Frustrated!

I am so stinkin frustrated!  I had this really great idea for a piece I was working on...and I have gotten to a point now where I don't know how to attach the rest of the necklace to itself.  Here's the deal.  I use satin cord and bead around the ends to attach the clasp (kinda like a beaded cap).  What I want to have is this:  Clasp-cord-chain maille-cord-focal-cord-chain maille-cord-clasp.  **hopes that makes sense**  Now...here is the problem....I have the first part up to the chain maille part done but I can't figure out how to cleanly and professionally attach the middle cord piece.  Technically I could bead around the ends of that middle piece of cord too so that i can attach it without loose ends on either side but that is alot more time consuming and will cut back on my $$ per hour.  I also could attach the focal directly to the chain maille but it just doesn't look nearly as good.   don't know what to do!   Help?  Suggestions???

 I may be way off base here so I apologize if this makes no sense...

Do you have the end crimps for cording that have the loop? Could you crimp each end in that and the using a jump ring attach the cord to the chain maille? Or can you wire wrap the end of the cord and finish with a loop that you can use to attach to the chain maille?

Those are my two suggestions for what they are worth. Maybe something from that will inspire you or will help inspire someone with something better!

Pictures might help too if you have the time etc...

Cut and paste this address:

http://www.firemountaingems.com/onlinecatalog.asp

Ande search for cord ends. It looks like the all crimp on, but I just lookede at the first few results.

 Well...I think I might try something with wire-wrapping...that might work.  I will post pics later - I can't until I get home later tonight.  The thing is, I know I can't use crimps...the cord is HUGE...its like this:  http://www.polymerclay.com.au/images/SatinCordPink.jpg

Plus, I use all copper on these pieces so...I don't know if anyone even carries copper findings like that.  Let me try the wire-wrapping and post pics so you can see and maybe I can get this figured out.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE SUGGESTION!!!

 Oh...and the cord is doubled over...thats part of the reason its so big.

They do make cord ends specifically for larger diameter leather and cord. You can get them to fit on the ends of 4mm leather, or even a bit bigger. They call them crimp ends at art beads, and cord ends at fusion beads. I've only seen the fold over kind in copper, which will be too small, but I know you can get the larger kind in brass, silver or gunmetal.

Gee! LYILHAS, this sounds interesting,Can't wait to see the Pic's.

Good Luck! GYSPY mARY

Kelly, if you want to make a wrapped end you would do this  http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/howto/archive/2009/02/13/wire-coils.aspx  file and crimp in those ends tightly against the cord and pinching it a little bit to finish it off and hold it securely.  You could then use the loop the folded rattail cord made to attach the chain maille.  That would look pretty good IMHO.  Copper wire is usually pretty easy to coil like this too since it's fairly soft.  Does this help?  I hope so...

Pam

I didn't read the link that Pam posted, but I bet wire-wrapping the cord end would work just fine as long as the wrap is tight enough.  Good luck, and definitely post a pic!

Jeni, you got it even without reading it, and you're right, the wrap would need to be tight enough. 

Pam

This afternoon I was reading in a book by our own Chris [Franchetti], from Visual Quick Tips: "Beading".  On pp 53 and 54 she suggests using 'coil ends', and shows and tells how to use them.  It looks a lot easier than wrapping, and you just carefully squeeze the last 'round', starting at the end and slowly work around the coil for one full turn.

(Elsewhere [another thread] I told her it was a book to read slowly and carefully.)

Ok, I gotta ask . . .

Why not put the chain to the focal?  If you could put a complimentary crystal or like bead and either side of the focal so that they seem to evolve from the focal then on to the chain - I think that would be a striking center piece. It will accent your focal and also draw your eye straight to the focal then come out of the chain with the soft delicate cord.  What do you think? I'm a huge fan of centering my design with accents but then fading out to softer background elements, i.e. cord.  And looping it over then securing with wire-wrapping is very popular right now and has been a blooming trend on blogs.  It seems to create a vintage artist feel to each piece.  Your buyer will know it's a one-of-a-kind item!

Good Luck, Michele

 Thanks for the input Michele!    Actually the focal isn't really a bead...it's a piece that needed to be wrapped with the cord in order to look right.  I tried to connect directly to the chain maille but it didn't do the piece justice.  I did end up doing the wire wrapping...I love your suggestion though, and will keep it in mind for other projects.  I will post a picture of how it turned out when I get the chance - just haven't been able to yet!

Moon Fairy Glass:

Ok, I gotta ask . . .

Why not put the chain to the focal?  If you could put a complimentary crystal or like bead and either side of the focal so that they seem to evolve from the focal then on to the chain - I think that would be a striking center piece. It will accent your focal and also draw your eye straight to the focal then come out of the chain with the soft delicate cord.  What do you think? I'm a huge fan of centering my design with accents but then fading out to softer background elements, i.e. cord.  And looping it over then securing with wire-wrapping is very popular right now and has been a blooming trend on blogs.  It seems to create a vintage artist feel to each piece.  Your buyer will know it's a one-of-a-kind item!

Good Luck, Michele

 Is that a picture of what you're describing?

Rose