Hey Beady Types...

[magenta321]

I was considering buying some beads this weekend.

I want to do something inspired by this :

Katy Beh Contemporary Jewelry

Am I foolish to think I can buy a lot of jump rings and some beads and create something similar to this?

[eris esoteric]

Those don't look like jump rings to my eyes. It looks more like bead weaving with colored wire. But I could be wrong.

[emeleel]

It's individual rings, but they probably have super smooth joints and are welded shut. You can probably do it no problem, you just won't be able to hide the joints of the rings if anyone looks at it really close.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

eris esoteric said

Those don't look like jump rings to my eyes. It looks more like bead weaving with colored wire. But I could be wrong.

I spy with my beady eye...

[lynnzop[$]]

1. yes they are jump rings
2. yes you can close them well enough that you can't tell they are jump rings
3. yes you can probably do this if you have the right supplies, tools and patience. This is a fairly complicated piece.

Here's what you'll need (and I'm guessing because I don't necessarily know sizes, just based on the photo)

20g 6mm jump rings (30 for the pendant drape, probably another 60 for the chain)
Aquamarine briolettes (7) or glass in a color you want to use
Large hole glass beads for the connectors in the colors you want to use (they are using heat-treated garnets, you can use glass beads as long as the hole is large enough to accomodate two jump rings) estimate around 100+ of these beads
Clasp

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE BEAD STORE, ask if you can check the briolettes and glass beads to make sure they are going to fit on the jump rings. You will probably not be able to return anything you buy (most bead stores have this policy) and you will be frustrated and disappointed if you want this exact design and can't use your components.

So to construct, I'd first open all the jump rings using two pairs of pliers. Pliers need to be smooth jawed (no serrations, they will mark up your wire). I generally use a bent nosed and chain nosed for this type of work. You can use whatever you want, as long as the inside of the jaws are smooth and FLAT. Don't use round nosed pliers or rosary pliers.

There is a technique to opening and closing jump rings, you don't want to spread the ring apart, you want to twist it slightly - I twist the left side away from me and the right side toward me. If you are left handed, you'll probably do the opposite.

Next, lay out your jump rings in the design for your pendant drape. Start weaving the rings through the glass beads, adding a briolette at the bottom of each section. When you go to close the jump rings, do so using a back and forth (front to back) motion, gently bringing those ends back together. You'll want to go back and forth several times until you hear (and feel) a slight click. Check each closure to make sure it's tight on all sides, top and bottom. I can get closures tight enought that the break is near impossible to see, so it's possible...not all that hard, just takes practice. You might even want to practice a bit before tackling your necklace.

Once the drape is completed, you want to basically construct the necklace in the same manner - put a glass bead on a ring, add another ring to the glass bead, add a second glass bead to that ring before closing it, etc., until your chain is as long as you want it. Add the clasp at one end (you can use of the rings from the chain to hook it to) and you're done.

It's a lot of work, which partially explains why it's so pricey.

[eris esoteric]

lynnzop said

It's a lot of work, which partially explains why it's so pricey.

Not really, if you check the prices on the rest of the things they are selling.

Cindy, you owe me $5,600. American. I think that's pretty fair, don't you?

[lynnzop[$]]

eris esoteric said

Not really, if you check the prices on the rest of the things they are selling.

Well, add in the cost of materials (those garnets and bri's are pricey, and I'm assuming they are using 12 or 14k gold wire, not gold-filled) and you get a couple of bucks more.

Plus there's that whole "designer" faction. I could post link after link of stuff for sale that has no business with the price tag it's got, except for the "name" attached to it.

[eris esoteric]

I'd take that nifty owlite braclet you made with the cool grommeting thing it's got going on over ANYTHING on that site she linked.

[lynnzop[$]]

Everyone has different styles and tastes. I'm assuming you mean that Owl's Eyes bracelet with the donuts and maille work. That's one of my favorites too...I don't honestly care if it ever sells

I did click through several of the artists and for the most part they seem to have very similar styles. Of all, I'd have to say I'm most drawn to the one Margaret asked about...she uses a lot of rings and stones in simple, open designs.

