Glass Faceted Prismatic Multistrand Necklace

Glass Faceted Prismatic Multistrand Necklace

Hi there! It's Dominique here. Today on the blog, I am going to show you how to make an elegant multistrand necklace using the high-quality glass, faceted beads from Just Bead It. These beads are perfect for reflecting prisms of light, and would make the perfect showstopping piece for a special occasion such as a graduation or other event. The beads used in this piece are so unique and, by using eye pins to space each bead apart, I believe this design really showcases their individuality and prismatic nature.

Just Bead It products used:

• JBSV84 - Diamond-shaped glass faceted beads
• JBRF60 - Round faceted and offset bicone glass champagne-coloured beads
• JBSV21 - Small bicone glass faceted champagne-coloured glass beads

Additional products used:

• Gold eye pins
• Small gold jump rings (x4)
• Large gold jump rings (x2)
• Gold chain segments (one with a teardrop charm, known as the extender chain, and one with a lobster claw clasp)
• Gold lobster clasp
• Bent-nose pliers
• Round-nose pliers
• Wire cutters

NOTE: I didn't end up using the JBSV07 beads in this design

The gold chains, lobster clasp and jump rings used in this design were actually repurposed from a vintage necklace that I found in an op shop! It was a great find, as the gold chains are of a very high quality, and I suspect them to be gold filled (rather than gold plated which is a lot more common). It pays to look around for secondhand jewellery in op shops, as you will sometimes find something that is of a high quality that can be taken apart and reused in a completely different design :)

Firstly, start by threading an eye pin through two of the offset-drilled champagne glass beads from the JBRF60 strand of beads, with a round gold spacer bead on either side (from the same strand of beads), as shown below. These beads protect the fragile glass beads from being scratched by the metal eye pin or pliers. Make sure that each of the offset beads oppose each other in orientation (so, if the top bead is facing upwards, the bottom bead should be facing downwards, and vice versa), in order to highlight their uniqueness.

Next, take round-nose pliers and turn the tail of the eye pin to a 90degree angle, and cut any excess wire so that only a tail of about 1cm in length remains.

Then, take round-nose pliers again to grip the edge of the wire tail and gently turn it inwards until it forms a tight loop at the top of the bead. Shown below. 

I like to call these mini bead 'charms' or double-sided charms, since they will be linked together to form the necklace. So, after you've created one of these, you can proceed to thread an eye pin through the round faceted bead from the same JBRF60 strand of beads. This one doesn't need spacers on either side, so just thread the eye pin through as normal, and turn to a 90degree angle as before. Similarly, cut any excess wire and grip the edge of the wire tail, turning it towards yourself until it forms a tight loop (being very careful not to scratch the glass).

Now, you should have two 'charms' that will start to comprise the first strand of the necklace. Take a pair of bent-nose pliers and gently twist the loop on the eye pin (like an 'S' shape), to open in and link it to the adjoining bead 'charm'.

Continue making these bead 'charms' and linking them in an alternating fashion until the chain length reaches about 23cm in length.

Once you have reached a sufficient length for the first strand, set it aside and start working on the second strand. This one is shorter than the first as it is designed to fit above the first strand, and therefore must sit higher on the neck.

Start by taking two (JBSV21) small glass bicone beads and threading them through an eye pin just as before, and making them into a bead 'charm' using the technique mentioned earlier. Using the same technique, take one of the large diamond-shaped champagne glass beads from the JBSV84 strand, and thread it through an eye pin (with no spacers on either side). Again, carefully use the techniques already mentioned to turn it into a bead 'charm' with loops on either side, being very careful not to scratch the glass with pliers.

Once you make these charms, you can link them together by opening the loops on the eye pins, joining them to their neighbouring 'charms' and closing the loops back up.

Continue making these bead 'charms' and linking them together until the chain reaches the desired length. For me, I used five diamond-shaped bead 'charms', and six small bicone bead 'charms' in total. This reached about 17cm in length, which in my opinion, was the perfect length in terms of the way the necklace fell when worn on the neck. The effect I wanted was for the necklace to have about two centimetres of space between the top and bottom chains when worn, so that the individuality of each bead and strand could be highlighted. If the chains were too close together, the beads wouldn't be showcased properly.

