Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Playing with my beads...Russian Leaf Earring samples


  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Gold" (4202)
  • 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Duracoat Gold" (DB1832)
  • 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Black" (DB10)
  • 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Red" (DB723)

My sister-in-law also asked me to make some Russian Leaf earrings for her in red and black. I made the sample on the left first. I like the wide black stripe along the outer edge but the black became nearly invisible when I put the earring on. I decided to make another sample with gold beads around the outer edge and I think they help define the shape of the earring.


Watch Jill Wiseman's YouTube video tutorial HERE to learn how to make Russian Leaf earrings similar to these and download her free PDF HERE. You can buy Delica beads at Baubles & Beads, Red Panda, Aura Crystals and Supply Emporium on Etsy.


 

8 comments:

  1. LOVE these. I just love your Russian earrings. I tried them and just had the hardest time getting them to come out. Decided to go to other beading projects, learn a little more and come back to them later. The fringed earrings intrique me as well. Keep up the great work! Been following you for years.

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    1. I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with them. I did at first too. There is definitely a knack to getting them just right and hopefully it will click for you over time.

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  2. Hi Linda, I have been making these earrings for a while but still can't master one thing. When they are worn they eventually lose their shape. They start to hang down and lose the curved leaf look. Do you have any suggestions?

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    1. Hi Karen. I know what you mean. I've started brushing clear nail polish on the backs of them and it works great. After the first coat dries, I gently shape them if necessary before brushing on another coat. One thing that I noticed is that the longer you wait to coat them, the more coats they will need. As you mentioned, the earrings get softer over time. The nail polish is the most effective if you brush it on just after making the earrings while the stitching is still firm. I just did a pair of them last night where I made the first earring a while back as a sample and only just made the second earring yesterday. I had to put three coats on the older earring because it had become noticeably softer than the freshly made earring.

      I miss browsing through your Etsy shop.

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  3. Jill Wiseman doesn't only do videos she also has a store that can be found at jillwisemandesigns.com
    She sells delicas too.
    Also in a later video Jill talks about the leaf sagging and suggests a product that is specifically made to stiffen beadwork. I've also seen people use clear floor wax for the same reason.

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    1. I have seen that video where Jill coats her earrings. Clear nail polish is cheaper and easier to find and I only have to coat the back of my earrings by brushing it on rather than dunking them.

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  4. TY for posting these. Made my 1st Russian leaves using your tweaked version and used Jill Wiseman's PDF tutorial. I like the shorter, fatter leaf that you have designed. Did mine in S/L Red, S/L Green and S/L matte crystal. I used strong tension and stitch the inner top seed beads together which seemed to help tighten up & increased the 3D effect.

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  5. When I finish these I weave the thread through the beads near the outer edge and tighten..then I get a wonderful 3D shape. These are the first project I ever applied nail polish to...did that after reading all the comments on how they flatten out.

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