With both sets of my polymer clay earring components created in Julie Picarello’s workshop – the round discs and the long “lizard tails” – I drilled a small center hole approximately 1/8″ from the top of each piece. That is where the similarity in the embellishment process ends.
Using gold-filled wire threaded through the drilled hole, I made a wrapped “hanger” for each of the round discs and then attached a handmade gold-filled ear wire. I then created some crystal bead dangles using the same gold-filled wire and attached them to each ear wire with a small jumpring.
Using Silamide thread (my favorite for beading) and size 15 seed beads, I used the drilled hole to secure a ring of beads around the top of each “tail”. From that base ring, I worked peyote stitch first up around the top of the piece and then on the bottom of the ring, decreasing when needed to form fit the beads around the “tail”. I added a small pearl for embellishment and then a loop at the top so that the pieces could hang comfortably from ear wires.
Next up…..the pendants…
Art and Tea 
Beautiful earrings Karen. The stitch work on the dagger shaped earrings is wonderful. I can create artwork in a tiny space but not when it comes to beading. I’m all thumbs.
Looking forward to seeing these pieces in-person sometime.
-Amy
Wow weeee… Those are stunning. You are such a great designer and beautiful artist. I just love that these are so different. You are my hero.
Very beautiful work. I love your color choice and your design.
MMm… Like this!)
Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments! 🙂
I really like that top pair! I’ve been doing a lot of the “dangly little beads in front of big clay tiles” thing lately and I think it really works. Nice!
Thanks Lisa! Yes, at first I just had the wirework there but the “hanger” space looked empty to me. I wanted something in that small space and thought about putting in some beaded fringe but the dangles were faster, lol. I love the look, too!
Stunning earrings! I so admire the bead work. I’m going to have to investigate polymer clay and beading further. I use the clay for my doll faces but have never made jewelry.
Thanks for your kind comments, Susan! You could bead around your doll faces. 😀