The April 2013 issue of Bead&Button is still at the presses, but here's a sneak peek! In the Bead Soup section (starting on p. 11), we editors did a design challenge featuring the new Pantone-inspired crystal color palettes from Preciosa. I made a pair of earrings with the Andalucían palette, and I had so much fun doing it that wrote up the instructions. Follow the steps below to make your very own...
"Andalucían appeal earrings"
Materials
- 4 8 mm "Bellatrix" beads (crystal/celsian)
- 6 7 mm rondelles (Montana)
- 6 6 mm round beads (Montana)
- 6 6 mm "Bellatrix" beads (crystal/celsian)
- 8 6 mm flower beads (black diamond)
- 6 2 mm crimp tubes (gold)
- 16 in. (41 cm) flexible beading wire, .015" (gold)
- pair of earring findings
- chainnose pliers
- wire cutters
1. Cut an 8-in. (20 cm) piece of beading wire. Center the
following beads on the wire: 6 mm flower, 6 mm round bead, 6 mm flower, 6 mm "Bellatrix,"
7 mm rondelle, 8 mm "Bellatrix," 7 mm rondelle, 6 mm "Bellatrix," 6 mm flower,
6 mm round, and 6 mm flower.
2. Over both ends of the wire, string a crimp tube, a 6 mm
round, and another crimp tube. Adjust the wire ends so that one is longer than
the other.
3. Thread the longer wire back through the top crimp tube,
the 6 mm round, and the bottom crimp tube until a small loop forms above the
top crimp tube. Make sure that this loop is parallel to the loop of beads at
the bottom of your earring.
4. Thread the shorter wire through the top crimp tube and
the 6 mm round only. Make sure that both loops above the top crimp tube are the
same size.
5. Using chainnose pliers, flatten the top crimp tube,
keeping the loop above the top crimp tube parallel with the loop of beads at
the bottom of your earring.
6. Slide the bottom crimp tube away from the 6 mm round, and
trim the shorter wire close to the 6 mm round. Slide the bottom crimp tube back
in place, and flatten it with chainnose pliers, keeping it parallel with the
first crimp tube. TIP: As you flatten the bottom crimp tube, hold the remaining
wire so that it is centered in the earring.
7. On the remaining wire, string a 6 mm "Bellatrix," a 7 mm
rondelle, an 8 mm "Bellatrix," and a crimp tube. Slide the crimp tube along the
wire, positioning it for the desired length dangle, and flatten the crimp tube.
Trim any wire below the crimp tube.
8. Open the loop of an earring finding, and attach the loops
of wire above the top crimp tube. Make a second earring.