This is a fairly simple but technically quite challenging pair of cloisonne earrings, featuring a hard-to-source discontinued enamel color for the petals, and the tricky but beautiful opalescent enamel in the background.  As you move, the opalescent enamel will shimmer like (duh!) an opal.  Because of the labor intensive nature of cloisonne, these enamels will be slightly more expensive than others--and so they come fitted with leverback earwires for additional security.  These earrings are the perfect weight--not too heavy for your earlobes, but significant enough to swing and feel great in the ears!

This is one of those pieces that just really has the wow factor!  I carefully blended several shades of purple enamel into each individual cell and then I used fancy bezel wire to add to the luxe feel.  In keeping with my new desire to use more gems, I added a fabulously translucent amethyst cabochon, along with a casting of a tiny succulent flower.  I added the bail, and darkly oxidized the whole piece, before photographing it and adding it to my social media accounts.  That very same evening, it was claimed by it's new owner, and I get to mail it off through our isolated world today.  I sure hope it brings a bunch of joy with it!

For some time now, I've been wanting to expand my use of gemstones.  Not just because they are luscious, and I want to touch them and choose them, and just generally love them, but because I feel like the luminous colors of enamels and gemstones just sing to each other!  Up until now, I have tended to add small gems, but not bigger stones.

But when I completed this lovely green bird enamel, I decided that this translucent green faceted tourmaline was just the perfect match for the spring-like vibe of the enamel.  Just to add to the overall look, I perched the stone on a piece of twig cast in sterling silver.
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Definitely look for more and bigger gemstones to appear in my work!