Daily Blogs : chain

How to Make a Wire Bead Chain!

Leslie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:51:00 GMT

Great Wire Jewelry Deserves Perfect Loops

I was doing some domestic spelunking and found a rosary I made before I knew much about wirework. It was a gift I'd made for my son when he was little. I'd invested in stone beads, made the cross in metal clay, and chained it all together with silver wire. My son loved it because it made him feel like a big boy to have such a special, non-plastic gift. I was very proud of it at the time. But now when I look at it, I’m more than a little embarrassed. The loops are all so uneven!

I know our learning curves all start somewhere, but that “somewhere” usually has better results if it begins with instructions in a class, book, or magazine. For instance, I could have learned how to make consistent loops in a magazine like Step-by-Step Wire Jewelry. Beading Daily is a good place to learn, too, of course. Here’s how to avoid my beaded chain-making mistakes and learn the proper way to do it.

1. Use a permanent marker to draw a line on one of the jaws of your round-nose pliers. This will help you make all bends in the same spot, creating equally-wide loops.

2. If necessary, use nylon-jaw pliers to straighten the last few inches of wire on the spool or roll. Don’t trim any wire off the spool yet. Flush cut the end of the wire, then slide on a bead. Grasp the wire end with the round-nose pliers at the spot you previously marked on the jaw.

3. Roll the pliers until the wire touches itself, forming a loop. The wire will be shaped like the letter P.

4. If your wire is 20-gauge or thinner, you can just press your thumbnail firmly into the base of the loop and pull the pliers back against your nail, so the wire looks like a balloon on a string. If your wire is thicker, you’ll probably want to grasp the wire at the loop base with chain-nose pliers instead.

5. Snug the bead against the loop and flush cut the wire 3/8" from the

top of the bead.

6. Grasp the wire end with round-nose pliers at the marked spot. Pull the wire against the top of the bead at a 45° angle.

7. Roll the pliers to form another simple loop. The loops should be even and scroll like the letter S. Set the link aside.

8. Make another link. Use flat- or chain-nose pliers to open one of the loops as you would a jump ring. Connect the loop to one of the loops of the previous link.

So, there it is–consistent and clean work, so you’ll still be proud of it years from now.

Got any other tips for making beaded chain? Have you made some great jewelry using this technique or fashioned your own prayer beads? Share your thoughts and comments below!

4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Erin Carey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:23:00 GMT

How do you deal with a necklace design that's perfect but too short?

Like most of you, when I design a new necklace I make it to my favorite length. I happen to prefer 16" necklaces because the focal bead sits just perfectly above my “Great Plains.” But if I’m making a necklace as a gift or to teach, I need to be sure that women of all different shapes and sizes can wear it. Not everyone’s got the Great Plains. Actually, most women I hang around with are more the, well…Grand Teton variety. So I usually make my necklace designs so they can easily be extended, either by the person that’s making it or by the person that’s receiving it.

Here are 4 ways to extend the length of a necklace:

Lisa Kan's
Autumn Bouquet

Jennifer Van Benschoten's
Back to Byzantium

1. Add more beadwork. If you’re stitching a beadwoven necklace, simply extend the strap or rope design to your desired length with the same or a different type of beaded strap. If the rope is too plain, incorporate other beads or embellishments to jazz it up a bit. Check out stitched necklaces like Lisa Kan’s Autumn Bouquet and Jennifer Van Benschoten’s Back to Byzantium to see the type of necklaces I’m talking about. See how they could easily be extended at the ends?

2. String extensions. You can easily transition from stitched beadwork to strung beads, like my example here. Just crimp a short length of flexible beading wire to one end of one strap, string enough beads to reach the back center of your neck, and crimp on half of the clasp. Do the same with the other side and you’re golden.

Jean Campbell's Fiori Necklace	Julia Zaccaria’s Delicious Donuts	Lindsay Burke's From the East

3. Attach extender chain. This is the simplest way to lengthen a necklace, as I’ve done with my Fiori Necklace. Just add a chain to one end of the strap and a lobster clasp to the other end. For some extra pizzazz, hang a little dangle at the end of the chain that incorporates a bead from the main necklace. You can also see this technique in Delicious Donuts by Julia Zaccaria and From the East by Lindsay Burke.

