Wings to fly...

My last wings for some time due to different reasons. First and foremost: I used my last material. I still have some butterflies to finish but nothing to create new ones. Second: Rumpel and I will finally go to have some holiday!

Third: They look so small but actually they are a lot of work to make, a lot of steps to do.

These ones I made because I was asked very nicely (and she already had some of my wings :)). Also she had a lot of patience! She waited several weeks for me to finish them!

Still, seeing them before me, I have to say, I just love them! 

This time I went for a deeper etching and I changed again back to only a black patina. This creates a harder contrast (especially with the brass ones). I can't tell what kind I prefer, the more greenish imperfect organic look or this clean stark contrast. Maybe this will always depend about how I would use them :)

They will be on their way later today and I will see whether I may get some new material when I am back from holiday and also whether I may find some more motivation to make them. I need to change what I am doing quite often, otherwise I get bored ^^

Dragon blood - Dark dragonfly earrings

"You know, there is a reason why dragonflies are named after dragons. 

A simple drop of dragon blood hold magical powers. The moment it falls it crystallizes, becoming a beautiful jewel. More rich and deep in colour than anything else. If you look deep inside you can see it glowing and maybe, if you are lucky, even feel the steady heart bead of the majestic creature. 

Because no piece of a dragon ever loses its connection. The blood of the heart will always be part wherever it may be. And through the blood comes the magic, the power. A drop of blood can never be forced. It has to be given: For a tale or a task, for boldness or love.

It was and is always the magic of the dragon that speaks to the dragonflies. It whispers to them, calls them. Wherever the dragons go, they follow. Wherever dragons fly, you will find them. 

And deep down, everyone knows it. Because if a dragonfly comes close to you, the world is shifting. You hold your breath, try to hold onto the moment at the same time. Just to see behind the curtain into the beauty of the world a little bit longer."

(You may also find them here :) )

"Black wings" - Earrings

Sweet little dangling earrings, I am trying my best to create earrings that are me but may also be a little bit smaller. In the last time I tend to make really long earrings. I love that and also wear really long earrings but they are not for all. So here we go with little black butterflies!

The butterflies dragonflies (somehow I got stuck on butterflies, sorry for that ;)) are brass stamping that I oxidised with liver of sulphur (yes, it is tricky, but I got the trick now... in about 50% of my tries ;)). The ear wires are made from oxidised copper ball pins I made.

The tiny lampwork beads just add a touch of colour: Dark and still bright red! They are made by Michelle Bryant.

They are sweet and still dark and a little bit rustic and... sweet! Okay, it is early in the morning, still drinking my first coffee and in my head it makes "awww...." seeing them, so I just keep repeating myself because nothing more intelligent comes out of my neurons right now ^^

I still have to think about a surprise for my first shop customer (there has to be one that is for sure!). I also added these black butterflies dragon flies to my new etsy shop here. 

Dragon flies, new shapes, challenges and bead mojo!

On earrings everyday they started a monthly earring challenge. They show you an inspirational image and the goal is (like the name of the blog already indicates ^^) to create earrings!

Here are mine. I went for structures, shapes and colours. Can you find all the matching details? ;)

The orange glass beads are old recycled ones I found in a second hand shop here in leipzig. They have some bowls with parts of broken jewelery inside. Yes, I nearly took all glass beads they had. Some of them are a little bit worn or old pressed glas but I love to work with something that already has a history. And hey, the orange is striking!

And then I added czech glass beads (the small green and big blue ones with picasso finish), some cotton thread, metal beads and the small blue beads are swarowski wax beads. 

I never ever worked with this shape before so thanks for the inspiration! :)

The inspirational image!

And just to add a little bit more interactions... This is also my part for Heather`s Jewelry Making Mojo Challenge.

The challenge of week 1 was: Take part in a challenge! 

Your Assignment: 
Pick a contest or challenge, make something or start something! Blog about it or share your entry on the Facebook group. 

Done :)

Dragonfly - to hold my cards...

Of course, a dragonfly... I needed one too. This one I made to let it sit on top of my business cards while I am at a faire. So if there is a little bit of wind, they won't fly away. Uhm... yes... I already had to run after some blown away cards... ^^

Like little tiles for your ear!

This dragon fly over script is one of my favorite images at the moment! I made it with gimp (freeware). I really like this program to create layers of images! 

Of course more of the gorgeous nepal horse images!

And a little frog over a dark textures background...

You see: I use old card board to store my earrings!

Also some little frogs over script... and some ship wrapping octopus ^^

If you want some of the images: You can find them at bibliodysee! There the original sources are all also linked, love it! :)

And now another one of my favorites:

The pattern... the colours... arn't they great?!

And they are all to be found at the Galerie Sued in Leipzig! 

(Of course you can mail me if you want some too and can't come to Leipzig ^^)

CQJP 2012 - June

And here is the block for june! Yes, also finished before the block for april. But that one is the next item on my list (okay... but I have a lot of lists to be honest... like the list for work... for my thesis... you know, all more important than the craftin / sewing list...). 

Also part of the crazy quilt journal project 2012 (CQJP 2012). 

This time I appliqued felt (or rather walkloden but there is no english word for it) to create a three dimensonal structure like the dragon fly here. And I think I love the squirls! I need more of them, everywhere! Would look great on a dress or skirt...

And strage as it is: The colours are not mine... but I love them! ^^

For a boy... for a girl... and one for a friend...

This stamps I made for a friend. He wanted some stamps for his niece and nephew for christmas. For her everything connected to ballet and a princess... and for him all the things connected to farming. So here we go...! 

(the background of the ballet shoes I stamped with textured wall papers!)

Of course a farmhouse...

...and ballett shoes...!

...a dancer...

...and a crown...

...next to a John Deere...

(Yes, this is for the same boy who got this T-shirts!)

You see, the dancer can stay on her tiptoe...

...either with her hand going up or just dancing in a round...

...the stamps for the niece...

...and the ones chared...

...every farmhouse needs a little fence...

...and a tree...!

...and someone has to wake every one up in the morning...

...a tiny tractor stamp...

...all of the stamps can be combined...

...looks nicer with a cloud at the sky...

...a horse is liked by both!

...the measurement is in cm, so you can get an impresson how big (or rather small) the stamps are...

All of them together in one box... 

...yes, some of the stamps are really big ones!

This time my hand for some kind of size measurment ^^

The last stamp I show you was not for one of the kids but a friend if mine. 

You see the surface? This is not an effect I created by controlled carving... but by just cutting over the same space again and again! Love the effect, sometimes the best is not to be too controlled...