FLORA EARRINGS SUPPLIES: • 3mm fire polished beads (16) • 15/0 seed beads • 2 earring wires • 6lb. FireLine or Nymo B (Nymo D is too thick) NOTES: • When I refer to the "base", I mean the loop of 24 seed beads that the 8 petals will be built on. • Each of the shapes added to the base are called "petals". • Each petal is attached to 3 of the base beads. BUILDING THE BASE AND THE FIRST PETAL: 1. Count out then string 24 seed beads. Go back through the first bead strung to form a loop, leaving a 12" tail. Weave through the entire loop again coming out 2 beads past the bead that the tail thread thread is coming out of. DO NOT tie the threads in a knot.

2. Pick up 4 seed beads and 1 fire polished bead. Go back around through the base seed bead you just exited.

3. Flip your work around so that you're working from the right side of the fire polished bead. Go up through the 4 seed beads you just added then go down through the fire polished bead (going toward the base).

4. Go through the next two base seed beads (going toward the tail thread).

5. String 4 seed beads then go down through the fire polished bead (going toward the base).

6. Go through the second and third base seed beads of the current petal going in the direction away from the tail thread.

Now go up through the 4 seed beads on that side of the petal. Pick up 2 seed beads and go across and down through the 4 seed beads on the other side of the petal.

Below you can see the two seed beads you just added.

7. Go through all 3 of the base beads on that side of the petal going in the direction away from the tail thread. Pull the seed beads snug around the fire polished bead.

ADDING THE NEXT PETAL: 8. Go up through the first 2 seed beads on the side of the previous petal (going away from the base). Pick up 2 seed beads and 1 fire polished bead.

9. Go through the next base seed bead just after the first petal, inserting your needle so that it is going back toward the first petal.

10. Go back up through the same 2 seed beads on the first petal as before and then through the two seed beads you just added. Go down through the fire polished bead (going toward the base).

11. Go through the next 2 base seed beads of the current petal, going in the direction away from the first petal.

12. Pick up 4 seed beads and go back down through the fire polished bead (going toward the base).

13. Go back through the same two base seed beads and up through the 4 seed beads you just added.

14. Pick up 2 seed beads then go across and down through the 4 seed beads on the other side of the petal.

Now go through all 3 base seed beads of the current petal, going in the direction away from the previous petal.

15. Repeat steps 8-14 to make five more petals. You will add the last petal in a different manner.

16. For the last petal, repeat steps 8-10. 17. Go through the next 2 base seed beads of the current petal, going in the direction toward the first petal you made.

18. Go up through the first two seed beads on the left side of the first petal.

19. Pick up 2 seed beads and go down through the fire polished bead going toward the base. The 2 seed beads you just added are highlighted in red below.

20. Go through the second and third base beads going toward the first petal, then go up through the first 2 seed beads on the first petal.

Now go through the 2 seed beads you added in step 19.

21. Pick up 2 seed beads and go across the petal and down through the 4 seed beads on the other side.

22. Go through the 3 base seed beads of the current petal.

ADDING THE LOOP FOR THE EARRING WIRE: 23. Weave your way up to the outer edge of the earring.

24. Go through the first 4 seed beads of the petal on the left.

25. Pick up 5 seed beads and an earring wire. Go through the third through fifth seed beads on the top of the next petal. Continue on through the sixth seed bead.

26. Weave all the way around the outer edge of the earring twice, going through the earring wire loop each time to reinforce it. Don't pull too thight while weaving around or you'll cause the earring to pucker. Weave in the working thread before cutting it. 27. Use the tail thread to reinforce the inner circle of seed beads. Go around twice, if you can, before cutting your thread. Do go around at least once or until you can no longer insert your needle through the beads. TIP: I find it easiest to go through the center ring of beads three beads at a time. I go through each group of three below each petal. Otherwise it can be difficult to insert my needle between the tight beads. There's a slight gap between each group of three where the needle can fit through quite easily.

Copyright: Linda Genaw 2014 - http://craftyinspirationbylinda.blogspot.com/