Sun Fiesta Earrings TUTORIAL

Fiesta Sun Earrings 

by Erin Siegel

for Ornamentea.com

These bright, playful earrings will light up your Summer days! So fun and easy to make.

Ingredients:

28 glass 4mm rounds

2 glass 6mm rounds

2 hammered brass 33mm metalrings

2 brass ear wires

2 brass head pins

56” of walnut 4ply Irishwaxed linen cord

Tools:

Round nose pliers

Chain nose pliers

Scissors

Ruler

Instructions:

1: Convert the headpins into eyepins by trimming off the heads and creating a loop at one end as shown.

2: String one 6mm glass round; form a simple loop. Set aside. Cut the cord in half and set one aside.

3: Make a 3” fold at one end of the cord. Form a larks head knot around the brass ring as shown.

4: Use the short end of cord to form an overhand knot against the previous larks head knot. Trim ends to 1/8”. Using the long end of cord, form a half-hitch knot around the ring. 

5: String a 4mm bead and form 3 half-hitch knots. Repeat until entire ring is covered. Form an overhand knot against the last half-hitch knot. Trim ends to 1/8”.

6: Attach the bead link made in step one to the brass ring between the first and final knots. Attach an ear wire to the bead link. 

7: Repeat steps 1-4 to complete the second earring.

Fiesta Chandelier Earring TUTORIAL

Fiesta Chandelier Earrings

by Erin Siegel 
for Ornamentea.com

These red hot earrings are the perfect accessory for sizzling Summer style!

Ingredients

22 glass 6mm rounds

2 hammered brass 33mm metalrings

2 brass head pins

2 brass ear wires

56” of walnut 4ply Irishwaxed linen cord

Tools:

Round nose pliers

Chain nose pliers

Scissors

Instructions:

1: Convert the headpins into eyepins by trimming off the heads and creating a loop at one end as shown.

2: String one 6mm glass round; form a simple loop. Set aside. Cut the cord in half. Set one aside.

3: Make a 3” fold at one end of the cord. Form a larks head knot around the brass ring. 

4: Using the long end of cord, form two half-hitch knots around the ring.

5: Use the short end of cord to string one 6mm glass bead and form an overhand knot ¾” from the previous larks head knot. Trim end to 1/8”.Using the long end of cord, string a bead and form an overhand knot ½” from the last half-hitch knot. Trim end. Repeat steps 3-5 to complete another beaded section next to the first. 

6: Repeat step 3. Use the short end to string a bead and form an overhand knot ¾” from the larks head knot. Use the long end to string a bead and form an overhand knot 1 ¼” from the larks head knot. Trim ends.

7: Repeat step 3. Use the short end to string a bead and form an overhand knot ½” from the previous larks head knot. Use the long end to form two half-hitch knots around the brass ring. String a bead and form an overhand knot ¾” from the last half-hitch knot. Trim ends. Repeat entire step to complete another beaded section next to the last one.

8: Attach the bead link made in step one to the brass ring. Attach an ear wire to the bead link.

9: Repeat steps 1-7 to complete the second earring.

Fiesta Fringe Earring TUTORIAL

Wear these fun, flirty earrings and you are ready for some Summer lovin' fun. Or of course, a fiesta! The earrings are a slightly different take on my original bohemian knotted earring design. This pair of earrings is my latest design contribution in my line of jewelry projects for Ornamentea.com. Visit my designer page on the website.

Ornamentea is running a special offer with my tutorials this month. Order my book, Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry and receive a sample bundle of my favorite stringing material, Irish Waxed Linen Cord! Hurry, this offer ends July 30th.

