Table of contents for September 2015 in Bead Style

Go boho In her charm bracelet, Candie Cooper includes margaritas and cosmic crystal rings. Margaritas are flat, flower-shaped beads, so stringing them as spacers is a fun way to subtly work crystals into your design. Create texture Linda Arline Hartung weaves crystal pendants through two-holed octagon crystals, and the effect is a controlled cluster with plenty of visual interest. Work crystals into findings like clasps or earring wires to extend the embellished theme. See Katie Hacker’s take on crystal pendants on page 38. Highlight big pendants For a festive statement, use cable chain to attach oversized pendants (I chose 50 mm de-art crystals) to a chunky chain. next issue Wirework Our November issue has it all: wired pendants, handmade chain, sculpted bangles, and bejeweled rings, plus chain mail earrings! On…

CRYSTAL CREATIONS under.an.hour.project 1 necklace • Open a jump ring (see Basics, p. 58). Attach a 22 mm pendant and close the jump ring. Make three 22 mm (large) pendant units and six 16 mm (small) pendant units. 2 Cut a 23–25-in. (58–64 cm) piece of beading wire. Center a large pendant unit on the wire. On each end, string: bicone crystal, 8 mm round, bicone, 8 mm, large pendant unit. 3 On each end of the wire, string: bicone, 8 mm, bicone, 8 mm, small pendant unit. Repeat twice. 4 On each end, string a bicone and an 8 mm, alternating until the strand is within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of the finished length. 5 On each end, string a crimp bead, a Wire Guardian, and half of a…

When I saw these leaf-shaped fluorite beads, I immediately thought of the broad leaves of an African violet plant. I knew that with a few faceted amethyst rondelles, I could create the perfect petals for a pair of flowering earrings. Supply note Use inexpensive children’s scissors to cut Fireline. Don’t use your good scissors; the thread will dull the blades. 1 earrings • Cut a 4 ft. (1.25 m) piece of Fireline thread. Thread a needle (see “Needle know-how,” below), leaving an 8-in. (20 cm) tail. String five color A 150 seed beads. 2 With the working end, go through the 150s just strung and tighten the thread to form a circle. Stitch through the beads once more. 3 String a rondelle and a color B 150 seed bead. Go…

Turn over a new leaf! Cheryl Parrott started twisting wires about a year into her bead addiction. “The organic look of the wires inspired me to add glass leaves reminiscent of romantic garden vines entwined around one another.” She made this necklace with eight long wires, but has used up to 18 pieces at a time to construct her intricate clusters of leaves and berries. Here, the subtle autumn hues capture our transition to early fall, celebrating the garden’s last flush of fading bloom. Contact Cheryl at cherylparrottjewelry@hotmail.com or visit cherylparrottjewelry.etsy.com.…

If you like working with wire, particularly heavier gauges, you’ll love the Now That’s a Pliers! Ergonomically designed with a soft, latex-free handle, this hand-held wire jig offers maneuverability and is great for creating linear designs. Pegs of various shapes — which are interchangeable with the Now That’s a Jig! — are screwed into a channel slot, and a bumper peg with a rubber sleeve prevents marring and keeps your wire in place. Find starter kits and accessories at brendaschweder.etsy.com. Use the Now That’s a Pliers! to make a focal piece and findings (see p. 44). Brilliant! A couple of sparkling finds from the Bead&Button Show: Gold-plated, magnetic multistrand clasps from Ezel Findings give you another outlet to customize your crystal designs. Owner/designer Sunyoung Park also teaches classes (such as…

wirework.project CRYSTAL CREATIONS 1 bracelet • Cut a 21⁄2 yd. (2.3 m) piece of 22-gauge wire. On one end, using the tip of your roundnose pliers, rotate the pliers to form a small loop. 2 Grasp across the loop with your chainnose pliers and use your fingers to guide the wire around the loop. Continue rotating your pliers, coiling the wire three or four times around the loop to form a spiral. 3 Position the spiral on the back of the bracelet form about 11⁄4 in. (3.2 cm) from the center and wrap the form a few times to secure the spiral. 4 a String a color A bicone crystal. Position the bicone on the front of the form and wrap the wire a few times to secure. b Repeat…

