Playing With Color: Take The Plunge With These Inspiring Projects

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Playing

with color
Take the plunge with
these inspiring projects
by Beth Stone

Take a long, hard look at


your stash of beads. The
bracelets and necklaces
shown here require the
brightest, boldest, and liveliest in your collection. Bring
out your gemstones, crystals,
metals, glass, and pearls in all
manner of shapes, sizes, textures, and finishes. Its best to
have your assortment laid
out in front of you before
you get started.
The next step is to try out
various bead combinations.
Nows the time to go beyond
the familiar and comfortable
color pairings you normally
use. When youve found a
new combination you like,
set it aside and keep going.
Let the beads surprise you.
When youre ready to
start stringing, work in small
sections and change color
and texture every 1 to 2 in.
(2.5-5cm). Incorporating silver or gold spacers among
your beads will add definition to each color block and
lend a sense of continuity to
your finished piece.

stepbystep
My jewelry pieces are easy to
string; the challenge is to
design a pleasing and joyous
array of colors. Experiment
freely with your beads and be
willing to do some rearranging before you crimp the
final crimps.

bracelet
Determine the finished
length of your bracelet, then
subtract the clasp measurement to establish the length
of the beaded strands.
Add 3 in. (7.6cm) to the
length determined above for
finishing the ends and cut 6
pieces of beading wire. String
a crimp bead on one strand,
thread the strand through a
loop on the clasp, and go
through the crimp again
(photo a). Tighten the strand
so it encircles the clasp loop
with some ease, leaving a 1in. tail. Crimp the crimp
bead (see Basics). Repeat,
attaching 2 strands to each
clasp loop.

String a colorful mix of


beads and spacers on each
strand. The end beads must
have holes large enough to
accommodate two passes of
beading wire, so you can hide
the tails inside them (photo
b). Check the way the beads
look together and make any
changes before you attach the
strands to the other half of
the clasp. Add or remove
beads, if necessary, so the
strands are the same length.
Lay out the bracelet
strands in parallel lines and
place the second clasp half
next to the unfinished ends.
Make sure the clasp is correctly positioned so it will
slide into the other half.
String a crimp bead on a
beaded strand and go
through the corresponding
loop on the second clasp half.
Go back through the crimp
and a bead or two. Tighten
the wire and check the strand
for gaps between beads. Leave
a little ease so the strand
hangs freely, then crimp the
crimp bead (photo c). Repeat

with the remaining strands.


Trim any exposed wire tails.

single-strand necklace
or bracelet
Make an easy single-strand
necklace or bracelet using the
same basic stringing and finishing techniques.
Cut a piece of beading
wire about 3 in. longer than
the desired length of your
necklace or bracelet. String a
crimp bead, go through the
loop on one half of the clasp,
and continue through the
crimp bead again. Crimp the
crimp bead.
String multiple color
blocks as shown in my pieces
at left. When youve reached
the desired length, string a
crimp bead and go through
second half of the clasp, the
crimp, and a few beads.
Tighten the loop and crimp
the crimp bead. w
Beth would love to hear
from you. Contact her at
bnshdl@msn.com or at home
(248) 855-9358.

materials

Bead & Button June 2002

multi-strand bracelet
Assorted 2-6mm gemstones,
crystals, metal beads, and
seed beads
Assorted Bali silver spacers
Flexible beading wire, .013
or .014
12 Crimps
3-strand Slide clasp
single-strand necklace
or bracelet
Assorted 2-6mm gemstones,
crystals, metal beads, and
seed beads
Assorted Bali silver spacers
Flexible beading wire, .013
or .014
2 Crimps
Toggle or lobster claw clasp
Tools: crimping pliers, wire cutters

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