Free Jewelry Making Project from Design Secrets Exposed 'Connections'!

Here's a free jewelry project from beading Goddess Katie Hacker to whet your appetite for Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed co-written by Katie Hacker, Fernando DaSilva and yours truly (F+W Pubs 2009). From wire designs that defy gravity to innovative uses of everyday findings, there is inspiration for the beginning beader and the experienced jewelry designer on every page.

Congratulations to Sheila from Halo Hill Blog for winning last week's Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed book giveaway! Email me your snail mail address Sheila and I'll get that prize out to you ASAP! This week's prize is another copy of the book, a spool of Beadalon purple Clear Colors wire, a pack of star tipped headpins, a pack of crimp covers, a pack of textured solid rings AND a small stash of Swarovski crystals! Leave a comment and I'll select a winner next Wednesday! Stay tuned for more contests from this book and my other new book Beyond the Bead in the next few weeks!

Connections
Excerpt from Bead & Wire Jewelry Exposed
Design Copyright 2009 Katie Hacker

This week's free project from Exposed is a design that Katie created using toggle rings in an unusual way. Can you spot them? The toggle rings act as links and echo the geometric channel-set crystals.

Materials
18mm crystal twist sew-on stone
3 14mm cosmic rings
5 8mm Siam round double-loop channel set crystals (these are sold at JewelrySupply.com see link)
3 6mm clear round single-loop channel set crystals
small silver curb chain
17 4mm round silver jump rings
9 8mm round silver jump rings
10 silver toggle rings
silver toggle clasp
(Order from Art Beads before July 31st and use my code to save 10%:SCF10P-POTTER-0112)

Tools
chain-nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions
1. Cut the chain into the following lengths:
2. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the lower hole on the sew-on stone and use it to connect a toggle ring.
3. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
4. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the lower loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect a cosmic ring.
5. Attach another 8mm jump ring to the cosmic ring and use it to connect a toggle ring.
6. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach the three 2" chain lengths to the lower loop on the toggle. Cut the chains so they're slightly uneven in length.
7. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach a clear crystal channel to the end of each chain.
8. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the upper hole on the sew-on stone and use it to connect a toggle ring.
9. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
10. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the other loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect the loop on a toggle ring.
11. Pass one 8mm jump ring through the toggle ring and use it to connect a cosmic ring.
12. Pass another 8mm jump ring through the cosmic ring and use it to connect a toggle ring.
13. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the loop on the toggle ring and use it to connect a Siam crystal channel.
14. Pass a 4mm jump ring through the other loop on the Siam crystal channel and use it to connect the loop on the toggle ring.
15. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach three 4" lengths of chain to the toggle ring.
16. Use a 4mm jump ring to attach half of a clasp to the end of the necklace.
17. Repeat Steps 8-16 to complete the other side of the necklace.

All crystals are from Create Your Style with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements; chain and findings are from Beadalon.