Paradise Calling Challenge for We're All Ears

Each month, Erin at Earrings Everyday poses a challenge for the readers. It's called the We're All Ears challenge. This month, she chose "Paradise Calling" as she was about to leave for the Humblebeads Bead Cruise and a paradise of her own. Today's reveal day! 

I suppose each person has their own vision of paradise, but mine has always, always been the beach. It's the water that calls to me - the weightless bliss of floating in it and the rhythmic sound of the waves. I will never get enough. It's lucky that I live so close to Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast. 

And, while our beaches are superb, images from our vacation to Aruba many years ago are what sprung to mind. First and foremost, that crystal clear water was not to be missed.

I wanted to evoke the translucent quality, the blue, and the peacefulness of water with this first pair of earrings. 
I used fairy flowers from Mermaid Glass and lampwork glass spacers from StudioJuls. Silver-tone wire was chosen for its fresh feeling. These pieces were paired with bead caps from Patina Queen

Thinking about vacation and spending time at the beach makes me long for a rum drink or two. While in Aruba, we tried mojitos for the first time. They're definitely one of my favorite beach-side beverages. 
Made of rum, simple syrup, mint, soda water, and lime and served over ice; they are crisp and clean-tasting. I let the colors and feel of a mojito inspire these next earrings.

Green was an obvious choice, though I had a hard time deciding what shade, finally setting on these Czech glass ones to represent the lime and mint. Simple clear faceted glass rondelles were stacked on the top as the simple syrup and soda water. It needed a little something more, so I chose pewter-colored blanks from Vintaj and embossed them with squares to signify the ice. 

While mojitos are wonderfully refreshing, bushwackers are much heavier and more decadent. 
They're also made with rum, but include cream and/or ice cream, coffee liqueur, cream de cacao, coconut milk, and chocolate syrup. These are blended with ice and often served with whipped cream and a cherry. They're like a milkshake, with alcohol.

I used mother of pearl buttons because they're as heavy and creamy as the ingredients blended together. Deep brown glass pearls are silky and remind me of the chocolate. I topped the pearls with little white beads like the whipped cream on top.

Even after a full day at the beach, at the end of the day, I can hardly resist a beach sunset. My phone and camera are full of sunset photos. Here are just a few of them.

But, the one I let guide my inspiration was yet another photo from Aruba.

I really love how the colors just meld together. It's hard to make beads meld, but it was easy enough to stack the colors. 
I used faceted glass beads in orange, yellow, and deep blue to represent the sky of a sunset. Then, I embossed dark Vintaj blanks with a pattern that looks like moving water. 

I have to admit that I made all of these within an hour or two in a very rushed manner. But it was so nice to just think about the beach for a little while. Thanks for that bit of a mini vacation, Erin. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone else interprets this challenge. Make sure to head over to Earrings Everyday and see for yourself. 

13 comments:

  1. Fun earrings all around, Hope! I love that you made a couple of pairs inspired by cocktails... right up my alley! I think my faves are your mojito inspired pair. That's one of my favorite tropical drinks too and I'm a green girl to boot. Love that you textured the metal blanks with ice cubes in mind. And I have to add that your sunset pictures are all so lovely!

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    1. Sarajo, Thank you! For those mojito earrings, I'm not sure what kind of texture I was looking for when I started, but when I saw the little squares, I knew they'd be perfect ice cubes. I'm so glad you agree!! I had to share some of my sunsets, I have so many!! Thanks for appreciating them too.

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  2. Oh! I think I need a Bushwacker or a Mojito now! I had a few fruity frothy drinks on the beach and at poolside, but the best part was the water colors (so many shades of blue!) and the sunsets and clouds. I didn't get to see the sunset enough. I love all the earrings you were inspired to make. Breezy, light, fun and fresh! Thanks for playing along with me! Enjoy the day! Erin

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    1. Erin, I had so much fun with this inspiration. And, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for the inspiration and for taking the time to drop by.

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  3. You have painted a pretty picture of a beach resort with your earrings, Hope. Its fruity, frothy and decadent :D I live about 3-4 kilometres off a beach but hardly visit it for my legs swell up if I play in the waves as I like to do. Probably if our beaches here had settees and bars that offered fruity cocktails, it would be a different case all together.

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  4. My favorites are the blue pair. They are just gorgeous. You are lucky to live by an ocean paradise.

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    1. Kathy, Mine too! I do feel fortunate to live near the Gulf. We definitely don't get down there often enough, but recognize how lucky we are. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

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  5. You were certainly inspired! I love all the earrings you made--and how fun that you explored the other parts of paradise, too. (I definitely need to try a bushwacker at some point!) I always love seeing what you make... thanks for sharing! :)

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  6. Fun earrings...very tropical looking. Really like the first pair as they remind me of the beauty of tropical waters!

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  7. I enjoyed reading about how your designs evolved but the mojito earrings stole my heart with those textured charms, what a wonderful idea! Gorgeous collection of sunset pictures you have :)

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  8. Well done. I love your tropical drink-inspired combos. :)

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    1. Tammy, Thank you! I do love me a good tropical drink by the beach (or a light beer works too, but I didn't think that would interpret well in earrings.) I appreciate you taking the time to come by!

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  9. So much fun Hope! And, btw, wish I were sitting next to you watching those waves ... you have some pretty adventurous (and yummy) drinks! I have been doing Ears to You this weekend, but this year I decided that I would create packages for people I know who are going through Cancer treatment. That is the one thing about the charity I wish we could see - is the face of the person that receives our little gift. I hope my little gift brings some measure of joy to the people I gift them to this year.

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Thanks for stopping by! It means so very much to me. I love to hear what you have to say.

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