Free Modified Herringbone Wire Wrap Tutorial

I came across this terrific FREE modified herringbone wire wrap tutorial this weekend.  If you are already familiar with a herringbone wire wrap, you will find it super easy.  If you've never done a herringbone wire wrap, you'll still find it super easy because the author took such great pictures and gave such simple directions! (Kudos to Heidi K for a great job!) I love these earrings.

I used a 5 mm round bead of unknown material (if you can identify it, let me know!) and 26g soft silver filled wire for the herringbone wrap.  I added a faceted carnelian bead to the 20g handmade ear wires just to give them a little extra POP!  They are antiqued using Liver of Sulphur and then polished to provide depth from the
antiquing process.

I know there's a lot of controversy about using silver filled wire out there - but so far I really like it.  Anything that looks great, holds up as well as the 'real' stuff and makes my jewelry more affordable is 'OK' in my book.  The soft temper is so easy to wrap with that it makes framing a bead a pleasure.  The half hard is a little 'springier' than I'm used to - but it does hold it's shape well in ear wires.  So far, I'm a fan.  I bought my silver-filled wire at CGM Findings and it was around half the price of sterling silver wire. 

Szarka of Magpie Gemstones has identified the stone as autumn jasper and based on a google image search, I think she is correct!  Thanks Szarka!