NOTE: I later decided that this length was too long, so I ended up removing one of the small bicone 'charms' on either side. As such, this length, in reality, only has a total of six small bicone bead 'charms', not eight as shown here.

Next, once you have two beaded chains that have each reached the desired length, you will need to attach small gold jump rings to both ends of both chains. Just like when joining eye pin links together, gently twist the jump ring open and attach it to the eye pin loop on the outer end of the chain. Repeat this on both sides of each length of beaded chain.

Once all the small jumprings have been attached, you can now add one large jump ring to complete both ends of the design. Use bent nose pliers and round-nose pliers (or flat nose pliers) to twist the large jump ring open, and attach one end of both chains to it, making sure that the large diamond-shaped beaded chain is above the other one. Close the jump ring and repeat the same thing on the other side, adding the other end to their own respective jump ring, and close shut.

Now, you should have both the chains joined together in a multistrand fashion. Now, to complete the design, add the chain segment with the teardrop charm (the extender chain) to the right side of the necklace in front of you, or the left side if you imagine the necklace on the wearer. Next, take the chain segment that contains a gold lobster clasp, and add that to the other side (the side of the necklace that is held in the right hand of the wearer as they fasten the clasp).

Now, the necklace is complete! This design is straighforward to make, yet produces a very effective necklace that is reflective and prismatic, which makes it a great statement piece for a special occasion, such as a graduation. I also adore the offset drilled champagne glass beads, as their unique side-drilled design is unlike any bead I've seen before. I've thoroughly enjoyed making this piece, and sincerely hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! This will be my last jewellery blog for the year, so I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading, happy beading! :)

If you would like to view more of my designs, I also have an Etsy store called DominiquesWares which features more beaded jewellery. This particular multistrand faceted glass necklace will soon be uploaded to my store, so stay tuned for that :)

If interested, you can follow me on Twitter @DominiquesWares
or Instagram: dominiques_wares
You can also follow my Dominique'sWares blog

African Turquoise Multistrand Cuff Bracelet

African Turquoise Multistrand Cuff Bracelet

Hi there! It's Dominique here. Today on the blog, I will be showing you how to make a multistrand cuff bracelet, using the beautiful African Turquoise beads from Just Bead It, as well as showcasing some beading materials from Beadalon. The blue-green hues of the African turquoise beads give this bracelet a classy look that matches perfectly with the black accent beads, and the addition of silver spacers completes the design with just the right amount of sparkle to tie the whole bracelet together. I hope you enjoy!

Just Bead It products used:

• JBRF84- Medium African turquoise beads

• JBRF91 - Large African turquoise beads

• JBRF53 - Black assorted bicone beads and faceted round beads

• JBSV26 - Small silver bicone spacer beads

Beadalon products used:

• Silver crimp tubes (x6)

• Silver crimp covers (with decorative design) (x6)

• 49 strand silver beading wire (x3 equal lengths)

• silver 4mm jumpring (x1)

• silver lobster clasp (x1)

Additional products used:

• 5-strand silver bar end (x2)

• 5-strand silver connectors (x2)

• Silver extender chain with teardrop charm (x1)

• Crimping pliers

• Wire cutters

• Round-nose pliers

• Bent-nose pliers

Firstly, start by cutting three equal lengths of beading wire. Today, I'm using the 49 strand silver beading wire from Beadalon, I absolutely love it and find to be of great quality! 49-strand is more flexible than 7 or 14-strand wire, which makes it ideal for jewellery such as bracelets.

Once you have three equal lengths of wire that are the size of your wrist, with about 5cm of overhang on either end, you can thread one of the wires through its respective loop in the 5-strand bar end. I am using a 5-strand bar end today, even though I am only working with three wires, because I wanted the bracelet to be a little bit spaced apart which will give it a cuff-like effect. 

