STAR EARRINGS PHOTO TUTORIAL

STAR EARRING TUTORIAL

EQUIPMENT

• fireline (or similar thread)
• 2 6mm Swarovski crystals
• 10 4mm Swarovski crystals
• 4 2mm silver spacer beads
• 2 eyepins
• 2 earring posts
• size 12 beading needle
• Round nosed pliers
• Chain nosed pliers
• Wire cutters

STEP BY STEP

THE STAR

1. First begin by threading your needle with around 50 cm of fireline.
2. Thread on one of your size 11 seed beads as a stop bead (sew back through the bead to anchor it)
3. Thread on another 4 size 11 seed beads, sew back through the stop bead to create a star shape. (you can sew through them again if you wish to make the structure more secure.)
4. Exit your stop bead and thread on 1 size 4mm Swarovski, 1 size 11 seed bead. Sew back down through the swarovski so that the size 11 becomes a "plug to stop the Swarovski moving".
5. Sew through the next size 11 in your original star, add another 4mm crystal and size 11 seed bead continue step 5 until you have 5 points in your star.
6. Secure your thread by tying a knot (I find one is sufficient) tuck in the ends and trim.

THE DANGLE

1. Pick up one of your eyepins, thread on, 1 2mm silver spacer, 1 6mm Swarovski crystal, 1 2mm Swarovski spacer.
2. Make a simple loop (you could make a wrapped loop if you prefer)

CONNECTING

1. To connect the dangle to the star, open one end of your eyepin, thread it through the top of one of your extending points of the star.
2. Open the other end of your eyepin and connect this end to the earwire.

REPEAT THESE STEPS TO MAKE A MATCHING PAIR!

Update on the earrings I've been making

Well as promised here's those earrings I have been making recently. I found a tutorial on http://www.mydailybead.blogspot.com/ for some of the wirework ones which I adapted to suit the beads I had.

The rest are mostly my own design.

I feel that when I actually complete something I feel better about life..... so even if I only make a pair of earrings a day I should be happy!!

The Beaders Color Palette Margie Deeb

Colour..... hmmm..... I'm always a bit of a "black girl" mainly due to my figure, I tend to stick to muted colours for my own outfits... but I want to actually sell the pieces I make, so black isn't really an ideal selling colour.

A while ago I bought The Beaders Color Pallette by Margie Deeb as I felt that colour was a bit of an issue with me, I wasn't sure how to use it to the best effect....


I hadn't had time to actually look at it properly, but recently I had a bit of "me" time and decided to take a deeper look into the book. 

The book begins by explaining how to read the colour pallete, which was invaluable for me, Margie refrences the Delicia bead by number which she has chosen to correspond with the palette, whilst engaging you to choose your own accent beads in whichever material you feel fits in with the palette.

There are some fabulous projects to complete, although I still have to actually make any of them, they are inspirational in themselves as the use of colour and texture has changed my creative thinking process.  I was particularly inspired by "This Gorgeous Planet" section I love the colours in the "Celestial Combinations" section, full of beautiful pinks, purples and heather colours.

Near the end of the book there is also basic information on stitches and basic techniques.


You can see more about Margie Deeb Here

Mojo anyone???

Well I hate to admit it I have for a little bit of time lost my mojo!!

What is mojo?? To me mojo is the creative spark, the actual WANT to make something I have lost this mojo thingamigig recently! ... it's funny how life can affect this creativity.

I've been suffering from the most almighty cough and flu since January... my friend who is a nurse was visiting from Scotland. was quite concerned over this, me being me brushed it off.. but it definately made me feel uninterested in my jewellery making.... until today, I finally decided to go to the doctor.... he told me I had a problem with the medication I was taking for my blood pressure and that sometimes this can exasperate flu symptoms....... so finally I know why the hell I am coughing so much! And can actually do something about it.... he signed me off of my day job for a week so now I feel so much better that I have time to recouperate and get better.... I don't know if it's this or having looked at www.mydailybead.blogspot.com that has rejuvinated the lost mojo..... but since looking at it early this evening I have since made 6 pairs of earings 3 pendants and a necklace (photo's will follow soon!).

I hope to feel refreshed after my bit of time off!

Woo hoo, hope it's back for good!!!