Art Jewelry Elements - Art Headpin Challenge

 

https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden

August's Art Jewelry Elements Challenge is a headpin challenge. This is an opportunity to use art headpins. What is an art headpin? It's a headpin that is handcrafted by an artisan, has been manipulated in a manner that is more than just a ball end, and has the potential to be the centerpiece of a creation rather than just playing a supporting roll.

Acorn Headpins by BayMoonDesign

I saw this as an opportunity to use some acorn headpins that I made in a design. I followed the directions in Beautiful Elements by Heather Powers to create some acorn polymer clay headpins. I made a number of these polymer clay acorn headpins. I mixed my own version of the acorn color. I didn't have the Spanish moss that Heather recommended but I had an emerald green color and yellowish green. I added bronze PearlEx that I had on hand for the caps of the acorn.

Wrapped the dark annealed steel wire 

When making the polymer clay into headpins I used dark annealed steel wire. I formed the wire into a circle and added some Czech crystal flowers to them.

Acorn Earrings by BayMoonDesign

They are suspended from handmade sterling silver ear wires that I created. These are striking chartreuse green earrings with a rustic woodland look to them. I decided to sell some of the headpins in my shop as well as the pair of acorn earrings.

https://unsplash.com/@kevinjyoung

I love acorns.  They are pretty works of art by Mother Nature and found on Oak trees.  When I go on hikes, I like to look for acorns and bring them home and sit them on my crafting table for inspiration. 

https://unsplash.com/@joannakosinska

Acorns are also a source of nutrition for wildlife and people. In the popular, television series The Walking Dead, they are used in a cookie recipe.  After all, while out hunting walkers they have the time and opportunity to scavenge acorns. Here is Carol’s official cookie recipe for a batch of Carol’s Beet and Acorn cookies:

ingredients:
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1/2 cup acorn flour
-2 Tablespoons arrowroot powder
-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
-1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-1/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-1/4 cup shortening
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1/4 white sugar
-1/4 cup beets, pureed
-1/4 cup water chestnuts, pureed
-1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted
-1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prep baking sheets with parchment.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, acorn flour, arrowroot powder, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, stir together the shortening, brown sugar, sugar and beets.

Add the pureed water chestnuts, pureed beets, melted chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until combined.

When the dough forms, roll into golf-ball sized balls of dough, press flat and place two-inches apart on the prepped cookie sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on your oven. Let cool on a wire rack.

Personally, I find some of the ingredients off putting, like the beets and water chestnuts. Would you give these cookies a try? I would rather make jewelry than cookies anyway.  Lot less calories and more fun!

I can't wait to see what everyone else used and created in this challenge. Please stop by and visit the following participants.  We love to hear your comments.

Guests:

Alison Herrington

Renetha Stanziano

Karin Grosset Grange

Gloria Allen

Deb Fortin

Cate van Alphen

Mona Arnott

Shai Williams

Sarajo Wentling

Kathy Lindemer (here)

Solange Collin

Brooke Bock

Melissa Meman

Patricia Handschuh

Tammy Adams

Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison

Lesley Watt

Cathy Mendola

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Laney Mead

Diana Ptaszynski

Lindsay Starr

Niky Sayers