Sunday, August 30, 2009

My newest design + a fun display idea.

I've mentioned my tendency to be completely obsessive in some of my other posts, and as you can imagine, those obsessions spill over into my work. I think it's safe to say that I'm obsessed with coffee. Upon taking a whiff of a freshly-opened bag of gourmet coffee, I can't stop myself from saying "Mmmmmm" and immediately brewing a pot. I even find myself relating to other people based solely on the fact that they too enjoy coffee, as if I warm up to them more easily just by having a hot drink in my hand.

So naturally, I decided that I wanted to pay tribute to my favorite caffeinated beverage in the jewelry I make. It started with beads. My goal was to make beads that looked exactly like coffee beans, so I took out my dark brown polymer clay and worked with it to the best of my ability to make them look realistic. Once they were completed, I paired them with some vintage beads and made them into a bracelet. I call it the coffee and cream bracelet.



But then I thought of something new that I wanted to do with these beads. I realized how cute it would be to have little coffee beans dangling from your ears, so I made more beads and turned them into earrings.



A nifty idea came to me right as I was jotting down the coffee bean earrings into my little craft journal (where I keep all my top-secret thoughts and plans to take over the world). I thought it would be so cute to incorporate these into my craft show setup by displaying them on coffee mugs. Was I planning on using my most boring, bland cups? Heck no! I intended to hang them from the rims of the most funky vintage cups in my collection. After I finished bringing the earrings to life, I put them on the cups just to see how I liked it.



It definitely passes my test, but I want to know what you think. Are the patterns on the cups too busy? I just love these particular coffee cups so much that I may be biased. If you were walking past my booth and you saw a bunch of bright, funky coffee mugs with earrings hanging on them, would it make you want to come and take a closer look?



If you live near Tulsa, you can come see them for yourself, because I'll be set up at the South Tulsa Music Festival this Saturday!



You can find me and some of my crafty partners in crime at the Tulsa Craft Mafia booth. Two of my very talented friends, Heather from Audrey Eclectic and Holly from Sweetheartville, will be sharing a space there too, so come by and say hello if you live nearby!

I'm hoping the weather will be perfect, with beautiful blue skies and a slight breeze, just like what we've been having lately.



I'm really excited! This is my first craft show since the Blue Dome Arts Festival in early spring. It's going to be a busy but fun week. What are you looking forward to?

25 comments:

Rheea said...

I'm craving for coffee now!!! I always like to add some milo powder into my coffee so it tastes like mocha. If I were to make a bracelet like yours, it would be called 'coffee and milo'. haha.

Yes, I think would prefer a mug with simpler design so that the earrings can stand out. But that's just me. Follow what your instinct tells you. :)

Good luck on sat! Pls bring back lots of photos for us.

Rheea

audreyscountrycrafts said...

My coffee pot just finished! I'm off to get a cup and make breakfast!! Would you be interested in selling just a couple of the coffee beads? Or making me a pair of earring with gold findings?
The cups are a bit busy for displaying the earrings, distract a bit. But the are great cups!!

velvetwoods said...

I'm not having coffee right now as I'm off to beddy soon,so I'm having a hot choc mint,yummmy.
love the earrings and the bracelet,what an awesome idea....
You could sell them in a little bag full of real beans too ! the smell of coffee beans is so lovely.
Now your mugs are fantastic my fav kind of mugs,I have a few mugs similar to yours but I think your earrings got lost in all that funky patterns.Something a little less busy but still groovy would be perfect.
have a great day on sat.

xoxox

Briana Shepley said...

I think the cups will work great! Are you thinking of having them at different heights? And I agree with Rheea - the earrings aren't crazy busy so having them on a busy cup will work perfectly :) And I love the coffee bean beads! You are so much fun! Afraid to say I'm not the coffee drinker in our household but I do enjoy my hot tea every morning!

I think the mister and I may come out to the show on Saturday! Wonder if it's beast friendly....

Brigid said...

The coffee beans are so fun! I like the mugs, but I would experiment with some that are a little less busy to see what you think. I'll see you tomorrow, ma'am!

Wasted Wishes said...

Oh, those are cute! My first thought was "Where on earth did she find coffee bean beads!?" But that you made them is infinitely cooler.

cabin + cub said...

oooh super cute! all this talk about coffee is really giving me a craving now.....mmmmm..... a nice mocha with some chocolate shavings on top would be nice...

Ink Obsession Designs said...

I am so craving coffee again now! Those are so freaking adorable! :)

Heather said...

ah! these are too cute! I love coffee too. Im on the search for a good decaf...still a'searchin.... ;)

See you this weekend! Im trying to get lots of painting done....

KnockKnocking said...

I love those coffee beans, too cute! And your way of displaying them is just perfect. You rock Holly! xoxo Agnes

Renee said...

The coffee mug idea is great! The colors are great attention grabbers, so those little beans will definitely attract the eye! If you got really ambitious, you could drill holes in the bottoms of the cups and put a metal rod through it to make a stand!

Good thinkin creative lady! Hope to see you soon!

Anonymous said...

those are fabulous. I am a avid coffee drinker and think one would definitely be drawn to take a closer look with how you have them wonderfully displayed with the coffee cups. How creative you are! good luck with the show!

lollywood said...

those cups are perfect for displaying your earrings! since they are mainly brown, the bright colors of the cup really work well together instead of clashing. :) good luck this weekend and lets hope many coffee lovers pick up a set of your new jewelry!

NUISHU said...

i really like your blog, good finding :)

Pili said...

I love both the coffee earrings and specially the bracelet!!

The mugs are awesome, but maybe a wee bit busy... just make sure the mug colours help bring out the coffee colours of the earrings!

alexkeller said...

the coffee beans are great! but i would try less pattern on the mug. i've tried doing photos on patterned ceramics and even just glass, and the jewelry gets lost.

Outlaws and Gypsies said...

I can't drink coffee but LOOOOVE the scent of it. The bracelet and earrings are sending me to my coffee pot right now. Soon the amazing aroma will fill my house. I especially love the scent this time of year.

Robin Thomas said...

I knewI liked you, I look forward to my morning coffee when I go to bed at night!

The jewelry is a great idea!

kiddomerriweather said...

Awesomely awesome!

Caitlin said...

so so cool!!

babalisme said...

I'm looking forward for my Baby's first birthday party!! Also, my second nephew was born on the same day as my baby, 1 year exactly apart!

Brilliant Farmgirl's Beauty Secrets™ said...

Oh I wish I can go visit your booth at the music fest :D

Farmgirl

devonrose said...

YES!!! I NEED coffee FIRST thing EVERY morning..the necklace and earrings are the perfect tribute:)
xx

Anonymous said...

Those earrings are TOO cute! And I love the mugs too! They express your style so well, colorful and fun.

And I'm totally jealous that you're at a music festival today... we were supposed to go to one here today too, but we woke up to rain... *sigh*

it's okay though, I've been sipping coffee *giggles* and catching up on some reading... hehee.

Amy Perrotti said...

Love the coffee bean bracelet and earrings!! Now if there was only a way to make them smell like really good aromatic coffee. . . ;)
Sorry, I haven't commented in soooo long. Haven't had a moment it seems in months. Thank you for my earlier mention too. YOU make me smile!