Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Earrings Again

Got me another pair of earrings to show you all!  I was missing one thing yesterday or i would have posted these last night.  But no matter.

The main component of today's pair is manufactured by TierraCast.  TierraCast is a company located in Santa Rosa CA that makes very nice quality cast pewter beads, findings, charms and the like.  Because it's California, the product meets the strict "no lead" laws of that state so go ahead and pop them in your mouth like candy.  No, ha ha!  i'm kidding. 

We've carried many of the TierraCast items at the shop for the last five years or so.  I like the details of the castings and the plating wears well.  Check out their website and then check your local bead shop.  The product is worth the slightly higher cost.

Did you know that "turquoise" got its name from a 16th centure French word for "Turkish" as the mineral was first introduced to Europe from Turkey?  But of course it was in use as a decorative stone long long before then.  The Aztecs and the anciet Egyptians used it extensively in inlays for jewelry and other decorative items as did other early civilizations in the Middle East and the Americas.  And it was most often set in gold.  So, inspired by the ancients, i combined the gold plated TierraCast connector with - you've seen them before - little oval turquoise beads. 





The "one thing" i was missing last night was these gold plated bead tip headpins.  These add a nice little finishing touch to a beady dangle.




Supplies:
(2) gold plated 3>1 connectors
(2) turquoise beads
(2) gold plated bead tip headpins
(2) 8mm jump rings
(2) 6mm jump rings
ear wires

Assemble, put on, and channel your inner Cleopatra.  Totally!