Single-Strand Necklace and Earring Set with Cultured Freshwater Pearls, Labradorite Gemstone Cabochon and Metalwork

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Design Idea MK22

-- Designer --

Patti, Jewelry Designer, Exclusively for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads®

To learn more about Patti Miller, read her jewelry artist success story here.

: : : Materials : : :

Click here to view a full list of materials used in this design.

Please take the creative opportunity to select the products of your choice for this design, offered here at Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Some materials may not be available or listed.

Cabochon, labradorite (natural), 20mm calibrated cube-cut round, B grade, Mohs hardness 6 to 6-1/2
Bead, smoky quartz (heated / irradiated), 4x1mm-6x2mm hand-cut square rondelle, B grade, Mohs hardness 7
Pearl, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 16x5mm-27x8mm long-drilled stick, B grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 3.5-4mm rice, B grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 4-4.5mm semi-round, B grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 6.5-7mm button, C grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 6-6.5mm semi-round, C grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 8.5-9.5mm rice, C grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Pearl, White Lotus™, cultured freshwater (bleached), white, 8.5-9mm button, C grade, Mohs hardness 2-1/2 to 4
Bead, Czech fire-polished glass, opaque satin metallic silver, 4mm faceted round
Bead, Czech fire-polished glass, opaque satin silver, 6mm faceted round
Bead, Preciosa Czech crystal, crystal argent flare, 4mm faceted bicone
Bead, glass rhinestone and silver-plated brass, clear, 6x3mm rondelle
Bead, silver-plated brass, 4x2mm heishi
Bail, Aanraku®, glue-on, silver-plated "pewter" (zinc-based alloy), 22x11mm with 11mm heart flat base
Beading wire, Accu-Flex®, nylon and stainless steel, pearl, 49 strand, 0.014-inch diameter
Chain, silver-plated steel, 4mm long cable
Clasp, lobster claw, silver-plated brass, 14.5x9mm infinity with 8mm closed jump ring
Crimp cover, silver-plated brass, 3mm round
Crimp, sterling silver, 1.1x1mm micro cut tube, 0.76mm inside diameter
Crimp, sterling silver, 2mm cut tube, 1.4mm inside diameter
Ear wire, silver-plated brass, 19.5mm flat wire oval leverback with open loop
Eye pin, silver-plated brass, 2 inches, 21 gauge
Head pin, silver-plated brass, 1-1/2 inches with 1.5mm ball, 24 gauge
Jump ring, copper, 12mm hand-cut round square wire, 9.8mm inside diameter, 18 gauge
Jump ring, silver-plated brass, 4.5mm round, 2.9mm inside diameter, 20 gauge
Jump ring, silver-plated brass, 4mm round, 2.4mm inside diameter, 20 gauge
Sheet, copper, half-hard, 6x6-inch square, 24 gauge
Wire protector, Accu-Guard™, sterling silver-filled, 4.5mm tube with 0.5mm inside diameter
Wire, ParaWire™, silver-plated copper, round, 26 gauge
Wire, sterling silver, dead-soft, square, 16 gauge
Adhesive, epoxy, Devcon® 2 Ton® Clear Epoxy, 30-minute, 2-part
Beeswax, 3 x 3/4 x1 inches
Firing block, compressed vermiculite, white, 6 x 4 x 1 inches
Hammer, steel and wood, 10-1/2 inches with 1-1/8 inch textured dual head
Jeweler's saw, wood and nickel-plated steel, 12 x 4-1/4 inches with 3-inch frame depth, fits 1- to 7-1/2 inch long blade
Needle files, carbon steel and European beech wood, brown, 7 inches
Pickle compound, Sparex®, sodium acid sulfate / nitre cake / sodium hydrogen sulfate, for non-ferrous metals
Sanding pad, micro-mesh, 2-inch square, 1500-12000 grit
Saw blade, Super Pike, tempered steel, 2/0, 5 inches
Sharpening and polishing system, Jooltool™, aluminum / plastic / steel, black and red, 100-240v / 50-60 HZ, 12 x 5-1/2 x 7 inches
Tongs, copper, 8-3/4 inch curved
Torch, Micro Torch, steel and acrylic, black, 6x4 inches
Tweezers, steel and fiberglass, silver and brown, 6-1/2 inches
Wonder clip, Clover, stainless steel and plastic, red and clear, 26x10mm

Instructions

Necklace Instructions

Step 1

On the copper sheet, use an ultra-fine marker to trace a 1-1/4 inch circle and a rhombus with a 2/3-inch top and 2-1/4 inch bottom. Apply beeswax to the sawblade and carefully cut out the shapes.

