Cooled Lava
I used a mix
of metal for this design, including antiqued copper, raw brass and sterling
silver. I feel that the antiquing on all the metals allowed for a blended look
in their accent to the matte black of the tourmaline and the etched lamp work.
I also deliberately did not list brands or suppliers except for Genea’s
gorgeous focal bead so that you have the freedom to sort through what you
already have to pull this piece together. The strand of black tourmaline came
in a more crystalline form but I found it uncomfortable to wear so I threw it
into my kids plastic rock tumbler with some sand for about 3 hours to round off
the beads and create that matte black color texture that brings to mind cooled
lava.
Materials
Long faceted quartz briolette in yellow and smoke
12 inches antiqued 24 gauge wire
3 inch piece 20 gauge wire
Lamp work glass focal by Genea
2 Bead caps
Bead Cord Black ( griffin's no.6 is a sturdy cord for these heavy beads)
2 bead tips
1 std Raw Free Form Tumbled Black Tourmaline available through
Kandu beads
16 or more pieces of 5mm mixed brass and sterling heshi
2 - 4mm connecting jump rings – these jumps need to fit into
your bead tips and into the chain you have chosen
12 to 16 inches dark chain cut into 4 – 3” to 4” pieces –
the chain shown is 4mm closed copper patinated in black and brown
Hook clasp with open jumps
Tools
Ruler/bead board
Scissors
Jewelers cement
Awl
Chain nose pliers
Flush cutters
Round nose pliers
Fine steel wool
Step 1. Using the 12
inch piece of antiqued sterling silver, wrap the long faceted briolette quartz
into a doubled wire loop, trimming away the extra and tucking the ends into the
spiral wrapping.
Step 2. Create a hanging loop at one end of the 3 inch piece
of sterling wire and slide on one of the bead caps, metal discs or heishi to
make sure the large hole in the lamp work does not slide down over your loop.
Slide on the lamp work focal and add another bead cap or disc before creating
the top loop above the bead. Assemble the faceted brio to the bottom loop of
the lamp work glass. Set aside to have ready for stringing.
Step 3. Remove the beading cord from its card completely and
tie an over hand knot at the opposite end of the needle approximately 2 inches
from the end. Slide on 1 bead tip before stringing alternately; 1 heishi and 1 tumbled
tourmaline bead until you have a set of 4 on the cord. After the 5th piece of
heshi, slide on the previously assembled focal of Genea’s lamp work and faceted
brio. Continue on with the heshi and black tourmaline until you have a front
center piece that measures approximately 6.5”. If you need a longer center
piece, continue stringing a few more tourmaline until you reach a measurement
that you like. I held my piece up to my own neck in front of a mirror as I
strung beads until I liked the mid neck point the beads stopped at, all the while
keeping the focal drop off to the side asymmetrically.
Step 4. End your
strand of beads with the second bead tip and tie off the bead cord with another
over hand knot. Use your awl tip inside the knot to bring the knot close to the
bead tip so there are no gaps in your strand of beads. Add a drop of jewelers
cement to both knots inside the bead tips and press the bead tips closed with
your chain nose pliers.
Step 5. Add the small open jumps to the bead tips and the
end links of the 3” cut piece of dark chain, close up the jump rings carefully
so there are no gaps in the seam where the fine chain and bead tips can come
out. Repeat this for the opposite side of the necklace.
Step 6. Check your measurement before adding the clasp. The
clasp shown measures approximately 1 inch and brought my Cooled Lava necklace
to a total measurement of 14.5”. This measurement can be adjusted by adding an
extender of more chain and jump rings. Assemble the clasp by opening and
closing the clasps open jumps onto the end chain pieces with your chain nose
pliers.
Step 7. Brush a bit of steel wool over the antiqued metal findings to bring up their high lights.
Cooling.
