Christmas Earrings from Recycled Garland

Last week we were decorating out Christmas tree, and I found a broken garland with red shiny beds and Santas' heads.

I did not want to restring or fix it, but could not throw 3 yards of this garland also.

 So, I decided to make easy earrings as a little gift to my colleagues. Just added some silver beads, string on the head pin (I used eye pins since the bead hole was too large)

Lark's Head Knot Wire Earrings

 The Larks Head Knot is one of the most frequently used Macrame knots in existence. Today, I wanted to "tie" this knot with wire.
I love this simple and elegant design with small Swarovski crystals.

 

The ends are hammered, so the crystal will stay in place.  

These earrings are lightweight

You can buy them here

"Whiskered" Jasper Necklace

I made this necklace a year or two ago, but did not get a chance to show it here :)
Made of a big beautiful jasper bead, this choker  is a truly statement necklace.

The bead has nice colors- from pink to dark green. the "whiskers"  and all wraps are made of argentium sterling silver wire and will not tarnish  like sterling silver. The natural tan hemp cord is a perfect match for this focal stone.

Buy here

Autumn Red Aventurine Necklace

Yesterday I made this necklace. I really love this bright autumn colors.

The red aventurine gem chips are combined with mix of black seed beads, agate and crystal beads.

Total length is 19" (48cm).
Closure- silver button.
This necklace comes a pair of matching earrings with sterling silver ear wire.

Buy it here

My First Bead Crochet :)

I am addicted now:) I do not know for how long I will do this, but every day I hold a crocheting hook in my hands. And this is not my fault, but my friend's Lena :) I spent my vacation in New Hampshire where Lena lives , and she taught my how to crochet with beads. To tell the truth, it was not easy for me. I was fighting with all the beads on the thread, they seemed to me wanted to  be in some bead mess, but not in the nice tube. Finally, I won! Here is that my the very first bracelet that I wear with proud!

My colleagues were jealous :) OK, not  jealous, but they loved my bracelet and one of them asked to teach her to crochet with beads too! Another girl asked to make her two bracelets . I used inside-color beads for pink bracelet, so this bracelet looks like sugar candy :)

I am working on  a long lariat now and do not not how it will look when I finish it, but I will show the result . My husband calls this unfinished (yet) piece "a snake":)

To see more Lena's crochet jewelry visit her  Etsy shop

Two-loop wire wrapped connector

 

Materials

• 20- to 24-gauge round dead soft wire
  Size of the wire depends on the size of the link you are going to make. The bigger the link, the thicker the wire. 

Tools

• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers or 6-step Barrel Pliers
• 9mm Bail Making Pliers (or a matching cylindrical object such as a pen)
  Diameter of the bail making pliers depends on the size of the link.
• Nylon jaw pliers (optional)
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. You can start working from the spool. Wrap the wire one and a half times around a 9mm jaw.
   
   
   

Nailed Pearl Earrings

While I was threading pearls onto headpins for another project, the way they were lying on the table brought this idea to me. Of course, you can change the color of the pearls or the metal; or even use crystal beads instead of pearls, to alter this "cluster" design. Making an ear hook from a headpin really saves time too, because its end is already filed!

Materials and Tools

• 12  8mm freshwater pearl beads
• 12  3/4" head pins, in a gauge that fits your chosen pearls
• 2   2" 21-gauge head pins
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers

Wire Woven Bangle

If you want to learn how to make this cool, contemporary wire bangle bracelet, I have a tutorial for you! Perfect for any age, this fun bangle stands on its own.

Supplies you will need: seed beads #6 (or 8 with a large hole) and, of course, wire! The main tools are your hands, but it's good to have a pair of chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, and wire cutters handy :) This tutorial has 6 printer-friendly pages with 18 steps and 20 step-by step color photos.
Click HERE  to get tutorial.