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Friday, December 27, 2013

Lightbulb

These earrings were inspired by some of Cindy Wimmer's creations in her new book
As soon as I saw this link that she uses to make a chain I knew I wanted to alter it just a tiny bit so that I could dangle beads from them.





Lampwork beads by Outwest.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Missing-Link-Beautiful-Wirework/dp/159668707X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387908556&sr=8-1&keywords=the+missing+link
The Missing Link
These Earrings are available HERE on Artfire.

Kristi

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Rustic Charm


Leprechaun Sand Dollars
I am a sucker for these itty bitty ceramic charms by Karen Totten. I was determined to find an earring design for them yesterday and after much thinking this is what happened. Sterling silver wire, dragon's blood jasper (the little green stones), delicate copper peanut chain from Chain Gallery (which I antiqued to a darker patina-I LOVE this chain), and robin's egg blue Indonesian glass beads from Happy Mango Beads (on the earwires). (As soon as I finished these I realized I needed more--LOTS more--of Karen's charms.)

For some reason these make me think of the northern east coast of the US, like a windy shoreline in Maine with lighthouses and everything. So I picture them with a pretty variation on a traditional fisherman's sweater and of course, a pea coat.

rustic charm


You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Chocolate Jimmies

My mother used to make the most wonderful cookies. We called them "Chocolate Shot Cookies." They were buttery with a slightly oaty texture rolled around the edges in chocolate shot, otherwise known as sprinkles or jimmies

{This picture - and the recipe! - can be found on the Tango Mango blog}
 My mother no longer bakes cookies like this. Truthfully, she likely wouldn't remember ever baking them anyway. She has early onset Alzheimer's and so a lot of the traditions that we built up over 67 years seem to have vanished into thin air. But I remember the way these cookies melted in my mouth and the smell of butter in the air. Perhaps I will see if I can take command her recipe box and resurrect some of these old standards.


I had these little ceramic snowflake charms from Lisa Boucher of ClayworksNH (who is having a SALE on all her holiday items including these sweet charms!) on my table for another project that I just shared on the Art Bead Scene. I thought these with the little flecks of brown looked just like those cookies. I wrapped some wire around the charms and strung on some chocolate colored peanut beads. Looks just like those chocolate jimmies my mother used on the Chocolate Shot Cookies. Takes me right back in time.


Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Friday, December 20, 2013

Boho Strings

I'm really into the Boho look, and while I was hammering these copper teardrops I just knew they would end up being key to my next pair of Boho style earrings.  These earrings feature ceramic charms by Karen Totten (Starry Road Studio), Czech glass beads and waxed linen cord.


I think they would go well with this casual tunic from Sundance catalog (Oh, how I love that catalog!)




These earrings are available HERE on my website.

Thanks for looking and have a fabulous weekend and a Merry Christmas!

Kristy Abner
Kristy's Kreations 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Cross Culture Arches

Cross Culture Arches

A blend of cultural influences in these new earrings with their beaded arches and tribal copper crescent focals. I have strung yellow orange Indonesian beads and teal Czech farfalles on nylon thread to form the contrasting colored arches. The copper clay focal components are from Kristi Bowman; I think of her as my co conspirator. From the copper crescents, I have hung carved bone discs in black and white to complete the tribal theme. I see these earrings as ethnic, but I'm not sure which one (ethnicity), thus the name.

Bias Scarves by Elizabeth Brassard (left)

Aboriginal Women's Ceremony by Debra Young (right)








Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Friday, December 13, 2013

Hippie Chic

To continue with my latest obsession of Sari Silk, I found this amazing Sari Silk Yarn that I've been playing with lately. Here's the first pair of earrings I made with it.

Hippie Chic

I made hoops and wrapped the yarn around them then attached one of my Copper Buttons.

 Hippie Chic
Hippie Chic

Here are the 4 skeins I purchased before I took them apart,
it was not easy to do because they are so pretty all coiled up like this.


I purchased this beautiful Yarn from

Kristi

Thursday, December 12, 2013

It's Summer Somewhere


It's summer somewhere. Like in Australia. I'm going to cling to that today as I trudge through the deep snow in my winter boots, looking forward to the coming and going of the shortest day of the year.

These carved golden agate flowers remind me of cosmos:
Seeds available from Urban Farmer!!!
If I were in Australia, wearing these earrings, I would probably be wearing this comfy number with them (although cosmos are not native to Australia, but rather the southern United States, Mexico, South and Central America, and even now South Africa, so I sort failed with the conceptual symmetry here):

Cosmos


The fabulous little blue flowers are recycled glass beads from Africa, available at Happy Mango Beads. The robin's egg blue seed beads on the earwires are also from Happy Mango.

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Angelfire

In your house, is it the angel or the star on the top of the tree? 

When we got married and started collecting our first ornaments for the first Christmas tree in 1992, I found and angel holding a star. And she lights up, too! 



