Make a silver kelp necklaceAdd an organic silver focal bead to a chain for care-free style.
by Jane Konkel
Published: September 2, 2010 | The long focal bead in my Silver kelp necklace is one example of the beautiful organic beads skillfully crafted by tribal artists in northern Thailand. Each year at the Bead&Button show, I covet the Thai Hill Tribe silver spilling in strands from Niki Passenier's booth. The focal bead in my necklace makes me think of bulbous kelp, so I paired it with fish-shaped chain for a understated sea-themed necklace. |
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The round beads in the second piece, cry "Little Shop
of Horrors."
Supplies
necklace 19 in. (48 cm)
• 26 mm silver focal bead
• 5 4 mm round spacers
• 4 mm flat spacer
• 14–18 in. (36–46 cm) chain, 3 mm links
• 8 in. (20 cm) 22-gauge wire
• 2-in. (5 cm) decorative head pin
• lobster claw clasp
• 1–2 in. (2.5–5 cm) extender chain, 5–6 mm links
• chainnose and roundnose pliers
• diagonal wire cutters Silver focal bead from Niki Passenier, nikipassenier.com.
Chain from Chain Gallery, chaingallery.com.
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Step 1
Cut a 4-in. (10 cm) piece of wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop (Basics). String a round spacer, a focal bead, and a round spacer. Make the first half of a wrapped loop.
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Step 2
Cut two 7–9 in. (18–23 cm) pieces of chain. Attach a loop to one end of each chain and complete the wraps.
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Step 3
Cut a 2-in. piece of wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop. String a round spacer and make the first half of a wrapped loop perpendicular to the first. Make two bead connectors.
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Step 4
On one end, attach a loop of a bead connector. Attach a lobster claw clasp to the other loop. Complete the wraps.
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Step 5
On the other end, attach a loop of a bead connector. Attach a 1–2 in. (2.5–5 cm) extender chain to the other loop. Complete the wraps. |
Step 6
On a head pin, string a flat spacer and a round spacer. Make the first half of a wrapped loop. Attach the end of the chain extender and complete the wraps.
Contact Jane at
jkonkel@beadstylemag.com.
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