When I was a mature student 35 years ago, I used to make money in the holidays to feed my daughter by doing various side hustles. One of them was making earings to sell at car boot sales. The benefits system was not as generous in those days. It felt like Margaret Thatcher used single parents as scapegoats for everything wrong with the country. I haven’t made earings for 30 years as never had time once I had a full time job and another child. A few weeks back I found my collection of beads when decluttering. All of my beads are from broken jewellery that I saved at the time.
I need some earings for my daughter’s wedding and couldn’t believe how expensive nice ones are. Luckily, I still have all my earing making equipment in my craft cupboard and so I thought that I would have a practice at making some today. This is what you need to make them.
As well as head pins and ear wires (which can be bought on line or from hobby craft), you will need a selection of beads. These can be bought, or old necklaces dismantled. Charity shops are good places to buy cheap necklaces. A pair of thin pliers like the red ones in the picture are also needed to bend the wires.
These can also be bought on line or from Hobby Craft.
Very small beads are needed for next to the pin. This stops the bigger beads falling off. I think I bought some originally but sometimes they act as dividers in between the beads in necklaces.
To make the earing you put a small bead on the bottom and arrange the other beads on the wire, leaving enough wire to attach the ear wires and bend the wire over.
Once you have your beads in place, slip your ear wire on and bend the wire over into a loop with the pliers. It should be next to the wire, or tucked into the top bead.
It is as simple as that. These were made in 10 minutes. I hardly wear earings now. Once I used to make them to match every outfit that I had. Really, I need to start wearing them again. Weird earings were part of my personality but then I started working with challenging young people and so they were a safety risk.
Both the packets of wires cost about the same price as one lot of earings in the shops. Now that I know that I can still make them, I will make some for the wedding this week. Do you make jewellery?
I’ve made jewellery for quite a while. It started as a way of making presents for people when I had very little money and over the years I’ve also used it as a way of making jewellery to go with outfits for events.
Over the summer I was invited to a Colour Walk and whilst I don’t have many colourful clothes, I thought I could make some colourful necklaces and wear those. Most of my beads have come from broken necklaces I’ve been given or charity shops car boot sales. It’s a great way to give a new life to items.
It is. Yes I definitely know that some people will get some for presents this year. Thanks for sharing
I have never done but my daughter has
made jewellery. I think you have to have creative streak in your blood. I have none. I really love your creations Toni. They are gorgeous. Like you, I used to wear earrings but for dome reason I stopped. I think I will start again after seeing your earrings.
Brilliant. Thank you. Good idea. I have been wearing them a few weeks now and I do feel a bit smarter and more finished off.
I’ve made jewellery for many years.I started with fun,funky stuff.. ladybird earrings and things like that. I then progressed to gem stones. I began making sets to order so they were unique to the customer. I used to set up displays in the breast clinic and donate half of my takings to the cancer unit. I then discovered Swarovski and developed twinkleitis. I still have so much stock as I don’t get out easily. Perhaps I should mail order what I have left? Final declutter 😁
Aww sounds good.That was nice of you to raise money. You could probably sell your stock. I paid a fortune for sparkly stones for costumes when my daughter danced in competitions.
I used to Toni I have a huge toolbox up the loft with all manor in some inherited from my Mom it was my mom that went to a class at the library and she used to show me. I really used to enjoy it, yours look lovely by the way. X
Aww brilliant. Thank you.
I have never made jewellery, but I have lots and lots of beaded necklaces that my mother in law used to collect. If you ever run out of beads I may be able to help you out!!!
Aww that is so kind. Thank you x