Last night I was playing around with some jewelry epoxy clay for another project that is coming on my own blog tomorrow, and I had some left over. So I quickly grabbed the closest bezel I could find and whipped up these light as air earrings. Looking up at the sweet face of the angel with her deep indigo and soft cream-colored robes holding up the lighted star on the top of the tree, I was inspired to name these Angelfire.

They are very blingy! So of course, I had to put together an outfit to match.

Today I am wearing..

Sequined Layered Tank from Lane Bryant
Grey and black striped jersey pencil skirt from Old Navy
Paired with a grey jersey swing cardigan, grey tights and these sparkly shoes...
Glittery Textured Ballet Flats from Old Navy
I think that this might be my new Christmas outfit that brings both the angel and the star together!

Erin Prais-Hintz invites you to go on a journey of inspiration at her blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere. You can now purchase her work at http://www.tesoritrovati.com/ or in her Etsy shop.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Snowflakes

I love snowflakes and how each one is unique. I couldn't wait to try out Copper clay with a snowflake stamp that I have. I have used PMC3 and Bronze clay in the past, but this was my first attempt at Copper clay. I did a light patina on them to bring out the snowflake stamp. Lampwork beads are by Bubby & McGurk Beads.

I just had to share this lovely photo of a snowflake...love the detail. 

These earrings are available HERE, as well as a matching snowflake necklace.
To see more of my work, please visit my website or my Facebook page .

Thank you for stopping by our blog and have a great weekend!

Kristy Abner
Kristy's Kreations

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Rustic Raindrops


Rustic Raindrop Earrings

Faceted Czech glass English cut beads and nuggets stacked atop one another to form these Rustic Raindrop earrings. I like the contrast of the opaque nuggets, swirled with hints of green and lavender, against the translucent moss green luster finished glass with its aged look. Aside from being my metal of choice, copper always looks spectacular with green!

Silvia Hartmann Windows

I see my Rustic Raindrop earrings being worn with a casual dress or jeans and a sweater.

Gloria Ewing

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire



Thursday, November 28, 2013

Poseidon's Garden


Poseidon's Garden
These colors remind me of Caribbean waters.
Caribbean Ocean view from Bodden Town
View of Caribbean Ocean from Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island,
Courtesy Wikipedia Creative Commons
For these earrings, I started with a pair of my copper tulip caps, and gave them an aged blue-green patina. They made me think of blooms from a deep-sea garden! I chose gemstones in the same hues--I just love the way this aqua chalcedony glows, and the sea green aventurine nuggets match the patina on my tulip caps so perfectly. I dotted the earwires with Czech glass in a matching aquamarine blue.

I would pair them with a gown worthy of Amphitrite (especially if she was guest-starring on Downton Abbey--this dress is so Lady Sybil):

Amphitrite


You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Tomorrow River Winding


I made a necklace and earring set for a very, very patient client name Jen who lives in the Tomorrow River area a short drive from me. When we met earlier this year, she described what she wanted by showing me a Pinterest board that she created (how clever is that?!). She started with pictures of my work, but that led her to other artists that she admired who were linked on my pages, specifically StaciLouise Smith. 

 For the earrings, I went with two polymer clay disk beads by Heather Powers that had similar colors but different patterns, and the same size. Then I found some different shaped but same sized links and wrapped them in Wooly Wire from Karen Totten. The client asked the earrings to be asymmetrical. I never have a problem with making asymmetry in necklaces but earrings were tough!This is really my first attempt at making earrings that don't match.  

What do you think? 

If you would like to see the necklace that goes along with these earrings, please hop on over to my blog



Monday, November 25, 2013

Woodland Folk

Handcrafted sterling silver hoops are paired with artisan pewter oak leaf charms and wee acorns of copper and pearl beads.  Sweet and lovely earrings to go with a folk-inspired outfit. 


Woodland Folk Outfit


Friday, November 22, 2013

Fuschia Disc

Mix Polymer Clay Discs, beautiful Lampwork Headpins and a little bit of Sari Silk, wrap them all up in copper wire and this is what you get. 



I'm finding myself using touches of Sari Silk in many of my new designs lately and I really love it. It just adds such a wonderful texture and dimension to all the other handmade bits and pieces.

I made the Polymer Clay Discs and the amazing headpins are by SueBeads.

These earrings are available HERE in my Etsy Shop.

Thanks for stopping by, I'd love to hear what you think of my new earrings!

Kristi

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Bling


I'm in the midst of planning our holiday party and I have Christmas on the brain! These earrings were inspired by the beads, that I found at Michael's craft store! They have the most amazing coloring and AB coating that I've ever seen, along with this very unique etched matte flower design on them! I created these to go along with a bracelet using the same beads.  Definitely planning to make set for me to wear to my own party! Can't wait!

These are for sale in my Indiemade shop!