Step 2

Use the JoolTool™ to smooth all edges, take down corners and perfect the disc. Use files and sanding pads as needed for a finer finish.

Step 3

Fill a bowl with room temperature water.

Anneal the shapes on a firing block with a torch until the copper slightly glows. Use tweezers to pick up the shapes and quench in the bowl of water.

Drop the shapes in a pickle compound until all slag is gone. Remove with copper tongs and rinse.

Step 4

Metal being struck with a textured hammer

Use the striped side of a textured hammer on both shapes until the copper rehardens. Anneal, pickle and rinse again. Keep hammering until the desired texture is achieved. Anneal, pickle and rinse the rhombus shape once more.

Step 5

Punch a hole in the circle approximately 2mm from the edge. Use Devcon® 2 Ton® epoxy to glue a cabochon onto the disc opposite the punched hole, approximately 2mm from the edge.

Step 6

Wire being wrapped around cabochon metal sheet

Cut six inches of square wire. Press the wire against the base of the cabochon then wrap around to form a circle. Continue to bend the wire around to form a larger circle. Remove from the cabochon.

Step 7

Trim the ends of the wire at sharp angles and file down so the ends flow into the disc. Place the wire flat and gently sand the top for a brushed finish. Use a small amount of Devcon to glue the wire in place around the cabochon on the copper disc. Clamp near the ends of wire to keep firmly in place while drying.

Once the wire is dry, glue the disc component onto the textured side of a bail. Once dry, pass a 12mm jump ring through the bail.

Step 8

Use round-nose pliers to gently draw the sides of the rhombus in on itself and overlap to form a cone.

Step 9

Cut four 6-inch lengths of Accu-Flex® Professional Quality beading wire.

Flatten a 1mm crimp bead on the end of one length of beading wire. Add a 3mm crimp cover. String on 2-3/4 inches of desired beads and add a 2mm crimp. Thread the tail back through the crimp, leaving a small loop, and crimp closed. This loop will be used later. String on more desired beads and add another 1mm crimp, crimp flat and add a crimp cover.

Repeat with the remaining lengths of beading wire.

Step 10

Open the loop of an eye pin. Pass onto the eye pin the loops of the components created in Step 9. Close the eye pin. Pass onto the eye pin two bicones. Pass through the cone so that the bicones are in the small end. Pass on a 9mm rice pearl, make a large simple loop and attach to the hole in the cabochon component. Close the simple loop.

Step 11

Cut an 18-inch length of beading wire.

Step 12

String a crimp and an Accu-Guard™ wire protector onto the beading wire. Pass the beading wire back through the crimp. Pull the beading wire so the crimp rests snug against the Accu-Guard leaving approximately 1/4 inch of beading wire on the end. Crimp then add a crimp cover.

Step 13

String on beads in the desired order until approximately 1 inch of beading wire remains. Repeat Step 12 to secure the strand then trim any excess wire.

Step 14

Cut a 3-1/4 inch and 1-3/4 inch length of chain. Cut a 6-inch length of 26-gauge wire.

Step 15

Form a small, wrapped loop on one end of the 26-gauge wire. String on a pearl stick then form another wrapped loop on the other end.

Step 16

Pass onto a 4.5mm jump ring one end of the beaded wire and the 3-1/4 inch length of chain. Attach the pearl stick created in Step 15 to the other end of the chain. Attach the 1-3/4 inch length of chain to the other end of the pearl stick. Use a 4.5mm jump ring to attach the end of the chain to a clasp.

Use a 4mm jump ring to attach the other end of beaded wire to the 12mm jump ring. Attach the clasp to the 12mm jump ring to complete the necklace.

Earring Instructions

Step 1

Cut a 6-inch length of 26-gauge wire.

Step 2

Form a wrapped loop on one end of the wire. String the following onto the wire:

One bicone
One 4mm pearl
One smoky quartz bead
One 6.5mm pearl
One rhinestone rondelle
One 8.5mm pearl

Form a wrapped loop.

Step 3

Pass a stick pearl onto a head pin and form a wrapped loop.

Step 4

Attach the head pin to the small end of the eye pin. Attach the large end of the eye pin and an ear wire to a 12mm jump ring.

Step 5

Repeat Steps 1 - 4 to create a second earring.

Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.

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The pieces featured in the Gallery of Designs are copyrighted designs and are provided for inspiration only. We encourage you to substitute different colors, products and techniques to make the design your own.

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