Blogging and Earrings

Maybe you'd like to read my thoughts on my 52 Weeks of Earrings...

I tried a commitment like this a few years ago, and had fun making things and posting. This time, for some reason, posting was the hardest part.  I made way more than 52 earrings. Easy! But I'd put off posting, then I'd feel guilty, so I put it off longer. So, all of a sudden, its 6 MONTHS later!

I enjoy reading other peoples blogs, and I'd like to have some kind of archive of my creativity and creations. The perfectionist in me wants to have a wonderful blog full of intelligent, creative, humorous, lovely, inspiring, helpful.... wait, maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself. Ya think?

And so, I think I'll just have fun, and post what I feel like when I feel like it. Thanks.

weekly earrings

OMG! I missed August completely... Yikes!
Anyway, I found an app for my iPhone that hopefully will let me post with pictures. Just gotta figure out how. (Don't you just love those learning curves?)

Here is a set of "ear wraps" named Julie. I found the instructions at bellaonline.com. They are a little heavy cause I got carried way with the fringe. (too much fringe is a GOOD thing)

52 Weeks - Nikki

Love these peacock dagger beads! My friend Sharon brought me matching "chicklets", so I had to use them in the Beaded Lace Earrings I started when I taught the class. Every time I teach a class, I start a sample to demonstrate. I have a huge box of unfinished samples that I intend to finish... someday.

Weekly Earrings - Danica

Here are a delicate pair of Dragonflies. I found these charms in my stash - I've had them for years. I used Chinese crystal rondelles, copper discs, and Niobium earwires. They make a pretty jingle when I move.

52 Weeks - Marisa

I found instructions for making these swirly earrings that "screw" into your ears in a wire magazine at work, so I had to try it. I used 20 gauge craft wire, Swarovski crystals, and silver accent beads. I hammered the ends, strung on the beads, stuck the beaded end of the wire into the barrel of a pen, and spiralled the rest of the wire around the outside of the pen. The tricky part is making the second earring mirror the first.

What week is this? Kate and Gwyn

Oopsie! I seem to have dropped the ball.  I wonder what it is about posting that makes me procrastinate. And I think I'm a couple weeks behind in making my earrings, too. 

Anyway, here's a couple of wire experiments. I wanted to make a Celtic Knot with wire, so I got out my book of knots. It's a lot harder to knot with wire than string! I think with practice I could make them smoother and more even. Kate on the left is copper wire that is actually woven. Gwyn on the right is simply looped and used as a bail.

Ophelia -Week 18

I taught the Beaded Lace Earrings class the other night. My awesome students were all surprised at how quickly they go together. 

I used vintage 3-cut seed beads for the main bead. They are all different sizes, so you've gotta be really careful in culling your beads. There are also lots of Swarovski crystals, plus twisted bugles and large daggers. I used teal Niobium earwires.

Zarka - Week 17

Backstory: I lived in Morocco for almost 2 years as a very young Navy wife. The women there supported themselves and their families by working as maids for the "rich" Americans. They were called Fatimas, in honor of Fatima, who was Mohammed's handmaiden. Zarka cooked and cleaned and took care of my toddlers for 10 Dirham a day, which was about $2.50 at the time. She taught me a LOT about life. She called these hands "Fatima Hands". 

I am truly grateful for that experience. I wish everyone could spend a year or so in another country. Maybe we'd get along a little better if we understood each other more.

These earrings have Swarovski crystals, vintage CZ drops, and Gold Filled beads, wire and earwires. I glued tiny Swar. flatbacks into the stars on the Fatima Hands.

Stella, Week 16

This pair is was inspired by the Pamela Beaded Lace earrings. I wanted to make a Star-topped pair. The fringes won't hang straight.  :(  I may get brave enough to break off a bead or two to see if that helps. It may just be that the seed beads are crooked. There are 40 2mm Gold Filled beads in this pair. I almost feel guilty for using them up!

