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After years and years of trying, I've finally gotten my mother hooked on beads. In fact - all she wanted for Christmas this year was a shopping spree in my bead shop. Mom's asymmetrical design style is a turn about from my usual pattern oriented design mind (its that math degree - I can't help myself!) and I hope ya'll will enjoy this Melody inspired bracelet!
This double-stranded bracelet is a crazy, random mix of heart beads, spacers and sparkling Swarovski® crystal in warm, Valentine's colors. The strands are held together with an ornamented ring in the center of the design. This is a relatively easy project, requiring some basic stringing and wire wrapping techniques. Can you review them below: |
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Wire wrap both headpins onto the small ring of charm loop, as shown in the picture right.
To close this bracelet, string a few beads through the short, 4" tail you left open at the beginning of the bracelet, and then string a crimp bead onto the tail. Continue beading the long side until the lengths of the long tail plus the short tail give the 2nd strand the same length as the first. You'll need to slip a crimp on the long strand right before the last bead. Crimp both crimps, snip the wire, and you're finished! If this is confusing (and it sounds confusing to me), study the photo above - it should illustrate where the crimps should go!
These easy matching earrings take only basic wire wrapping skills, and are a fun match to the bracelet.
Wire wrap both headpins onto the large ring of charm loop, and attach the small ring of the charm loop to a french hook. Repeat, reordering your colors, for the second earring. |
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The jewelry you make from this design is yours do with as you please. You may make it as often as you like without any restrictions. For example, you can make this jewelry for yourself, for friends, or to sell. I do not require that you give credit to me for the design. While I assert no rights over the finished jewelry, the photography/images and text on this page are copyrighted as follows:
This copyright applies only to the document above, and does not apply to the rest of the website content, images and text, for which I retain full rights. |
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How to Make:
First - make the ornamented loop that will be strung into the center of the bracelet. Make two headpins as shown to the right. Feel free to make up your own pattern, or use the pattern shown:
Next - cut a piece of beading wire about 18" long. String a crimp bead followed by a 3mm round onto the wire. Run the wire through part of the toggle, back through the 3mm bead, and back through the crimp bead. Leave a 4" tail on one side, and the rest (about 14") on the other side. Close the crimp.
Begin stringing your beads. Alternate between the various sizes and shapes and colors to give an organic design. A little before the half-way point of your design, string two or three smaller beads (4mm bicones, 3mm rounds), and slip the charm loop into the middle of them, as shown in the photo above. The charm loop should move freely in that space.
Finish stringing the first strand to the desired length. Run a crimp bead onto your wire, then a 3mm round, then the end of the toggle. Run the wire back down through the 3mm bead, and through the crimp bead. DO NOT CUT THE WIRE. Continue to string the 2nd strand of the bracelet going the other way. Again, string a few smaller beads at the half way point, and run the beaded wire through the large ring of the charm loop. In this way - both strands of the bracelet will be anchored together at the midpoint. Continue stringing the last part of the 2nd strand.
In this bracelet, the design is crimped and closed in the middle of the bracelet, rather than at the end. Although you could use a single crimp to close this bracelet, I like to use a double crimp for extra strength. 
Matching Earrings