The Beadful Life @ BeadFX: Monday Inspiration: Cafe La Iron Zebra

InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing

Cafe La Iron Zebra
by: Rochelle Kilmer

I saw these double-drilled ovals in the Iron Zebra Jasper and wondered what I could do with them that was a little bit different. I was intrigued by the patterns within the stones and the colours that are so rich and intense. The colours reminded me of a steaming cup of café mocha. Starting with the Iron Zebra Jasper as my inspiration, everything else fell into place, keeping the colours in a warmer tone. And to make the whole set, I only needed one

strand of the double drilled ovals. (*note : you need 2 tubes of mb6b-3955 Japanese Seedbeads - 6/0 Miyuki Seedbeads - Baroque – Bronze (2 grams))

Necklace Instructions

Step 1 – Put the Iron Zebra Jasper Rhombus on the eyepin and make a wrapped loop on top.

Step 2 – Put 1 Firepolish Crystal Celsian on the headpin and make a wrapped loop.

Step 3 – Attach your rhombus and firepolish together using a 4mm Jumpring. This is your pendant.

Step 4 – Take the 2 feet of heavy softflex and cut it in half.

Step 5 – Lay out your beads in the way you will string it on.

Left to right ~ 1 firepolish, 2 baroques, 1 double drilled oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 6 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 firepolish.

Step 6 – String left to right. Take the 2 pieces of softflex and put them through the 1 firepolish, leaving about 1.5 inch tail. Put 1 baroque on each piece of softflex, and then thread in through each hole of the double drilled oval. Continue until the last double drilled oval on the left side. Put 1 firepolish on each piece of softflex, then put both pieces of softflex through another firepolish. Put a jumpring on the pendant you made in Steps 1-3 and put both pieces of softflex through the jumpring. Take another firepolish and put both pieces of softflex through it. Now you can do the same on the right side of the necklace, following the reversed pattern.

Step 7 – Take your Oval and Oval Goldplated and on one side crimp the tail you left with the softflex right to the end oval. Do the same on the other side.

Step 8 – Cut your chain where you would like to attach your lobster claw with a jumpring. Clip the lobster claw to the oval opposite.

Now your necklace is done.

Bracelet Instructions

Step 1 – Cut the fine softflex into 2 1 foot lengths.

Step 2 – Lay out your beads in the pattern you want.

Left to right ~ 1 double drilled oval , 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 rhombus, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 2 baroque, 1 dd oval.

Step 3 – Leaving a tail of softflex put one piece of softflex through each hole on the double drilled ovals, place a baroque on each piece of softflex and then through the double drilled oval again.

Step 4 - Put both pieces of softflex through the firepolish.

Step 5 – Repeat Step 3.

Step 6 – Put both pieces of softflex through 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, the rhombus and repeat on the other side.

Step 7 – Continue with the pattern you did on the left side of the bracelet.

Step 8 – Using the tail you left at the beginning crimp it to the loops on your 2 strand clasp. Make sure your clasp lines up together when you do the other side.

Earring Instructions

Step 1 – Cut your softflex into 2 1 foot pieces.

Step 2 – Lay out your earring pattern.

Top to bottom ~ 2 baroques, 1 double drilled oval, 1 firepolish, 1 dd oval, 1 baroque, 1 firepolish, 1 baroque, 1 rhombus, 1 baroque.

Step 3 – Put the baroque on the bottom in the middle of 1 piece of softflex and put both pieces of the softflex through the rhombus, a baroque, a firepolish, a baroque.

Step 4 – Split the softflex into 2 and put them through each hole on the double drilled oval.

Step 5 – Put both softflex through 1 firepolish.

Step 6 – Split into 2 and put through each hole on the double drilled oval and place 1 baroque on each strand.

Step 7 – Put both softflex through a crimp bead and the loop on the leverback. Thread both pieces back through the crimp and flatten with chainnose pliers.

Step 8 – Repeat Step 2 – 7 with your other piece of soft flex for the other earring.

Now you can enjoy a full set of your Iron Zebra Jasper stones. Quite nice statement piece, if I say so myself.