When we work on a beaded motif, especially a challenging one, it’s easy to follow the urge to cut the last thread as soon as possible. Imagine, when you are nearly there, only the last beads are missing, then only the dreaded clasp or earring hooks, and at the end: securing the thread ends. And finally: it’s done and it can leave the pile of your UnFinished Objects!
According to your answers to a recent question that I asked in the Beadingschool Club, most of us in the Community are ‘Team Drop,’ meaning that we love hanging extra components under a motif. There are many different options to add a personal touch to our earrings and pendants, and sometimes even brooches.
Picture: GIFT tutorial – Swallowtail
Big favourites being glass drops in metal settings in all kind of shapes, colours, and sizes, but it’s also nice to mention tassels, cup chain, drop- or leaf-shaped beads, and all kinds of flowers: either from fabric or paper. Even some of the filigrees work well, and of course, you can also combine them, and maybe add a crystal connector for a statement piece.
Picture: Veronka’s Bollywood earrings
But what if you don’t have any of those at the moment on your bead mat, or you’d simply like to use the same beads in the whole jewel? You can, of course, bead one!
A nice way of adding an extension is to repeat part of the motif – as many of you did that with the Rose Petal Window design.
Picture: Zuzi’s earrings matching Erika’s design, the Rose Petal Window
A bezeled cabochon (round or other shape) can also become a hanger. On its own or in combination with something else.
Smaller motifs can also become ‘drops’ – I added the Nuenen for example here. All you need is a Kite cabochon, Miyuki Slender Bugle, and some seed beads.
Picture: Erika’s designs from the Starry Night Theme, Antwerp and Nuenen
Today, let’s see what kind of hangers – drops can you make from your ‘The Dream of Sibylla’ Beadingschool Academy Theme Box!
The idea came to me after Eve asked for the instructions to replicate what I added to the Paris motif that we beaded during a retro #NoOneHasToBeadAlone recently. Thank you, Eve!
Picture: Paris earrings from Erika with an extra beaded drop
I will show you that one and one more today, one with, and one without a cabochon. The one with a cab is a more romantic one with curves and angles, the other has a dramatic feel because of the bugle beads, to make sure that you have a choice no matter the effect you’d like to achieve.
There is no limit and I am already looking forward to seeing your variations and ideas! I think this is a great time to explore this topic, as the cabochons included in the Theme Box (kites and navettes) are perfect for this.
You can attach these beaded ‘drops’ anywhere – a single 15/0 or 11/0 seed bead on the edge of the main motif is enough. And if you are not a fan of big jewels, these little additions can also become earrings on their own!
My personal tip: bead them with less contrast, in the more neutral colours that you used in the same motif, without a ‘pop’ – in case that you’d like to keep the attention on the main part.
Besides the video I also prepared pdf tutorials for these two beaded hangers! And if you are a ‘Dream of Sibylla Beadingschool Academy Student (Turquoise or Fuchsia), you can download them both as a gift from me 🙂
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