Anne Timmons'
Freshwater Pearl
Bridal Set

Katie Hacker's
Great Lengths Necklace
and Bracelet

4. Use a detachable extension. Use a bracelet with the same type of clasp and beads as your necklace to act as an extension. Just attach the bracelet clasp ends to their corresponding necklace clasp ends, and voilà! That’s at least 7" of extra length. Necklace/bracelet sets like Anne Timmons’ Freshwater Pearl Bridal Set and Katie Hacker’s Great Lengths Necklace and Bracelet work well for this concept.

Do you have other ideas for extending necklaces, or, for that matter, shortening them?
Please share them here and on the Beading Daily forums!

Metal beads and why we love them!

Erin Carey — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Add metal beads to your jewelry and wow, magic! The alchemy of metal transforms our designs in more ways than one. Because we value metal itself, using metal beads in our jewelry lets us ask a higher price! Metal gives a higher perceived and literal value to our work.

Metal beads also say a lot about who we are, our style. For fun, I collected some cool metal beads and totally made up what I think are the traits these beads might bring to a finished piece of jewelry—and what type of personality you may be to use them! (Approximate sizes are noted, for scale.) Go on, test your... metal!

Zen		The swirls in this silver saucer look like patterns in a Zen sand garden. Add beads like this to jewelry for an Asian fusion flavor. If you find this bead appealing, you tend to be calm and in control. You probably have a lucky bamboo plant in your home and will eat sushi, if it’s cooked. (20mm dia.)

Squiggle		Tactile, modern, and a cartoon in antiqued brass, this squiggle bead gives a wink of whimsy to designs. You love having people smile when they see your jewelry! You probably like squiggly food, too, like licorice lacing, spaghetti, and funnel cakes. (18mm dia.)

Spirals		These silver beads are far out! Use them to bring a 60’s style, mod look to your work, bold galactic spheres from beyond. Bet you watched “the Jetsons” as a kid, and enjoy spacey, new-age music. (15mm dia.)

Paisley pyramid		World traveler—albeit from your laptop—you’d use these beads to lend an exotic detail to your work. The decorative surface designs and shape of this Hill Tribe silver bead evoke treasures of the silk road trade. You like patterns and prints, and your jewelry reflects your love of intimate detail. Bet you wear… paisley socks! (12mm dia.)

Daggers		Shaped of hammered brass, these large, hollow daggers look very tribal. Even a single dagger as a focal bead would make a statement of strength and power in a design. If you’re drawn to dagger beads you are probably something of a warrior, a leader, and always want to be the driver when you go places with friends. (35mm long)

Rosebud		Being floral makes this bead feminine, but its oxidized surface and hand-crafted look make it a hip tribute to modern woman. It designs well with many other bead materials like stone, shell, or wood. Like it? You are probably eclectic and artsy, and have bowls of beach stones around your house. (8mm.)
Old metal		These old-looking metal components could have been unearthed at an archeological site, a remnant of an antique piece of jewelry or some unknown mechanical device. If you'd use them in your designs, I bet you like gears and watch parts, too. You probably are a fan of the Indiana Jones movies (except the second one), appreciate the imagination of Jules Verne, and might have secretly switched your brother's toy train for your Barbie one Christmas. (From 10mm to 20mm dia.)
Modern barrel		You are all about the shine, the elegance, the glamor of metal. These contemporary barrel beads are very luxe, and would totally enrich a design with semiprecious stones. If these are the beads for you, your home is probably a showcase, with modern furniture, glass tabletops, and you have a box of tools with your name on it at your manicurist. (15mm.)
Verdigris dangles		Nothing new and shiny for you! You want the character of the ages. These brass dangles have a luscious green patina you adore. Jewelry becomes a museum piece with metal beads like these. You might have once taken a belly-dancing class, and are fond of samosas and dolmades. (5mm.)
Copper saucers		This is one of my personal favorite metal beads. The antiqued surface is a contradiction to the retro saucer shape, and as a metal, copper has a rich yet earthy paradox to it. This bead could look either industrial or tribal. Copper beads design well with wood, resin, stone, and fiber beads. You may be inspired to design with these large (30mm) saucers if you like ethnic arts, but also watch sci movies... like me!
"Bluish" by Jane Dickerson		Find over 70 designs that use all sorts of metal beads in the 2009 edition of Creative Jewelry, like this "Bluish" necklace by editor Jane Dickerson. Then, share which metal beads are totally “you” here and on the Beading Daily forums!

