Pattern Review: Bohemian Beauty Earrings

 

BOHEMIAN BEAUTY EARRINGS

• 15/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Gilt-Lined Capri Blue Opal" (588)
• SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Blue"

I've blogged a few times about some of Extrano's earring patterns. I blogged HERE, HERE and HERE about her "Persian Fans Earrings". I also posted a review of her "Retro Fans Earrings" pattern HERE. Today's post is a review of Monika's "Bohemian Beauty Earrings" pattern which you can buy from her Etsy shop, HERE. I've also got one other earring pattern from Extrano called "Swinging Cuties"  which I haven't had a chance to try yet. As you can see, Monika has some very pretty and unique earring designs.

For my review, I made the "Fan" version of the pattern. The pattern also includes an alternate design which I haven't tried because the fan earrings were my favorite.

When I started choosing my beads to make these, I discovered that I have a relatively limited choice of colors in size 15/0 seed beads to use for the accent colors. In spite of that, I was able to come up with five very pretty color combinations. In a pinch, I think they might still look very nice using all the same color 15/0 beads. I might also try using a contrasting metallic color sometime. I do have 15/0 seed beads in plenty of metallic colors.

The only other problem that I had making these was that the bottom of the earrings has a tendency to warp depending on the beads that are used. I made several more samples and had the same issue every time no matter how careful I was with my tension. So, I came up with a slightly different way of embellishing the bottom edge that does help a bit but they still don't always come out completely flat. Below are three of my first sample earrings but you can't really see in the photo how the bottom edges are a little wavy. Something that you can do to help with the warping is to reinforce the bottom edge of the earrings before weaving in your thread at the end. I also found that flattening the earrings under some heavy books overnight helped quite a bit.

Here is a photo of two more sample earrings. The earring on the left was made by following the pattern as written. The earring on the right was made with my tweaks.

 
You may find that the earrings also aren't flat at various stages while making them but don't worry about that. This will be fixed when you add the subsequent rounds of beads.

I tried three different types of beading thread when I made my sample earrings to see which worked the best. FireLine works perfectly and is probably the best choice. Nymo D thread also works quite well and that's what I used to make all of the pairs of earrings posted here. I don't recommend using Nymo B. Nymo B is so fine that the earrings didn't have enough structure. They looked nice but they were much too soft.

Note that I've changed the loop at the top of all of my earrings. I made my loops "Sidonia-style". Those of you familiar with Sidonia's YouTube video tutorials will know just what I mean and I've posted instructions for this loop at the bottom of this post.

Below are four more pairs of earrings. The first pair was made by following the pattern. The last three were made with my tweak along the bottom edge.

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Color-Lined Dark Olivine" (330)
• SuperDuo beads "Green Iris Matte"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Caramel Ceylon" (421C)
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Ivory White"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
• 15/0 seed beads "Rose Lined Amethyst" (no info available)
• SuperDuo beads "Opaque Rose Gold Topaz Luster"

• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
• 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
• 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
• 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Matte Metallic Patina" (2008)
• SuperDuo beads "Chalk Green Luster"

Here is what to do if you want to try my tweaked version of the earrings:

MAIN MOTIF
Steps 1-6: Do as directed by the pattern.

Step 7: Make a "Sidonia" loop. To do this, pick up seven 15/0 seed beads and go back through the bead that you exited at the top of the earring to form a loop. Go back up through the first bead on the loop. Pick up a 15/0 bead and go through the next five beads of the loop. Pick up a 15/0 bead and go through the last bead of the loop. Reinforce the loop a couple of times.

FAN SHAPED EARRING
Step 1: Do as directed by the pattern.

Step 2: Go around and exit through the 15/0 bead as directed. Pick up one 15/0 bead and then go through the outer hole of the SuperDuo bead as directed. This extra bead is needed to make the variation work. Without it there will be a gap in the beadwork.

Step 3: Pick up one 15/0 + one 8/0 + one 15/0 instead of the sizes listed in the pattern.

Step 4: Exit through the last SD. Pick up one 15/0 bead and go through the nearest 15/0 bead.

Step 5: Add four 15/0 beads around the outside point of the center SuperDuo of each trio. Omit the 15/0 bead that the pattern says to add between each trio of SuperDuos. Instead just go through the outer holes of the two SuperDuos on the sides of each trio where they touch each other.

Steps 6-7: Skip these two steps.

Step 8: Reinforce the beads along the bottom edge.