Make earrings that are bright, whimsical and uniquely yours (Image: Lazer Unicorn)
Handmade earrings are taking off. Colourful, unique earrings are a simple way to start the day with more fun. Plus, they take up little space in your wardrobe and they always fit. Making your own to keep, in exactly the designs you love, is even more fun.
Alex Lawton from Lazer Unicorn is one lady who can make this happen for you. This Brisbane-based graphic designer holds workshops all over Australia were you can use her original creations to make something unique.
Pot plants are IN (Image: Lazer Unicorn)
The process goes like this:
1. Alex draws the designs on paper in a range of themes
2. She transfers them to the computer
3. The laser cutter transforms her digital images into real-life acrylic earring components, in a range of complementary colours.
4. At a workshop, you choose the pieces you love in the sizes, shapes and colours that suit you, and make your own one-off accessories.
One of my favourite collections is the "Plant Pals" theme. Some of the other themes focus on under sea life, the cosmic world, bugs, flora and fauna, and fruit. So much fun!
Get your creative juices flowing with friends (Image: Lazer Unicorn)
One of the benefits of working with laser cut acrylic is that you're guaranteed a good outcome. You really can't muck it up when the components are already prepared for you.
I had wondered whether this would limit our creative choices. But honestly, when I attended a plant pals workshop, I still had so much trouble choosing from the endless possibilities.
Some of the pieces are transparent with images engraved into it. This means you can use paint pens to add your own spin by colouring in the grooves.
Cicada earrings from the bug theme (Image: Lazer Unicorn)
Brisbane-based, Alex currently has workshop
dates advertised in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, and the Sunshine Coast.
Workshops generally run for 2.5 hours and cost $120. In this time you'll make 4 new pairs of earrings, and take home an earring board to store and display your "wearable art". Yeah, you probably can buy handmade acrylic earrings for less than $30 each, they just won't be "yours".
Alex Lawton - designer, maker and workshop facilitator (Image: Lazer Unicorn)
Alex has been running workshops since she was 12 years old. On her website, she says: "
I enjoy meeting new people and travelling, so can't wait to explore more places and bring the workshops to cool makers, creators and jewellery appreciators."
So many possibilities
My work in progress
The finished product on the earring board
I enjoyed painting the different shades of green on the leaves