Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. You can make these earrings shorter, but the front and the back wire portions including the bead of each earring should be the same length for balance and to prevent loss.
Ellipse Earrings
by Karen Meador, Ph.D.
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Coiling, Making Loops, Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
You can make these earrings shorter, but the front and the back wire portions including the bead of each earring should be the same length for balance and to prevent loss.

Materials

20 Gauge Round Dead Soft 14/20 Gold Filled Wire
H4-20D
  • Lesson Quantity: 20.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 1FT
  • Price: $6.32
  • Gold Club Price: $4.74
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21 Gauge Round Half Hard 14/20 Gold Filled Wire
H4-21H
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.92
  • Gold Club Price: $3.69
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Beads
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Tools

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
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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
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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
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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face
G3-27
  • G3-27
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.97
  • Gold Club Price: $10.48
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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2
G17-9
  • G17-9
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
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Instructions
Step 1
Create a bead dangle by working from the roll or coil of 20g dead soft wire. Thread the wire through the bead hole from bottom to top until about ¾ inch of wire shows through the top.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 2
Bend the wire coming out of the bottom hole of the bead up the contour of the bead to the top hole straight up in preparation for making a loop.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 3
Measure and cut the long wire 6 inches or more from the top hole. (The length cut depends upon the number of wraps you want on the bead.)
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Step 4
Wrap the short wire (that came through the top hole) around the longer wire a couple of times and flush cut the short wire.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 5
Create a wrapped loop with the long wire and continue this wrapping at least three or four more times on the bead.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 6
End by making a wire swirl in the opposite direction from the wrap and repeat steps 1-7 for the second bead.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 7
Flush cut both ends of a 5" long piece of 20g half hard wire and mark it 3" from one end.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 8
Use the chain nose pliers to bend the wire at the previously made 3" mark as shown in the picture.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 9
Use the round nose pliers to create a small inward loop on the short end of the bent wire.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings
Step 10
Hammer the ear wire. (Tip: I usually hammer the looped side of the wire heavier than the straight side since it will not be going through the ear hole and can expand.)



Step 11
Repeat steps 9-12 for the second ear wire and hang the prepared beads from the loops.
Options:

1. I like to dip my copper earrings in liver of Sulphur and put them in the tumbler for a couple of hours.

2. If you are using a small bead, you will likely want to shorten the long back wire of the earrings. Make this wire measure approximately the same length as the front of the earring including the bead.
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Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Ellipse Earrings - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry, ellipse earrings