Dawn Rosell Designs​
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Crochet/Viking knit Pendant

2/13/2018

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       So you found a pretty odd shaped stone, shell or some other very cool object and you don't know what to do with it,right? Happens to me all the time when I go beach combing here on Cape Cod. I found a few ideas on how to make a crochet or viking knit bezel to make it into a pendant. I did not by any means come up with this idea or technique on my own, but I did it with a little help from all the others ideas and I kept the ones that worked best for me to create this project. It takes some patience, mixed with a little humor and practice to get one that looks really good, but truly it looks quite nice even when the outcome is a bit rustic too. So have a cup of chamomile tea and let's get started.
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Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Flush Cutters
  4. File
  5. ⅛”-¼” dowel
  6. Scrap paper and pencil
  7. Sharpie

Materials
  1. 16 gauge wire 7-12”
  2. 26-24 gauge wire 2-4 ft
  3. Cabochon or flattish back stone, shell, etc.
*The size of the stone/center piece determines how much wire you will need, so give yourself more than you think you need until you get good at estimating.
Directions-Prep
  1. To determine how much frame wire you need measure around the outside of your piece, I do this by rolling my piece on the ruler or tape measure. Round up and add 3” to the measurement to account for your bail.
  2. Cut your 16 gauge wire the length you figured out in step one
  3. Mark one end of the wire 1 ½” from the end
  4. Bend the wire at this mark in a 90 degree angle​
Making the Frame
  1. Lay flat side of stone/center piece on scrap paper and trace the outside of it to make a template.
  2. Using the template begin shaping the thick wire beginning at your bend (facing the tail away from the frame center and create a smaller version of the shape of the stone/center piece using your thumb and fingers. Lay the stone on top to make sure it is small enough. It doesn't have to be perfect in shape because it is the base back. 
  3. Bend the other tail of the frame wire to lay side by side with the first tail
  4. Using 2” of the thin wire wrap the tails together starting at the base of the frame and working upward. Be sure to keep the tails side by side not overlapping. Use your flat nose pliers after each wrap to help keep the tails side by side and tighten the wrap.
  5. Trim any excess small tail of the thin wire and flatten the end towards the back of the frame, do not trim the longer end off, we need it to start the weave.
  1. Wrap the long wire around the frame on one side two times
  2. Lay the ⅛”-¼” dowel on the top of the frame in front and right next to the two wraps
  3. Wrap the wire over the dowel
  4. Wrap the wire around the frame two times and remove the dowel
  5. Repeat steps 11-13 all around the frame until you reach the top of the frame to make first level of crochet bezel
  6. Place stone into the crochet bezel and shape the loop around it with your fingers
  1. Begin next row of crochet by looping over, around and between the first loop and stone and through the new loop. Use your finger to keep the new and old loops arched but close to the stone. This will begin to capture the stone as you go, but you will need to be patient because it is a bit tricky to keep the stone in place until you get a good amount of new loops going around
  2. Repeat the making the next loop onto the next arch and so on until you reach the top again.
  3. Your stone should be secured, however if you feel it is still too loose you can make another row of loops on the last row and around the stone again.
  1. When you are happy with setting, feed the wire up and under the loops to where the long tails are wrapped.
  2. Wrap the thin wire around and up at least 6 times covering the original wrap.
  3. Trim and flatten the thin wire toward the back
  1. Place the ¼” dowel behind the frame just at the top of the thin wire wraps
  2. Bend the thick tails around the dowel so that they lay down the back of the stone
  3. If needed trim the tails to be ½” below the stone top
  4. File the ends of these wires and make small loops on each one
  5. Press the loops tightly against the frame to make the bail (you may use the dowel to help shape it if you wish)
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Three Bead drop Earrings

4/25/2017

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​   If you want to learn how to make your own earrings, here is a super easy style to make. They have swing and sass and can be made with any beads you like. You don't need a lot of tools and they will take such little time to master. Let's get started!
​
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain/Flat nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. ⅝” Dowel (you can use the top of your favorite nail polish)
  5. Emery board

    Materials
  1. 20 gauge wire 11”
  2. Two of each - 4mm beads, 6mm beads, 8mm beads

Check out my store too!

