Waves on the Beach Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Weaving
Technique(s): Weaving
Skill Level: Intermediate

When our children were growing up, we never took vacations, just long weekends to visit the grandparents. After we both retired, our daughter talked us into a beach vacation and we never looked back! After returning from that first eye-opening experience, I made these earrings that remind me of waves crashing on the beach and the bubbles and foam on them.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-20D

Lesson Quantity: 13.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $18.40
Gold Club Price: $13.80

Add to Bag

26 Gauge Round Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-26D

Lesson Quantity: 5.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $4.18
Gold Club Price: $3.14

Add to Bag

4mm round silver beads

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

3mm round silver beads

Lesson Quantity: 4.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

2.5mm round silver beads

Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Sterling Silver Jump Ring Closed (.032) 20ga. 6mm - Pack of 10

K11-18

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.44
Gold Club Price: $3.33

Add to Bag

Sterling Silver Earwire 19.5mm w/ 2.5mm Ball - Pack of 10

K19-36

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.36
Gold Club Price: $6.27

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Tools

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

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

Acculoop Precision Round Nose

PLR-741.00

PLR-741.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.97
Gold Club Price: $14.23

Add to Bag

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

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Read through the tutorial before starting the project. Follow all safety precautions for the space you are working in as well as all safety precautions pertaining to the tools and supplies you will be using to complete the project.

Step 1: Straighten and cut two 5¼" and two 1¼" pieces of 20 gauge wire.

Step 2

Measure and mark 2¾" in from one end of each 5¼" wire piece.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, measure and mark the wire

Step 3

Center the mark on the wire on one side of the jaw of your round nose pliers. Since a medium sized eye was wanted, the mark was centered between the tip and base of the cone jaw on one side of the pliers. If a larger eye is desired, slide the wire closer to the jaw base. Conversely, if a smaller eye is desired, move the wire closer to the jaw tip.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, place the mark against your pliers

Step 4

Close the jaws of the pliers on the mark and push the wires down over the sides of the jaw. The wires then can be pushed to the sides, crossing close to the plier jaw.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, push the wire over the jaw of the pliers

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, bend the wire ends in opposite directions

Step 5

Using the tips of a round nose pliers, pinch the wires together as close to the jaw of the other pliers as is possible. This will create what looks like a cotter pin-second photo. If you would like a more angular bend, use your chain nose pliers-third photo. Be careful to not pinch too hard as you could inadvertently break the wires at the bend.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, pinch the wires where they cross

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, it will look like a cotter pin

Step 6

Note: To make sure that each earring matches and are mirror images of each other, in the following steps complete each step for both earrings at the same time. With the short wire on top, curve the portion closest to the eye of each "cotter pin" over the 1¼" mandrel.

Use the photo as a template for shaping the pieces following the directions in Steps 7-13.

Pro Tip:

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, place a tooth pick in the loop

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, use your fingers to bend the wires around the mandrel

Step 7

Using the tips of round or chain nose pliers, make a small open curl at one end of each of the two short wires.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make a small open curl

Step 8

Using the base of a round nose pliers, make a large open curl at the other end of each short wire.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make a larger curl at the other end

Step 9

Gently spread the wire ends of each "cotter pin" just enough to allow you to work with each wire end to make the open spirals.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, gently spread the ends of the cotter pins

Step 10

Grasp the short wire on the "cotter pin" at the very tip and curl about ¾ of the way around the base of a round nose pliers, shifting the wire as needed. Do not grasp too tightly or the wire could become dented with the pressure. Complete an open spiral using the template in Step 6.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, grasp the short end in the round nose pliers

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make a spiral at the end of the shorter wire

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make an open spiral at the end of the shorter wire

Step 11

Check to make sure that each spiral is as close to the same as possible. Do not worry if the wires are spread apart at different distances-only the curl curve matters at this point.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, check to ensure they're similar size spirals on both

Step 12

Grasp the long wire on the cotter pin at the very tip and curl about ¾ of the way around the base of a round nose pliers, shifting the wire as needed. As before, do not grip the wire to tightly or it may become dented. Complete an open spiral using the template in Step 6. Push the two spiral wire ends together. Check to make sure that the spirals match. If they do not, check each with the template and adjust as necessary.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make another open spiral

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, check to make sure the two earrings match

Step 13

Curve each longer wire spiral end gently around the end of the shorter wire, as shown. Make sure both earring base wires match.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, curve the longer wire around the shorter one

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make sure the two earrings match

Step 14

Gently spread the two base wire sides apart, being careful not to change the curve of the wires.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, gently spread the two base wire sides apart

Step 15

Straighten and cut two 30" pieces of 26 gauge wire.