Ooo...look. A frozen margarita concoction and some colorful party paper lanterns. Party time! These images and the colors just remind me of Summer fun and lively gatherings. I think you can see where I got my inspiration from, can't you?  I made the earrings inspired by a Cino De Mayo fiesta we hosted at our house this year. Yep, these are the photos I took of the party that day and yes, that is one of my specialty frozen margarita drinks. I make a pretty rockin' margarita, if I do say so myself. ;) Okay, before you get your party on, it's time to get your craft on first. Here's how to make the Fiesta Fringe Earrings:

Fiesta Fringe Earrings

Ingredients:
22 glass 6mm rounds
2 hammered brass 33mm metal rings
 2 brass ear wires
2 brass head pins
 56" of 4ply Irish waxed linen cord

Tools:
Scissors
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers

1. Convert the headpins into eye pins by trimming off the heads and creating a loop at one end as shown.

2. String one 6mm glass round; form a simple loop. Set aside. Cut the cord in half. Set one aside.

3. Make a 3" fold at one end of the cord. Form a larks head knot around the brass ring as shown.

4. Using the long end of cord, form two half-hitch knots around the ring.

5. String a 6mm glass bead and form an overhand knot. Trim end to 1/8". Use the short end of cord to string one 6mm glass bead and form an overhand knot after the bead as shown. Trim end to 1/8".

6. Repeat steps 3-5 four more times to complete the beaded sections on the brass ring.
7. Attach the bead link made in step one to the brass ring. Attach an ear wire to the bead link.
8. Repeat steps 1-5 to complete the second earring.

Dream Catcher Pendant TUTORIAL

Next weekend I'm taking my 2 1/2 year old daughter to her first Native American Pow Wow. I hope she enjoys the flute music, drumming, dancing, storytelling and crafts. She's already familiar with dream catchers. Before she was born, I was gifted a beautiful dream catcher handmade by a Native American woman I know. It hangs above her bed now.

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by the Native American culture. From their deep respect and reverence for nature, to their great spiritual teachings, to their beautiful handcrafts and beadwork. One Native American tradition I have always loved and gravitated towards is the dream catcher.

Today, I’m going to be sharing with you how to make your own dream catcher-inspired pendant to capture the dreams, goals and positivity you want to bring into your life! You will learn the traditional weave to make the web of the dream catcher, then you can embellish your pendant with a variety of beads, feathers and/or charms to represent those dreams, hopes and wishes you want to catch. The finished pendant can be worn on it's own or you can incorporate it into your own beaded jewelry design. The act of making this pendant is a hands-on, creative way to realize your dreams, while making a keepsake with special meaning that you can wear and keep as a reminder of the things that are important to you. But, before I get into showing you how to make your pendant, I want to share with you a little bit about the origins of the dream catcher and a Native American dream catcher legend. I hope you will find this to be fun, informative and inspiring!

Origins of the Dream Catcher:

The Ojibaway or Chippewa were the first to design these decorations to protect their babies against bad dreams that might come along in the night. Both good and bad dreams would be caught by the web, but only good dreams could find their way through the hole and slide down the feather to the baby’s head. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, would get caught in the web and dissipate with the first rays of morning light.

Since the beginning, many Native American tribes have adopted the dream catcher and incorporated it into their heritage. The Lakota are one such group that have done this. The following is their story of the dream catcher:


Legend of the Dream Catcher (Lakota)

Long ago an old spiritual leader was high on a mountain and had a vision. A teacher of wisdom appeared in the form of a spider. The spider picked up the elder’s willow hoop and began to spin a web. She spoke to the elder about the cycles of life. She said, “In each time of life there are many forces, some positive and some negative. If you listen to the positive forces, they will steer you in the right direction. If you listen to the negative forces, they will lead you astray.”

When the spider finished speaking, she gave the elder the web and said. “The web is a perfect circle with a hole in the center. Use the web to help your people reach their goals, making good use of their ideas, dreams and visions. If you believe in the Great Spirit, the web will catch your good ideas, let them float through the hole and down the feather upon you.” The elder passed on the vision to the people. Now, many hang a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions. The good thoughts are captured in the web of life and dropped down to the person, the negative thoughts are caught in the web and perish at daybreak, never to be a part of their lives.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I would really like to adopt this concept! Who’s with me? Okay, let’s make some dream catcher pendants to wear to catch those good dreams from the air, let them float down into our hearts!

