Tutorial - Autumn Earrings

Now the leaves are beginning to change colour, and the autumn equinox approaches bringing the longer nights... but also the harvest!  There are many celebrations associated with the harvest in different cultures.  The ancient Romans would dedicate their celebrations to Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, garden, and orchards.

Inspired by the harvest and the golden leaves, I present a tutorial for some very autumnal earrings!

You will need:

Gold earring hooks
Approx 6cm (roughly 2 1/2") gold chain
Gold headpins
Gold jump rings
Assorted beads  (I used:  Red carnelian, natural carnelian, yellow opal chips, bronze and copper coloured metal beads.)

Tools:
Round nosed pliers
Flat nosed pliers

Step 1:

Cut yourself 2 equal lengths of chain, around 3cm long.

Tip:  Cut one length and then count the links - that way you can make sure you have the exact same number of links and thus length in your second piece of chain.

Attach the two lengths of chain to your jump rings.


Step2:  Arrange your beads onto the headpins.  You can have as many or as few dangles as you like.  (Remember that if you put more than one bead onto the headpin you will need to leave room to make a loop to attach it!)

Step 3:  Which brings us onto making loops!
Using your round nose pliers, make a loop in the top of each of the headpins.

Step 4:  Attach your ear hooks to the jump rings at the top of the chain, and then lie out your pieces so you can see what order you would like to put the dangles in for your design.

Step 5:  Attach the dangles to the chain.
Remember to open the loops sideways as you would a jump ring to stop them from distorting and weakening.
Hold up the earring to see how it's hanging, and if you need to move any of the dangles around.

Step 6:  Attach the dangles on the second earring, counting the links to make sure you have put the same type of dangle on the same number link as the first one, to get even earrings.

 
All finished and ready to celebrate autumn!