Rosie - Week 15

So, I find it interesting (if only to myself) that I don't have a problem with making the earrings, or taking their photographs, but I'm not keeping up with the posting. I'm 4 earrings behind!  

Anyway, here's the pair I made for Memorial Day. I named them Rosie, in honor of you-know-who. They're made with pearl and Blue Goldstone stars, Siam Swarovski crystals, 2mm GF beads, and 11º CZ seed beads. I used C-lon, so they're swingy!

Thank you, Veterans.

Beaded Lace Earrings - Week 14

So - I've been having fun with these Earrings! They make up way fast compared with some of the other things I bead. I made the first pair with vintage glass pearls and Swarovski crystals, and used these odd-colored drops. They're purple in reflected light, but blue when the light comes through them.  

I started a bracelet in the Gwenevere's Cuff class I taught last week. I used a nut and a gold crystal for the clasp, and used bronze seed beads and jet & black diamond Swars, to try for a steampunk effect. I liked it enough to finish it right away. I had enough crystals left over to make matching earrings. (Can you spot the mistake? I'm such a perfectionist!)

Week #13, Tanzanite Lizette Earrings

That's what I get for not posting in a couple of weeks! I'm gonna have to figure out if I'm behind or not. I've been making earrings, but hadn't realized that I missed a couple of weeks of posting.  Time flies! 

Anyway, here's a pair of Lisette earrings, made with crystal AB Delicas,  silver-lined crystal 15ºs, Starling chain, Tanzanite Swarovski Marguerites, and pale Alexandrite colored facetted drops. I even found sterling earwires with the Tanzanite Swars. already on them. I think the drops are a little big for these earrings, but I like the color.

Week 12 - Pamela Beaded Lace Earrings

I only had 10 of the golden teardrop beads left, and wanted to make some dangle-y earrings to match a pendant I made in class the other day. I had just run across the instructions for Beaded Lace Earrings that I took from Pam Rodriguez at the Shepherdess in 1987. I used my version of that technique to make these, and thought I'd name them after her.

The Pamela earrings are made from CZ 11º brown iris seed beads, CZ 12º silver lined topaz rocailles (They have the tiniest square holes, so I was constantly taking the needle off the thread to poke it through them for the 2nd pass up the fringe! But the square holes reflect the light and make a beautiful sparkle.),  Japanese twisted bugles with a bronze luster on the ends, Bronze metallic 8º seed beads, Olivine Aurum Swarovski crystals, Czech firepolish round and drop beads, and brass metal teardrop dangles. I used c-lon thread, so I'm wondering how long it will take for the metal dangles to cut through. I really like them, so I hope they last a while!

Week 11 - Earth Day Earrings

I wanted to make some recycled earrings for Earth Day, So I went through a box of old Earrings. I used to make these Ear Chimes in the late '80s.... They're about 4 inches long and make a really pretty chime sound whenever you move. I made the dangles from stained glass - cut and drilled them, then fired them in a kiln until the edges were rounded. When the earrings were all assembled, I glued seed beads on the jump rings to seal them. 

 I couldn't stand to take them apart, so I found some pieces of glass that had never been made into earrings. I used 2 fused glass diamonds, Swarovski crystals from something I took apart a long time ago, Gold filled wire from the scrap bag, and gold colored Goddesses that I've had for 20 years. The gold filled earwires and 2mm beads are the only new things I used. So I think it counts as recycled!

An interesting thing is that the pink glass on both earrings is the same color. I know it has to do with how I took the pictures. The Earth Day earrings have light coming through them, and the Ear Chimes are laying flat. I'm gonna have to start keeping a journal or something, so I can get consistent results.

52 Weeks - Week 10

Patty and Bella

I made these as demonstrations while teaching class, so I didn't take the time to make sure they're exactly the same... I'm trying to teach the perfectionist in me to lighten up!

I used 20g copper wire, sterling and gold filled accent beads, and Czech glass beads. 

Anybody wear copper earwires? I think it may turn my ears black, but it's supposed to be good for arthritis.