Outside our dining room window we have a bird feeder that attracts all sorts of birds of which I have zero idea what any of them are. I do know there’s big ones small ones dark ones light ones and red ones. (those I know are cardinals) What they all have in common is they are all mouthy and when there are lots of them at once they can make quite a racket. When they get really loud the phrase “shut your traps!” always runs through my head. That got me to thinking where did that idiom come from? So a-googling I went. It is thought that the origin of the phrase “Shut your trap” came from a trick church leaders would play in early European churches. The monks and priests would “stand” for hours reading, praying and chanting but they weren’t actually standing. As seen in the accompanying picture I’ve posted, they would lean and rest their weight on the wooden extension that was attached to the underside of the hinged bench seats. When it was finally time to sit, they would have to quietly close the bench and reportedly they would whisper to each other halte die klappe which apparently, in German, means ‘hold your trap,’ as to not let the seat fall, make noise and give away their little secret….Inspiration… for earrings? Really? Yes Really. I  never know where it will come from next and I don’t question I’m just happy it keeps coming.

Hammered and formed sterling silver and copper mismatched earrings measure 2.25” from bottom of hand made 20 gauge sterling silver ear wire to base, 1” at widest and weigh approximately 9 grams each. Complimentary USPS insured and tracked Ground Advantage shipping within the US.