How to Clean and Polish Chain Jewelry!

Brenton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

7 Great Tips to Maintain your Chain!

When I wrote Chain Style: 50 Contemporary Jewelry Designs, I couldn't wait to share the 50 fabulous necklace and bracelet designs. So many designs using all kinds of chain! Later on, as my favorite brass chain began to tarnish, I thought how great it would be to have a follow-up blog about how to clean your chain jewelry. So, here are a few tips I've learned about cleaning and caring for chain jewelry.

1. Daily Care
When you remove your jewelry, wipe off the chain with a lint-free polishing cloth that has no abrasives. If you have been wearing perfume, rinse the chain with water, pat it dry, then follow with the polishing cloth. This is great for day-to-day maintenance: cleaning off fingerprints, skin oils, scents, and surface dirt.

2. Storage
Yvonne Padilla of Rio Grande recommends that you place your jewelry in an air-tight, ziploc bag along with an anti-tarnish strip. These strips are fantastic–completely safe and non-toxic. They absorb moisture and neutralize tarnish-producing gases in the air. They will last up to 6 months or longer if placed in a sealed environment. They work for silver, brass, copper, nickel, bronze, tin, and gold. Copper is the villain when it comes to tarnishing, so any metal that contains copper will tarnish. Clean your chains thoroughly, then store them with anti-tarnish strips and they'll be ready to wear for months.

3. Weekly Maintenance
Use an ultrasonic cleaner and a cleaning solution that is PH-balanced and ammonia-free. This will eliminate surface dirt, oil, lotion, and perfume. If you are cleaning a rope chain or snake chain where dirt might get into the crevices, use a soft toothbrush to get into those hard to reach areas.

4. Let It Soak
Soak your chains in a PH-balanced, ammonia free jewelry solution for stubborn tarnish. If you have chain with stones, make sure that the cleaning solution you are using is gentle enough to use on the particular gemstones or pearls. Don't use the ultrasonic cleaner as the vibration may harm the stones.

Anti-tarnish strips, polishing pads, polishing cloths, and cleaning solution.		5. Tarnish Be Gone There are some wonderful polishing pads and cloths that are embedded with microabrasives that get rid of tarnish and dirt in a jiffy. Just rub the cloth over the piece and watch it polish to a clean, brilliant shine.

Top: Brass chain cleaned with vinegar and salt solution. Bottom: Tarnished chain.

6. Go Eco
To clean silver, try Jean Campbell’s At-Home Tarnish Busting Remedy. For stubborn spots, use plain toothpaste (no gels or whitening) and a soft toothbrush, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. I learned this trick from Kate Richbourg of Beaducation: For brass and copper pieces, use hot vinegar mixed with a few tablespoons of salt; let soak, then rinse and dry.

7. When in Doubt
If your jewelry has become really tarnished or you have concerns about any of the gemstones used in your design, take your jewelry to a professional jeweler and ask them to clean your pieces for you. What are your favorite ways to clean chain?

Now that you know how to care for your silver chains, try checking out my new book Chain Style with 50 different stylish and affordable designs. While you’re waiting for your book to arrive, try this fun and fast chain necklace by one of the book’s featured designers, Step by Step Wire Jewelry editor Denise Peck.

NEW FREE PROJECT!
Glass Whimsy
Denise Peck

This vibrant necklace was created using hollow lampworked glass beads, disk beads, silver wire, and a beautiful silver chain. The piece is bold and dynamic, yet simple to make. It's a great project for beginners. Originally published in Creative Jewelry, 2009.