First, thread a crimp tube onto the wire, and then thread the wire through the hole in the bar end and back through the crimp. Pull the wire to close the gap between the bar end and the crimp, but still leave a bit of wiggle room so that the bracelet is flexible. Then, using crimping pliers, crimp the bead to secure it to the wire. You can then place a crimp cover over the top and seal it shut to hide the raw crimp. Any excess wire that comes through the crimp bead can be threaded through the next few beads.

Now that the wire is secured, you can start adding beads.

The pattern I used is as follows: JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26. 

Once this pattern is complete for the first section, you can thread this wire through its respective loop in the 5-strand connector. This connector is very important as it keeps the wires uniform and prevents them from spreading too much when the bracelet is worn. This step completes the first segment of this strand.

For the second (and main) segment of the first strand, the pattern is very similar to the first segment, except, this one begins with a large African turquoise bead instead of a medium one, and is also slightly longer:  JBRF26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 >  JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26

For the third segment, the pattern is just the reverse of the very first variation: JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84

(all these steps relate to the reference photo below)

For the middle strand, you will begin threading the JBRF53 assorted black beads. But first, secure the second length of wire to the middle loop on the bar end using a crimp bead just as before.

Then, the pattern for the first  portion is as follows:

JBSV26 > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBRF53 (silver spacer) > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBSV26 > JBRF53 (faceted round bead) > JBSV26.

Once this pattern is complete for the middle strand, you will then thread this wire through the middle loop in the connector.

Next, for the second segment after the first connector, the pattern is pretty much the same as the first variation, but slightly longer: JBSV26 > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBRF53 (silver spacer) > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBSV26 > JBSV26 > JBRF53 (faceted round bead) > JBSV26 > JBSV26 > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBRF53 (silver spacer) > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBSV26.

For the third and last segment of the middle strand, the pattern is simply the reverse of the first variation: JBSV26 > JBRF53 (faceted round bead)  > JBSV26 > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBRF53 (silver spacer) > JBRF53 (bicone) > JBSV26

(all these steps relate to the reference photo below)

You can now start the third strand, which is another African turquoise strand that will fit on the other side of the middle strand. Before beading, however, make sure to secure the wire to the 5th loop on the bar end with a crimp tube and crimp cover as before. 

Each segment in this third strand is a repeat of the first strand's:

1st segment: JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26. 

2nd segment:  JBRF26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 >  JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26

3rd segment: JBSV26 > JBRF84 > JBSV26 > JBRF91 > JBSV26 > JBRF84

Now that all the strands have been filled with beads, according to the patterns and images shown above, it is now time to secure each strand to their respective loops on the other bar end. To do this, add a crimp tube to the other end of a wire and thread it through the appropriate hole in the bar end and back through the crimp tube and pull tight. Next, use crimping pliers to crimp the bead and secure it to the wire. Then, use crimping pliers again to seal a crimp cover over the top and hide the raw crimp. This process is then repeated for each of the other two wires. Excess wire tails may be threaded through the beads behind the crimp.

Once all the wires are secure, it is time to attach a 4mm jumpring to one end of the bracelet, and a silver extender chain to the other. To do this, simply use bent nose pliers to twist the jumpring open and attach it to the loop on the bar end. Next, on the side with the jumpring, attach a silver lobster claw clasp by twisting the jump ring open, adding the clasp, and closing the jump ring back up.

Once the clasp is attached, the bracelet is finished! I hope you love this design as much as I do. The steps may seem complicated, but they are actually quite methodical and orderly. The beautiful Just Bead It beads and Beadalon beading materials are such high quality, and I hope you give them a go. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Thanks for reading :)

PS. I am in exam week so didn't have the time to get creative with my photos :)

If you would like to view more of my designs, I also have an Etsy store called 
DominiquesWares which features more beaded jewellery. This particular African turquoise bracelet will soon be uploaded to my store, so stay tuned for that :)

If interested, you can follow me on Twitter @DominiquesWares

or Instagram: dominiques_wares

You can also follow my Dominique'sWares blog

Dainty Seashell Beach Bracelet

Dainty Seashell Beach Bracelet

Hi there! It's Dominique here, and today on the blog, I am going to show you how to make a dainty, beach bracelet, using the newest bead range from Just Bead It! I am focusing on the adorable glass seashell beads for this main feature of this design, which reflect in the light to show different iridescent colours, depending on how you look at them. I have also used a new technique today, which involves a metal finding that I have never used before; bead cones! I really love the look they give to the finished design; all the strands are compact at each end, and in the middle they fan apart to show the design clearly when worn. Without further ado, let's get started.

