Necklace- wire jewelry design

This wire jewelry design for a necklace was inspired by a flock of birds in our down town.

I was driving down to catch up on some mundane errands when something caught my eyes. A bunch of pigeons sat on the lamp post just like equi-distant beads, making a lovely design.

The image was so intense that I couldn't wait to come home and transfer it - through winding wires.

To make this wire jewelry design I used:

20 gauge wire about 8” (20-22 cm)

26 gauge wire about 5-6 ft. (approx 2 meters)

I got the wires from Artbeads A toggle clasp or lobster claw

Some beads (10-20)– depending on the design.

One top drilled briolette

I got the Swarovski crystals from Rings and Things

Tools-

Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, wire cutter,and a pencil. For this wire jewelry design necklace

1.Cut two 4” length of wire (20 gauge)

2.Take one of them and wrap the thinner wire (26 gauge)around it tightly.

3.Do the same thing on the second piece of 4'' cut wire too.

4.Now take one of them and wrap one end around a pencil to make a smooth curve.

5.Do the same with the other piece too, only this time do it together one more time to make sure they are exact same, like mirror image.

6.Work with your fingers to make it shaped like an elongated 'S'

7.With the round nose pliers twist the very ends of the wires to make nice round loops at the end of the 'S' s.

8.Wrap the individual beads one at a time on the elongated 'S' curve.

9.You may want to modify your design here regarding the spacing of the beads, whether you want to put beads on both sides of the 'S' , only on the top, only on the bottom, whatever.

10.Wrap the briolette as you'd do for any top drilled bead making a loop at the top, for joining later.

11.Join the two 'S' s and then the briolette by its loop with the thinner 26 g wire, neatly applying a stitching style. Cut the wire.File it, smooth it so that nothing is poking.

12.The middle portion is done now, which is approximately 8”. Now add beads at both sides of the s curve, applying the wrapped loop style until the length is about 16” (40 cm). Adjust to your design by adding more beads to make it longer or reduce to shorten .

13.Add a set of clasps at the end before finishing up the last wrap.

Enjoy.

As you can see I got quite carried away and made several wire jewelry design with sterling silver, gold filled and all kinds of things.

While working with wire especially when I just started out, I faced a couple of severe problems:

*The loops came out of all kinds of shapes and sizes.

*I had to learn how to avoid dented or scratched wire. What to do if it happens.

* How to avoid wasting wire.

I came across this wonderful book that solved many of these problems and also showed how to make beautiful jewelry when you are on a budget.

Click Here!

Another great idea if you want to make money selling jewelry in booths and during holiday times, or just any time,there is this book where you learn how to write names for necklaces. To see one's own name written in silver or gold-filled wire is exciting and I have heard that they sell like hot cakes. So you may want to check this book too.

Click Here!

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