Peacock Chandelier Earrings

Make this pair of chandelier earrings using seed beads (size 8/00), head pins, eye pins, and chain.

1. Slide a 3mm metal bead and 4 seed beads on a head pin. Make a simple loop. Make 8 of these end links.

 

 2. Using eye pins and seed beads, make short links:

8 links with 5 beads, 16 links with 6 beads, 6 links with 7 beads, 4 links with 8 beads, 2 links with 9 beads.

3. Make long links:

Link A: end link + 6 bead link + 5bead link - make 8

Link B: end link + 7bead link + 6beads link - make 4

Link C: end link + 8beads link + 6bead link - make 4

Link D: end link + 9bead link + 7 bead link - make 2

4. Assemble: on a eye pin slide 1 seed bead (SB), link A, SB, link A, SB, link B, SB , link C, SB, link D, SB, link C, SB, link B, SB, link A, SB. Make a simple loop on the end as shown below.

5. Fold a 2" (5cm)  chain in half (to find a center link) and attach an ear wire to this link. Attach the  chain to the loops. Attach the first and the last links of the chain to the loops.

Changing the amount of beads for the links and the lenght of the chain, you can change the size of your earrings.

You can buy these earrings here

Double Baked Potato Boats with Bacon

Last night I  made twice baked potato with bacon, cheese and herbs for dinner.
That was yummy!

 You will need: 3 large potatoes, 6 slices of bacon, 1/4 cup of warm milk, 3/4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, green onion chopped, 2 tbs. of fresh chopped parsley, 1/2 tsp. salt, and pepper.

* Preheat the oven to 375 F
* Place washed potatoes in microwave and bake for about 12 minutes. Set aside to cool enough to handle.
* While cooking potatoes, cook the bacon until crisp. Chop 4 1/2 slices, leave 1 1/2 slices aside.
* Cut off the top 1/2" of the potatoes lengthwise, scoop the flesh leaving the 1/4" thick "boat".

* Mash the potato flesh. add cheese, green onion, parsley, chopped bacon, salt, pepper.

* Fill the skins with the filling 
* Brush the outside of the skins with the bacon drippings. Place the potato "boats" onto the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

* Season the salt and pepper, top with onion and the halved bacon strips.

 See another good potato recipe at my daughter's blog here