Lizbeth thread in Royal Blue #652, size 10. These are my new original designs. The blue necklace is from the same design as the red one from a previous post.
I wanted to come up with an earring that used some of the same elements as the necklace. At first I tried the smaller size 20 to get a daintier earring, but although the thread color number was the same as the size 10, it must have been from a different dye batch and didn't match at all. So, I stayed with the size 10; my ball is nearly all gone now, because of all the experimenting I did to reach the final design! I used the same size beads as the necklace (6mm Swarovski bicones and Toho Takumi large hole size 11/0).
I think this idea would work with size 20 if I had some size 15/0 seed beads. The size 11/0 would be too bulky in the finer thread size with this very tightly fitted design, I think. I now have a reason to buy those tiny beads! But, I like these earrings in size 10 thread, anyhow, because they show better. I think they're reminiscent of the Art Deco style popular from the 1920s to 1930s.
By the way, Bead&Button Show class registration opens Tuesday, January 5. I have 2 tatting classes listed in their catalog! Scroll down HERE to find them. Notice that one is a beginning tatting class, which is an all day class. The other is advanced, a 3 hour class.