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by: Dwyn Tomlinson

You can be garnished with garnets - does that make you garnet-ished?

Garnet is the January birthstone. Garnets actually come in green, orange, pink and purple - but if someone says garnet - odds are  - you think of a deep, dark red! Garnet is frequently used as a colour-name to indicate dark red.

Historically, garnets were associated with blood, blood disorders, and affairs of the heart. Garnets were a gift between separated lovers, a cure for hemorrage, and a symbol of Christ's passion.

The word garnet comes from the Latin Garanatus, meaning "seed-like" - and refers to the seeds inside a pomegranate.

These garnet-coloured earrings - which I made in two styles, one with firepolish beads, and the other in Crystallized by Swarovski beads - also rather evoke a row of pomegranate seeds, don't you think? I chose to use Siam crystals rather than the Swa. colour "Garnet" - which is so dark as to appear black in some light.

• Cut a 4 inch piece of light weight wire.
  
• Thread a bead on the wire and more close to the end.
  
• Wrap the wire around the end bead and loop back over the wire
• Trim any excess wire that you can not loop around the main wire
  
• Thread the rest of the beads.
  
• Add a small sterling crimp, and squash to prevent the beads sliding off.
  
• Curve the wire back to make the top of the earring.
  
• Fine wire probably does not need filing if your wire cutters are in good shape, but you may need to smooth the end - as it goes through your ear.
  
• Bend to a pleasing curve by hand.
  

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Components Clicking on components links will open a new window so that you don't lose this page.
		74701021 Artistic Wire - 26ga Round Wire - Silver Plated (Tarnish Resistant) (Spool) (2 x 4 inches)	Price: $ 10.95 per	In Stock
	Qty: 2	96002400 Crimp Tubes - Seamless - 1mm - Sterling (100) (1 per earring - stops the beads from sliding off the top.)	Price: $ 9.50 per	In Stock
	Qty: 20	27035769 Firepolish - 4mm Faceted Round - Garnet AB (strand) (10 per earring (Use either the firepolish or the crystal). Garnet Azuro is gone - try Garnet AB.)	Price: $ 2.98 per	In Stock
	Qty: 32	27753011013208 Swarovski Bead - 3mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Siam (36) (16 per earring (Use either the firepolish or the crystal))	Price: $ 4.99 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.