ECT TV Episode 26: Bead Link Necklace + Nature Inspiration
Emerging Creatively Tutorials Episode 26!In this episode I talk about nature as an inspiration and show you how to make a bead link necklace.By the way, there is a similar necklace in my Wire Wrapping for Beginners eBook.Here's the video:
As you may know if you've been following me, I love nature. I love to be out in it. This summer has been the summer of waterfalls for my family.In my jewelry, I love reminders of my time outdoors. Sometimes I like to make jewelry from things I find in nature or get a shape or color combination from nature.Today I'm making a necklace with gemstones. I used to be anti-gemstone for a variety of reasons, but now I really like how grounded they make me feel. I like to be able to touch a gemstone and be reminded of nature and grounded when I feel it.
Wire Wrapped Bead Link NecklaceTools and Materials:
- Beads - I used Natural Magnesite Oval Tabular Beads 24mm
- 20 gauge half-hard round wire (in any metal you like)
- Chain
- 3 - 4mm jump rings
- 2 - 9mm jump rings
- Lobster clasp
- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Bent nose pliers
Step #1Cut a piece of wire. It should be a couple of inches longer on each side of the bead. My wire was 5" long.Step #2
Make a mark on your round nose pliers with a sharpie. You'll make all of your loops lining up to that mark. It doesn't matter exactly where that mark is, but more than you use it for each loop to make them uniform.See this wire wrapping tip for more help with this.Step #3
Hold the wire in round nose pliers about 1/3 of the way down the wire. Line up the wire with the mark you made on your round nose pliers.Step #4
Wrap the wire around the round nose pliers forming a loop.Step #5
Straighten the loop so it's centered on the wire. In the video I show you how I do this and you can get a better understanding there.I hold the loop in chain nose pliers and straighten it as I wrap short end of the wire around the long end.Alternatively, you can leave your round nose pliers in the loop and straighten it by rolling your wrist back a little.Step #6
Hold the loop in chain nose pliers and continue making wraps. Go around about 3 times and trim off the excess wire.Step #7
Slide the bead on and then repeat to make a wrap on the other side.Step #8When making your next bead link, create one full wrap on one side, slide on a bead. Then create a loop - but don't close it. Slide a loop from the previous bead link into the loop. Then complete the loop. Continue doing this until you have a strand of beads. (I used 5 beads)Step #9Sorry about the lack of photos for finishing this project. But it's easy and you can see the steps on the video. Just add the chain to each end using jump rings. Then add a lobster clasp to one end and a couple of 9mm jump rings to the other end to complete the necklace.
You could do an entire necklace of just the beads and then add a clasp to the end.As I mentioned above, a similar necklace (plus many more jewelry projects, techniques and more about jewelry designing!) is part of my Wire Wrapping for Beginners eBook, which you can get here.If you want a fun Creativity Expedition to go out and be inspired by your surroundings and then learn to make a great bracelet, sign up for my FREE mini eCourse here.