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

Karin Grosset Grange - http://ginkgoetcoquelicot.blogspot.com/

Ann Schroeder - http://beadlove.wordpress.com/

Claire Lockwood - http://www.somethingtodowithyourhands.com/

Toltec Jewels - http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/

The AJE Team

Jen Cameron - http://www.glassaddictions.com/blog

Diana Ptaszynski - http://www.sububangirlstudio.com

Kristen Stevens - http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/

Lesley Watt - http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com/

Jenny Davies-Reazor - http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Francesca Watson - http://francescawatson.com/

Linda Landig - http://www.lindasbeadblog.com/

Melissa Meman - http://melissameman.blogspot.com/

Sue Kennedy - http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com/

Rebekah Payne - http://www.treewingsstudio.com/

Caroline Dewison - http://blueberribeads.blogspot.co.uk/