“I’m not a nature freak, You’re a nature freak!” Is there someone on your holiday gift list that fits this description? This summer I delved into making my own cabochons when supplies of gemstones tanked due to tariffs, and prices became unusually high. Just a little truth telling about me: I try hard to keep my prices affordable, and I’m never going to lean into high prices for snob appeal. I want my art to be affordable and accessible for everyone! But out of challenges comes innovation so I decided to create my own cabochons which turned into a big blessing in disguise! I had a ridiculous amount of fun gathering tiny flowers, bits of lichens and mosses, sumac berries, river oats and more to dry and preserve in resin. The resulting forms, I set in silver handmade sterling settings like I always do, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. So being in nature, searching for suitable floral and plant forms, and mastering cabochon making helped me keep my sanity through some challenges, and I ended up with an even greater appreciation of the abundant beauty right under my feet. I hope these earrings will carry a little of that positivity to the recipient, and that they will treasure the gifts of nature on a daily basis. The earwires are lever backs, which many of us like to help prevent loss while playing outdoors. Special Note: The little flowers on the bottoms were my overwinter 2024 project. I made the flower form over and over and over until I had a design I was happy with and got them cast in silver by a friend in Rhode Island. That keeps the flower segment in the real world price wise: IE affordable in terms of labor enabling me to offer components in my work that I made myself. Length : 2 3/4” (Longish)
