Ten Lords a Leaping Earrings

by Judy Larson

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

When I think of Lords from the time of the original version of the song, I think of their shoes and the ostentatious shoe buckles. Buckles came into fashion for men in the middle of the 1600's, replacing ribbons for fastening shoes, and as time progressed, plain buckles were more heavily adorned and worn as status symbols.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Half Hard Argentium .940 Silver Wire

H19-18H

Lesson Quantity: 2.50 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $6.14
Gold Club Price: $4.61

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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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Sterling Silver Earwires 19mm - Pack of 2

K19-48

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $6.44
Gold Club Price: $4.83

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Tools

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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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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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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Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm

PLR-133.70

PLR-133.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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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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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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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

WireJewelry Medium Duty Insulating Fire Brick, Rated up to 2300 Degree Fahrenheit

G32-10

G32-10
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

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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.

Cut six 3/8" pieces of 18 gauge round Argentium wire. Place the wire on a soldering block. Ball each wire. Cool.

Judy Larson's Ten Lords a Leaping Earrings - , Holiday Designs, Butane Torch, Soldering, Solder, ten lords a leaping earrings

Step 2

Remove any solder block debris from the balls. Place the balls on a bench block. Tap each ball until equally flattened and about the diameter of a closed 22 gauge 2mm jump ring.

Step 3

Glue the buckle templates to scrap 24 gauge Argentium sheet. Cut the buckles out. If you do not want to cut out the buckle interior, consider adding a piece on top that is the size and shape of the interior of the buckle.

Step 4

Flush cut both ends of a piece of 20 gauge round wire so it is 1" (approx. 25mm) long. Repeat to make a total of four pieces.

Step 5

Use the tips of a round nose pliers to evenly scroll each end of a 1" piece until it is approximately 12mm long. Repeat with the other three 1" wires. Flatten the scrolled wires if necessary.

Step 6

Place a dot of medium or easy paste solder in each corner of the buckle. Press a dot in the paste solder on three corners, and a closed 22 gauge 2mm ID jump ring into the paste solder on the 4th corner.

Step 7

Decide how to arrange the scrolls-mirror images, matching, hearts, etc. Place the same paste solder used in Step 6 on the back of a scroll. Press into the desired place on the buckle. Repeat the process with the other scrolls.

Step 8

Use files and sanding pads to clean, refine, and soften the edges of the buckles. Use a 1.5mm hole punch to make a hole inside the small jump ring.

Step 9

Pickle, rinse, and dry the buckles. Tumble the buckles for several hours. Patina the pieces if desired. The buckles shown do not 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!