Three’s a Crowd

Denise Peck

Materials

4 copper 58" (1.5 cm) cutwork discs with 2 holes

2 copper 12" (1.3 cm) discs

4 copper 6mm jump rings

2 copper ear wires

16 size 15° seed beads

Tools

Butane micro torch

Annealing pan with pumice stone

Fireproof work surface (cookie sheet)

Utility pliers

Quenching bowl

Dapping block and punches

1.5 mm metal hole-punch pliers

Beading thread and needle

Scissors

2 pairs of chain-nose pliers

Finished length

212" (6.5 cm) including the ear wire

 

1. Using the torch, flame patina (see To Patina Using Heat + Flame) all the copper discs.

2. Gently dome each disc in the dapping block with the matching punch (see Dapping Block + Punches).

3. Make a hole on opposite sides of each 12" (1.3 cm) disc about 1 mm from the edge using the hole-punch pliers.

4. Use the jump rings to connect 2 cutwork discs together with a 12" (1.3 cm) disc in between.

5. Using the needle and thread, attach the seed beads to the top cutwork disc. Leaving a 2" (5 cm) tail, come up from the back of the disc with the needle, through one slit and down and out the next slit. Tie a knot in the back of the disc with the tail. Come back up through the first slit, add a seed bead, and go down and out the next slit. Come up through the third slit, add a seed bead, and go back down and out the second slit. Continue adding beads all the way around and tie off the thread in the back of the disc. Repeat for the second earring.

6. Add an ear wire to the top hole in each beaded cutwork disc.

Resources

Cutwork discs: echoartworks.com.