Six Geese a Layin' Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Beginner

I found a bunch of bird nest charms in my stash that I made years ago, added ear wires, and within a few minutes had oodles of Bird Nest Earrings! Bird nests are quick and easy to make. You are sure to find a design that you love by doing a Google search.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Brushed Silver Enameled Craft Wire - 40ft

H5-S20-40FT

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.90
Gold Club Price: $7.43

Out of Stock

18 Gauge Square Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18SQH

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $7.29
Gold Club Price: $5.47

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24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $42.72
Gold Club Price: $32.04

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2mm 18gauge sterling jump ring

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each

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Tools

Steel Bench Block 4x4 Inch - Pack of 1

G17-10

G17-10
Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 2.00 each
Price: $21.95
Gold Club Price: $16.46

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PROFESSIONAL QUALITY RING MANDREL 1-16

MAN-295.00

MAN-295.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $24.95
Gold Club Price: $18.71

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Nylon Ring Bending Pliers

PLR-841.00

PLR-841.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $20.97
Gold Club Price: $15.73

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Deluxe Soldering Kit

G15-5

G15-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $116.97
Gold Club Price: $87.73

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Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR

CLN-163.00

CLN-163.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.95
Gold Club Price: $13.46

Out of Stock

Dead Blow Brass Hammer - 2 lb. Brass Hammer

HAM-456.20

HAM-456.20
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.97
Gold Club Price: $24.73

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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Instructions

Step 1

Template Designs

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6", contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials.

Judy Larson's Six Geese a Layin' Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, six geese a layin earrings

Step 2

Step 3:

Egg Shapes Inside Egg Shapes for a Cobblestone Effect:

Cut two 2¼" pieces (appx. 57mm) of 18 gauge square Argentium wire. File both ends flat so a flush seam can be made.

Step 4

Shape each ring into an oval or a "D" shape, with the filed ends flush against each other. Place on a soldering block with a dot of medium paste solder under the seam. Heat around the rings with a butane torch until the solder flows up through and to the outside of the seam. Cool the rings on the solder brick.

Step 5

Use a rubber/nylon or rawhide mallet to round each ring on a hoop mandrel.

Step 6

Center a ring on a large bench block. Center another bench block on top of the ring. Strike a blow once or twice in the center of the top bench block with a brass mallet. This should flatten the ring and "square up" the square wire.

Step 7

Use nylon deep bending pliers to made a deep bend on one mark, creating a fat teardrop shape. Use a soft jaw pliers to bend the rest of the teardrop into more or less an egg shape. Repeat with the other ring. Keep adjusting the shape until both rings are as close to the same shape as possible.

Step 8

Flatten the shaped wire again as in Step 6.
Because any texturing/stamping will distort the metal shape, it is best to texture the 24 gauge Argentium sheet metal before using it. A Mini TruStrike Designer/Texture Hammer will impart a background texture with the same feeling as this texture sheet. The textured pieces should be annealed and flattened before soldering the small eggs and the wire egg shapes to them.

Step 9

Place medium paste solder on the back of the wire shape above the lower marks. Press it into place on the backing.

Decide how you want the shapes to hang. Here, medium paste solder was added to the textured backing outside narrow end of the wire shape, as well as on the outer edge of the wire shape in the same spot. A closed 18 gauge 2mm ID jump ring was pushed into the paste solder, making sure the jump ring was pushed against the wire shape.

Step 10

Decide how each egg shape will be positioned inside the "nest" wire frame. One at a time, place a dot of medium paste solder on the back side of an egg shape and press into place.

Step 11

When all the egg shapes are in place, heat the assemblies with a butane torch until the solder flows.

Trim excess backing away around the egg shapes and jump rings. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the shapes. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole inside the small jump ring.

Step 12

Pickle, rinse, and dry the "nests". Tumble the "nests" for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The "nests" shown have patina added.
Add ear wires.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!