Retired - Courting Elizabeth Earrings

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. To start this project, gently sand the top surface of the Vintaj natural brass alchemy chandelier drop using the Vintaj Relief Block. You want to expose some of the shiny brass surface below.
2. Thread a size 12 or 13 needle with 25 inches of Fireline braided beading thread. Please watch the video on How to Bead Weave a Picot Edge Around Filigree. From what you learned in the video, bead weave a picot edge around the bottom "floral" part of your Vintaj chandelier drop using Miyuki Delicas 11/0 in galvanized matte eggplant purple. See the photo for the starting and stopping point. When you get all the way around the base, tie off your thread and incorporate it back into your bead work.
3. Next, thread 15 inches of Fireline beading thread onto your needle. Bead weave a picot edge around the interior round circle filigree of your chandelier drop using the same Miyuki beads as in the last step. See photo. Tie off your thread when done and incorporate into your beadwork.
4. The final decorative flourish is creating the look of a beaded bead around a Czech glass druk bead. To do this, thread 20 inches of Fireline onto your needle. String a Czech glass 6mm druk bead in opal white onto your thread and slide it down until it is 6" from the tail. Tie a surgeons knot with the tail and the part of your thread with the needle on it. Make sure the thread is snug up against the side of the bead. Pass your needle back through the druk bead, under the thread bridge you just created by tying the knot, and tie another knot, making sure to pull snug along the way. Pass your needle back through the druk bead. Now string 8 Miyuki Delicas size 11/0 in galvanized matte eggplant purple onto your thread. Pass your needle through the druk bead again and pull snug. You just created a beaded arch along the side of your druk bead. Make another 3 Miyuki bead arches against your druk bead the same way you created the first
5. You should now have 4 strands of beads wrapping around the outside of your druk bead. Scoot them so that 2 are on each side of the druk bead and one the sets of 2 overlaps that original thread bridge you created. Pull your needle snug so that all the beads are tight. Pass the needle under the threads of two of the strands and if it happens to be the area overlapping your thread bridge, pass under that as well. Loop around and tie a surgeons knot. Pass your needle down through the druk bead again and tie the other set of two beads strands together in the same fashion. Cut off excess thread.
6. Place 1 purple Miyuki Delica, the above beaded bead, and another purple Miyuki Delica onto a brass eye pin. Create a simple wire loop (in the opposite orientation as the bottom one - see photo) after the last bead and cut off excess wire with flush cutters. It is important that the simple wire loops face opposite directions so that you earring hangs properly on your ear, otherwise it will be facing your neck instead of forward.
7. Open one of the simple wire loops from the segment you created in the last step and link it to the loop at the top of your beaded chandelier drop. Close the loop. Open the other simple loop and and connect it to the loop at the base of your earring hook. Close the loop.
8. All done!

• BCP-7699 - Czech Glass Druk Round Beads 6mm White Opal (50)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• DB-1174 - Miyuki Delica Seed Beads 11/0 Galvanized Matte Eggplant Purple DB1174 7.2 Grams
  Project uses 220 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FEA-6620 - Vintaj Natural Brass Classic French Ear Wire 20mm (2 Pair)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-6287 - Antiqued Brass Open Eye Pins 22 Gauge 2 Inch (x50)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• PND-7339 - Vintaj Natural Brass Alchemy Chandelier Drop Charms 44mm (2)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• XCR-1285 - FireLine Braided Beading Thread, 4lb Test and 0.005 Thick, 15 Yards, Smoke Gray
  Project uses 10 feet. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-2222 - Vintaj Metal Relief Block For Filing, Buffing & Sanding
• XTL-3004 - Beadsmith English Beading Needles Assortment So Handy
• XTL-5700 - Fiskars 5 Precision Tip Scissors - Super Sharp
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers