For 2015 Art Jewelry Elements decided to freshen our monthly challenges a bit and throw some new challenges into the mix. Our January challenge was to go through our stash and find one or more art beads that were created by AJE members and design something with them. My stash of art beads is burgeoning and this was just the kick in the pants I needed to stop fondling my treasures and start using more of them.
The first piece I made uses a delightful owl pendant that I picked up from Lesley Watt at Bead Fest last summer. Not only do I love the owl design, but the glaze on this one makes me swoon.
The glass and wood beads are strung on two strands of Irish waxed linen, with butter-soft blue leather lacing in the back. I made the clasp out of patina’ed brass and I added a bit of chain so the length is adjustable. The “Night Flight” necklace has been added to my shop now.
The next piece is a simple charm necklace, perfect for pairing with jeans. The ceramic gear was made by Karen Totten and the red and cream ceramic charm is my work.
I named this necklace “After Midnight”, because Karen and I are both night owls and you can often find us chatting away on Facebook, well after midnight!
And lastly, I have a super pretty pair of earrings that feature Kristi Bowman’s amazing copper hoops with beautiful caramel colored decorative glass headpins by Sue Kennedy. These two were just made to go together! I made the earwires myself and added a pretty spiral twist to the loop portion.
You can find the “Caramel Drop” earrings in my shop.
Links to all the participants are below. Have fun visiting their blogs and seeing what they have created!
I am always delighted to read your comments! Hope to hear from you.
-Linda
Linda Landig Jewelry
Linda's Bead Blog & Meanderings 
Gorgeous pieces Linda!
Love them all though I admit the Night Flight necklace is my fav and I am not even a fan of owls!
I love all your pieces, the earthy tone of the earrings, the charms and the simplicity of After Midnight and the great owl necklace, I love owls!
What lovely organic looking designs, and such lovely colours
Beautiful earthy designs Linda, I couldn’t pick a favourite!
Hi Linda, You did an outstanding job of perfectly pairing pieces together. I rarely am attracted to brown tones but I love your caramel drop earrings. The owl necklace is my favorite.
Just love that necklace with Lesley’s owl! it has a wonderful natural, almost ‘nutty’ feel to it … those wood beads look like seeds – it is a perfect combination to showcase that focal!
Love everything Linda! Mexico is going good things to your creativity 🙂
Wow all beautiful the earrings are my favourite 🙂 I joined in too here’s mine Christine http://christinesjewellerybox.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/aje-challenge-reveal.html
I added your link, Christine!
These are gorgeous. The combination of color harmony and textural harmony in the own necklace was stunning. The charm necklace looks like something so comfortable, so easy, so go-with-everything that it would become a go-to necklace. The textural harmony in the earrings is so right, so complete, that they, too, would become go-to.
All beautiful items. I especially love how you used both the beads and leather in the first necklace. Wonderful colors.
Though I am always the first one to “love” anything with an owl….that last pair of earrings with the copper hoops is to die for! Love them.
Thanks Lee!
Fantastic pairings! You/Karen! Sue/Kristi! lovely work!
I adore all of them, but the 2nd necklace is begging me to wear it with a t-shirt and jeans. That is totally my style.
I love them all!! Thanks so much for using some of my copper components, Sue’s headpins are such a great match, they made beautiful earrings!!
Adore the woodsy feel of your owl necklace Linda – I love that glaze too. Beautiful earring and a great little casual number in that second necklace.