[eris esoteric]

Yep, this one.



Of course, part of my problem with the designer stuff is the over use of gold. I just don't like gold. But really, none of that stuff really grabbed my attention.

[MiracleMax]

lynnzop said

There is a technique to opening and closing jump rings, you don't want to spread the ring apart, you want to twist it slightly - I twist the left side away from me and the right side toward me. If you are left handed, you'll probably do the opposite.

I'm right-handed and I'd do it the opposite of what you said.

[lynnzop[$]]

LOL Bree, well...me being ambidextrious, maybe I'm doing it left handed!

[emeleel]

I'm right handed, and I think I do it the opposite way of what you said. Of course, without materials on hand, I'm just going by memory!

[conradd]

I like Lynn's stuff better too. Margaret, the necklace is beautiful and it would make a wonderful cold-weather project when you really don't want to go outside anyway. What colors would you do it in?

[magenta321]

LOL, I like Lynn's stuff too! I don't mean to say that I don't. There's a few Lynn originals in my jewelry box and a few more in my mother's, and a TON on employees where I work (btw Lynn, I still get asked when I'm going to bring more in!)

That particular one was just a style I liked and I've been itching to do something myself.

Someone at work brought in some necklaces the other day. I liked some, but I didn't love any. I didn't buy any. I was left with the feeling that I would like something I made better than what this woman had made.

I also have some prejudices against some costume jewelry, which is why I think I picked something you all might find less creative. I'm drawn to fine jewelry, I can't help it.

That being said, I decided to get gold tone jump rings, and swarovski crystals in pink, and briolettes that were not quite what I wanted but matched in the same pale pink. The briolettes are not facetted enough for my liking.

I figured if this turns out well, I give this one as a gift to someone, and I'll make myself one with real gold and... I don't know what stones. I was thinking of doing alternating green and pink tourmeline. If I could happen to find watermellon tourmaline briolettes, I'd probably go insane with glee. I also probably would then cring at the price

We'll see how my pink one comes out.

My bead store was Michaels, lol. I wish I had the benefit of Lynn's warning about trying the jump ring thru the bead before I left the store. Luckily, anything I don't open I can still return to them.

I really need to find a jeweler to date. I have a lot of stuff I bought just because one day I want it to be turned into fine jewelry, or I want a replica of it made in fine jewelry etc. I'd love to play with all the pretty gemstones all day!

[magenta321]

Oh, I so failed! I can't get a bead on 1 jump ring, let alone 2!

Oh well, I wanted to go to the flea market this weekend and see what the bead guy there has anyway. His stuff is not glass, so I'm sure I'll wind up spending more than I mean to. I'll have to be smarter this time around

[lynnzop[$]]

I was going to say "Don't buy your jump rings at Michaels!" but I didn't.

Try getting some (what I call) E beads - they have a large hole and should fit through your jump rings (even the ones you got at M's )

And don't think you failed, Margaret...you just have supplies for ANOTHER project!!!

[magenta321]

Don't buy jump rings at Michael's? Why, Sensei?

[lynnzop[$]]

They are base-metal crap. That gold finish is going to wear off in a matter of wearings.

Now you have to understand I am a sterling silver and copper snob. And I cut my own rings because I want quality I can control. I just this week bought some aluminum rings for Jeremy because he's hounding me to make him a maille vest and I told him he can make his own damn vest. A lot of people use aluminum (it's cheap and light) but I haven't gone that route yet. If I'm spending the amount of time it takes to make a maille project, I'm using materials that are going to hold up.

That's my snobby two cents worth.

[magenta321]

Oh, my Michael's did have sterling and gold jump rings too. I just didn't spend the money on them

I figured the first one is practice. The second one is for keeps

[lynnzop[$]]

If you are going to invest that much time in the piece, I see no point in making it with sub-par materials.

Practice opening and closing with your rings that you got and then contact me if you want some decent rings at a better price than you can get at M's. If you will use sterling or copper, or don't mind paying the price for gold filled, I can set you up.