A Pink Jewelry Set

Meandering swirls of silver surround pink and white glass pears in this jewelry set I made my aunt for Christmas. Although my aunt probably would not like my analogy, this is a Fairytale Princess set.

I was very surprised at how it actually worked, and never once did I have to pull it apart and start experimenting again! I will attempt to give directions-- but if you want to try this, you are going to have to wing it.

What you will need

• 50 something beads, size 6 to 7 millimeters (I used a mix of pink and white Swavorski Crystal glass pearls)

• A bag or two of seed beads (no way I am counting how many I used)

• Floral wire-- a looong peice

• Beading wire/string (make sure it is DURABLE! and it needs to be a few inches longer than the necklace is supposed to be)

• A centerpeice (I used a pink glass donut)

• Earring hooks

• Crimp beads (you don't need this, but it keeps your ends together! I just used normal pliers instead of buying fancy crimping ones)

• Clasps (or make your own)

• Pliers and wire cutters

To start, attach a clasp to the beading string and tie off one end (I used a crimp bead rather than tying). Then, wrap the floral wire around the same end of the string, so it is attached securely.

Put two beads (I used pink/white pearls) and then ONE seed bead onto the string. Make sure they do not go flying off. Next, put seed beads (I used around 12) onto the floral wire. Now, thread the floral wire through the seed bead that is on the beading string. Push the floral wire into shape. You will have to push it in such a way that there are no gaps between the beads on the string. Viola! One little twist done!
Repeat. And repeat. And repeat. Continue repeating until you have reached the middle of the necklace. String on your centerpice. Continue repeating.
Once you have reached the end of the necklace, tie the floral wire to the string, cut the ends. Then, attach the second part of the clasp to the string and tie off (or use a crimp bead).
Instead of just using clasps, I also put some chain on the back of the necklace to make it longer.

The finished necklace. This took me several hours, but its worth it, isn't it?

For the bracelet, you do the exact same thing that you did for the necklace. Be sure that the bracelet is the right size-- wrists tend to vary a good deal.
Remember: put two beads and a seed bead on the string. Thread seed beads onto wire. Insert wire through the seed bead on the string and pull into place.

And now it is time for the earrings! Take a headpin (a bit of wire shaped like a nail, can be found at most any craft store, and Walmart) and wrap the floral wire carefully around the head. Put a bead (pearl) onto the headpin. Now, put some seedbeads (I used 6) onto the floral wire. Wrap the wire around the top of the bead, once. Now, put the second bead onto the headpin. Put seed beads onto the wire and securely wrap around the top of the second bead. Trim floral wire. Cut and loop the ends of the headpin, then attach to the earring hooks.



Please tell me if you have any questions about making these! Also, tell me what you think. :) This is my favorite set so far.

Latest Issue of Ink and Fairydust

I hope you aren't tired of all these posts with Ink and Fairydust!
This issue, I wrote a photography article (24 and 25) and another comic (30).


Enjoy! And don't forget to check out old issues at Ink and Fairydust's Issu page.

Sewing Project Pictures!

I told you "long ago" about my various sewing projects... namely, the three things I have sewn: 1) a doll dress whose pattern I made up 2) a skirt and 3) an Elvish dress.

It is very hard, when you are the photographer, to get pictures of yourself dressed up. I do not have any pictures of my Elvish dress. The pictures I am including in this post are ones that my brother W. took several months ago-- and only when I bribed him.

Looking through the pictures, I realised I mostly made avatars and signatures for fun. I don't think I've actually used any... just experiment. So I apologise if the pictures have words all over them. :)

FYI: To get what "Bear" and "Fish" mean, read the Fairy Tale Novels by Regina Doman. And to get what "Tree Walking" is about, join the FairyTaleNovels Fourm, and read page 400 something in the Rivendell thread in the roleplaying section. Haha.

The Twisty Design

These are more pictures of the design that, for lack of a better name, I am calling the "Twisty Design".

The green and blue one is my favorite... those are my absolute favorite shades of my absolute favorite colors.
The problem is, I didn't think about making it big enough to fit me. I made it the same size as the pearly one, but that one didn't fit me. So this bracelet is going to be a Christmas present for someone who does not have a ginormous wrist. :) And I'll make myself one later.

I made the pink and white one with G. I can't believe how many things we made in just a few hours! I think this would make a nice Easter bracelet.

The Tales of Wire Crocheting

Remember that post a few months ago when I claimed I would never again try to crochet with wire?

Well, I guess I lied.

A few weeks ago I got to see some of the spectacularly amazing jewelry my friend D. made. She had made several crocheted necklaces. They were amazing! So, of course, I had to ask just what she did to make them.

Turns out the easiest way to wire crochet is to string beads onto wire, then chain stitch a length, pulling up a new bead each time you yo over. This is my first attempt at it-- I crocheted two strands and twisted them together into a bracelet.

I think it turned out rather nicely. :) The below picture is the same bracelet, before I smushed the wire together. I definately prefer the smashed together look.