  Here
we show two alternative designs for our Runway Earrings. Both styles
were made using a square peg pattern with the sides of the square being
1inch long. In both of these designs we incorporated size 6 seed
beads on the wire to add some interest. We also used a diagonal
brace to add strength to the piece.
Adding the seed beads is relatively easy to do, but it requires adding the beads for one 1" segment, then placing the wire on the jig and making the first 90 degree bend, then removing the wire from the jig and adding the beads for the second 1" segment. For each segment and 90 degree bend you will need to add beads, then make the bend. The bend in the wire holds the beads in place. This piece can obviously be made with our without the seed beads. Should you decide to use the seed beads, here is an opportunity to add a lot of design interest by alternating colors. We really aren't recommending the mono-color design shown here. The diagonal brace shown above is made of a wire segment with eye loops on each end. This brace is made by making the initial eye loop as described here and then adding your size 6 seed beads. Measure the length of the brace to be about 3/16" short of your target length, then make the eye loop on the opposite end of the brace. This should give you a brace that is the correct length. In order for the square wire component to accommodate the brace, you need to make complete loops around pegs 2 and 4 instead of just 90 degree bends that we made earlier. The nextlternative design for these Runway Earrings is that you can hang one or more beads from the bottom of the square wire component. A good way to do this is to make a loop completely around peg 3 when you are making the square wire component. This loop is used to hang your bead dangle. On the next page we show another alternative design for Runway earrings. This alternative is for a round Runway Earring made with a 2" diameter circle. |