Here is the fifth of many design ideas coming your way from The Beading Room.  We hope to get one a week to you-to give you inspiration and inform you about some of the wonderful products we stock.

We apologize for being a bit behind on the design ideas-we have had a rough couple of weeks with 3 bouts of Norovirus and two cases of chicken pox.  Yes, there are only 4 people in our family, so we have been pretty ill around here!!!  We were able to keep the orders going out but that was about it.  So, without further ado...

 

This week's design features a new finding and the ever-beautiful Swarovski Crystallized Elements.  As some of you know, Brian and I have started the process to adopt a daughter from Rwanda.  I have made these earrings to sell in our fundraising efforts and have been making them in so many different color combinations that are just so beautiful.  They are quick, enjoyable to make, and appeal to many ladies.    Incidentally, the name of these earrings is the Kinyarwandan word for 'song'.

Long drop kidney wires make a few great beads look elegant and effortless.  They come in both silver plate and gold plate at a super price.

We love Swarovski cubes.  They are so substantial and really show off Swarovski colors to great effect. Have a look at all the 8mm colors here.

These are combined with the most popular shape of Swarovski Element, the 4mm bicone  (we have 217 varieties of these!!!) and my personal favorite, the flat briolette.

Add a bit of wire and two eyepins and you have all the ingredients for these eye-catching earrings.

If you would like to share what you have made with the rest of our customers, please send us a photo!  We would love to post them on our site.  Maybe you have added something to our design to make it your own, or chosen a color variation you think looks fantastic.  We would really love to hear from you. 

I think we'll have to do a matching necklace in the coming weeks:)

Kindest regards,

Hollie and Brian Ferrall

 

3) Gently open up the kidney wire to slide a bicone onto the kidney wire, so it sits just above the 'groove' with the eyepin dangling from it.



You should have this so far:



4) Take a 20 cm length of wire and put it through the briolette, leaving about 1 cm on one side of the bead.



5) Bring the wires together and wind the shorter length around the longer length like this:



6) Use your roundnose pliers to make a loop at the top, then wind the longer length back towards the briolette.  I held the loop with my chainnose pliers and twisted the length with my hands to get a more 'rustic' look, but you can do it with pliers if you are more comfortable or like things neater.



7) Keep winding until you go over the top of the briolette, almost to the 'hole line'.  Tuck the end up into the wrapped wire.



8) Open the bottom end of your eyepin and attach your briolette.  Close it up and voila!  A pretty pair of earrings:)

TOP TIP
Make sure you open jumprings and eyepins by gently turning sideways, not 'undoing' the loop out straight.  This weakens the metal and it is much more difficult to return it back to a lovely loop.




Try these combinations: Crystal AB and Violet, Turquoise and Jet, Crystal Golden Shadow and Mocca (with gold findings).

If you want less 'dangle' you could also put these onto normal-sized kidney wires too.

Enjoy making them!