It’s reveal day for Lisa Lodge‘s latest blog hop, the Clay and Metal Blog Hop. This time, she’s chosen to send all of the participants something from Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, who works with both polymer clay and metal (hence the name!), with each of us receiving either one or the other, plus some coordinating beads. Sharyl has recently opened a new store online to focus on her polymer clay and metal components, called Metapolies. You can find it in two places, Etsy and Artisan Component Marketplace, a fantastic new online market for beautiful components (stay tuned, as I have plans to write more about this site soon!).
These are the polymer clay charms I received, a pair of long rectangular matchstick-shaped charms that are the colour of nougat, with soft purple stripes across them. I do like the asymmetry of them, enhanced by the purple stripes that continue across both matchsticks. I also received some clear faceted crystal rondelles, but in the end I didn’t use them as to me they didn’t really go well with the organic shades of the matchsticks.
Because they are made of polymer clay, and therefore so light, I decided to make earrings with the matchsticks. I softened them further using a Czech glass table cut flower, and used waxed linen to tie the two components together and then to the Vintaj brass earwires.
Thank you Lisa for sending me this challenging pair of charms, and thank you Sharyl too! And as this is a blog hop, here is the list of participants. Please pop over and have a look at their blog posts!
Your hostess: Lisa Lodge, A Grateful Artist
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes <– YOU ARE HERE!
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It’s a Beadiful Creation
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn’s Creations
Shaiha Williams, Shaiha’s Ramblings
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends
Heather Richter, Desert Jewelry Designs
Marybeth Rich, A Few Words from within the Pines
Kim Dworak, Cianci Blue
Karen Grosset Grange, Ginkgo et Coquelicot
Ann Schroeder, Bead Love
Lisa Prewitt Knappenberger, LiRaysa Designs
Carol Briody, A Beads Life
Miranda Ackerley, MirandAck
Kari Asbury, Hippie Chick Design
Susan Anderson, La Main Tresor
LeAnne Loftus, First Impression Design
Leithleach Seodra, Alainn Jewelry
beadrecipes 
Those matchstick beads are beautiful! I love the earrings you made – the flowers are perfect.
very nice . purple stick earrings. They definitely look wearable
Great job Melissa. Your earrings are very wearable.
Very pretty earrings. What fun pieces you got to work with
Those are just beautiful! The flowers definitely highlight the matchsticks.
Gorgeous earrings, love the added flowers.
Love these! Sharyl’s matchsticks are wonderful and you put them with just the right extras so they steal the show!
I WANT THEM!!!!!!!! Love these earrings Liss!
Great job on the beautiful matchstick earrings, Melissa! The flowers were a great add. Thanks for being in the hop!
Oh heavens! Love those earrings! You go girl!
Melissa! Love what you did with these! (I’ve actually got a little batch of match sticks ready to go in the oven. What a great advertisement you’ve created! ha!) Truly though, I can’t get over it–you made these look great!!! 🙂 Thanks so much! –Sharyl
Those sticks are just beautiful and I absolutely love how you matched up the Czech beads and the linen to them. The purple is fantastic.
Looks like earrings are trending on the blog hop! very beautiful!
I love these, you did a wonderful job with those matchsticks. Makes me want some!
Beautiful…I love purple…I would so wear these!
Oh, this color combo you chose is perfect! I love the set!
Melissa, you did a fantastic job with the matchsticks! I love how you kept them organic by using the waxed linen and the Czech flowers compliment them so well! ~Susan Anderson