What have I been working on lately?  An earring extravaganza (and some sea glass pendants)!  I created all these earrings, which will be offered for sale at Lighthouse Bagels in Corolla, NC (Go OBX!)

With earrings, I love to focus on simple, light, easy to wear designs.  Of course, I also like to add some additional visual interest.  I love adding color or sparkle to fun elements such as sea shells or charms.  Beach style should have a sense of fun and/or whimsy. If you ever feel "stuck in a rut" when making earrings, here are my Top 5 suggestions to get you on a new path:

1. Simplify - if you have a beautiful larger focal, such as a charm or pendant for your earrings, let them take center stage. Here, these gorgeous sea shells really shine.  Plus, there are light weight so they're easy to wear. 

2. Don't be afraid to make a statement - Statement earrings are really on trend.  Go bold with your focal and add some length to your earrings to let them sweep down toward the shoulders.  I loved these large lampwork glass starfish.  Adding the aquamarine bead really lets them swing and attract attention.

3. Shine baby shine -  I'm a sparkle girl, so I love crystals of all shapes and sizes.  Sometimes, i just need to add a little extra glitter to an already nice element.  Take these mermaid earrings.  The reversible mermaid charms are really nice.  To make them a little more glamorous, I added some Swarovski flat-back crystals to the mermaid's tail.  Since I wanted to carry on the mysterious feel that mermaids evoke, I dangled the charms from Swarovski vitrail crystals, which flash with a rainbow of colors.

4. Twins can be fraternal -  In other words, don't be afraid to mix and match.  Your earrings do not have to be exactly the same.  Find a common theme or color to bring it all together.  My theme in this example is all about the sea.  I paired a seahorse with a sand dollar.  As you can see they are also different sizes.  No worries, I simply found the right size beads in my color pallet to help even everything out.

5. Going green is gorgeous - I'm big on recycling.  One of my favorite weekend events is hitting the beach for treasure hunts.  I look for anything and everything that I could recycle into cool jewelry.  I'm always fascinated (or disgusted - people leave so much trash on the sand) by what I find.  It's always a treat to find sea glass in any shape, size or color.  Here, these sea glass earrings are wire wrapped in copper and paired with fresh water pearls.  It's organic looking with a lot of warmth. 

So, if you're ever at Ft Fisher beach, NC on the weekend, say hello.  I'm easy to find.  Just look for the lady in the neon pink hat who's carrying some bags and a net.

If you happen to be in the Outer Banks, stop by Light house bagels,  say hello to everyone there, and ask for a french toast bagel (that's my fav!)

Below are some more earring examples to enjoy.

Sometime, the hardest thing for me to do is to take excellent photos.  I struggle to find the right angle, use the right shutter speed, or determine the right light exposure.  I also want to set the right tone for my brand.  But I keep trying.  :-)

Yuri Hardzei is another member of the Lighthouse Bagel family.  (In the OuterBanks of NC? Visit them for some yummy bagels and the best breakfast sammies on the east coast.)  He took some excellent photos of some pieces I offer in the store.  I love the way he brought out the texture and bright green color of my sea glass pendant. 

Visit his website for more examples of his work! 
http://www.yuryhardzeiphotography.com/HOMEPAGE-GALLERIES/COMMERCIAL/

When I was in Arizona, I was like a fish out of water.  But the environment, color palette, and natural wonders were so inspiring, I've been working to capture this in my jewelry.  Tell me what you think!

I spent the last week in Scottsdale, Arizona 'enjoying' the 110 degree weather.  While the hot dry air was not my cup of tea, I did enjoy exploring the area and new sights.  The mountain and desert views provided new inspirations with the green cactus, red earth and bright blue skies. 
Speaking of inspiration, I was able to visit the MIM (Musical instrument museum) The World’s Only Global Musical Instrument Museum.  It houses so many instuments and provides backgrounds and stories about how many of these cultures are influenced in their music.  My favorite place was the experience room where you have the chance to try out many different instruments. 

Visit the MIM website for more details. 
http://mim.org/about/about-mim

I can't wait to take some of my photos and see what inspired my next handmade jewelry project.  

Each week I try to hit the beach.  My favorite activity is trolling the beach for any treasures.  To me, this means shells, sea glass, and any bits and pieces that catch my fancy. 

My favorite spot for a treasure hunt is the 4 wheel drive beach at Ft Fisher.  I find more sea glass and bright shells in this location than any other beach in Wilmington, NC.  

This week, I found some fun things!  Yes, I even found some dinosaurs!  :-)

Meet my newest friends Calvin and Hobbes who I rescued this morning. Hopefully, they'll give me some great inspiration.