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Directions
Hoop earwire
  1. Cut two 20 gauge wires 2 ¼” long and file ends
  2. Make an open loop one one end only of each wire
  3. Shape around the ⅝” dowel with loop facing out
  4. Hammer well to strengthen and flatten out the hoop
  5. Reshape on the dowel so that opening is not to big and the earrings will stay on your ears
​Beaded drops
  1. Cut two wires each - ¾”, ⅞”, 1”
  2. File ends of each wire
  3. Make a loop with a back bend on one end of each wire
  4. Place 4mm beads onto smallest wires, 6mm beads onto middle size wires, 8mm beads onto longest wires
  5. Make a loop going in the opposite direction of the first loop (ie, front to back and side to side) on each wire to capture the beads
  6. Open sideways one end loop on each bead drop
  7. Now connect to each drop and close loop ,going largest to smallest then to the earwire
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Simple Hoop Earwires

1/24/2017

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I love the classic look of hoop earrings! Making hoops is a basic technique that every wire jewelry makers just has to know. It is easy and opens up a world of possibilities in for incorporating them into your designs. These super fun hoop earwires are simple and you can make them in no time at all! Best part is they can be made in any size you like for many different looks. Lets get started!
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​Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. ⅝” Dowel
  5. Emery board

Materials
  1. 20 gauge wire 5”
​
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Directions
  1. Cut two 20 gauge wires 2 ¼” long and file ends
  2. Make an open loop one one end only of each wire

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​
  1. Shape around the ⅝” dowel with loop facing out
  2. Hammer well to strengthen and flatten out the hoop
  3. Reshape on the dowel to make sure it is closed enough to stay on the ear.


​
Now add a bead drop to finish off your super easy, but beautiful earrings!

You can make these earring in any size you want by changing the wire length and dowel size.

​
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To see some of my beautiful work, go check out the Shop!

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Plain Hoop Earrings -Two Styles

10/11/2016

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Tools
  1. Side Cutters
  2. Round nose Pliers
  3. Chain nose Pliers
  4. Nail file
  5. 1" dowel (small circle hoops)
  6. 1 ⅜” dowel (medium circle hoops)
  7. ⅝” dowel (small teardrop hoops)
  8. Ruler
  9. A bic pen with a top
Materials
  1. 20 gauge round wire
  2. 18-16 gauge round wire
​Round hoops
  1. Cut two pieces of the thicker gauge wire 4 1/2" for small hoops or 5 ½” long for medium hoops, and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on one end of each wire using the round nose pliers
  3. Gently shape each one around the 1 ⅜” dowel as you feed the the straight end through the small loop (alternatively, do not feed through the hole but instead wrap the wire tail around under the small loop then cut any excess tail)
  4. Hold the wire tightly around the dowel and then make a sharp bend right where the wire comes through the loop to make it tight
  5. Trim tail to just to ½” and refile the end
  6. Make a larger loop on this end with the round nose pliers to hold it in place
  7. bend the wire of the loop up with the chain nose pliers to create a place to hang the earwire onto the frame
  8. You may gently hammer the outside of the wire to make it looser and come off the dowel easily
  9. Repeat procedure with other wire to create a set of frames.
  10. If you need to make the frame more round and uniform please shape it around the Dowel.
  11. Now take frames and gently hammer them to strengthen them up a bit
Simple Fish hook earwires
  1. Cut one 20 gauge round wire 4” long
  2. Make small loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two earwires
  7. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than 7/8” from top of hook to tail end)
  8. Gently file ends with emery board
  9. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops( if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  10. Lightly hammer for added strength if you wish

​
Teardrop hoops
  1. Cut two pieces of the thicker gauge wire 3” long and file ends
  2. Make a small loop on each end of the wire going in the same direction (you may backbend them if you wish)
  3. Place ⅝” dowel in the center of the wire and curve it around the dowel till the loops meet
  4. Make a slight bend in the loops where they meet to make them lay parallel to one another
  5. Place the pen into the bottom center of the loop and reshape the bottom so the top loops actually lay together
Fish hook earwires with forward facing loops
​
  1. Cut 4 3/4" of 20 gauge round wire and file both ends
  2. Make a large  loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top lying flat on the pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Create a bend just under the loop away from the larger loop on both ends then re-adjust over the pen to set in the earwire arch)
  7. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two ear wires
  8. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than ¼” from loop end bottom to tail end)
  9. Gently file ends with emery board
  10. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops (if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  11. You may gently hammer the top curve of the earwire for added strength

​
You can make these hoops in any size you want to and the round can become teardrop as well as the teardrop become round, just change up the dowels and alter the wire length for whatever you want to create. 

Also remember to check out my store on line!

