We're All Ears :: March Inspiration

I haven't been involved in a challenge in a really long time,...

 but the "We're All Ears :: March Inspiration" challenge on the "Earrings Everyday" blog caught my eye and I couldn't stop daydreaming about it!   Here are just a few of the inspirational photographs included by Erin!


 

The  magnificent colors and designs inspired 4 pairs of earrings, and I'll probably keep going!

I can't say I used just one of the photos, but if I did use one more than the others, it was probably this last one.

I'll show the first pair I designed today and add the others soon. 

I hand cut the pieces from 

genuine copper sheet metal, 

then embossed them with a design folder 

that seemed

just made for this purpose!

You can tell that in addition to the patterns,

I was really drawn to the 

bright orange, copper, yellow, 

dark blue, and turquoise colors.

I started with this look,

then started applying more and more 

layers of patina,

as I often do with my components....

until they looked like the ones 

in the other two photos.

I've added sterling silver earwires and jumprings,

accent beads in sterling silver, copper,

and dark blue encased glass.

Just for fun, 

I left one side as in photo 2 and the other side with more color layers.  

The hooks can be switched in a second,

if anyone prefers one look to the other!

To see more entries, please visit 

Earrings Everyday

on March 18th!  

My thanks to Erin and friends 

for the inspiration!

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P.S.  I can't resist giving a special "shout-out" to Alice, from "Alice Dreaming" blog, who used a pair of my Metapolies™ components in her design too!  Visit her blog to see what she created!   (And thank you, Alice!)

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Autumn brings falling leaves and "Great Big Fall Sale!"

Autumn has arrived in Kansas and seems to be passing quickly! The trees are dropping their beautiful leaves at a pretty fast pace. So it must be time for the 

GREAT BIG FALL SALE!

My designs are nearly always inspired first by color, so you'll find a lot of those lovely Fall colors in my Metapolies™ components and jewelry!  Just take a quick look...

Bright Red, Yellow, and Variegated Artisan Made Polymer Bead Set PC15-014E

Fall Shades Altered Brass Leaf Charm Pair AM15-012E

I hope you'll drop by my store and see more Fall-inspired items.  To further tempt you, there is a ... 

GREAT BIG FALL SALE 

...now through the end of October 2015!

GREAT BIG FALL SALE! 

*Get 15-20% off lowest marked price on all items!*

• All purchases qualify for 15% off your total item price. Use code: FALLSALE15 

• OR spend $50 or more at one time and qualify for 20% off your total item price. Use this code instead: FALLSALE20

(Shipping charges and sales tax for Kansans are not included.   See store for complete details!) 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Metapolies

Wishing you all a lovely Autumn!

~Sharyl

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All photos by Sharyl

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What inspires you?

When I find myself inspired by something, it's usually COLOR!   

  I keep a section on my Pinterest page just full of color combinations that inspire my jewelry making!  Even in the other sections of my Pinterest page, you'll find that COLOR abounds!   (I invite you to take a look and follow any or all parts that inspire YOU!) 

Check out the
  "Color Wheel Primer"
on HGTV website!

I love bright colors, pastels, muted colors, light grays and tans and the many shades of white!    

You'll see a lot of architecture and sites from around the world in those Pinterest photos!  A lot of the colors I love come from nature, especially flowers.  Those are the photos I'm most apt to take myself.   

I got a pretty Mother's Day bouquet Sunday, and just had to snap a few photos to share!

And a few more flowers--carnations, which are not everyone's favorite, but they are one of mine--and spirea from our garden!

A few years ago, I posted a bouquet and had a jewelry-design blog hop.  I'm  not going to be so formal this time, but I do hope the flower photos inspire a creation of your own.   **If you make something and would like to share, please send (or link to) a photo and I'll be happy to post!**  

Thanks and Happy Designing!

Sharyl

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New! Sterling Silver "Matchstick" Dangles + Give-away!

(Be sure to read to the end to find out how to enter the give-away!)

I'd like to show you a new line of components I'm making.  I've been so excited to announce these, and I've released the first five pair into my Metapolies™ store on Etsy!   

I'm calling them Sterling Silver "Matchstick" Dangles,

 and hope I haven't reused a term or concept 

developed by anyone else. 

These are handmade start-to-finish, and they begin with me using metal scissors to cut the silver sheet metal.  

The process of creating these involves a number of steps and takes 2-3 times as long as many of the components I create.  Sterling silver is not cheap, of course, but I'm pricing conservatively, hoping people will like them enough to try out!  

Currently selling for $18/pair.

There are a variety of colors and if I find interest in them, I'd love to add more colors!    (I'm not currently taking custom orders on jewelry or components, but I'm very happy to hear your color recommendations!    Any suggestions?)

You can find the following colors in my store now:

• Orchid (medium purple shade)
• Sage green
• Red
• Dark Violet (a very dark bluish-purple)
• 2-toned Blue (navy and medium blue stripes)

Give-away!

