The Beadful Life @ BeadFX: InspirationFX: Pip, Pip, Hooray !

Pip, Pip, Hooray !
by: Anne Marie Desaulniers
My inspiration for this piece was another challenge from Rochelle, this time to work with the very popular Czech Pip beads, in the satin finish. Despite my initial misgivings, I decided to give it a go! I easily collected four strings of beads in my favourite colours, and then let them sit and percolate for a couple of weeks. I searched the Internet for inspiration, but ended up making a very simple pattern. All of the flowers were all made, before my muse whispered in my ear, and told me what to do with them! First I stacked them for a pendant, and then I just had to make coordinating earrings. There's even enough Pip's left over for edging a bracelet, but I'll save that for another day. At first glance, this set seems quiet and understated, but the earrings sway in a very seductive fashion. Definitely fun and fabulous!

Instructions for the flower components!

* Using your favourite beading needle, string six Pip beads on an arms length of Fireline, and then run your needle and Fireline back through all six beads, to close the circle.
* Pull the Fireline tight!
* Run your needle and Fireline back through the beads, at least one more time.
* Pull the Fireline tight again!
* Tie a Surgeon's knot.
* Congratulations, you have made one flower!
* Pendant : Make three flowers of each colour, for a total of 12 flower components
* Earrings : Make two flowers of each colour, for a total of 8 flower components

Constructing the pendant:

* Cut approximately 7-8 inches of wire
* Make a small wire wrapped loop on one end
* Add one 8mm open round to wire
* String on flower components (see above for number of flower components), starting with the darkest blue, and ending with the lightest green
* Add one more 8 mm open round
* Make another small wire wrapped loop
* Cut excess wire
* Attach leaf charm to bottom loop with a 5 mm jump ring
* Cut 2 mm leather to desired length
* String one RL Distressed Barrel onto both sides of leather, leaving a loop at the bottom (the next time I make this, I plan to string multiple "Barrels" on the leather, before attaching the end cups and clasp)
* Carefully add one tiny drop of Super New Glue to the opening on one Oval End Cup with Ring
* Insert one end of 2 mm leather and hold for a minute
* Add a drop of Super New Glue to opening the other Oval End Cup with Ring
* Insert the second end of 2 mm leather and hold for a minute
* Gently squeeze sides of both Oval End Cups to close (I used my flat nose pliers)
* Allow to dry completely
* Connect Large Swivel Link to one Oval End Cup with Ring, with a 5 mm jumpring
* Connect Hook and Eye Clasp to the other Oval End Cup with Ring, with a 5 mm jumpring
* Attach one 8 mm jumpring to the wire loop at the top end of the pendant
* Attach a second 8 mm jumpring to the leather loop and to the 8 mm jumpring on the pendant
* Your necklace is finished!

Constructing the Earrings:

* Cut approximately 5 inches of wire
* Make a small wire wrapped loop on one end
* Add one 8mm open round to wire
* String on flower components (see above for number of flower components), starting with the darkest blue, and ending with the lightest green
* Add one more 8 mm open round
* Make another small wire wrapped loop
* Cut excess wire
* Attach leaf charm to bottom loop with a 5 mm jump ring
* Use a 5 mm jump ring to attach earring to ear wire
* Repeat all of the above steps, for the second earring
* Your earrings are finished!

Note: With the wide array of colour choices, you could easily change up the colour scheme. Also, simple loops could be easily substituted for the wire wrapped ones. They wouldn't be quite as secure, but the components are quite light, so I doubt it would be a problem.