I signed up for another challenge - I couldn't resist! I had told myself that with the Focus on Life photo challenge, the AJE earrings challenge and the Bead Soup Blog Party (more about that at the weekend!), not to mention teaching, orders, magazine deadlines etc etc - oh yes, and family! - I had enough going on. But I couldn't resist when I read Sally Russick's post introducing her Inspired by Winter challenge. It was the words "The muted colors of nature as it awaits Spring" that caught my imagination. Our garden and the local park are not looking their best at the moment. We've had so much rain over the last year that everything is so wet, and the new growth hasn't arrived yet. In fact, everything looked a lot prettier a couple of weeks ago when it was covered with snow! But if you look carefully there is beauty, and a promise of what's to come.
And so this is what I made - subtly patterned earrings in off-white and a dark dusky purple jade, reminding me of the snowdrops that have started to grow and the berries that the birds have almost finished off the bushes along our route to school! The ceramic teardrops are by Bo Hulley. They've been sitting on my desk for a while, waiting for the perfect time, like the snowdrops they represent I suppose. I hope that you like them - and if you really like them you can find them here! And I hope that you will take the time to see what everyone else who took up Sally's challenge has made. I'm teaching all day today, so I'll be working my way round the blogs this evening.
My goodness, I really love that you chose to "hang" the teardrop off of hoops- they look so comfortable to wear! The dark purple jade really makes the tear drop pop! We have only had a pittance of a snowfall this year - and it was gone the next day, leaving its drab landscape behind...so sad!
ReplyDeleteReally like the tear drop charms! and perfectly reflect that warm winter white, and the purple bead is like the winter berries we have in our yard - well done! such a pretty pair!
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think we had the same thing in mind when we started creating--the promise of spring! Your interpretation is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI saw your earrings and immediately thought, snow on branches.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do love them. There's something so romantic about your simple design. Like a day spent outside, battling the elements, and then returning home and being wrapped in the warmth of family and home.
ReplyDeleteHow cool is your piece!!! I didn't catch that phrase, I saw winter and well, ice and snow.... I love your earrings! They just scream spring is coming, wait til the snow passes.... Great Job!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely pair of earrings, I love the berries that hold on through out the winter, carrying with them the promise of spring :)
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely earrings! This is the time of year that we start thinking of spring, and your earrings capture that. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThe earrings you made are wonderful!! It's the colors that draw me right in, I love muted colors, so elegant! Jo, with your very busy schedule, I appreciate that you took time to jump in and join the hop! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe warm white of Bo's ceramic drops make me think of a cuddly warm winter sweater. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful earrings Jo! The white flowers to come and the berries that are almost gone are well represented in these beautiful earrings.
ReplyDeleteTherese
The ceramic drops are perfect for your depiction of winter.
ReplyDeleteThis was a perfect fit for those beautiful drops...The simplicity is just right :)
ReplyDeleteLovely work - those are beautiful drops, and have been used to great effect in the earrings!
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous - love the drops!
ReplyDeleteSo gorgeous! I love the colors here.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo! I love them. I am usually not one for monochromatic clay - being a clay person myself - but these are great. And I would love your ear wires. May have to go there for my next AJE earrings...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous earrings
ReplyDeleteOh, Oh, Oh, - love these!! The design is wonderful and the colors are fabulous! They fit perfectly with your winter inspiration description!
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