If you read my previous post Daddy Didn't Raise a Quitter, you will know that I have spent the last 3 months trying to create a classic hoop earring.

Now that I have cracked the soldering gremlins, time to take a classic earring hoop design and make it contemporary

Creatively when I am on a roll, I am on a roll.

I love spending time in my little jewellery studio in the attic taking designs and adding a twist, I mean wahts the point of making jewellery the same as everybody else?

People like to use jewellery as a way of expressing their individuality, eccentricities and quirkiness.

With this in mind, I have just finished making 3 classic hoop designs, when my brain starts thinking how can I make this classic design a bit more contemporary?

And then I hit on the idea, I wonder what square hoops would look like?

Only one way to find out out comes my square template and ruler, and I draw out the dimensions of three different shaped hoops, with diameters of 10mm, 15mm and 30mm, and I fell in love with the results.

Starting with the smallest hoop of the three, I work out the correct length of 7mm width copper I would need, anneal the metal and use pliers to make the required hoop shape.

Oh well maybe I can make them into ear cuffs? 

I'll leave it for now and move onto working on the next size up of the hoops, this time I think I have got the size right for the hoop design:
And then with that I mind I move onto the largest hoop, repeat the process, before with intrepidation I come to solder the sterling silver posts to the hoops

As the shape of these hoops are diffrent I have to jig around with the tweezers to get the tightest fit possible, but I have to say the soldering worked like a dream!!!

The two sets of square hoops are put into pickle to remove the excess flux and oxidation.

While I am waiting for that process to complete I return to the first square copper hoops that I realise is too small, and start playing around with the idea of making them into ear cuffs.

Unfortunately when trying to shape them around the ear I nearly break my thumbs finding out that the metal I have used is too thick for someone to close around the outside of the ear to secure it in place.

Back to the drawing board with this one, and then I hit on the idea, why not just make it into studs?

With that in mind I solder the ear posts onto the side of the hoop and pop them into pickle.

A bit of cleanup and polishing later...
 

I love how these square copper hoops came out, I think they are really contemporary, but what do you think?

As for the small hoops that became studs:
Would you wear them?

I would really love to hear your thoughts, so post something in the comments below.

Until next time

Joolz xxx
 

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June 24, 2021

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