Secrets to Wireworking Video 4: Wire Vines Earrings with Celestial Crystal® Beads, Czech Glass Druk Beads and Wirework
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Design Idea MH26
-- Designer --
Patti, Jewelry Designer, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®
To learn more about Patti Miller, read her jewelry artist success story here.
: : : Materials : : :
Click here to view a full list of materials used in this design.
Please take the creative opportunity to select the products of your choice for this design, offered here at Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Some materials may not be available or listed.
- Bead, Celestial Crystal®, transparent amethyst purple AB, 4mm faceted bicone
- Bead, Celestial Crystal®, transparent amethyst purple AB, 6mm faceted bicone
- Bead, Czech glass druk, opaque iris purple, 6mm round
- Bead, Czech pearl-coated glass druk, opaque deep fuchsia, 4mm round
- Ear wire, silver-plated brass, 45mm fishhook with 35mm shank, 22 gauge
- Seed bead, Dyna-Mites™, glass, opaque iris rainbow bronze, #11 round
- Wire, ParaWire™, silver-plated copper, round, 26 gauge
The next project in our wirework series teaches a technique especially popular in bridal and fantasy-inspired jewelry: wire vines! Pick-up your favorite needle-nose pliers and follow Patti as you create this pair of earrings bursting with radiant appeal.
Instructions
Step 1
Cut a 30-inch length of wire.
Step 2
Leaving a 5-inch tail, create a wrapped loop.
Step 3
String a 6mm iris purple druk onto the long end of the wire.
Bring the short end of the wire around the bead to the other end of the wire. Twist the wires together snug against the bead. Continue to twist the wires for approximately 3/4 of an inch.
Using chain-nose pliers, make a 90-degree bend in the long end of the wire. Repeat to create a U-shape approximately 3mm wide.
Step 4
String a 6mm bicone onto the wire, approximately 1/2 an inch from the U-shaped bend.
Bring the wire back around the bead then twist it with the stem to secure the bead.
Step 5
String a 6mm druk onto the wire, approximately 3/4 of an inch from the U-shaped bend.
Bring the wire back around the bead then twist it with the stem to secure the bead.
Using chain-nose pliers, make a 90-degree bend in the wire. Repeat to create a U-shape approximately 3mm wide.
Step 6
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have a total of four druk spokes and four bicone spokes.
Step 7
Using chain-nose pliers, make a 90-degree bend in the wire. Repeat to create a U-shape approximately 3mm wide.
Just over 3/4 of an inch from the bend, freeform the wire into a leaf approximately 1/2 an inch long.
Twist the wire with the stem back down to the bend.
Step 8
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to add four bicone spokes and four druk spokes.
Step 9
Bend the wire into a circle, adjusting spokes as needed.
Twist the end of the wire around the circle, moving in and out between the spokes. Repeat with the longer end of the wire in the opposite direction, until it meets the opposite end of the wire. Trim the excess wire.
Step 10
Cut 8 inches of wire. Wrap the end tightly on one side of the leaf shape twice, near the base.
Step 11
Bring the wire to the outside of the leaf, then bend the wire at a 45-degree angle across the outside of the leaf.
String on a seed bead then wrap once.
Step 12
Repeat Step 11 to add the following along the side of the leaf shape.
- A second seed bead
- One 4mm bicone
- One 4mm druk
- One seed bead
Step 13
Tightly wrap the wire twice after the last bead, then trim any excess wire.
Step 14
Add a 4mm druk and a 6mm bicone to the shaft of an ear wire, then create a simple loop.
Attach the ear wire to the wrapped loop of the wire component.
Repeat to create a second earring.
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
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The pieces featured in the Gallery of Designs are copyrighted designs and are provided for inspiration only. We encourage you to substitute different colors, products and techniques to make the design your own.
All works of authorship (articles, videos, tutorials and other creative works) are from the Fire Mountain Gems and Beads® Collection, and permission to copy is granted for non-commercial educational purposes only. All other reproduction requires written permission. For more information, please email copyrightpermission@firemtn.com.