Pink & Black Brick Stitch

I wanted to try new colors and get rid of my pink seed beads (I don't like the color pink), so I decided to make these :
$12/pair

Brick stitch with Delica beads

My boss wanted a pair of pink earrings so I decided to try out my new black Delica beads. They're much nicer for brick stitch than my other seed beads because they're more uniform, but they're a little more awkward when trying to do the fringe. I was inspired by a design I saw online and made this:

But I wasn't completely in love with this earring. Plus I ran out of the pink bugle beads and didn't have enough to make the 2nd one to complete the pair...

So I redid the fringe after I bought some new pink seed beads and used the bugles more economically:

They look even better in person!

$15/pair

MIA

I haven't had much time to bead lately due to college-preparation! New work will be posted shortly!

If you'd like a pair of earrings

Here are the colors/beads I have at the moment:

I also have forest green & grey beads that I couldn't fit in this picture. I can do whatever colors/style you want!

email me at monicastretten@aol.com

#5: Purple Comanche stitch

I initially decided to make a pair of purple earrings for my aunt, but then ended up keeping them for myself :P (I'll make her another pair, though!)

I used the same general Comanche stitch w/ fringe but added a little more variety with the design. It kind of reminds me of the Zuni sun god designs:

I think this pair took me the most time.

$20/pair

#3 & 4: Porcupine quills!

My friend really wanted a pair of dangly earrings with "sailor" colors (red, blue & white). I got lazy and wanted to try something other than Comanche stitch with fringe, so I decided to make loops with porcupine quills! Those things hurt so you have to be careful when working with them, especially when cleaning & cutting them. I also used buckskin to stabilize the design, which is really hard to poke through with a needle (ended up breaking a few needles in the process). I really like how they turned out:

I decided to make my other friend (the one who got the first pair I ever made) a pair since the others weren't very nice-looking. I used pink & baby blue beads to match her blue eyes:

Somewhat time-consuming due to the preparation of the hide & quills

$10/pair

#2: Dartmouth earrings

It's really difficult to find earrings that match forest green Dartmouth attire... so I decided to make a pair that would!

I used the same style as the last pair but changed the design a bit. I also didn't skip beads when I added the fringe so they're a little more full. I also used bugle beads to add a little variety; they reflect the light when you wear them too!

These took a little while to make because of the fringe and extra design-preparation

$15/pair

#1: Learning the basics

I recently visited my family in Virginia and stayed with my cousin Tammy; she's basically the Chickahominy Tribe's designated beadworker. I've always been in love with earrings and this was the perfect opportunity for me to learn how to make them! She first showed me how to do the Brick/Comanche stitch, which wasn't perfect by any means. It's fairly simple and a great stitch to do if you're just starting out.

I got really lazy toward the end and decided to skip beads for fringe, making it less full than most of my earrings.

My cousin said they were good for the first time ever beading! I decided to give them to my friend because I'm snobby when it comes to what earrings I would wear, and I knew she would appreciate them since they'd match her blue eyes.

These are simple to make but they take such a long time!