DIY Network

Tussie Mussie (Test Tube) Vase Pin by Chris Franchetti From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-509

Science doesn't have to be hard -- especially when you use it to create beautiful jewelry. Guest jewelry designer Chris Franchetti joins host Jackie Guerra to experiment with test tubes, turning them into funky, mini-vases that you can wear! They're pins and they even hold real flowers. Tussie Mussie flower holders were popular in Victorian times for holding bound bouquets. Tiny tussie mussie pins were also made to hold single or small flowers. Early tussie mussies were usually cone-shaped and made of silver, but this one is made from a tiny test tube.

Experience Level: Beginner

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Guest jewelry artist Chris Franchetti shows you how to create a Tussie Mussie out of a small test tube.

Materials --

Jewelry making glue (such as GS Hypo Cement or E6000)
One 6mm by 50mm glass test tube
1 pin back
11" of 20-gauge copper wire
21" of 24-gauge copper wire
1 green Czech glass leaf bead
13 olive green 4mm Czech glass faceted beads
13 medium green seed beads

Tools --

Small round nose pliers
Small flat nose pliers
Flush wire cutters
Shapechanger? jewelry-making jig

Tussie Mussie (Test Tube Vase Pin)

1. The day before you plan to complete your tussie mussie, glue the pin back to the test tube, with the sharp point of the pin pointing down (figure A). Let the glue set overnight.

2. Using the round nose pliers, create a tiny loop in the end of the 20-gauge wire. Using flat nose pliers, gently continue coiling the wire until it is big enough to cover the bottom of the test tube (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

3. Using the end of the flat nose pliers, push down on the center of the coil to form a little cup. Place the bottom of the test tube into the cup, then wrap the long end of the wire up around the test tube a few times. Wrap around the pin back or through it, making sure the pin back can still close properly. Trim the wire if necessary, then gently fold the end of the wire over the top lip of the test tube (figure C).

Note: The key is to make sure that the metal of the pliers doesn't touch the glass when you fold the wire over.

4. Thread the leaf bead onto the 24-gauge wire about 4" from one end of the wire. Twist it twice to secure it in place.

5. String all but one of the seed beads and all of the 4mm beads onto the longer end of the wire in an alternating pattern -- beginning with a seed bead (figure D), and fold over the end of the wire so they don't fall off.

Figure C

Figure D

	Figure E
	Figure F

6. Arrange all of small pegs in a line on the jig. Starting just past the leaf bead, wrap the wire around the first peg, dropping a seed bead into the new loop. Now drop down a 4mm bead (which will be in the space between loops). Continue creating loops with seed beads, separated by 4mm beads, until all the beads are used (figure E). Carefully remove the 24-gauge wire from the jig, closing any loops that have come open.

7. Create one more beaded loop using the jig or your round nose pliers on the other side of the leaf bead.

8. Hold the leaf end of the wire near the top of the test tube, and use your fingers to flatten the first loop to the side of the tube and place the leaf where you would like it to be located. Wrap the remaining unbeaded portion of the wire over and around the entire pin back (figure F), then wrap it around the top of the test tube once, and secure by wrapping around the wire leaf "stem."

9. Continue down the test tube, wrapping the beaded loops around the tube and flattening the loops gently along the way. At the bottom of the test tube, secure the 24-gauge wire by wrapping it in with the 20-gauge wire cup.

10. Fill the test tube with water using a dropper or slowly running faucet and place a small flower inside.

RESOURCES :

Pin Backs, Tiny Test Tubes
May be ordered online from the following:
Website: www.chettibeads.com

Jewelry Making Glue, Copper Wire, Czech Glass Leaf Beads, Czech Glass Faceted Beads, Seed Beads, Pliers and Tools
May be ordered online from the following:
Website: www.rings-things.com

Shapechanger™ Jig
We apologize no contact information is available.

Making Bead and Wire Jewelry: Simple Techniques, Stunning Designs
1579901484
Dawn Cusick
June 2000
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Sterling Publishing

GUESTS :

Chris Franchetti
Owner
Chetti Designs
Website: store.chettidesigns.com