Materials needed:

 1 metal 25mm ring
1 gemstone 4mm round

3 size 8 seed beads in assorted colors

1 feather charm

2 metal 4mm jump rings

18” of 4ply Irish waxed linen cord (color of your choice)

A kit containing all the materials needed and instructions can be found in my Etsy shop here.

Tools:

 Scissors

A pair of chain nose pliers (to attach the jump rings)

  
Instructions:
1. Use the cord to make a 1” fold at one end. Use the folded end to form a lark’s head knot around the copper ring as shown in photo 1.

2. Using the long end of the cord, form a half-hitch knot around the copper ring and the 1” tail as shown in photo 2.

3. Trim the tail. Pull the cord down so that it sits on the inside of the copper ring as shown in photo3.

4. Bring the cord around the copper ring and through the loop as shown in photo 4. This is called looping. Continue making loops around the ring 5 more times. Add seed beads as desired.

5. Bring the cord around the first loop created in step 4 and through the loop as shown in photo 5.

6. Continue looping in the same matter adding seed beads as shown in photo 6. Loop around the inner diameter of the ring twice.

7. Use the cord to string one 4mm bead; tie and overhand knot and trim cord as shown in photo 7.

8. Use 1 jump ring to attach a feather charm to the pendant. Use another jump ring to attach a chain or necklace cord to the pendant and enjoy!

HIS and HER Embroidered Leather Cuff TUTORIAL

I'm excited to share with you my latest designer project for Ornamentea.com...HIS and HER Embroidered Leather Cuffs. Isn't that just the sweetest thing? You can make one for that special guy in your life, BUT make one for yourself first, of course!

 

HER 

Beaded Embroidered Leather Cuff

Leather cuffs are hot! Maximize your style with a must-have beaded leather cuff bracelet.

Ingredients:

48 Brass filed cubes

24 Silver-plated 12mm buglebeads

18” of waxed linen cord (chose a color that closely matches the wristband you are using)

1 Suede Wristband

Tools:

Hole punch

Scissors

Ruler

Pen

1: Lay the cuff against the ruler, wrong side facing up.  Use the pen to make a mark 1 ½” from the end of the cuff and 3/8” from the bottom edge of the cuff. Then, make a mark that is 1 ¾” from the end and 3/8” from the top edge of the cuff as shown. Make a mark ¼” from each of the previous two marks as shown. Repeat 22 times.

2: Punch holes through all the marked places on the leather cuff as shown.

 3: Tie a double overhand knot at one end of the waxed linen cord. Thread the cord through the first hole in the cuff from back to front as shown.

 4: Use the linen cord to string 1 filed cube, 1 bugle bead, and 1 filed cube. Thread the cord through the next hole on the opposite side of the cuff as shown. Repeat 23 times to bead the entire length of the cuff.

 5: Tie a double overhand knot tightly against the back of the leather cuff and trim close to the knot as shown.

Tip: You can create a paper template for the cuff to make the measuring and marking a little easier. Trace the leather wristband on a piece of paper, make all the measurements and marks on the paper, punch all the holes with a paper punch and cut out the template. Then, transfer all the marks onto the cuff. I did not do that for this tutorial, but it's an option, especially if you are not so comfortable measuring and marking on the cuff or if you are making more than one. The measurements are fairly easy, though. I tried to make it as simple as possible.

Okay, now it's time to make one for HIM.

 HIS

Embroidered Leather Cuff 

Leather cuffs are hot for guys, too! Make this bracelet for all the special men in your life. Guys will love the wide suede band and the simple, un-fussy design.

Ingredients:

18” of waxed linen cord (chose a color that contrasts with the wristband you are using)

1 Suede Wristband

Tools:

Hole punch

Scissors

Ruler

Pen

Follow steps #1-4 above for the "HER" leather cuff, except omit the beads, unless your guy is into beads and there is nothing wrong with that!

This project would be...

Perfect for Father's Day!

Sunday, June 16th

Happy leather cuff crafting!