We're All Ears :: October :: Plaid

Plaidurday Did you know the first Friday in October is known around the world as Plaidurday?   It is only fitting that plaid is the theme for this October's  We're All Ears Challenge. When I think of plaid, I also think of Tartans.  Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland.  The Scottish started using their tartans in the 1700s as blankets and kilts. Certain clans of Scots would all get their weaving done by the same weavers which is how the patterns became associated with specific clans. It wasn't until the popular fabric crossed the ocean that the terms became synonymous. Both became associated with lumberjacks... and ultimately hipsters.  Hipsters Photo by Thomas AE on Unsplash When I first read about this challenge, I had to do some thinking to come up with an idea for a plaid pair of earrings. I spent about a week thinking up a plan. I originally thought I would use plaid ribbon or paper to cover the top of a wooden disk or bezel. I did something similar with paper disks in an earlier challenge and I wasn't happy with there being a lack of depth, but I loved how light the earrings were.  I thought I would see how I would like lightweight wood disks.   The wood disks that I located were way too large for me to consider using. I then considered using bezels.  I wasn't able to find 2 bezels in my collection that were the right size to accommodate a plaid.  I wasn't able to locate any in local stores that I liked so my thoughts then turned to plaid cookie tins.  Christmas Plaid Tin by Photo by Nonki Azariah on Unsplash Surely, there must be some plaid tins somewhere. If I had the spare time, I would have loved to have taken time to poke through some local thrift shops for plaid tins. I needed just one plaid tin to use with my metal disk punch set.  In the meantime, time is marching on.   I then came up with the perfect plan.  Being sort on creative time this month, I thought that there must be someone who has already done the disk cutting and is selling plaid disks.  I did some searching online and discovered exactly what I was dreaming of.  Perfect except for one thing, the seller was in Ireland.  Being of Irish ancestry, I thought that was really cool and excited for an excuse to buy something from the old country, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't get them in time.  I took a gamble on the postal services and lost.  Ten days for a shipment to make it from Ireland to US is cutting things close even when it isn't holiday time. Plaid Tin Disks by balancedARTandCRAFT  I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to find a plaid tin and cut it into disks and then layer on some copper or silver disks with a rivet to make earrings. The earrings would have Vintaj brass earwires.  I found the perfect plaid tin disks at the shop Balanced Art and Craft in Ireland. They are just perfect and I can't wait to get them.  Tomorrow will probably be the day I get them.   I can't wait to see what others have created in the meantime.