Details, Details, Details...

This next project started out as a quick little project to make a set of earrings (and give myself a respite from split rings.) We started out with an idea for a decorative delicate loop hanging from a simple stud earring, but as I started to work on the project, I decided to make something that would be a bit more elaborate.

I started out using a 16-18 gauge beaded wire, and formed two matching loops. Making matching sets out of a free form material like the beaded wire is always a bigger challenge then one expects, so the ideal way to work is to make matching elements of the final work before final assembling, as you are able to work on matching only one part, rather then the whole design.

I cut two sets of strips out of the 16-18 gauge beaded wire, one set for the larger loop, and a second shorter set for the top small loop. I formed the two sets of loops using round nose pliers and a mandrel, and aligned the ends so that the wire would leave a nice flat surface for attaching the joint.

At this point I noticed that the flat surface I had left looked like it was missing something, and while thinking about what I could do to fix this, I came across a small silver hollow bead that closely matched the beaded wire. I decided that I could solder the bead on to the loops so that it filled the gap on the flat surface, creating a joint that looked like it was a seamless part of the beaded wire loop. This bead also allowed me to make a simple jump ring to act as the joint. This made the joint far more elegant and clean looking then it would have with two intertwined jump rings. It was at this point that I felt the large loop was needing something more to detail it. I added an inner loop made of 22 gauge beaded wire, and then soldered that to the outside loop. Once the final loop was in place, I formed and installed the jump ring thru the beads, and found the dangle action on the earring to be what I was looking for. Finally I attached the ear post and polished.

This project required a lot of attention to detail, and by paying attention to the detail, I was able to come up with a very nice set of earrings.