Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire. By attaching faceted briolettes to a hammered heart frame, you can create sophisticated, eye catching jewellery, especially when paired with a pair of 'Embellished Artisan Earwires'.

Embellished Heart Earrings

by Abby Hook
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Coiling, Filing / Finishing, Lashing, Making Spirals, Weaving
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
By attaching faceted briolettes to a hammered heart frame, you can create sophisticated, eye catching jewellery, especially when paired with a pair of 'Embellished Artisan Earwires'.

The finished look of this design is greatly affected by your choice of shape and size of stone. Smaller briolettes give a subtle effect or larger ones can create a bold look!

These earrings measure 2 1/4" tall from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the second briolette.

Companion tutorials:
Embellished Artisan Earwires
Heart Frame Bracelet

Materials

28 Gauge Round Dead Soft 14/20 Rose Gold Filled Wire
H6-28D
  • Lesson Quantity: 24.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 2.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.99
  • Gold Club Price: $0.74
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2 heart frames
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
teardrop briolettes 6mm x 3mm
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
teardrop briolettes 6mm x 4mm
  • Lesson Quantity: 2.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Rose Gold Filled Earwire 26mm - Pack of 2
L19-11
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $10.24
  • Gold Club Price: $7.68
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Angled Flush Cutter, 5-1/4 Inches
PLR-489.00
  • PLR-489.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $21.95
  • Gold Club Price: $16.46
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Instructions
Step 1:
Attach a new wire
Since the frames are already made, for this project we get to focus purely on embellishment! You'll find the detailed instructions for this frame in my Heart Frame Bracelet tutorial. Look for it in the education section here on WireJewelry.com
Cut a piece of 28 gauge wire 12” long.
Note: - If you are using larger sized beads, use 20” of 28 gauge wire, to avoid running out.
Attach the center of the 28 gauge wire to the centrer of the heart by binding 6 times.
Take care not to pull too tightly, as this will force the frame to overlap itself.
Tip: - if it does overlay slightly, squeeze the binding with the nylon jaw pliers gently, until the frame is flat again.
Coil the frame either side of the binding 6 times with the 28 gauge wire to secure the binding.
The coiling also moves the wire along the frame, so that it lines up with the bead holes. Place the briolettes in position to check.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach a new wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the center of the heart
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach a new wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, coil the frame on either side
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach a new wire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, position the briolettes
Step 2:
Attach a briolette
Thread a briolette onto the 28 gauge wire, so that it sits inside the heart. Carefully position it so that it points straight up.
Note: - I find it easier to turn the frame upside down to work on.
Hold the briolette in position between your thumb and forefinger of your less dominant hand and coil the frame once to secure.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach a briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, attach the briolette
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach a briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, hold the briolette in position
Step 3:
Begin to wrap the briolette
Now that the stone is attached, it needs to be held firmly in place. This is done using a variation of herringbone weave.
First ensure that your 28 gauge wire is straight, as any small bends will show on the face of the stone. Straighten with the nylon jaw pliers if necessary.
Take the wire over the face of the stone and behind the frame on the opposite side.

Wrap the wire around the frame once to secure.
Take care to make sure that the briolette remains straight during the first couple of wraps as it is not possible to straight it as easily later on.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Begin to wrap the briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, weave the wire over the briolette
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Begin to wrap the briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the wire around the frame once to secure
Step 4:
Wrap the back of the briolette
Take the wire behind the briolette and round the frame wire once. Notice how the bead is more securely held now.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Wrap the back of the briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, take the wire behind the briolette
Step 5:
Complete the wrap
Repeat so that you have 3 wraps on the front and back of the stone.
Coil the frame 3 times to secure.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Complete the wrap, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, make 3 wraps
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Complete the wrap, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, coil the frame 3 times
Step 6:
Attach the second briolette
Thread the second briolette onto the other wire, position the stone and coil the opposite side of the frame once to secure.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach the second briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, attach the second briolette
Step 7:
Wrap the briolette
In the same way as before, take the wire over the face of the stone and coil round the frame once to secure.
Complete the wrap so that you have 3 passes of the wire on the front and back of the stone.
Coil 3 times to secure.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Wrap the briolette, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, wrap the briolette
Step 8:
Trim the wires
Cut the two 28 gauge wire tails, so that the ends are on the inside of the frame and tuck them in as you did with the embellished earwires.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Trim the wires, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Trim the wires
Step 9:
Attach the earwire
Open the loop on the earwires, by twisting the end to one side as shown.
Attach the earring and close the loop by twisting back.
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach the earwire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, add the earwire
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Attach the earwire, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, Close the loop on the earwire
Step 10:
Final step
Follow the instructions and complete the second earring. You have finished!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
For comments or questions, please go to abbyhook.co.uk
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Copyrights 2017 Abby Hook
VARIATIONS:
For this variation of the earrings, I have used larger, different shaped briolettes. I have also increased the number of wraps around the stones to 5. As you can see, it dramatically changes the design. These earrings measure 2 3/4” tall from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the second briolette.
Materials for these earrings:
Yellow Chalcedony Faceted Marquise Briolettes Size 14x7mm
Tourmaline Faceted Heart Briolette 8 mm
40” 28 gauge soft round wire
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Final step, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, finished earrings
Abby Hook's Embellished Heart Earrings - Final step, Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, Filing, Finishing, Lashing, Wire Lashing, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Weaving, Wire Weaving, Weaving Wire, variation