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| These are some of my favorite beaded earrings from the earring making challenge I did in January of 2011. |
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I can hardly believe that it's almost 2012! This year just
flew by, which is, of course, what I say every year at this time.
Over the years, I've noticed that making beaded earrings is
not something that comes easy to me.
When I come up with new beaded jewelry designs, 99% of my designs are
either beaded necklaces or beaded bracelets. But beaded earrings? I don't know
why they're so difficult for me, but they are. My brain (and my muse) just doesn't work that
way.
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If you get stuck for earring making ideas, the many variations of peyote stitch can provide ideas and inspiration! |
Last year during the month of January, I decided to start
the year off with a challenge to myself. I decided that I would make one pair
of beaded earrings every day for the entire month. A few days after Christmas, I started to wonder if I would be able to complete this challenge. I kept asking myself: Can you really bead every day for a month? Are
you kidding? How are you going to do that? How are you going to come up with
all those earring designs? What if you run out of steam? What if you run out of
designs? Is this going to cost you a fortune? You better make sure you have
enough earring findings!
To be honest, I cheated a little. Since I decided to start
this on New Year's Day, I spent the last couple of weeks of December sketching out
and writing down design ideas for making earrings. Then, on January first, I
brought along my bead tray and my beads when we went over to see my in-laws for
our traditional New Year's Day dinner. While my son ran around like a crazy
kid, I sat and beaded a pair of earrings.
It was a lot easier than I thought. The next day, still a
bit doubtful of my ability to follow through and complete a pair of earrings
every day in the month of January, I sat down and did a second pair. The next
day, I did a third pair. By the end of the week, I had been making beaded earrings every single day
and had seven new pairs of beaded earrings. I also had designs for a dozen more
sketched out in my journal!
For me, the key was keeping the designs simple. Easy pieces
of flat peyote stitch became wraps for large round gemstone beads that had
vintage Japanese dangles. I stitched up lots of easy brick stitch triangles and
diamonds and lavished them with fringe. Once I got the momentum going, it was
hard to stop!
Are you ready to join an earring making challenge? If you need a little inspiration, check out the fabulous
101 Wire Earrings by Denise Peck. With over a hundred beaded earring designs, you'll find something for every day of the earring making challenge! You'll also find a wealth of ideas for making your own earring findings, adding beads and components, and basic wire wrapping techniques.
Get your copy of 101 Wire Earrings today and you'll find yourself making earrings with this valuable resource for years to come!
This year, instead of making a New Year's Resolution, why
not give yourself a New Year's Challenge? Let's see if we can make a pair of
beaded earrings every day for an entire month! If you're interested in joining this earring making challenge, you can find
all the details on the Bead-A-Long page here on Beading Daily.
Bead Happy,
Jennifer
Filed under: Gemstones, Peyote stitch, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, Brick Stitch, Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, How To Bead, Bead-weaving, Bracelet Making, Earring Making, Necklace Making, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily