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Sometimes the prettiest part of the project is when the beads are all scattered in piles on the table – waiting to for you to dive in and create. They combine in random and exciting ways – suggesting new possibilities. Their colors feed, enhance and change each other. This is the point at which I easily get sidetracked from the original project – sometimes I abandon it entirely and try to come up a way to capture the beauty of those piles of beads!

These earrings are one such attempt!

You will need:

• 34 gauge wire
• Earring wires
• A selection of beads in 4 and 6 mm. Round, faceted, or small drop beads all work well. Choose colours in close shades to create a feeling of depth and complexity.
• A few 2 mm sterling or metal beads, or size 11/0 or 10/0 seedbeads
  
  
• Wire cutters (or scissors you don’t care about.)

Start with one earring wire. Ensure that the loop for hanging the earring from is closed tightly. Close it up with your round nose pliers if necessary.

Cut 10-12 inches of 34 gauge wire. 34 gauge wire is fine enough to cut with scissors – but don’t use scissors you care about. Alternately, you can use thread or a light, very flexible necklace stringing product. (I like wire for this project as it is quick, easy, doesn’t require a needle, and fastens easily and neatly.)

Loop the wire through the earring hanging loops, and twist the wire a few times.

To strengthen this loop, you can thread the tail end of the wire back up through the earring loop again, and twist the wire back down around itself again.

Next, thread

10 x 4 mm beads on the wire. Take care to ensure that the loose end of the wire is also threaded down into the beads to hide it.

Add 1 x 6mm bead

Add a 2 mm sterling bead or a small seedbead.

Go back up through the 6 mm bead.

Add 2 x 4mm beads, and skipping the first bead above the 6 mm bead, thread back through the 2^nd to last 4 mm bead.

Continue to thread through the original, skipping one, adding 2, until you get back to the top of the earring.

Go through the earring loop once more, back down, and twist the wire back around the main stem several times.

Tuck the end of the wire through the first couple of beads, and finish off by cutting off the wire ends.

That is the first earring, then make the second one to match.

Varying the beads will create different looks. Ensuring that the added beads as you work your way back up the earring lay on one side, or alternate around the core will also change the look of the earring.

If you are using drop beads, you will need to use more, as these fit together better than round beads, and take up less space.

Experiment and Have Fun!