We're All Ears - June Reveal

It's the third Friday in June... and that means today is the reveal for this month's We're All Ears challenge! Yay! 

The theme for this month's challenge was kaleidoscopes.

Kaleidoscope animation via Wikipedia
found via the Earrings Everyday blog.

I've always loved the shifting colors and patterns of kaleidoscopes. I remember playing with them quite a bit when I was a kid, and finding them fascinating. In fact, as soon as I saw this challenge, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

...Except I didn't start the ball rolling in time to get that pair done by today. Oops! (My polymer clay skills are still being refined, so it's back to the cane-making drawing board. Heh.)

That's all right, though... I had two other back-up ideas, and I think those turned out pretty well. So, without further ado, on to the earrings! :)

Pair 1

This pair features silvertone charms with a symmetrical geometric pattern that makes me think of looking into a kaleidoscope. I also added scrolling swirling beadcaps whose movement echoes that of the charms.

These earrings also feature color-shifting lampwork discs made by Juli Cannon--and I should mention that those beads are some of my absolute favorite. I've been hoarding them like a dragon, waiting for just the right moment... hurray for finding a project to use them in!

I really do love this pair--elegant and refined, reminiscent of kaleidoscopes but not overwhelming. And what can I say... I really do love those beads!

Pair 2

Where the last pair of earrings is elegant and refined, this pair is unapologetically joyful. Amusingly enough, they also feature lampwork discs by Juli Cannon--this time in bright colors.

...Bright colors, that just so happen to match the flowers that hang beneath them.

Those flowers are actually made out of flattened beadcaps. After I flattened them, I colored them with patina inks and then fastened them together with a scrapbooking brad. That's right--those flowers actually turn! I was hoping to capture the shifting and changing patterns that occur when you twist a kaleidoscope, and I was pretty excited when my idea actually worked!

That's not the best video, I realize, but at least it gives you an idea of how they look when spun. :)

So, there you go! Those are the two pairs of kaleidoscope-inspired earrings that I made for this challenge. If I'm able to get my original idea to work--the one with the polymer clay--I'm sure I'll post those as well... Still, I'm very happy with the two pairs that I was able to create. :)

Thank you so much to Erin Prais-Hintz and those over at Earrings Everyday for letting me play along... and thank you, readers, for stopping by today to see what I made!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!