Pro Tip: Leaving a 1" tail of wire to start helps you hold the wire in place for wrapping. It also helps you keep the wrap wire from spinning around the core wire as it is wrapped. Starting on one side at the base of the eye, wrap the eye, keeping the wraps as close together as possible, but not overlapping. Wrap until the base on the other side of the eye is reached.

Note: Do not worry that the inner wrap wires are very tight and the outer wrap wires are slightly spread as they are going around a curve and this is perfectly normal.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, cut two pieces of 26 gauge wire, 30 inches each

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, start wrapping the wire

Step 16

Set the wire base components on a flat surface, making mirror images of each other. Pull the beginning tail down beside an outer wire. Nestle the short curled wire next to the larger component as shown.

Wrap around all three component wires and the wire tail three times, as shown. Trim away the beginning wire tail close to the bottom of the third wrap.

Note: To create mirror images, each earring should be wrapped in opposite directions from here on.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, nestle all the pieces together on a flat surface

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the pieces together

Step 17

Wrap the long center wire three times, ending on the back. Push these wraps up close to the three wraps holding the small curled wire to the framework.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap around the center long wire three times

Step 18

Pull the wrap wire under, around, and over the small curled wire, pulling it toward the center wire. Pull the wrap wire down to the back between the long wire and the outer shorter long wire. Pull the wrap wire up to the front between the short curled wire and the long center wire.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the 26 gauge wire around the outer base wire

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, bring the wire up and over the center wire

Step 19

Pull the wrap wire up and around the center long wire. Pull the wrap wire over the center long wire and outer shorter long wire and down to the back. Pull the wrap wire up to the front between the two longer wires. Wrap the center and short curled wire together, coming up from the back to the front between the two of them.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the wire around the center wire

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, bring the wire around the outer wire and back to the center wire

Step 20

Make three wraps around the center wire.

Step 21

Repeat Steps 18-20 three more times, for a total of four woven connecting sections.

Step 22

Pull the wrap wire from the back side around the outer shorter long wire and over the longer wire, connecting the two with two wraps. Wrap the longer wire alone three times.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, connect the two wraps

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap three times

Step 23

Repeat Step 22 for a total of eight connecting wraps.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, continue weaving as in step 22

Step 24

Make 9-11 wraps around the longer wire, until a point is reached where a 4mm bead can be wrapped in place. Make two wraps after adding the bead. Add a 3mm bead, making two wraps after it.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, coil around the base wire

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, add a bead to the weaving wire

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make two wraps and add a smaller bead

Step 25

Attach one more 3mm bead, then five 2.5mm beads. Continue to wrap the long spiral until you are about 1/8" from the end. Trim the wrap wire and tuck the end in place if needed.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, add beads to the end and coil the tip of the wire

Step 26

If necessary, adjust the eye of the earring. Be careful to not apply too much pressure as the wrap wires could be pushed out of place and/or be damaged.

After both earrings are made, make any adjustments needed to make them match. Do not worry about this step too much. Since they will be worn on opposite side of the face, no one will be able to tell if they are not perfect.

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make any adjustments to the eye of the earring

Step 27

Attach the earring findings with jump rings.

Imagine these earrings bent to a shorter, wider shape. How about adding beads on the inner or outer curve instead of adding the short, curled wire? What about using crystals or gemstones instead of metal beads? With you as the designer, the possibilities are endless!

Judy Larson's Waves on the Beach Earrings - , Wire Weaving, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, attach an ear finding to each earring

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!