Aug 31, 2014

Art Jewelry Elements Guest Artist Reveal Featuring Leather Feathers by Tree Wings Studio


I'm the Luckiest Lady in the World! 

As a regular reader of Art Jewelry Elements, I am always inspired by the fabulous Component of the Month Design Challenges.  Last month, I had the complete honor & thrill of getting to participate as a guest artist with Francesca Watson and her gorgeous glass cabochons. After creating and posting, I promptly had to have emergency surgery as I'd become very ill. I didn't have a chance to properly thank Francesca or hop all the artists' blogs, so as I offer my apologies, please know my gratitude is great! Getting to create with artists and teachers I have long admired is for me a dream come true and a wonderful challenge.

 When I saw Rebekah Payne of TREE WINGS STUDIO feature her leather feathers as the AJE August component of the Month, I ran to put a pair in my Etsy cart, even before winners were announced, because I had held the magnificent handpainted leather feathers in my hands already and knew how gorgeous they are! I had sent along a pair to my BSBP8 partner, the talented and lovely Bobbie Rafferty of BeadSong Jewelry, to create with and enjoy: 


I shared my BSBP8 story with Rebekah, and asked if AJE allowed readers to purchase components for challenges. After asking Jennifer Cameron (the fabulous creator & editor of AJE), Rebekah shared the good news that I could join her challenge! So, here I am, the fourth guest artist, giddy and excited! 

TREE WINGS STUDIO & BLU MUDD



As part of a design team of artists who participate in quarterly challenges using ceramic components by Moriah Betterley of Blu Mudd, I decided to coordinate my Tree Wings Studio leather feathers with the burgundy & amber autumn ceramics I received for the upcoming September challenge. I chose rich, spicy orange spotted style feathers from the wonderful varieties of leather feathers Rebekah offers at her shop. 




I LOVE these leather feathers! Soft and exquisitely detailed, Rebekah actually creates the design with a wood burning tool and handpaints the suede in acrylics. Working from the energizing pattern of the feathers and the autumnal feel of the Blu Mudd ceramics, I added Czech beads in deep orange with a blue Picasso finish, and topped the ceramic leaf beads with mystic topaz gems, hanging both from delicate Vintaj chain for movement. 

 The gorgeous ribbed lampwork beads, created by Nicole Weltch of NicNac Beads, seemed to be made for the feathers! And so I repeated the touches of copper from the triple balled headpins by hugging the glass treasures with rustic copper spacers, ceramic discs by NaOs Glass, and Swarovski crystals in Volcano -- crystals a friend surprised me with as a gift this week. And although I usually create earwires, I decided on the fine gold-filled leverbacks to accent the beautiful touches of gold in Rebekah's painting.

I entered the earrings in the Blu Mudd "Acorns & Leaves" Design Challenge.
 If you like them, please vote by clicking here for the Blu Mudd page to LIKE my jewelry designs.
You can LIKE as many entries as you wish :) 

Gracias for allowing me to create today. 
I am filled with happiness for my new earrings and am excited about autumn.
Enjoy all the AJE August Tree Wings Studio reveals! 


AJE August Component of the Month Participants

Guest Artists

The AJE Team
Jenny Davies-Reazor - http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Francesca Watson - http://francescawatson.com/





19 comments:

  1. gorgeous , love the mix of leather and ceramic. very fall-like.

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  2. They're stunning Rita! Glad you played along!

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  3. WOW, Rita these are Gorgeous!!!! I love the richness of the colors you paired with your feathers and the design is spot on. I love these!

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  4. So pretty! They have a bohemian feel, but are very elegant at the same time. I love how you incorporated so many different art beads.

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  5. I'm so glad you got to join in so we could see your beautiful earrings! I love these colors; they are my some of my absolute favorites. You've combined beautiful beads with the feathers in such a pleasing way. And I thought I was the luckiest person in the world! :)

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  6. Your earrings are gorgeous I love how you brought together all the beautiful colors in your different components. I hope that you are feeling much better.
    Therese

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  7. Wow, your earrings are amazing! The colors you chose are gorgeous and your design is so cheerful! I love them!

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  8. Rita, your earrings are amazing! I love how you pulled all the colors from Rebekah's feathers! I saw you were il tool, hope you are getting better! Thanks for playing along with AJE!

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  9. I love how you have combined the leather feathers with your beads. The colors flow seamlessly into one another and the form is perfect

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  10. I love the rustic boho look Rita (as you know!) and these are just wonderful!

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  11. The colors are so rich and you have combined so many beautiful beads to create something so rich and a delight for the eyes (and ears).

    Thank you for participating in the design challenge (again!) and for reading AJE!

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  12. I love autumn colors and I chose the same feathers as you did! I love the beads you paired with the feather. The earrings are just luscious. Sorry you have been sick and hoping that things are looking up now.

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  13. I saw the photo on FB but had to drop by your blog to read all about it and see it up-close. The earrings are so stunning! Everything is just perfect! Congrats!

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  14. ☼ Warm and rich ☼ colours like a an open fire... Love them!

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  15. I'm so very happy that you jumped in and joined me in this challenge, Rita! You have captured my heart with your autumn earrings—they are stunning! What a fantastic idea to use the feathers as a "backdrop"—I've never thought of using them that way. I'm sure the movement is just lovely. The little leaves of the Blu Mudd beads and the sparkle of the czech glass—perfect! And oh! I just love how the lampwork beads pick up all the colors of the feathers. Such beauties—you have made my feathers sing in your earrings! Thank you again for joining me in this challenge!

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  16. Truly a work of art - I cannot believe how all the components combined so perfectly! But I have to tell you - though I believe your jewelry pictures are always "spot on" - the image of these earrings in your photo is simply breathtaking!

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  17. So autumnal! Lovely! We always welcome more people to play along - glad you joined us!

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  18. Girl!!!!!! Gorgeousness abounds when you play with beads. I am blessed to be able to follow your creative process!

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  19. Perfect earrings for the approaching season Rita - love them!

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Gracias for your comments and for visiting! I appreciate every word :)
Namaste --
Rita