Getting Wired

“Southwestern”

For this post, I want to show you how to make necklaces that require wire to connect them rather than jump rings.  But before I get in to that, I’ll show you a few more necklaces like the ones from my previous posts to help you get into the beading spirit.

The “Southwestern” is another necklace you can string yourself but the pendant adds a twist.  This particular pendant has holes at the bottom so you can add an extra touch to it.  I used 2 kinds of beads: main blue ones and blue seed beads.  For the beads at the bottom you use the flathead pins like was shown in the “Blue Drop.” 

“Beautiful Half”

For “Beautiful Half,” you get to use a mix of beads, both pre-strung and ones you must string yourself.  I got 2 sets of pre-strung beads of 2 different colors (light and dark).  I connected them using a jump ring and then strung 2 other beads to the end of each set using more jump rings.  Afterwards I connected them to some chain, which you’ll have to measure and cut into 2 equal lengths. 

“Subtle Purple”

As a final note, “Subtle Purple” is a pre-strung necklace I put together by just adding some jump rings and a clasp, but of course you can also make this kind of necklace by stringing the beads yourself.  I really like this necklace because of its mix of sizes and bead styles.   

“Pink Squared”

“Pink Squared” is also a simple necklace.  Just measure out your chain and then slip on the pendant.   

Now let’s move a step up into wire beading.  I found some lovely beads and pendants at this small shop Calbeads.  But the shape of these beads doesn’t work with jump rings no matter what size you get.  This is when wire and patience come in.  I bought the thinnest bendable wire I could find and inserted into the sides of the bead.  

Bendable wire (gold and silver).  Thread wire (far right).

 For “Reversed Gold,” you use the pliers to bend it upward and have enough left to twist it with the other end.  This can be tricky though because even with thin wire it’s hard to bend and twist it without damaging the bead.  In fact, I broke one of the beads through this twisting and bending, so you must be gentle and take your time.   

“Reversed Gold”

“Silver Drops” uses this same method for attaching the beads.  

“Silver Drops”

One trick to avoid such damage is to use more wire than you might think to.  With the “Three Drops” I used more wire giving it oversized circles but allowing me to keep from damaging the beads.  After that it was easy to connect the pedant to the chain and have a different type of necklace.  

“Three Drops”

 But this isn’t the only type of wire necklace you can make.  Next time, I’ll show you how a type of wire that is used to thread the beads, thus creating the necklaces.  These types of necklaces are all about the beads.