Challenge 2012 (Day V) - 365 earrings in 365 days!

And the next entry in the seemingly never-ending earring saga (is this really just the fifth day?), is a study in spirals.  Working with wire is an extended learning process for  me; each time i try a wire technique, it seems like the first time.  I've made  spirals before.  Not thousands  of them, but a few.  Using a project from the book Complete Guide to Making Wire Jewelry (Art Jewelry Books by Kalmbach Books), i first had difficulty deciding which way the instructions meant for me to bend the wire.  Perpendicular, you say?  To what?  The 90-degree bend in the river?  The photos didn't help.  Maybe i was just overthinking  the process  but  it didn't get any easier with successive spirals.  Nevertheless, i pushed through the brain fog and created a pair of spiral-happy earrings.  AND i had a lot of help from my husband, who is also trying really hard to teach me to take decent photos.

Supplies:

22ga colored copper wire

black ear wires

round nose pliers

chain nose pliers

cutters

ruler

Cut pieces of wire ranging in length from 1.5" to 2" or even 2.5"

Make a simple loop at one end of each piece.  Go here for the how to:

jewelrymaking.about.com/od/wiretechniquesinfo/ss/050808.htm

For short dangles, measure about 1/8" from the bottom of the loop.

For longer dangles, measure about 1/2" from the bottom of the loop.

Listen hard at this point:  "Grip the wire with the tip of your chainnose pliers, and bend the wire 90 degrees.  This bend will make the stem of the wire perpendicular to the loop."

Got that?  Great!  You'll do it several more times.

Now make a spiral up to the 90 degree bend.  Go here for the how to:

www.artbeads.com/wire-spiral.htm

When you have all the spirals you can stand to make which for me was about six per earring, open a fairly large jump ring and slide the dangles on in a pleasing order.

Attach an ear wire, close the jump ring and admire your spirally handiwork!

And here's Day Five!   Ooooooooooooo!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Only 360 pairs of earrings to go!

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