Just Bead It products used:

• JBRF46 - Aqua, glass, twist beads
• JBRF15 - Glass sea shell beads
• JBZ56 - Small white seed beads
• JBI94 - Small ivory seed beads

Additional products used:

• Small frosted glass seed beads
• Silver bead cones (x2)
• Silver headpins (x2)
• Silver lobster clasp (x1)
• Silver extender chain with teardrop charm (x1)
• Beading wire
• Crimp beads (x10)
• Crimping pliers
• Wire cutters
• Round-nose pliers
• Bent-nose pliers

Firstly, this bracelet has five strands in total, so cut five equal lengths of beading wire. Using one strand at a time, begin threading a random assortment of seed beads, shell beads, and aqua twist beads. The bracelet should look effortless, so randomness is key. 

As you are beading each strand, compare it to the previous one to give an indication of where you should be placing the beads, in order to keep the pattern sporadic. There shouldn't be beads in the same place on each strand, as this will interfere with the flow and shape of the design.

This beading pattern is repetitive, and continues for all five strands, so keep beading until you are happy with the randomness and length of the design. One last important step before we get to the bead cones: make sure that the last ~2cm of each strand consists of seed beads, as these will fit snugly within the bead cones (while the larger beads won't).

The only perhaps 'tricky' part of this bracelet is using the bead cones, simply because of how many crimp beads need to be used in such a small space. Nevertheless, hopefully you will follow along :)

First, arrange the strands in the order you want them to appear when the bracelet is worn, and place a single crimp bead on the end of every strand. Then, take a silver eye pin and thread it through all of the wires on one side. 

For each wire, you will need to thread the strand into its respective crimp bead on the other side of the eye pin loop, and pull tight (also, I recommend letting some of the wire thread through a few of the seed beads for extra security). Then, take your crimping pliers and press to secure the crimp bead in place. Wire cutters can then be used to trim the tail. Make sure any excess wire is tucked into the beads in front.

This step is repeated for all five wires.

Once you have successfully secured each of the wires and their crimps onto the eye pin, you can now add the bead cone.

Simply thread the long, untrimmed tail of the eye pin through the wide end of the bead cone so that all the exposed crimps fit under the cone, and the eye pin's tail sticks out at the smaller end. Then, take the tail of the eye pin and bend it to a 90degree angle, and cut the excess so that a tail of about 1cm remains. With the remaining tail, use round-nose pliers to turn the wire upward and toward yourself, forming a tight loop. This should effectively secure the eye pin in place.

Next, repeat the same  steps on the other side of the bracelet: secure the wires to the eye pin loop with crimps > thread the eye pin through the bead cone > form a tight loop with pliers. 

Once this is done, the bracelet is almost done. Just attach a silver lobster claw clasp to the eye pin loop on one end, and a silver extender chain to the other! Do this by using bent-nose pliers to twist the loop open, add the metal finding, and close shut. I love how using the bead cones causes the wires in the middle of the bracelet to naturally twist ever so slightly, showcasing all the different strands in an interesting way.

Hooray! The bracelet is done! I really enjoyed working with the newest range of Just Bead It beads and I hope you enjoyed this tutorial blog as well!

If you would like to view more of my designs, I also have an Etsy store called 
DominiquesWares which features more beaded jewellery. This particular rose quartz bracelet will soon be uploaded to my store, so stay tuned for that :)

If interested, you can follow me on Twitter @DominiquesWares

or Instagram: dominiques_wares

You can also follow my Dominique'sWares blog