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Three Easy Earwire Styles

9/27/2016

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Picture
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose or chain nose pliers
  3. ⅝” Dowel
  4. ​Bic or capped pen
  5. Cutters
  6. File
  7. Hammer and block (for hardening)

Materials
  1. 20 Gauge round wire (I prefer dead soft but you can use half hard)
Fish Hook Earwires-​​
  1. Cut a piece of 4" wire
  2. Make small loop with round nose pliers on both ends
  3. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  4. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  5. Now do the same to the other side
  6. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two earwires
  7. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than 7/8” from top of hook to tail end)
  8. Gently file ends with emery board
  9. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops( if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers​
  10. Gently hammer the earwires to strengthen them
Long Drop Earwires​
  1. Cut two pieces of wire 2 ¼” long and file both ends
  2. With round nose pliers grab the wire at 7/8"- 1" from one end and bend it into a v shape (repeat with other wire)
  3. Using flat nose pliers squeeze the wire at the bend to slightly sharpen it.
  4. Open the wire and wrap it around the ⅝” dowel to create a curve shape
  5. Make a small loop on the longer tail to hang your drop from
  6. Gently hammer the earwires to strengthen them
Square/Diamond Earwires
​
  1. Cut two wires 2” long and file both ends
  2. Grab both wires with your flat nose pliers at ¼” away from one end so that tools outer edge is on the ¼” line
  3. Make a sharp 90 degree bend
  4. Measure ½”from bend and grab with flat nose pliers with the tool outer edge on the ½” line
  5. Make a 90 degree bend in the same direction as before
  6. Repeat step 4 and 5 to make last bend
  7. Using round nose plier make a small loop on the very last bit of wire in towards the center of your square/diamond
  8. Hammer earwires gently to strengthen them.
All the earwires can be made larger just up the size of each wire and scale the design as needed.

*For bead drops to hang from your new earwires go to Three Easy Bead Drop Styles in the projects section.

Check out my own designs in my on line store.

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Shamrock/Clover Earrings

3/2/2016

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    I love Spring, as I am sure many of you do. One of the first signs of Spring in our family is the annual corn beef dinner on St Patrick's Day. I have very little Irish in my side of the family, but my husband's wonderful mother is mostly Irish and she makes a terrific feast for us all every year. So to celebrate the Irish in all of us, however small, I bring you these fun earrings that you can wear all Spring long. 
Tools
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Flat nose pliers
  3. Wire cutters
  4. File
  5. Bic style pen with cap

Materials
  1. 4” of 20 gauge wire
  2. 12” of 18 gauge wire
Directions
Shamrocks
  1. Cut 18 gauge wire into two 6 inch pieces
  2. File end of each piece of wire
  3. With round nose pliers create a small loop on one end of each 6 inch piece of  wire.
  4. Place loop face up under pen cap
  1. Wrap wire just under half way around pen
  2. Using flat nose pliers bend wire back away from loop ​
  1. Place back under pen cap
  2. Wrap wire around pen till wire almost meets
  3. Using flat nose pliers bend wire back again
  1. Now Bend wire with flat nose pliers into a 90 degree angle
  2. Do it again using the tip of the tool
  3. Bend again  to finish making shamrock stem
  1. Place under pen cap and wrap wire till it almost meets itself
  2. Using flat nose pliers bend wire back
  1. Place under pen cap and wrap wire around till it meets the beginning loop
  2. Leave on pen and wrap tail around under the beginning loop
  1. Trim excess tail and close loop
  2. If you wish to adjust the loops now is the time
  3. Repeat all the steps 1-18 to create other shamrock( feel free to use thw first one to help you  make them close to the same, but remember they will most likely end up slightly different and that is perfectly ok)
  4. You may gently hammer the shamrocks  to flatten them, just do not hammer the top loops where they connect.

Now follow the fish hook ear wires link and assemble them onto the shamrocks to complete your earring so you can enjoy them. If you want to add some green go to this project and create the bead link to place in between the shamrock and the ear wires. Have fun and may these fun earrings bring you happiness.
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Simple Fish hook Ear wires

3/23/2015

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Tools and materials
  1. Round nose pliers
  2. Chain nose pliers
  3. Cutters
  4. Emery board
  5. Pen w/cap
  6. 20 gauge wire 4”

Directions

  1. Cut one wire 4” long
  2. Make small loop with round nose pliers on both ends

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  1. Slide on loop under pen top with loop opening away from pen
  2. Wrap wire about ¾ of the way around pen
  3. Now do the same to the other side

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  1. Find center between the larger loop ends and cut making two ear wires
  2. Cut shorter stems if you wish (no shorter than 7/8” from top of hook to tail end)
  3. Gently file ends with emery board
  4. Using Chain nose pliers make a small bend on ends facing away from earring loops( if you wish) to a 20 degree angle with flat nose pliers
  5. Lightly hammer for added strength if you wish

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Make sure to check out my other DIY instructions and check out my Gallery/Shop.

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    Dawn Rosell

    I am a self taught jewelry designer and artist.  I studied fashion design and come from a very creative family.
    I am a wife to a wonderful husband and a mom to an amazing child. Both of which  continually inspire me to try new things and think outside the box, as well as to reach my dreams and inspire others.

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