Saturday 7 April 2012

Gardanne Headpin Hop


When Lorelei announced another blog hop giveaway on the back of her Pinwheel hop, I was thrilled to read that she was opening this one up to readers beyond the US. Hurrah, I thought, typing my comment, not really thinking that this would mean I would get selected. Imagine how chuffed I was when I got an email a day or so later, saying I had been selected! Thanks Lorelei and random.org :-)I am a big fan of Gardanne Beads, and I was excited to see which headpins I was sent from the pretty selection on offer. 










Hmmm, I thought to myself, I'll be happy with any of them, but those brown round ones on the right would definitely be the biggest challenge to me.....





Guess what turned up in the post a week later?! ;-)





And do you know what, I'm actually really glad that those were the ones that were sent. They definitely challenged me - not least because the headpins were glass at one end and ball ended at the other. So without cutting the ends off, nothing else was going onto the headpins. And I really liked those little copper ends to them as well, so I was keen to keep them there if possible. 





Here's what I came up with...








I was so determined not to make earrings....I started off making a bracelet, but these glassy lovelies just wanted to fulfil their earring destiny. However, I was still determined to think outside the box as much as I could, so I twisted the headpins into little tendrils, hanging down to the side of each glass disc. 







I recently order some beads from Pip, and thought that these polymer rounds looked great with the headpins; the detail picked out in them being the perfect shade of brown. As I am a little bit obsessed with Jo's poppies at the moment, I added a couple above the rounds, and topped these off with tiny copper bicones.{Don't forget, Jo's having a sale until the end of May! Coupon code ABS15} I am running remarkably low on ear wires, but these cool little hoops from Fallen Angel Brass were just the right size, and I decorated them as you can see, with a few copper rounds. 










So, I'm really pretty pleased all in all. Earrings, but unlike any earring I've ever designed before, these are just a little different. And although they could have been a little heavy, adding to the glass headpins with polymer kept them light and wearable. 





Can't wait to see what everyone else came up with! Hope over to Lorelei's blog for the list of others participating. Thanks Lorelei!


23 comments:

Lesley said...

Those are some really cool and funky earrings you have there Rebecca, very imaginative and I love the pairing with Pips beads. Those won't be the only tendrils you'll be seeing on this hop either! :0)

Clayworks by Lisa Boucher said...

Very cool earrings - Nice work. I like how you saved the ends and incorporated them into the design.

Gardanne said...

Hi Rebecca, I am so glad you were one of the selected participants. I love what you did, I do like that green and amber combination.

elisabeth said...

Love the earrings - the are so beautiful and interesting!

Jo said...

I love your earrings! A great idea to hang them from hoops too, that made them even more beautifully unusual. And more poppies are on their way to you!!

Malin de Koning said...

Marvellous! Awesome! Beautiful! Unique and different! So so nice! I love what you have done. Every detail about these earrings is perfect. Pip's and Joanne's beads are perfect complements. I placed an order with Joanne only last week, why didn't I put those in there? The earring hooks are super cool. Did you make them yourself, or else, where did you get them if I may ask?

It'd be great to see them being worn. I'm very inspired now. :-)

Linda Younkman said...

Beautiful. Cool earrings. Very unique.

Alice said...

Like you, I wanted to make something other than earrings, but somehow I produced earrings anyway.

I just love all the different elements you used. Though they are all different, they work so well together. I love these earrings!

Patti Vanderbloemen said...

Very cool earrings! Love how you decorated the ear wires "just enough"...and your color combination is wonderful!

re-maker said...

Simply delicious!
I love the colors and components you chose to show off the beautiful amber glass headpins!

Unknown said...

A party on your ears!! Mardi Gras jumped into my mind when I looked at your beautiful earrings!! I love what you did with the headpins and the elements you added to compliment them. You did a smashing job!!!

Therese's Treasures said...

Hi Rebecca,
Those are very cool looking earrings I love how you used the glass headpins and paired them with Pippa's beautiful clay beads and Jo's awesome copper daisies.
Therese

Anonymous said...

Green and amber - what a neat color combo! I am a big fan of copper, and I love what you did with these earrings!

Tanya said...

Those are just lovely. The colors work so well together and I love the earwires. Wonderful job!

Lilik Kristiani said...

So imaginative =)

TesoriTrovati said...

That really is unlike anything I have seen from you! I love it! The mix of textures and colors. The ear wires are very intriguing to me as well. Beautiful interpretation Miss Rebecca!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Baking Beads in the Keys said...

Just love all the elements you combined and the result - perfection!!! I would wear these in a heartbeat.

Lisa Cone - Inspired Adornments said...

Very fun earrings! They are very architectural and eclectic. I love them!

Marianna said...

They are fantastic! I'm in love with the curly cue balled end bits and the color combo you chose!

My Life Under the Bus said...

GORGEOUS!!! Genius girl! I love those poppies too these are really a great marriage of organic and flowery! I hope you had a great Easter Rebecca : )

Pips said...

What beautiful earrings! I love your design and the colour combination. So thrilled to see my beads in such a fantastic design, this has made my day! Thank you!

I LOVE color! said...

Totally creative and beautiful. You could defiantly wear those to the BALL. Be blessed to be a blessing.

Jettabug said...

Loves these earrings! I love using lampwork headpins and have never thought to use them as tendrils. Very inspiring!!

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