Mother of Pearl Necklace

Here’s a really simple summer necklace. All you need is some ribbon, ribbon findings, clasp, bail, mother of pearl pendant, and charm of your choice,

I selected this Mother of Pearl white pendant from Artbeads.com.  I liked the pendant but it wasn’t enough for me, so I added a starfish charm and then attached the bail to both. The pendant is so thin that it works out great and I love the way the charm looks on the mother of pearl.

After putting the pendant together, I made the “chain” using a soft color pink. I made the ribbon about 16 inches long and attached a ribbon finding to each end. Attach a clasp and voila—you have a great summer necklace in under 30 minutes.

Thanks so much to my friends at Artbeads.com  for the great products!

Full Disclosure: Many of the beads you see below are from Artbeads.com.  Some of the items I had on hand but all the pretty stuff is from them. To be clear; they gave me the beads so I would create and then write. Nothing really very sinister but I need to tell you this all upfront so none of us gets into trouble.

Summer Charm Bracelet

I live on Long Island, surrounded by beaches and water. I love the beach, sun, and water but what I really look forward to most each summer is my garden.  Thankfully, my daughter shares my love of gardening and flowers too.

I was in the city recently for the Whole Bead Show and bought some lovely large crystal rondells. They are green with little rosettes inside them. Just gorgeous. As usual, I had no idea what I’d do with them.

Enter the great charms from Artbeads.com.  These are sterling silver charms which make me think of summer. I wanted a little more color on my charm bracelet versus just using a chain.

I strung crystals on eye pins and made little sections with it. I alternated between green Swarovski bicone crystals in 4mm and 6mm size and then the large rondells too. The eye pins allow me to hook the charms to the openings.

This charm bracelet demonstrates everything I like about summer; beatufiul greens, flowers, and gardening. And of course the sparkle of the crystals really makes me happy.

Thanks to Artbeads.com for the great silver charms.

Full Disclosure: Many of the beads you see below are from Artbeads.com.  Some of the items I had on hand but all the pretty stuff is from them. To be clear; they gave me the beads so I would create and then write. Nothing really very sinister but I need to tell you this all upfront so none of us gets into trouble.

Wire Wrapped Pearls and Crystals

I got these really cute Swarovski 4mm Silver-Plated Channel Links in Light Rose and honestly had no idea what to do with them—but that happens a lot to me. I buy beads or findings because I like them and eventually an idea comes to me. I happened to have some Swarovski Crystallized pearls in soft pink and decided to put the two things together.

I decided to wire wrap the pearls and use the wire as a way to join them with the crystals.  I made a bracelet with matching earrings. The result is delicate but elegant. I sell a lot of my jewelry—but this went right in my own jewelry box.

I’ll provide directions below and all the way down are pictures of the finished product.

How to Wrap a Pearl

Supplies needed: 2 inch long eye pins, 4mm crystallized pearls, channel links, clasp.

1. Put the pearl on the eye pin.

2. Bend the wire at a 90 degree angle giving yourself a bit of room between the pearl and the bend. It’s a matter of preference. I like about 1/4 inch.

3. Bend the wire towards you using looping pliers making a circle.

4.  Take one of the channel links and put it on the loop.

5.  Once you bend the wire into a circle, wrap it once around the wire so you close the loop. Make sure it’s tight against the wire before you start to wrap the pearl.

5. Continue wrapping the wire around the pearl. This is not difficult but it does take practice to get the look that you want. The idea is to wrap the wire around the pearl until it meets the bottom loop.

Use your fingers as much as possible, but don’t be afraid to use your pliers for extra oomph. ;)  If you have a bit left over that you cannot wrap, take your cutters and snip the end. Use a file to make it smooth.

 

 

Thanks to my friends at Artbeads.com for the great products. 

• Swarovski Elements
• Swarovski Pearls

Full Disclosure: Many of the beads you see below are from Artbeads.com.  Some of the items I had on hand but all the pretty stuff is from them. To be clear; they gave me the beads so I would create and then write. Nothing really very sinister but I need to tell you this all upfront so none of us gets into trouble.