I love hoops, they just seem to always work with whatever jewelry I have on. Sometimes if I need a quick gift I will make a set of 5-6 pairs of hoops. Sterling wire is great, but I like bronze (and don't have sensitive ears) I use 20 gauge wire and wrap it around a round object of some kind. Then I tap the wire with my hammer to sort of "work harden" it into the round shape. I pull it off holding it together in loops and snip down the wires so they are now all the same size.
Next I take each of them and create a eye pin head on one end with my roundnose pliers. Then I shape them with my fingers into a nice hoop, running the raw end through the eye pin.
Lay on an anvil or bench pin and tap it out to keep the shape. I make in pairs so the shapes match. Snip the raw end and use a wire rounder to smooth it out so it doesn't damage the ear. Then I slide on my favorite bronze or sterling jacks or some of our Objects and Elements heishi to add interest.
It's a very welcomed gift, especially when you give several pairs so that when one is lost you still have a pair...kinda like socks.
