Easter, Mother's day, Prom and Graduation, not to mention all the Spring and Summer Weddings that are popping up amongst your friends and family, you can bet you'll be seeing these gorgeous and versatile gemstones every where!

To find out more about these fantastic gemstones, jump on over to our website and check out our pearls page!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and 2 Feet of Wire (Adorned with Pearls!)
Cheers,
~Shel~