"But, really, why does anyone create? You feel a... a restlessness inside, a need to make something new, something no one has ever seen before. You want to add to the beauty and the richness of the world with a gift, an offering that is uniquely yours. It's an act of selfishness and generosity, all rolled into one."

-- Bruce Coville,
The Last Hunt

Friday, February 18, 2011

More Earrings


These are "Grand Aura" by Marilee Rockley, from her book Up and Tat 'Em. I used "Withered Vine" HDT by Krystledawn, with Miyuki Delica seed beads in pale green and pale lavender (in fact, they are so pale that you have to look really closely to tell them apart) with a "silk" finish. The larger beads are amethyst.

When I went to the bead store to pick out the large beads, I was thinking of getting something in a light green to sort of blend with the thread and the seed beads. In fact, I found some almost as soon as I walked in that I nearly bought. I'm really glad that I kept an open mind and kept looking (I think I looked at every bead in the store). When I saw a strand of Czech glass beads in a dark purple, I knew that was the color I needed, but they only had them in one size, and I needed two. I turned around, and there were the amethysts!

It makes sense, really; the thread is from Krystle's "Vineyard at Dusk" line, and that's the purple that goes with it. Goes to show what a great sense of color Krystle has.

These earrings are a birthday present for my sister. (As far as I know, she never reads my blog, and even if she does there will be other things in the box as well that will still be a surprise.) Picking the pattern was the hardest part; I knew as soon as I had the idea which thread and seed beads to use, but it took me a couple of days to settle on the pattern.

The ring at the top is the last element made. Since it's just a single ring, not joined to anything else, I decided that this was the time to try out finishing with a single-shuttle split ring to hide the ends. It worked beautifully, and I will definitely do it again whenever I have the chance. Unfortunately, there aren't that many patterns where it can work. But where it will work, it's definitely the best choice-- you finish tatting and your ends are already hidden! How much better can it get?

7 comments:

  1. Those earrings are really, really nice! :)

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  2. Well done, Miranda! The earrings are lovely - nd I could see the difference in the shades of colour. They really work.

    Had to laugh - you have one of those sisters like mine. I am not afraid to post pics of her presents as she never looks!

    Really good article on the math issue.

    I have been ranting about this for ,years as I have had to help so many knitters figure out their patterns.

    Many women threw up their hands before even reading through the pattern, proclaiming that they had no head for math - you get the picture. Not pretty.

    It is a huge problem - maybe more for my generation than for you younger women, but to be honest, I saw just as many young'uns as old gals with the same terrible lack of confidence.
    And the beat goes on...

    Fox : )

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  3. ..that is beautiful! (and I am not just saying that because you used my daughter's HDT!) Seriously! It is beautiful!

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  4. Pretty earrings, you did a really nice job!!

    I think green and purple are a nice combination

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  5. Very pretty, they would also make a nice necklace.

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  6. I think your earrings are gorgeous, and I am sure she will love them. well done
    Margaret

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