When the subject for this month’s Art Elements Challenge was announced – flowers – I was really excited. I love flowers! With this topic, I was in my happy place. Alas, the joke was on me. My husband and I have been out of town 10 days this month, and the days around the July 4th holiday were busy, but not with any kind of jewelry-making. Knowing I was going to be gone, I got started right away, but…..
I got only one proto-type set of flower earrings made:
These were my first attempt at applying wire-weaving to a set of earrings.
I like the structure, but I struggled with how to get my various loops symmetrical on both earrings. I sat them aside hoping a solution would come to me, and then I went on vacation. I soon realized, there would be no easy answer. Like so many other things in this life, it would just come down to practice.
Despite these being a prototype, I went ahead and antiqued them:
These will go into my pile of not quite good enough pieces until I’m ready to redo them. But that’s the point of these Art Element challenges – to take yourself out of your comfort zone and stretch your abilities. Awesome!
To see the work of other talented artists and artisans, click here. Inspiration abounds!
are the earrings heavy? they kind of look it but I’m wondering if maybe the stones aren’t smaller than they appear? pretty design I think
Thanks so much! The earrings are actually pretty light. The flower beads are made of resin, I think. Anyway, not stone.
They’re lovely. I really like the beads you chose and your wire wrapping is fabulous!
Thanks so much!
If this is your first wire weaving experiment, you’ve got the talent for it! I think the flowers are Czech glass and I love the design!
Thank you so much! My first wire wrapped earrings. I’ve been working on wrapping cabochons.
I think you are too hard on yourself, I really like the antiqued look, I think they work beautifully.
Thank you!
Your wire wrapping is wonderful. I think you are being too critical of your earrings. I think they are really pretty. I love the flowers and wrapping. Well done!
Thanks so much!
The earrings are very pretty and perfect for summer! I feel your struggle, I had even given up on earrings because I was so obsessed with making them exactly the same.
Lately I have been exploring the fun of slightly asymmetrical earrings, not because I can’t do them right, but doing it on purpose and still trying to making them pleasing to the eye.
I’m sure you’ll have big fun with wire woven earrings, too, the possibilities are endless if you don’t limit yourself 😀
Thanks so much, Cat! I’ve experimented with asymmetrical earrings in other mediums and really like them. I’ll have to try that with wire.
“Not quite good enough”!? I can’t even imagine the work that went into these. I hate that you only see your flaws, but I think they’re awesome. What a great way to use the inspiration and work on a new skill at the same time. Fabulous!
Wow! Thank you! I really appreciate your feedback.
Oh I think they are good enough! What a great way to make Czech flowers fab and upscale! And you said this was the first time wire weaving – never would have guessed that! Thank you for joining us – I do hope you remove these from banishment in the “seconds” pile.
Thanks so much! I’ve been looking at them, and I think I can fix the part that is bothering me.
I love the Czech flowers, I’m actually kind of obsessed with them, and your wirework is fantastic! I can’t do that to save my life!
Thanks so much! I agree, the Czech flowers are fabulous!
Your wire woven frames around the Czech flowers makes for a gorgeous and unique earring design. Your wire skills are amazing. Getting mirror-image symmetry is a challenge I have yet to overcome. I don’t think earrings need to be perfectly symmetrical – there’s a whole face between them making it difficult to tell whether the loops are exactly the same. LOL
Good point, Tammy! With a whole face in between, I know I would never notice. LOL! Thank you!
Beautiful as always. Well done
Thanks so much!
These earrings came out very pretty. Thanks for sharing them with us at #OMGHWW
Thanks so much, Alice!