The Design Gallery
Follow along with step-by-step beading projects and share your designs with beaders around the world—it’s quick & easy!
Chatter
on “Yellow Dragonfly”:“Where did my capital "I's" go??? They were there when I was typing...why would they turn…” read »
- on “Yellow Dragonfly”:
“I totally understand...but sometimes i let it sit for awhile where i cant see it. Then…” read »
- on “Evergreen Copper”:
“Ditto ditto everyone else. Love that hammered copper focal!…” read »
- on “Lots of Copper”:
“Wow lucky you! I would probably get into doing metal working if I got that as…” read »
- on “Butterfly Dance”:
“The bead weaving part is awesome. The whole necklace is very different and I like that.…” read »
on “In The Garden of Olives”:“P.S.--its so hard to tell in the pics what color the stones in the pendant are--they…” read »
- on “In The Garden of Olives”:
“Beadinggma: the metal in this piece is antique gold color. I got the pendant on…” read »
- on “Butterfly Dance”:
“This is just lovely! I love the design, especially the bead weaving...well done!…” read »
on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:“FYI...I decided to host a little give away of a wire wrapped briolette necklace on my…” read »
on “Aurora Damask”:“About the swellegant patinas.. not hard just difficult to determine when you are done letting it…” read »
- on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Thanks, ladies! If you do give the tutorial a try out and have a minute…” read »
on “In The Garden of Olives”:“Beautiful pendant and chain goes well with design. What kind of metal is it?…” read »
- on “Yellow Dragonfly”:
“Thanks Deb, nice to know you know how I feel about a redo. I am…” read »
on “A Green Cuff”:“Love this green with copper. Awesome!…” read »
- on “Recycled Blues”:
“Very pretty!…” read »
- on “Lots of Copper”:
“Love the new shapes, Nancy. This gift will be keeping you busy for quite awhile!…” read »
- on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“Beautiful!! I just went & looked at your tute. While I haven't tried it yet I…” read »
on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:“Oooh, I love the look of that wire against the glass. It makes me think of…” read »
on “Raspberry and Cream!”:“Great colors…” read »
- on “A Green Cuff”:
“LOVE IT!!…” read »
- on “Yellow Dragonfly”:
“I do like it. Not as much as the blue but aqua blue is my fave…” read »
on “Night Owl”:“Lovely!…” read »
- on “Blue beauty”:
“Very pretty!…” read »
- on “~ Brigantine Beach ~”:
“Beautiful!…” read »
- on “Raspberry and Cream!”:
“Lovely!…” read »
- on “Mystic Mystery”:
“Lovely set!…” read »
- on “Yellow Dragonfly”:
“Pretty!…” read »
on “A Green Cuff”:“FABULOUS!!!
…” read »- on “Blue Bird of Happiness in Brass”:
“Beautiful!…” read »
- on “Blue Velvet Wraps”:
“These are pretty!…” read »
- on “Evergreen Copper”:
“Lovely!…” read »
- on “Recycled Blues”:
“LOVELY!…” read »
- on “In The Garden of Olives”:
“LOvely !…” read »
- on “Lots of Copper”:
“These are adorable!…” read »
- on “A Green Cuff”:
“Love this Nancy!…” read »
on “Lots of Copper”:“So cool!…” read »
- on “A Green Cuff”:
“I agree, this color is gorgeous with copper....great piece!…” read »
- on “Ice Ice Druzy”:
“That druzy is cool. Great piece!…” read »
- on “Simply Crystal”:
“Lovely design!…” read »
- on “Fancy Circutry”:
“Very cool!…” read »
Whimsy Bird Earrings
About this design:
These earrings are part of a series of earrings I have put together called "Non-Identical Twins". In this series, I explore how to make earrings match or go together without having to be identical. The birds in these earrings are captured in different moments within their day. One earring shows the bird dancing on the branch, while the other shows the bird sitting on her nest. Each earring dances on the ear with little surprises like the twirls of wire and sparkle of crystal, or the ribbon that turns into the branch.