Share your jewelry cleaning tips here or in the Beading Daily forums!

Create Chain with Wire, Beads, or Yarn: 10 Ideas

Michelle M. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:40:00 GMT

I like chain so much that back in April I spent a full day making my own in a wireworking workshop. Using steel wire, I made my own jump rings, formed my own links, hammered them, joined them, and polished the finished piece. The best tip I learned: once you've figured out the size of wire you need to make your link, use one piece of wire as the "master" to measure the others. If you keep measuing new pieces based on the last piece you cut, you'll gradually end up with a links that are noticeably larger than the original....(read more)

Make a Necklace with Leftover Chain

Michelle M. — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:06:00 GMT

I've been thinking a lot about leftovers lately--and not the fuzzy kind in my refrigerator! I'm talking beads. My bead stash has grown conisderably in the last year and with each new project I complete, I have a new challenge--what should I do with the leftovers? Part of my problem is of my own making--like many of you, I buy at least a few extra beads for projects because I am afraid of running out (see "Beadholic Confessions"). ...(read more)

5 Ways to Stretch Your Beading Budget

Michelle M. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:40:00 GMT

Beading and saving money are two topics near and dear to my heart. My Celestial Sparkle necklace was inspired when I could only afford a single strand of borosilicate beads. I wanted to showcase them in a necklace, but everyone who saw the tiny strand said I should just give up and make a bracelet. Luckily, I didn't listen! I found some relatively inexpensive clear teardrops to space out my more expensive treasures and ended up creating one of my favorite necklaces....(read more)

Chain and Gemstone Necklace: Creating a Personalized Gift

Michelle M. — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:05:00 GMT

Creating a Personalized Gift

One of the best things about being able to design jewelry is to be able to create a personalized, unique gift especially for a specific person. When a good friend of mine adopted her second child from China, I created a pair of earrings for her that combined mahogany obsidian from Colorado and jade from China to symbolize her new family. She loved the simple earrings and so did I--it was probably one of the best gifts I've ever given.

I was reminded of that experience recently when I received a necklace design from Jennifer Judd. Her chain and gemstone necklace was beautiful, but I'll admit it was the story behind it that got me hooked.

Jennifer's Story

"I happen to be an Air Force Officer for my 'real job' when I'm not sitting at my beading table, so I spend a lot of time with other military folks. One of my friends, who is currently dating an Army Officer, approached me about getting her a unique gift before her upcoming six month assignment in Baghdad. She is partly Cherokee Indian and relies heavily on her spiritual beliefs and the meaning of gemstones.

Since I'm not an expert on gemstones, I spent a little time researching gemstones and colors that symbolized protection and bravery. After much reading, I focused on a combination of orange and green: Canadian jade, ocean jasper, cherry agate, and carnelian. I added red seed beads as accents to each beaded section because the color red symbolizes success and triumph. It's also a typical component of Native American beadwork. To keep the necklace lighter, I divided it into seven sections of beads (seven is a powerful Cherokee number) connected with seven links of silver chain. To help the necklace drape properly, I added a simple pendant of coordinating stones in the center section.

Because she won't be able to wear the necklace while in uniform, I also made single-stone pendants that she can string on her dog tag chain that she'll have on all the time. It's not exactly regulation, but will give her some comfort and remind her of the man who gave them to her."

Free Project: Nan's Protective Necklace by Jennifer Judd

If you're curious about some common gemstone meanings, check out Jean Campbell's post, "Healing Beads: The Special Meaning Behind Gemstones."

I'd love to hear your stories about creating a personalized gift. What did you make? How did the recipient respond? Share your stories on the website.

Have you visited the new discussion forums yet? Here's what people are talking about: selling copyrighted designs, using FireLine, working with resin, places to sell your work . . . and more! Come join in the conversation!

Bead Spree Giveaway--Only one week left to sign up! Win a $300, $200, or $100 shopping spree at your local U.S. or Canadian bead shop! Sign up today!

Michelle Mach shares free projects every Friday on Beading Daily. If you have comments or questions for Michelle, please post them on the website.