Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings

by Judy Larson

Category: Holiday Designs
Technique(s): Butane Torch Techniques
Skill Level: Intermediate

Do you remember Tonettes, Flutes, and Recorders from elementary school? These earrings are fun take on them.

Materials

24 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-24SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $48.95
Gold Club Price: $36.71

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18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $6.14
Gold Club Price: $4.61

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Tools

Silver Solder Paste Medium SS70 - 1/4 T.O.

SOL-822.15

SOL-822.15
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $18.95
Gold Club Price: $14.21

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Basic Soldering Kit

G15-4

G15-4
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $58.95
Gold Club Price: $44.21

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Magnesia Soldering Block

SOL-455.00

SOL-455.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $7.95
Gold Club Price: $5.96

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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $16.97
Gold Club Price: $12.73

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French Shears, Straight, 7 Inch

SHR-530.00

SHR-530.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.44
Gold Club Price: $13.08

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NATURE'S TOUCH CITRIC PICKLE, 2LB PLASTIC JAR

CLN-163.00

CLN-163.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $17.95
Gold Club Price: $13.46

Out of Stock

Pickle Pot, 16 Ounces

CLN-584.00

CLN-584.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $31.95
Gold Club Price: $23.96

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Instructions

Step 1

Template Designs

The first template, 2½" x 6", contains the designs that are to be cut out and assembled. The second template, also 2½" x 6", contains size and shape approximations for those designs requiring a backing, except for number 4, which is a charm disc that could be cut out and number 3, an alternate French Hens design. The numbers on the designs in both templates refer to the day in the song and in the tutorials.

Glue the templates to 24 gauge scrap Argentium sheet. Cut the shapes out.

Judy Larson's Eleven Pipers Piping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, eleven pipers piping earrings

Step 2

Cut two ½" pieces of 18 gauge round Argentium wire. Place the wire on a soldering block. Ball each wire. Cool.

Step 3

Remove any solder block debris from the balls. Place the balls on a bench block. Tap each ball until flattened to be a bit thicker than 16 gauge half round wire.

Step 4

Close twelve 18 gauge 2mm ID jump rings and two 22 gauge 2mm ID jump rings.

Step 5

Pro Tip: I save short off-cuts of wire I think I might use in a later design. These little pieces go in a bag labeled with the gauge, and then are stored inside the bag with the full coil. These short little pieces of 16 gauge half round Argentium wire are used here.

Place medium paste solder along the bottom edge of one rectangle, as well as across the top just before the sides angle in. Press two pieces of half round wire that are bit longer than needed into the solder along the bottom edge, and one into the paste solder at the top. Audition all the rest of the 16 gauge half round pieces. Once you like what you see, add lines to both rectangles to help with half round wire placement.

Step 6

Center a dot of medium paste solder on each rectangle above the bottom two half round wires and below the top half round wire. Press a closed 18 gauge jump ring into the dot of paste solder.

Step 7

Place lines of medium paste solder on each rectangle where the next pieces of 16 gauge half round wire will be placed. Press the half round wires into the paste solder. Place a dot of medium paste solder where each flattened ball will go. Press each ball into place.

Step 8

Place dots of medium paste solder down the center on each rectangle where the rest of the 18 gauge closed rings will be placed. Press the 18 gauge closed rings into the paste solder. Place a dot of medium paste solder at the top of the semi-rectangular section on the top of each rectangle and press a 20 gauge jump ring into each dot.

Step 9

Heat the pieces with a butane torch until the solder flows.

Step 10

Trim excess half round wire from the edge of the rectangle. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole in each 20 gauge jump ring at the top of each rectangle. Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the rectangles. Leave no sharp edges.

Step 11

Pickle, rinse, and dry the pieces. Tumble the pieces for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The pieces here have patina added.
Add ear wires.

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!