I saw this free tutorial on a Russian beading tutorial site HERE and thought they were worth a try. It was hard to judge the size of them from the photo and I was hoping they weren't too huge. They are a bit large but not outrageously so. I did run into a problem though. I made the sample on the left in the above photo first and really liked the shape of it. The earring curls inward at the bottom and on the sides, which I like. Although the earrings in the photo on the tutorial site look a lot flatter, I thought maybe this was how they turn out if made with metallic seed beads. So, I made the sample on the right using slightly different beads and you can see that it's much different than the first earring. No matter what I did, I couldn't make the beads curl in the same way and it looks like it has wings. I don't like that one at all. I do, however, like the way that I made the loop for the earrings wire at the top of that one.
NOTE: The link to the pattern has been removed for your protection.
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| ORIGINAL EARRINGS FROM TUTORIAL SITE |
I suspected that the problem might be caused either by the seed beads in my second sample being a little fatter or because the SuperDuos I used in the second sample were too glossy or maybe it was due to both things. So, I made another sample earring using the first set of beads to make sure that the one I liked wasn't just a fluke. It came out just like my first one did. Now I knew that it was something to do with the beads. Next, I made another sample using the second set of beads but this time I was extra careful to pull my work tight as I added the bottom beads and I also omitted one seed bead on each side of the "wings". Pulling the beads tighter didn't really help but using one less seed bead did make a difference.
In the end, I still think they're a little too big and I think they'd drive me nuts banging against the side of my neck. They are kind of cool-looking though so give them a try and maybe you'll like them more than I do.
The earrings below are the ones that turned out the way that I like. If they weren't so big, I'd make a pair like these for myself.
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 4mm rondelles "Smoky Quartz - #C24" (Beads One)
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Green Senegal Matte"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Grey Travertin"
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Bronze" (457)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Bronze" (457)
- 4mm rondelles "Champagne AB - #C26 AB" (Beads One)
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Green Luster Iris"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Olive Copper Picasso"
The earring on the left above is the one with the wide "wings". The one on the right has one less seed bead on each side and the wings don't stick out quite as far. These still didn't curl under as much as the other pair because of the glossy SuperDuos and the fatter seed beads.
I wonder if you used 11/0 on the inside ring and 15/0 around the outside if that would make the cup more?? Ann
ReplyDeleteThat might work, Ann, but I'm not sure if the tiny beads would suit the chunky style of the earrings.
DeleteOne of the members of my beading group made earrings very similar to these. She only had a picture from pinterest as a guide. Her earrings cupped nicely and didn't have the wings at the sides. If I remember correctly, her version had a bicone instead of the rondelle and she left off the super duo next to the bicone so the side sloped in more on the side as it neared the top of the earring. I could ask her if it is alright for me to share a pic or her tweak instructions for her version. What a small world--she just showed us these on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteIf they weren't so darn huge, I'd play around with the design a bit more and get them shaped the way I like. I'm just not sure if I like them well enough to bother. I'd be interested in seeing her variation though.
DeleteI wonder if they could be made smaller by leaving off two super duos in each row and maybe one one each side at the top. I like the shape a lot, but they are very large to me too, almost like one could be worn as a pendant with something in the center. As soon as I get her permission, I will share a pic of hers. I may try to make them smaller, and if successful, will share those too.
ReplyDeleteThey remind me of the "Marquesa Earrings" that I've blogged about before except that those were made as a bezel with a rivoli in the center. While those earrings are a little large, they're not as big as these. I wonder if the "Marquesa Earrings" could be made without a rivoli so that the center is open???
DeleteThat might work! You could try leaving off the picots and druks --substituting super duos in place of the druks. Maybe combine ideas from both patterns. Is there a back to the Marquesa Earrings?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a back to them. HERE is a photo of the back.
DeleteOops, that link takes you to the post about them. HERE is the photo.
DeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of yours. Like your blog, like your designs and tweaks. Recently copied everything from your blog to my pinterest. I tried to make these earrings as well, but it didn't work for me not in shape, not in size. Finally came up with a smaller and simplified version without the third row of superduos https://www.pinterest.com/pin/323837029431661393/
Best regards, Raisa
Thanks for the idea, Raisa. They do look nice that way. Was the only change you made to remove the third row? It's hard to see the part that is curled under at the bottom in your photo.
DeleteHi Linda,
DeleteI made a few subtractions/replacements. I replaced the superduo on the top with a seed bead 8/0 (tried 3sb 11/0 first, then put a 8/0 on top of the middle 11/0 – could be just 11/0, 8/0, 11/0); removed the rondelles; used 3 seed beads 15/0 around the 3rd superduo from the top; used another 3 seed beads 15/0 to step up from the 1st row of superduos to the second; put 2 seed beads 11/0 between the superduos of the second row. Below is the view from the back https://www.pinterest.com/pin/323837029431662401/
Thanks. I've printed out your photos and list of changes so that I can try your version.
Delete