Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Another Day, Another Challenge Entry - Rock Goddess Studded Faux Tooled Leather Earrings for Vintaj's January "Rock n Roll" Challenge



I am going to try hard this year to enter as many challenges as I can.   They almost always inspire me to push my limits and I usually end up taking myself in a new direction as a result.  

Vintaj Natural Brass Company's January challenge theme is "Rock n Roll," and I really struggled with it.  The light bulb didn't go off over the old head for several hours after I started working this morning.  I didn't like anything I did, and I think it was because I had decided to use Vintaj's black finished Arte Metal components.  First, I haven't used the AM pieces a whole lot, and second, there aren't a whole lot of them to use.  The selection is not nearly as big as with the antique brass finished pieces; but I gave it a shot because I thought the black finish lends itself better to the theme for some reason. 

From all that angst came a really great looking pair of earrings, if I do say so myself.  The photo does not do these justice.  They are a gorgeous red and the color really pops.  I am going to give these to my niece.  I am calling them "Rock Goddess Studded Faux Tooled Leather Earrings," in honor of my 3 favorite rock goddesses:  Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar.  Yeah, I'm dating myself, but those ladies, and the sisters of Heart, got me through high school and my 20s!   So here's to you, ladies.  Thanks for the music!

I took a pair of Arte Metal Mythical Wings, manipulated the shape with bail-making pliers, and painted them with cherry red nail polish.   After the polish dried, I removed most of it so the black finish came through, and applied 4 coats of Renaissance Wax.   I added dark oxidized sterling silver earring findings, Swarovski black onyx crystals, and gunmetal ball studs.

So what do you think?  Do these earrings inspire you to get out the karioke machine and wail away to I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL, SO PUT ANOTHER DIME IN THE JUKEBOX, BABY!  

6 comments:

Bonnie Kreger at B-LEE KREATIONS said...

Those are stunning.

I can see those on you with your dark hair at the captains table on a cruise ship. Tee hee hee

lucia said...

FAB.YOU.LUST!!!!!!OMG! I don't even like this style and I'd wear these everywhere!!!!! I'm tellin' ya now, they'd better roll with these babies!xo lucia

Laurel said...

"....so come and take some time and dance with ME! ME! ME, yeah, ME!" Love Joan Jett.
And love the earrings! Rock on!

Lupe Meter said...

These earrings Rock!! Awesome work as usual.

m.e. said...

I would not be surprised to see these on stage ,in concert on any number of famous ears!
You go girl !
These really do ROCK!!!
m.e. :D

Diva Designs Jewelry said...

Thank you so much, my friends!

A huge thank you to M.E. for blogging about these today at www.beetreebyme.blogspot.com! I really struggled with these, and it is very gratifying, and encouraging, to hear they are so well-received, but still "me."

You ladies are the best!