With
so many recent styles pointing back toward yesteryears, it's no surprise that
gold has hit it big as a primary metal in contemporary jewelry designs. I used
to think of it as the metal of my mother's generation, but I've
recently caught the fever and want everything I wear to be gold. It's got
everything--it looks rich, complements every color, and brings out the glow in
otherwise dull skin tones.
I'm
also obsessed with geometric forms lately. So I combined my favorite trends
for some fun stringing projects last week.
Gold-and-agate necklace materials:
17 agate 6x8mm pebbles (Bead Trust)
20 gold-tone brass 2x21mm tubes (similar at Designs by Darla)
1 gold-plated 19mm twig toggle clasp (Nunn Design, FusionBeads.com)
2 gold-plated 8mm jump rings
6 gold-plated wireguards (Beadalon)
44" of red 1/8" wide cotton cord (Jubili Beads & Yarns)
Triangle earrings materials:
6 gold-plated 16.5mm diamond-cut triangle links (Beadalon)
4 gold-plated 5mm jump rings
2 gold-plated ear wires
Curved-tube necklace materials:
1 gold-plated 3x50mm curved tube (Beadaholique)
1 gold-plated 6mm spring-ring clasp
2 gold-plated 4mm jump rings
15 1/2" of gold-filled 1x3mm figaro chain (Bead Cache)
Beadwoven chevron necklace materials:
Prewoven peyote-stitched chevron pendant (5 g teal size 15° Czech seed beads, 5 g gold-lined clear size 15° Japanese seed beads)
1 gold-plated 6mm spring-ring clasp
2 gold-plated 4mm jump rings
17" of gold-filled 1x3mm figaro chain (Bead Cache)
4" of brass 24-gauge wire (Beadalon)
Gold-and-leather wrap bracelet:
5 gold-plated 3x50mm curved tubes (Beadaholique)
1 gold-tone brass 9x20mm crimping 1.5mm-cord-end hook-and-eye clasp (Beadaholique)
30" of metallic white 1.5mm wide leather cord (Hobby Lobby)
Use
the comment section below to tell us how you're using metal in your jewelry! Do
you prefer bright, polished tones, or do you go for patinated, antiqued appeal?
Bead chic!
Kate Wilson
Project
Editor