Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings | Contemporary Wire Jewelry

Merry Go Round Earrings

by Sonja Kiser

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Wrapping
Skill Level: Beginner

Round and round we go, creating spirals, going around a straight wire with a bead at the end. I used a single 8mm Swarovski� crystal round bead, but a different size/shape bead could be used to give this earring a completely different look. This pair of earrings is approximately 3 inches in length. Also included are directions for making these earrings shorter, for those who enjoy smaller earrings.

Special Instructions: Make both earrings at the same time, working one step on one earring, and then the same step on the other.

Materials

22 Gauge Square Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire

H8-22SQH

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
Price: $11.12
Gold Club Price: $8.34

Add to Bag

8mm Siam 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 6

A13-90

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.57
Gold Club Price: $3.43

Add to Bag

Silver Filled Earwire w/ 2mm Ball 18mm - Pack of 10

S19-22

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $3.48
Gold Club Price: $2.61

Add to Bag

Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Flat Nose Wire Plier

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

Round Nose Wire Plier

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

Chain Nose Wire Plier

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

Add to Bag

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

Add to Bag

12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler

G7-30

G7-30
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $2.97
Gold Club Price: $2.23

Add to Bag

Marker -extra fine

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Add All Items to Cart

Instructions

Step 1

Using 22-gauge square half hard wire, straighten, clean, and cut a 12" piece for each earring. Mark three inches from the end of the wire. At this mark, bend the wire 90°, and make a wrapped loop. (If you want to make shorter earrings, shorten this 3" wire.) Do not cut the loop's wrap wire; leave it extended to the side.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Cutting 12 inch pieces into the 22-gauge square half hard wire, and making a wrapped loop.

Step 2

Slide an 8mm bead on the shorter wire. Using round nose pliers, make a small loop to hold the bead on and prevent any sharp edges.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Adding 8mm bead to wire.

Step 3

Using the long extended wire, beginning at the bottom, wrap the wire tightly around a round pencil, forming a spiral. Slide the pencil out of the wire.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Forming spiral with 22-gauge wire.

Step 4

Grasp the end of the spiral with chain nose pliers and gently pull downward. Pull until the bottom of the spiral reaches the top of the bead.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Using chain nose pliers to pull spiral.

Step 5

Make a tiny loop, with chain nose pliers, at the end of the spiraled wire.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Looping the spiral wire.

Step 6

Now gently work the straight wire (with the bead) to the inside of the spiraled wire.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Working straight 22-gauge square half hard into the spiral wire.

Step 7

Curve the end of the spiraled wire, creating a circle that contains the wire with the bead inside the spirals.

Sonja Kiser's Merry Go Round Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, Circling the 22-gauge wire and adding bead.

Step 8

Attach the wrapped loop to an ear wire.

Reviews

Sonja Kiser

While on a business trip with her husband, Sonja discovered an article written by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong in Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry Magazine. The article intrigued her so much that she contacted Dale and began taking classes at 'Cougars Creations' studio.

Sonja has a Master's Degree in Studio Art and presently teaches art at the middle school level. She has previously exhibited and worked in a variety of art media including watercolor, pencil, and photography. Before venturing into the world of wire, she had previously exhibited and sold jewelry made from wood and oven baked clay. Sonja now admits that making and creating her own wire jewelry designs is her favorite artistic endeavor, as she loves taking an idea or inspiration and forming it into a piece of wearable art. She credits her love of creating wire jewelry to the teaching and encouragement from Dale.

Sonja has recently published her first wire jewelry pattern in Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry, and also has a design featured in Dale's new Book "Wirework." Sonja resides in eastern Kentucky with her husband and their son.