#ClubDesigns: Glasshouse Earrings variations

#ClubDesigns is a series of articles on the Beadingschool blog and a series of posts in the Beadingschool Club on Facebook.

Erika says:

“Since the beginning of the first COVID-lockdown, we bead together every Friday, to make sure that #NoOneHasToBeadAlone.
We bead a different jewel every week – designed specifically for the workshop. Afterward, it’s really fun to see all the variations beaders come up with! Not only colors differ, but very often a pendant becomes a brooch, a motif that was originally an earring is modified into a bracelet or a ring. Moreover, sometimes it happens that not all the bead shapes are available to someone – and she needs to alter the original design to make it work.”

 

The #ClubDesigns series is the collection of this beady wisdom.

Glasshouse Earrings

These exquisite earrings have an interesting story behind them. They came to life as a result of improvisation during one of Erika’s weekly broadcasts. She asked fellow-beader to choose the main beads at #CoffeeTimeWithErika and she showed us how she designs. We all loved the result! It combines leaf-shaped Ginko beads that fill the inside and Miyuki Slender Blugle beads on the outside. It shows counterparts of full-empty and bold-fragile. Glasshouse – transparent walls with flowers and leaves on the inside.

Erika says:

MATERIAL LIST

• 6mm Miyuki Slender Bugle beads,
• 3 mm fire-polished beads,
• Ginko beads,
• 3mm round glass pearls,
• findings to finish your jewel,
• glass drop in metal setting
• Miyuki seed beads 15/0,
• Miyuki seed beads 11/0,
• Miyuki Delica 11/0,
• thin beading needle,
• Fireline,
• bead mat,
• thread burner or scissors.

The design didn’t just stay in the video that is publicly available, but Erika also drew the tutorial she shared in the Beadingschool Club. These are the Glasshouse variations by Beadingschool Club members.

Earrings by Faye Williams

Faye says:

Glasshouse Earrings.
Now that I finally have some slender bugles, I thought it was about time to make this pair of earrings. I’m really pleased with how they turned out especially as I was making them to match a bracelet I’ve just finished. Great designing under pressure Erika!

Faye’s classy and elegant version combines bronze tones with a little hint of turquoise. The faceted pear beads are a perfect drop!

Glasshouse variations by Cheryl Jackson, Kirsten Schlup, and Tanja Quintelier

Cheryl – motif on top left side

Kirsten – earrings on bottom left side

Tanja – earrings on the right side

Tanja says:

Little Glasshouse village by Katalin Dudas

Katalin called her earrings a little Glasshous village since she made several variations! Each is unique in colors, style, and components she used. Note that she used also twisted bugle beads to add extra structure to the motifs on the sides. The earring in the center has two different colors of bugle beads, that spruce up the whole design – the triangle of the Ginko beads is reflecting the bugle triangle facing the opposite side. Nice touch, Kata!

Glasshouse earrings by Katja Foierl and Gonnie Versteeg-Grootendorst

Katja – earrings on the left.

Gonnie – earrings on the right.

Ladies chose similar colorways – bronze, turquoise, orange/red are very flattering in accessories. Katja chose to add crystal flower connectors finished with the drop in a metal setting, while Gonnie finished the earrings with shaped gemstone drops.

Glasshouse earrings by Ulla Edenmark

Another beautiful variation of the Glasshouse earrings. Ulla’s main color choice was bronze and turquoise, the glass drop in the metal setting is a wonderful balance and final touch to the whole design.

Glasshouse with ear-studs by Deb Taylor and Diane Sawczyn

Deb – earrings on the left side

Diane – earrings on the right side

Deb chose a striking color combination of pink and black, adding a little tassel. These earrings really pops! Diane combined elegant metallic green with transparent twisted bugle beads to add extra structure and sparkle by rivoli pendant. Ladies added extra bling with cubic zirconia ear studs that were part of the special Luxury Component Box.

Glasshouse-inspired brooch by Zuzi Hake

Zuzi says:

I love Erika showed part of her adventurous soul in designing from scratch according to someone else’s idea! Besides that, Ginko beads are one of my favorite! I took the original design and added one more set of beads to create a square shape. I sew the motif to brooch base and added leaf-shaped bead to reflect Ginko shape and complete the idea of glasshouse. Thank you, Erika!

Live Design by Erika

Erika says:

1. New challenges let us grow.
2. Cheering for a fellow human feels like a gift for her, and it will eventually come back to us. Maybe another day, maybe in another form – like a tutorial, for example And that friend will always remember the encouraging words.
3. In the end, what really matters is the fun time that we spent together. It could have happened that I get stuck and inspiration doesn’t come. I wouldn’t be happy about it, but would it be a catastrophe? No. The prospect is scary in our head, but between good people, there is nothing to be afraid of.