One of my roommates from my undergrad. years happened to do jewelry-making in her spare time and was kind enough to show me how to do a few things. She had a drool-worthy amount of beads in her stash and let me fool around with one of her many beading books. This one earring was the result. I attempted to make two - honest - but I'd nearly finish the second earring and then a bead would break, forcing me to start all over again. After this happened twice, and my roommate tried one more time, I said screw it. Maybe some day I'll finish the pair...

Update 10/06: Reality set in and I realized I'd never finish the pair, so this earring was sacrificed for the cause and used as part of my little brother's POTC2 Tribal Captain Jack Halloween costume. It dangles from the end of one of the beaded strands that decorates the dreds. :)