That's a Wrap!

I just finished creating tags for the January shipment of my earrings-of-the-month creations...well, for current members. I do have three new members - thanks to a generous Christmas elf who doesn't like her friends and family to have naked lobes! - whose style and length preferences I don't yet know. So, those will go out next week.

But this month wraps the first 12 months of this venture, EcoChic Designs' Earrings-of-the-Month club. I've had a lot of fun and look forward to another years of inspired earrings for my members.

January's Pieces are inspired by the pomegranate...

"Ardent for Arils"

Originally from Persia, the pomegranate is one of the oldest cultivated fruits. Ancient Romans used the skins in the process of tanning leather. Perhaps due to the fruit's princely blossom crown, it has gained distinction as a royal fruit. Chaucer, Shakespeare and Homer have all extolled the virtues of the pomegranate in literature. The Moors brought the seedy fruit to Spain where Granada was named for it. The first pomegranate was planted in Britain by King Henry VIII. It reached our shores by way of the Spanish conquistadors.

The deep red color of the pomegranate arils gave rise to the naming of the garnet gemstone, January’s birthstone. So, for this month, garnets galore are handwired with sterling silver and hang from handmade, hammered sterling ear wires.

Photos of the pieces to come....