Modified Circular Brick Stitch Earrings

Recently I came across a pattern for this beautiful beaded pendant.

I tried using the pattern on large hammered teardrop pendants for a pair of earrings, but due to the rather large size of the teardrop, the beads would touch my neck which would cause the beads to curl. I knew this would never do. I was constantly reaching up to feel the earrings and see if the beads needed to be straightened out. This is one reason why I always try out new designs on myself before I make any to sell. I wouldn't want one of my customers dealing with curled up beads!

I still loved the concept, so I decided to take a different strategy. I used the design principle and inverted it to the inside of the pendant instead of the outside. Voila! I wonderful pair of earrings, still very large, and no curling beads :-)

I've completed three pairs of earrings - these salmon/coral earrings, a green pair, and a pair with olive green/slate blue-gray, which are all listed in my etsy shop. I'm now working on a pair of fuchsia/pink. I think I'll wear them tonight!

Happy beading :-)

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 30

Day 30 Challenge is to make a matching set. I mixed these gorgeous barrel-shaped fluorite in quartz beads with assorted fluorite beads, mother of pearl nuggets, etc. The color combination of this set makes me think of summer :-) This is the last day of the challenge. I'm thankful it's over, but is was fun and great motivation to do something every day :-)

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 29

Day 29 Challenge was to brighten your design by adding a pop of color. I saw a necklace in one of my favorite department stores, and this is my version of it. I had a box of these triangle beads that I've had for years, so this gave me the opportunity to use up some of them.

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 28

Day 28 Challenge is to get those pliers out and create a wire wrapped bracelet. This is a brass cuff bracelet that I've wire wrapped with gold wire and assorted beads.

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 27

Day 27 Challenge is to make a mixed media masterpiece. I used several colors of nail polish to color the inside of these bezels, added resin, and strung them all on elastic cord separated by green magnesite beads.

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 26

Day 26 Challenge is to add the beauty of pearls to your jewelry design. I had a bracelet I made a few years back that needed some updating, so I took it apart (should have taken a photo first, duh!) and changed it up a little. The original had a lot more dark gray which may be why I wasn't crazy about it. Also each strand was a mixture of all the beads. Instead I used all freshwater pearls on one strand, all light gray pearls on another strand, and the middle strand has a mixture of small pearls, light gray pearls, and crystal beads to make this elegant three strand sterling silver bracelet.

National Craft Month Challenge: Day 25

Day 25 Challenge is to make chain maille. This is a very basic pattern, but I've never tried it before and it was actually a lot of fun. I used gold, silver and copper jump rings.

The chain maille pattern was easy, but joining the three long strips together could be challenging at times. Then I had to figure out how to attach this to the slide clasp I'd selected. I thought I could fill the spaces between the jump rings with crimp covers, but they wouldn't fit around the bar on the clasp. So I settled on a bunch of additional loose jump rings, just to fill the void.