Experimenting with bead shapes leads to exciting new designs. Create this easy ladder bracelet by stringing contrasting multicolored rondelles through the "rungs" of two-hole bar beads. Line them up in a row for a modern structure with stylish flair. 1 bracelet • Cut two 13-in. (33 cm) pieces of beading wire. On each wire, string a rondelle, a daisy spacer, a rondelle, and a crimp bead. Over each wire, string the loop half of a clasp. Go back through the beads just strung and tighten the wire. Crimp the crimp beads (see Basics, p. 58). 2 On one wire, string a hole of a bar bead, a flat spacer, and a rondelle. Repeat on the second wire, stringing the other hole of the bar bead. Repeat the pattern until the…

Give your stringing a clean finish with these multistrand magnetic snap clasps from Fancy Beads. Hidden loops on the back eliminate the need for jump rings. The 20 mm clasp features two- to fivestrand options, with smaller clasps accommodating two to four strands. Safety teeth hold the clasp in the correct position, offering extra security for the ultra-strong magnets. toocutebeads.com There’s a new vibe in town, and it’s bronze! Garlan Chain’s new finish, bronze vibed, is a rich, golden color that accepts patinas well and darkens naturally over time like brass. garlanchain.com SilverSilk Galaxy is a 6 mm knitted tube that doesn’t fray or tarnish, and it’s nickel and lead-free. Use it to encase your favorite beads, or for a slim look, string designer tube beads on 3 mm SilverSilk…

birthstones.project 1 necklace • To make a bead unit: On a head pin, string a pearl. Make the first half of a wrapped loop (see Basics, p. 58). Make a crystal unit. 2 To make a connector: Cut a 4-in. (10 cm) piece of wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop. String seven crystals and make the first half of a wrapped loop. 3 On a bench block, gently hammer a soldered jump ring. Hammer a second jump ring. 4 Cut an 8–9-in. (20–23 cm) piece of chain. On one end, attach the pearl unit and complete the wraps, wrapping the excess wire. 5 Attach a hammered jump ring to one loop of the connector. Complete the wraps, wrapping the excess wire. Cut a 7–8-in. (18–20 cm) piece…

I love texture and anything that sparkles — especially for statement earrings. Whether you’re wearing a long, dramatic gown from a famous designer or a simple little black dress, don these beauties and make a red carpet entrance at your next special event! 1 blue earrings • To make a bead unit: On a head pin, string a bead. Make the first half of a wrapped loop (see Basics, p. 58). Make 12 units each of colors A, B, E, and F and 14 units each of colors C and D. 2 Cut a 3-in. (7.6 cm) piece of wire. On one end, using the largest part of your roundnose pliers, make the first half of a wrapped loop. Attach a crystal pendant and complete the wraps. Make a second…

“Follow the directions the first time. After that, do your own thing!” Perfect your plain loops by wiring alternating keystone crystals in this easy bracelet. Try this technique with any flat two-hole bead — it’s fun to stretch your skills by experimenting with different shapes and sizes. 1 bracelet • On an eye pin, string one hole of a keystone crystal. Make a plain loop (see Basics, p. 58). On a second eye pin, string the other hole of the crystal and make a plain loop. Make 18 to 20 crystal units. 2 Open the loops (Basics) on one side of a crystal unit and attach a second crystal unit facing the opposite direction. Close the loops. Continue attaching crystal units, alternating the direction, until the strand is within 1⁄4…

BUY THIS KIT! www.JewelryAndBeadingStore.com Sparkling crystals add visual depth to oversized peach, cream, and champagne pearls, and chunky chain keeps the piece from feeling too frilly. This goes-with-anything piece will become your style go-to! 1 bracelet • On a head pin, string a pearl. Using the largest part of your roundnose pliers, make the first half of a wrapped loop (see Basics, p. 58). Make 18 pearl units: three each in colors A, B, C, D, E, and F. 2 Follow step 1 to make 18 crystal units, six each in colors A, B, and C. Cut a 71⁄2-in. (19.1 cm) piece of chain. 3 Attach a color A pearl unit to an end link of chain and complete the wraps. On the next five links, attach pearl units in…