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Square Copper Hoops
Square Copper Hoops
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.
It is at the point that the final hoop shape is too small, especially when the post is added for some one to add the back.
![Handmade Small Square Copper Hoop design](https://www.joolzery.co.uk/img/blog/Square%20Hoops%20I.jpg)
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:
![Handmade Square Copper Hoop design](https://www.joolzery.co.uk/img/blog/Square%20Hoops%20II.jpg)
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!!!
![Handmade Square Copper Hoops after soldering](https://www.joolzery.co.uk/img/blog/Square%20Hoops%20IIIa.jpg)
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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