I haven't had a give-away for quite a long while, so I'm going to have a random drawing for a pair of these in your choice of color (provided I have it or can mix it)!   

To enter:

1. Please share this post on your own blog, Facebook page,or other social media. 
2. Leave me a comment on this blog of where you posted it.   (Please include link!)
3. Include your color of choice.

From the entries, one will be randomly chosen.

You have until Sat., April 4, at midnight Central time to enter!  

I very seldom get so specific with a give-away but I'd really like to reach a wider audience this time. Thank you very much for helping me spread the word. I am most grateful!  

Best Wishes,

Sharyl

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Looking back on blogging, looking forward...

Looking back at blogging...

My very first blog entry was June 16, 2011:  "Jewelry Design - My "Unique" Philosophy."  

When I look back at that entry, every bit of what I wrote was true then, and true now.   So much has changed, but my vision of what I wanted to accomplish with jewelry design is exactly the same as when I started.   I find that rather remarkable. 


Not all my early blog posts were something I'd still be proud of.   I was very "green" and feel a bit horrified about how I spoke with authority about things I didn't know enough about.   My photographs were terrible. (It took me 6 months to take a remotely decent photo!  I blogged about that on Jan. 14 and Jan. 18, 2012. Many of my blog posts in the first year focused on photography practice!)  


But to back up a bit, as I recall, I had no followers at all until I had blogged for about 6 weeks.   I just kept writing, hoping someone would appear.  And finally, it happened, one day, someone finally made the choice to "follow" my blog.  And about a week later, another, this time a young man from Russia.  I never forgot about him.   I was so thrilled to have these 2 pay attention to what I wrote!   And eventually more came, and when I hit 10, I felt I had finally "arrived!"  ha!  

In the early days, I greeted each new member with a welcome paragraph!   Eventually, it became impossible.   Blog hops would bring new members in larger numbers all at once, I couldn't keep up.  What a shame about that.  My blog membership numbers are still not stunning, but they've been "hard-won" and I've always deeply valued each person following and sharing  your comments.  I always intended this to be a very interactive space.  


I must admit that in the first few years of blogging,  I was more creative in my writing, more engaging, and certainly more frequent.    The heavy use of Facebook to share ideas and new items, and the ever-increasing use of mobile technology to read messages seems to have shrunk blog participation and comments.   Posting messages and getting no response was disheartening, and I got to where I mostly posted about sales in my stores.   (Boring, and a self-fulfilling cycle which left little incentive to want to read my blog!)

Blogging today...

Recently, I announced that the blog had it's 175th member, and we celebrated that with a gift to the participant and a give-away winner.   I decided to briefly highlight those involved in that event on my blog today!

Val of Miss Val's Creations was the 175th member.  I wanted to show you these classy earrings I found in her store.   The ear wires are such a fantastic shape!

hematite sterling silver dangle earrings

Catherine of Shadow Dog Designs won the random drawing.  Catherine's store is on  Artfire.  I think these pearls and the amazing pendant go perfectly together!

Handmade Tree Pendant Necklace Rustic Green Pearls Bali Beaded Jewelry

Since then, we've gained one more member.   And so, in the original spirit of this blog, I'd like to welcome our most recent follower, Meridy Migchelbrink of Two Trees Studio.   Among her always-impressive designing techniques, Meridy creates many of her earthy looking pieces using waxed Irish linen thread.  Take a peak:

The Word for World Is Forest: Petite, lightweight artisan ceramic earrings, with an earthy, rustic, foresty vibe

Now that I've given you a small sample of each of these artist's work, I hope you'll go look at the rest of their collections!   I'm so honored to have these three jewelry artists, as well as all the rest of you talented people, following my blog!

Looking forward...

I hope you'll come around again!  I'm planning more features, focus sessions on other bead and jewelry designers, discussions on techniques, business matters, and more!   I'll be here, writing away, just like in the beginning, hoping someone drops in and leaves me a note!  

Wishing a very Happy New Year 2015 to all!  

Sharyl

P.S.  Just as I'm about to post this entry, I've received 2 pieces of good news to share today!  I'll hold it until next time.  Expect another post soon!  

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Image Credits:

All jewelry photos taken by the jewelry artists are copyrighted and used here by permission.

Clipart is from wpclipart.com

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New Bead Sets in store + POLYFLASH Sale 7/31/14 only!

It's nearly August, so

I've been busy posting 

new polymer clay BEAD SETS 

in my 

"Sharyl's Jewelry" Artfire store. 

If you've missed my

Facebook announcements, 

here is a sampling:

New Fall Harvest Bead Sets

I'm hoping you'll consider these

as you begin designing

your Fall jewelry collections!

There are also some for 

year-round fun!

