Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Earrings are a great way to show how to make different wire and bead components.

Ear Pillows, an Earring Design

by Charley Key
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Earrings are a great way to show how to make different wire and bead components. Although used in this design as earrings, the techniques shown can be used in many other wire jewelry making venues that incorporate beads.
Special Instructions: Make both earrings at the same time, working one step on one earring and then the same step on the other.

Materials

22 Gauge Square Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-22SQH
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $2.58
  • Gold Club Price: $1.93
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Sterling Silver Stardust Beads 5mm - Pack of 5
K9-221
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $2.78
  • Gold Club Price: $2.09
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Purple Crazy Lace Agate 12mm Coin Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-336
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.55
  • Gold Club Price: $8.66
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Sterling Silver Earwire w/ Coil - Round Wire 25mm - Pack of 2
K19-42
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $1.89
  • Gold Club Price: $1.42
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Flat Nose Wire Pliers
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Double Ended Pin Vise
G5-4
  • G5-4
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.98
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Marker -extra fine
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Instructions
Step 1
Straighten and clean, then measure and cut two 5-inches long pieces of 22 gauge square half-hard wire. Mark the center of each wire and use flat-nose pliers to make a 90° bend at each mark. Thread a disk bead onto each wire and slide it up to the bend.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Add bead to 22 aguge quare half hard wire.
Step 2
Use fingers to tightly wrap each of the wires up and around the bead, criss crossing them on the top, with the longer wire going in front on one and toward the back on the other.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrap each wire up and around the beads.
Step 3
Use flat-nose pliers to make a 90° bend on each longer wire, heading it up and away from the top of each bead.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Making 90 degree bend with flat nose pliers.
Step 4
Use the shorter wire to tightly wrap around the longer wire, working from the bead and up, 3 times to show.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Wrapping the short wire around the long.
Step 5
Use chain-nose pliers to make a small loop at the end of each shorter wire, heading toward the bottom of the bead, and use flat-nose pliers to roll the loop into a rosette, ending on top of the bead in front of the wrap.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Making a loop with chain nose pliers.
Step 6
Place a 5mm laser cut bead on the remaining wire. Place flat-nose pliers on the wire immediately after the bead and bend the wire 90° toward the opposite side the rosette cam from. Repeat on other component, bending the wire in the opposite direction.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Bending the wire over the flat nose pliers.
Step 7
Use either a larger section of round-nose pliers, or the small barrel on small double barrel bail pliers to make a wrapped loop from this bend up and around. Attach your favorite ear wires.
Charley Key's Ear Pillows, an Earring Design - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Making a wrapped loop and adding ear wires.