What started it all???

I was searching the internet looking for instructions for making a pair of earrings for my father's "lady friend". I used to make bead jewelry (eons ago), but none of that was really catching my fancy. Then I saw a pair of beautiful earrings made of jump rings. I could do that! I had worked with jump rings many times before and already had lots of the tools needed. From there it exploded! By "it" I mean "everything". I researched designs, bought supplies, made a few pieces, got an Etsy account and opened a shop.
But how do I motivate myself to come up with new designs? I don't want to just make the same few pieces over and over again.
Answer: I have decided to take part in a "Pair-A-Day-For-A-Month" Earring challenge. I'll make a new pair every day for all of January. Follow along with me to see if I can really do it. If I can, maybe I'll start a "Bracelet-A-Week" project next!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Day 8

Byzantine Heart Earrings:
This weave is also a very popular one.  It looks much more difficult than it really is.



Materials used:
2- silver ear wires
40- 18 gauge, 5.5mm copper jump rings (16 silver, 24 black)
12- 18 gauge, 5/32 anodized aluminum jump rings (purple)
2- silver head pins
2- purple heart beads

Instructions:
Before you begin, make loops with the head pins and beads. http://www.how-to-make-beaded-jewelry.com/headpin-loop.html
I followed the tutorial from this website to make the earrings, http://www.mailleartisans.org/articles/articledisplay.cgi?key=169

Experience Level: Intermediate
Approximate Time: 40 minutes

I have used this weave before; making a bracelet for each of my daughter's teachers and a small ring. Both of those were with a smaller diameter ring and thinner gauge wire. They were a little looser than these earrings. I like this size much better. The rings stay in place better and don't flip upside down. I will definitely be making a bracelet, and possibly a necklace to match.
The best advise I have for this one is to make sure you have a fresh coat of Tool Magic on your pliers. I didn't and my pliers kept slipping off. It is a very tight spot for trying to close some of the rings.
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