Whimsical Poly Beads

Today, 

I'm  offering a quick "Flash" sale,  

on polymer clay

coordinating items!

For today only,

get 25% off items 

in the 2 following categories:

**"Funky Flat Poly Beads"**
**"Other Polymer Clay Items"**

Code at checkout is:   POLYFLASH

**(Sorry, sale does NOT include the new bead sets but does include matching 

pendants, 

earring dangles, 

head pins, 

and flat beads 

found in the designated sections 

mentioned above.)**

As always,

thanks for taking a look at what's new

in my world.

Hope you find something here

that brings you joy!

~Sharyl

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Image Credits:

Photos & collages: Sharyl

Leaf graphic:  wpclipart

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Garden and Jewelry Tour

Every so often, especially during Spring and Fall, I like to combine my love of macrophotography, flowers, jewelry-making, and COLOR!  

So today I'm sharing a few of the photos I took this Spring, just as blooms were popping, and some of my jewelry and beads in the same Spring colors!   (If you enjoy them enough, you can follow the direct links to my store.)

Forsynthia bush in front yard

"Bright as the Sun" Flower in Metallic Pastels PC14-061  

US $8 + S/H

Plant unknown.

Front flower garden.

Rectangular aqua and silver polymer clay pendant 

PC14-044

US $8 + S/H

Tulips in the backyard "Circle Garden"

8 Yellow "Funky Flat Poly Beads"  PC14-067

US $8 + S/H

4 Yellow "Funky Flat Poly Beads" PC14-068

US $4 + S/H

Orange-red tulip, front yard

Lotta Fun Sun Summer Earrings

US$22 plus S/H

Hope you enjoyed the quick Garden and Jewelry Tour!  Happy Spring!  

~Sharyl

Sharyl's Jewelry

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"Love My Art Jewelry" Asymmetry Bootcamp -- Blog Hop Reveal!

The "Love My Art Jewelry" group is hosting an "Asymmetry Bootcamp Blog Hop" this week. I had already begun this piece Saturday when I found out about it, but was anxious to share it here!  

An asymmetric glimpse of my asymmetric necklace! 

This necklace was literally years in the making.

Not that I stopped and started it, but I've been saving some of these beads for a special project for a very long time.

It was actually this new bead which got me started in the right direction.  It was an experimental flat lampwork bead I talked out of my friend, Mike Flint (Bagomag.com).    

The frit colors reminded me of some very cool beads my pal Kashmira Patel shared with me from India 1-2 years ago!  I had been saving and saving them for something special.  And finally, I was inspired to use them with this pale blue and rust-colored flat lampwork bead.

I decided not to do my usual symmetric design with these, but to place 3 in a row on one side, then use two together and 1 separately on the other side.  (How radical of me, right?!)  I just couldn't make up my mind about how to use the large wooden bead. As a focal hanging down?  As a bead on a chain?  

You may not believe the amount of time I spent playing around with these beads, adding and removing other beads, trying to decide whether to keep with my idea of using just Kashmira's beads with the rose-shaped aqua Czech glass or to add other beads too, to put on chain or string?

Slowly, but surely, a design did emerge...  I began by adding some similar wooden beads I had in various shapes, some with a hint of red.   Then I reached for some beads I've been hoarding from another good friend, Natalie Pappas of NKP Designs.

 

Beads by Natalie Pappas:   Top left, blue and tan flower beads.  Top right, Bluish-brown leaf bead.   Bottom left, red/blue dotted bead and another tan flower.  Bottom right, large chunky caramel bead used in focal.     (You'll also see Kashmira's large wood bead here.  This is part of the long, dangly focal.)

Although I ended up adding a lot more beads than originally planned, in a effort to keep a somewhat balanced look regarding size and color of beads, the 2 sides are not identical.  You see here, and in the photo below, I did use Kashmira's beads as originally planned!  (3 on one side, 2+1 on the other.)  Next time, I'll edge myself further out on the asymmetrical limb, I promise!  ;-)

Beads, minus the focal.

Another "asymmetric photo" angle!

The necklace is actually longer than this, so Kashmira's beads show in the front,

but in an effort to include the focal piece, 

I've adjusted the necklace so it's shorter.

You can finally see the long focal here,

which includes beads from Kashmira, Mike, and Natalie here.

In addition are a sterling plated over 

white bronze "Light of India" clasp 

used as a bail from Lily's Offering and 

rustic patina on copper Greek beads from MayaHoney.

I added a bit of chain and a handmade clasp in the back to make the length adjustable, and wa-la, the finished necklace!

My thanks to Kashmira, Mike, and Natalie for sharing their beautiful beads with me and making this creation possible!  I think I'll call this the "Friendship Necklace!"

And thanks to "Love My Art Jewelry" for hosting this blog hop!  You can see more asymmetric jewelry designs by clicking here!

Best wishes,

Sharyl

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