Second FREE project from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry!

Atlantis COPYRIGHT 2011 Margot Potter from New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry

Hey Howdy Hey, Boys and Girls! It's time for your second of THREE FREE projects from my new book New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry. This is a book about dimensional, architectural designs featuring both beading and shaping wire. I really think it provides a fresh take on looking at ways to play with wire. If you'd like a FREE signed copy of my new book, leave a comment here and I will randomly select TWO winners! I'll announce them next week with the third and final free project. Atlantis Necklace

New Dimensions in Bead and Wire Jewelry by Margot Potter

I began with the idea of hammered wired flat half circles creating a scale like effect as they cascaded from the neck. My initial vision was all metal, but as I began to problem solve I realized that a beading wire base with pretty blue beads would create a fabulous foundation for the links. Then I started thinking on a larger scale and added beaded accents to mimic the half circle motif. Finally I added swingy beads at the bottom of each half circle to give the design some movement and interest. Then I tried this on and gasped. Wow. I felt like a mer-queen!

Materials

18 gauge gun metal Artistic Wire

129 7x8mm aquatic blue AB Czech glass pillow rectangles

Gun metal spring ring clasp

2 8mm gun metal jump rings

16 size 2 gun metal crimp beads

.018 49 strand Beadalon Wire

Tools

Chasing hammer

Steel bench block

Bench block pad

2 pairs chain nose pliers

Round nose pliers

Crimp tool

Flush cutters

1. Create the wire elements first. Each of the half circles starts with a 5.5” segment of Artistic Wire. You can wrap this around a dowel or free wrap it into the half circle shape. The opening should be 2” wide on each. You need to create 13 total.
2. Use your round nose pliers to form loops at the top of each half circle that face towards the back of the circle as in photo.
3. Flat hammer the curved portion of your half circle.
4. Use the round end of the chasing hammer to add texture to the front of each half circle.
5. Attach an 18” segment of beading wire to a jump ring using a crimp bead. Thread on a bead, one end of a half circle, six more beads and the other end.
6. Add your one end of another half circle, six more beads and the other end.
7. Repeat this process seven times. Add a final bead and attach the wire to a second jump ring using a crimp bead, leaving some play between the beads by rounding the design before you crimp.
8. Attach a 4” segment of wire after the first bead in your first beaded segment on the necklace using a crimp tube and chain nose pliers. Slide on seven beads, attach to the space before the last bead in the first beaded segment using a crimp tube. Repeat this process, adding beaded half circles inside of every wire half circle.
9. Attach the second row of six wire half circles to the bottom of every two main half circles on the top row. ‘
10. Create 36 loop topped head pin dangles using 36 of the beads. Attach these to the bottom of each bottom row half circle.
11. Attach the clasp to one of your jump rings at the end of the necklace.