Earrings with Shell Drops and Beads and Wirework
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Design Idea PB22
-- 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, brown pen shell (natural), 4-5mm hand-cut heishi, Mohs hardness 3-1/2
- Bead, melon shell (natural), 4-5mm hand-cut heishi, Mohs hardness 3-1/2
- Bead, tagnipis shell (natural), 2-3mm hand-cut heishi, Mohs hardness 3-1/2
- Drop, tiger cowrie shell (natural), 24x25mm heart, Mohs hardness 3-1/2
- Mallet, rawhide and wood, brown and red-brown, 11-1/2 inches with 30-35mm head
- Pliers, Wubbers® Designer Mandrel, extra-large round mandrel, steel and rubber, 7 inches
- Wire, ParaWire™, antiqued copper, round, 20 gauge
- Wire, ParaWire™, antiqued copper, twisted square, 21 gauge
Instructions
Step 1
Cut one 10-inch length of twisted wire.
Step 2
Pass a cowrie shell drop halfway onto the twisted wire so there are two tails. Bend the tails upward and wrap together three times.
Step 3
Take one tail to the front of the cowrie shell drop and form a spiral shape resting on the front of the drop.
Step 4
Wrap the other tail once around the smaller barrel of Wubbers pliers to form an open loop.
Pass onto the loop:
- Three 3mm tagnipis shell heishi beads
- Two 5mm heishi brown pen shell beads
- One 5mm melon shell bead
Bend the end of the tail around the base of the loop, under the beads, to secure the loop. Trim excess wire.
Step 5
Wrap the round wire once around the larger barrel of Wubbers pliers to form a 1/2 inch open loop. Trim with flush-cutters.
Use the tip of round-nose pliers to form a loop on one end in the opposite direction.
Step 6
Place the ear wire created in Step 5 on a steel block and work-harden with a rawhide mallet to keep its shape.
Attach the ear wire to the drop.
Step 7
Repeat Steps 1 - 6 to create a second earring.
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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.
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