Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Do you know the Knock, Knock joke with the banana and the orange?
I have little kids, so Knock, Knock jokes are pretty prevalent around our house. 

My friend had asked for a choice of some orange earrings so I went ahead and got inspired.  With Lots of Orange.  But since I'm really not a big wearer of bright orange, I chose different shades and different metals, like copper to go with the orange inspiration. 

Stunning lampwork leaves from Beadfairy, Carnelian briolettes, a brass cage and niobium earwires that perfectly combine the brass and copper combo.

 Beautiful Swavorski elements make these simple earrings a real stunner.

Orange with a slight hint of yellow swirly lampwork discs hang from sterling silver earwires.  A simple orange combo.  These discs were purchased a few years ago at a bead show, but I'm pretty sure they are from Kimberlys Corner.  (Kimberly Branch).  She has the loveliest discs - and in so many colors!

Burnt orange polka dot ceramic beads by BoHulleyBeads accented with tiny turquoise lampwork rondelles and some large Saki Silver sterling silver earwires.  This color combo is so fun!

Orange Carnelian wire-wrapped with a purple stone dangle. 

Copper beads and silver findings combine to make the perfect rustic earrings.

Lastly, orange red faceted Czech glass rondelles topped with a translucent aqua cap spattered with gold.  Those aqua beads have 2 holes in them - one in the center and one off to the side.  I think they are a type of seed bead but I can't remember the name.  They were purchased at my local bead store. 
And there's a matching bracelet for the earrings:

You can find all these earrings in my shop now!  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gemsofsummer

Pretty Palettes: October Challenge

I'm really going over the top and doing 2 design inspirations this month.  The Halcraft Inspiration Blog's Pretty Palettes Challenge has a beautiful inspirational picture this month.  Fall is definitely not my most favorite season, but even I can admit that the colors outside at this time are truly fantastic!!!

This is the inspiration photo:





The rich colors in this picture are wonderful!  And the beads chosen were defnitely diffrerent enough from my usual choices but still within that pinkish/reddish tone that I do like.

I came up with 4 pieces from this month's inspiration, in both a silver and a gold palette.  First, a silver-toned necklace and earring set.  The necklace was inspired by a white and black one that was on the Halcraft blog a few weeks ago.  That bib type necklace shows up well on an outfit.  And it was a good way to combine the different round beads. 

 The earrings in the middle are made with Humblebeads leaf charms.  Although not as visible in this picture, the leaves have an iridescent and translucent look to them.  They are so pretty when held up to light!

Second, a gold-toned set.  I think the red and purple beads look very regal with this color palette. It is a combination that I would not have chosen myself, but the gold looks great with the red and purple glass beads.  I really liked the hematite spacer but was a little stumped as to how to use it in the design.  So I ended up making lots of dangles with the spacers and the tiny red glass beads.  Together with the large quartzite ruby red beads, those dangles help fill out the bracelet. 

And all these items can be found in my shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gemsofsummer

Art Bead Scene: October Monthly Challenge: Winged Goddess Ma'at

I feel like I needed a bit of a shake-up.  I've been working on some beadwork, but that involves lots of patterns.  It requires color inspiration but the how-to is given.  And I love how my techniques have grown but it's fall again and time for some general design inspiration.

Monthly, I look at the Art Bead Scene Challenges and have ideas but nothing comes to fruition.  And somehow I missed the challenge with an ocean theme, which is really my favorite thing to design around.

This month's inspiration is from the tomb of Queen Nefertari. 

My inspiration came directly from a suggested bead artist (who also lives in Ohio, yah!).  I normally don't buy orange beads unless presented with a challenge like this, so I actually sought out an art bead that fit the challenge.
I made 2 bracelets and a pair of earrings, using wonderful lampwork beads from Spawn of Flame.

The first bracelet and earrings are my favorite.  Only using a limited color palette, the etchings in the silver findings remind me of the hieroglyphics. 

 
The second bracelet has the blue and orange colors, a great combination and a matte version of the same lampwork beads as in the other bracelet and earrings.

These items are no available in my shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gemsofsummer