RUSSIAN LEAF EARRINGS
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (DB1852)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Matte Opaque Blue Grey" (DB792)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Duracoat Dyed Opaque Jujube" (DB2119)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Duracoat Dyed Opaque Cactus" (DB2124)
I recently got some more fabulous Delica bead colors and I couldn't wait to try them out. I especially wanted to try the red "Jujube" Delicas. I don't use red very often because I'm very fussy about the shades of red that I like. I took a chance when I ordered these beads without having seen the color before but I was quite pleased to find that they're exactly the sort of red that I like. It's a dark, subdued shade of red that's nothing like "Christmas red". It's really not as bright as it appears in my photos.
Click HERE to watch Jill Wiseman's video tutorial. Click HERE to go to yesterday's post to download the free color chart for the design that I used on these earrings.
DOWNLOAD MY FREE TEMPLATE
I got a request for a blank template so click HERE to download a printable PDF file with blank Russian Leaf design templates that you can use to make your own designs. They look just like the blank chart above but there are four of them on a page.
MINI RUSSIAN LEAF EARRINGS
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Metallic Light Bronze" (DB22L)
- 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads "Opaque Avocado" (DB1135)
Raisa posted THIS "Russian Leaf" tutorial link in the comments a few days ago. The method is nearly identical to the one that I've been using from Jill Wiseman except that it makes mini leaves that are only about half the size of the earrings that I've been making. Below you can see how they look next to the full-size earrings:
I was able to follow that tutorial because I'm already familiar with how they're made. However, some of the steps might be a little too vague for someone making them for the first time. Also, there is a step near the end that tells you to repeat steps 6-9 but none of the steps are numbered. I only came up with eight steps until I realized that one of the steps should be split into two or three steps.
My new/used camera came in the mail yesterday and I think it's going to be great. It looks brand new and still had the original stickers on the front of it. I took a few test photos and they looked fine. I think it's probably a slightly newer version of the camera because the sounds that it makes are a little different than my old one's.
I would love to try to make these although I have only made jewelry free hand verses following a pattern. Should I try something easier first before trying these so I will not get discouraged?? Thanks for your help!!
ReplyDeleteIt would probably be helpful if you had some prior experience with Peyote stitch. You could watch Jill's video and see if it looks like something you could handle.
DeleteThanks so much, I will do that!!!! :-)
DeleteDo you sell these? I love the red and blue.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a shop for selling my beadwork at this time.
DeleteYou don't have to have a website. I would like to buy some too;)
DeleteI don't have any for sale.
DeleteHello!! How can i keep these earrings from getting all wobbly? I used 8lb fireline but they are not stiff at all. Am i doing something wrong?
ReplyDeleteYou're probably not doing anything wrong, Esther. It's the nature of the pattern that they come out soft. However, I've come up with some tricks that help make them a little more stable. First, I use Nymo D thread instead of Fireline. I don't know about 8lb Fireline since I've never used it, but I found that 6lb Fireline makes these come out too soft. Also, I've come up with a way of reinforcing the earrings that helps them hold their shape better. You can read about it in THIS post.
DeleteOh wow thank you so much!! Ive never used Nymo D but i will give it a try!! Thank you for the tips
ReplyDeleteMake sure that you get Nymo "D" and not "B". Nymo B is very fine and is about the equivalent of 6lb Fireline.
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