If you have been following my Earring Design Challenge, then you are aware that this particular "challenge" had quite a few variations. I have done bezel sets before, but over the years, that particular skill hasn't always been the primary focus in my designs. After reviewing an online course with Lucy Walker Jewellry, I was back in business.
I do have to confess it means I broke away from the "using what I have" rule of my Earring Challenge to purchase some lovely fine silver bezel wire so that I could begin again. This time I stuck with sterling silver as my medium. I liked the gold tones of my previous attempt, but the wire was too heavy, so I opted for a lighter gauge silver and implemented my latest signature semi figure 8 twist and textures. 
I love how these earrings turned out. They are slightly heavier but are still quite comfortable to wear.
(Fun fact: I have a personal pair of earring wires that I switch out when wearing and modeling my jewelry. I always replace with a new pair when I ship pieces for an order).
You may be wondering why did I choose to call this lovely pair "Orsina"?
When I was having a tough time making this pair initially a couple of weeks ago, I took a break for a camping weekend with my son Niko, best friend, and her children along the North shore of Minnesota. During a moment alone, I was driving back to our camping site after a supply run, and there was not a car on the road but my own. I rounded a corner, and this majestic mother bear comes bumbling across the road in front of me. I had plenty of time to slow down and observe her heading back into the woods from a safe distance. There was something magical about my lone bear siting.
According to the website symbolicmeaning.com a bear crossing your path means we should embrace ourselves in a moment of solitude for rebirth and understanding. The Bear is a reminder that we need to pause for a time to relax and allow more creativity and play in our lives. A timely revelation for me.
Now on to my arriving at the name "Orsina". Sometimes when my creative juices are stuck, I resort to some fun and entertaining name generator sites. The name Orsina popped up, which is Italian for Bear. That is when I made the connection of the moment I saw this beautiful black bear cross my path during a time I was actively working on this pair of earrings.
The Orsina~Sterling silver Jasper earrings are a pair that was worth taking some extra time to create. Bold and beautiful the perfect accent for fall.
Is this one-of-a-kind pair going to be yours?