What you’ll need: (buy products below)
- 2 Kylie Parry Ceramic Copper Patina Birds
- 2 Vintaj Naturall Brass Willow Branches
- 27 Crystal Faceted Rondelles 4mm
- 2' Rusty Bucket Hand-dyed Silk Ribbon
- 1 Beach Stone Pebble
- 3 3" head pins
- 2 ear wires
- 11 1" head pins
- 2 Czech Glass Bellflowers
- 3 Vintaj Natural Brass Etched Jump Ring 9.5mm
- 13 Vintaj Natural Brass Jump Ring 4mm
Additional Images:
Helpful Hints:
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Hint 1: The ribbon can be made to look like a tattered branch by knotting it all the way down. |
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Hint 2: I made a nest under the bird out of ribbon by "stitching" my headpin through the ribbon, zigzagging about 8mm apart. Then I put the bird on the headpin squishing the ribbon down into a nest. |
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Hint 3: To balance the branch that the bird is sitting on, I made sure to have something weighting down each end. I used the bellflower to introduce some color and added sparkle with a few crystals hiding in and around the flower. On the opposing end, I created a twirling branch made from a headpin with crystal, stitched ribbon, and a few jump rings. |
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Hint 4: To make the twirly headpins, string the beads you want onto a 3" headpin. Create your wire wrapping loop as you normally would, but instead of trimming off the remaining wire, coil it around your round pliers or a tiny straw or tiny stick. Voila, instant whimsy! See Tip: Wire Wrap a Charm |
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Hint 5: It's important to use almost the same components in each earring. This keeps them from being too busy and will keep them well balanced. |
Buy Products from this Design
You are viewing all 7 items.
| Package of 12 | $4.45 |
| Package of 6 | $1.60 |
| 8" strand | $1.90 |
| Package of 36 | $2.75 |
| per foot: $0.70 |
You are viewing all 7 items.
On Aug 18, 2011 at 2:19 pm #
Mary S - Sweet Chick says:I absolutely love these Ali!! All your components and special additions make these great “Earth girl” earrings!
On Aug 18, 2011 at 3:40 pm #
1flowerchild says:These are wonderful, Ali! I love the “nature” look of these earrings!
On Aug 19, 2011 at 11:15 am #
FaeryGoth Chick says:Beautiful earrings!
On Aug 19, 2011 at 12:41 pm #
Eeka Mouse says:These are great, and I love the asymmetry.
On Aug 19, 2011 at 7:55 pm #
Fenya says:How cute are these?!!! Very talented artist!
On Aug 20, 2011 at 9:54 am #
D D Mystic Chick says:these are so cute! really like how all the different elements came together!
On Aug 22, 2011 at 8:52 am #
Chicky Zee aka Alice says:Beautiful earrings!
On Aug 25, 2011 at 7:49 am #
Linda Talbott says:I love your birdie “Non-identical Twins” earrings. They are wonderful, and you really pulled it off.
On Oct 11, 2011 at 3:09 pm #
Florecita Farm says:These are adorable!
On Oct 13, 2011 at 3:59 pm #
thejoyfulgem says:I love these! (and asymmetrical designs). Good Job.
On Nov 11, 2011 at 9:54 am #
never enough beads says:I love these! Funky and Fun.
On Jan 01, 2012 at 1:52 pm #
S Burns says:Very creativde. Not only did you make a pair that goes together but each stands on it’s own.
No one could walk by these without making a comme nt
On Jan 16, 2012 at 1:54 am #
Cindy K says:Awesome earrings. Very creative.
On Feb 13, 2012 at 12:37 pm #
S rowland says:very inventive! keep your imagination turned on!
On Mar 05, 2012 at 9:49 pm #
Rozanne D says:These earrings are so unique and whimsical. They inspire me to be more creative!
On Apr 05, 2012 at 10:41 pm #
A ibarra says:Ali you are so creative, a true artist!
On Apr 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm #
K Koornneef says:What cool earings….so much like something I would do….meaning that they don’t have to be the some…I love different and earings that are not always identical. Thank you so much for the idea. You helped release the creative juices out of me!!!! So appreciate it!!!
On May 26, 2012 at 2:35 pm #
bette4art says:I have just joined Lima Beads (great name!!) and found your work. You are so inspiring and authentic. I work in many mediums and these earrings are kindered to what I do. You rock!
On Jul 25, 2012 at 12:01 pm #
Veronika M says:Fantastic! You are the best! This is one of my favorite and I know now how long and hard to learn this skill. Thank you for this beauty!
On Jan 10, 2013 at 6:39 am #
doggiedoodoo says:you have a beautiful imagination – I am so inspired by your jewelry – such a flair for the artistic – sooo important to stunning one of a kind jewelry -
On Mar 29, 2013 at 9:07 am #
Francesca C says:amazing
On Mar 29, 2013 at 5:05 pm #
Sondra G says:Order some of the materials today… Can’t wait to make these sweet earrings.