I saw a pattern for a pair of beaded hoop earrings in the Winter 2008 issues of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine, and wanted to make them immediately. The earrings in the magazine were done in silver, with silver ball beads. But making something immediately, for me, means not waiting to get the exact supplies listed in the pattern, so improvisation is always part of the challenge. I had gold filled square and round wire, 4mm Swarovski crystals, and 4mm gold beads with a twisted design. Good enough! And since topaz is the birthstone for November, those sparkly crystals would work just fine for a special pair of earrings for me! Here is how they came out. Note: when it came to the part about bending the earrings around a mandrel to curve them, I had worries about the crystals maybe cracking off the wire, but going carefully made it possible.
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