Northanger Abbey Earrings

Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey has a spooky or gothic twist to the plot. So, when I witnessed how these Alexanderite Czech beads eerily turned from pale purple to icy blue under white light, I thought these would be perfect to use in these earrings.

To make a pair, you’ll need:

2 6mm Alexanderite Czech beads
2 4mm Alexanderite Czech beads
4 head pins
2 ear hooks
4 inches of wire
approx. 1 inch of chain
round nosed pliers
flat/bent nosed pliers
wire cutters
jewelers’ files

1. Start by using wire cutters to cut the chain into two pieces so that each is approx. 1 inch in length.

2. Slip on 6mm bead onto one of the head bins, and use pliers to bend the pin over.

3. Wrap the bent part around the nose of your round nosed pliers to form a large loop.

4. Slip this loop around the link of one end of the chain.

5. Insert the nose of your pliers back through the loop, and use your finger to hold the loop against the nose.

6. With your other hand, use your bent nosed pliers to wrap the rest of the head pin around itself.

7. Now cut off about 2 inches of your wire. I used 24 gauge, but use whatever you prefer. Just make sure the gauge fits through your beads.

8. File both ends of the wire smooth.

9. Approx. 1/3 of the way down the wire, bend the wire over.

10. Then wrap the bent part around the nose of your round nosed pliers to form a loop.

11. Insert the other end of the chain through this loop.

12. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to close the loop around your chain link.

13. Slip the 4mm bead onto the wire.

14. Again, bend the wire over. This time the bend should be about 1/8th of an inch way from the 4mm bead.

15. Insert your ear wires through the loop. I used Euro wires, but again use what you prefer here. Just remember if you use Euro wires also, you must add the wires here before closing the loop.

16. Repeat steps 5 and 6 again to close the wire around the ear hook.

17. Now repeat all the above steps to make a duplicate earring.

Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, had a vivid imagination. I think she would have enjoyed wearing these earrings that have a simple elegance to them, but which also have a spooky secret about them.

Here's a printer friendly copy of this file.

Recent Discussions

how to sell my creations Walked my Feet Off in Tucson For BEADS Chalcedony - Special for forum members

Sign up for the weekly Jewelry Making Newsletter and
find out about new additions to this site each week.

Subscribe to the Newsletter
Name	Email

Chat with other jewelry makers in our chat room.

All graphics created by Tammy Powley.

Previous Features