Shell pearl pendant design - Rings & Things blogger challenge

It came about more or less like a flash in my brain. I was curled up in my recliner watching a terrible movie, rolled over and thought I would take a nap before work (having a hard time getting going this morning) As SOON as I closed my eyes this image flashed. My eyes shot open, I leapt from my chair and dashed to my work table.

I bent the 14 ga wire around the shell pearl just to get a rough 'fit' and then hammered the copper wire to strengthen it and to texture it so the 22 ga wire when wrapped would 'bite'.

I started at the top and made a few wraps and added a pearl. These little fresh water pearls are not perfect. I embraced that in the design and didn't make the wraps perfect either.

Now, there is the dilemma of the long pearl. It is not drilled. What am I going to do with it? There was a slight divot in the middle of the pearl, perfect to hold the wire for a wrap and not allow the pearl to slide thru. I went with it :)





Here is what I used:
29-555-10-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 10mm (Brown Mix) *
29-555-16-901 Bead, Shell Pearl, Round, 16mm (Brown Mix)*
Random freshwater pearls *
47-402-SP 14 ga copper wire
47-406-SP 22 ga copper wire
swarovski crystals


Slid it on a long piece of leather, threw it on with a black sweater and out the door I went. I had some fun this morning (so much fun I was late for work) making this pendant. Thanks Dave and Thanks Rings & Things!!!

What did you create today?!?!

*FTC compliance disclosure: the '*' items mentioned in this post credited to Rings & Things were provided as a promotional gift as part of the Blog Partner Program. These items are for review or design purposes. Find out more about the Rings & Things Blog Partner Program

Rings and Things Sept. blogger challenge - Green Man Necklace - Tutorial

I was very excited when I got home last nite to sit down and make this necklace. I was all ready to document the process when my camera decided it was not going to co operate. Not all of my shots turned out, most were blurry and I apologize. I think I got the jest of it tho and want to share it with you today.

I was browsing thru Rings & Things' charms section looking for something to inspire me. That is when I saw the 'Green Man' charm. Instantly the gears began to turn and rumble thru my head. I clicked it into my wish list, so I wouldn't loose it, and the hunt began. Next the moss agate pendant - oh how glorious. Even tho I had mentioned in my last post that I had grossly mistaken the size of this beautiful piece, now, after seeing it in the design, I wouldn't change a thing. It is fabulous!

Green Man is, by some counts, a vegetative deity- representing rebirth, renaissance, or representing the cycle of growth each spring. Moss agate is the perfect stone to pair with this. Moss agate is sometimes called the “gardener’s stone” due to its mystical properties of helping ensure a full crop.

Soon it all came together in this list -

1 - Strand of 10 x 10 faceted fan beads - multistone.

1 - Sterling silver leaf face charm

1 - Moss agate T-Drop pendant

And I added from my own supplies -

Leather cord

Sterling toggle (one very similar can be found here at Rings & Things)

18 ga sterling wire

20 ga sterling wire

24 ga sterling wire


First cut a 7 1/2" piece of 18 ga sterling wire. Creat a spiral on one end. I chose the spiral design, just as everything else. They all have a corresponding meaning. The spiral represent in Celtic lore - symbolizes growth, birth and expansion of consciousness. Bend the wire at the top of the spiral to a 45 degree angle and slide the wire thru the pendant. On the back of the pendant, push the wire up again at a 45 degree angle - something like this.

Look at the pattern in this stone!!!!!




At the top of the pendant, make a wire wrapped loop. This will be the bail of the pendant.



Before committing the wrap, rest the body of the toggle in the bend of the wire and finish the wrap so the toggle is attached.



Bend the wire over the top of the pendant and back thru the hole.




This is where I wish I had some rubber tipped tools, as to not mar the metal. Then again. It is not meant to be perfect, it is a more organic look to reflect the Green Man and the Moss agate. Pushing the wire back thru and keeping it flush against the pendant was tedious.



Bring the wire back up the pendant and wrap the tail around the wire wrap of the bail. Don't make it perfect. Sloppy is in.



Set the pendant aside. Cut three 21" pieces of leather.



Use your 20 ga wire and create a two cones.



"Screw" the cone, large side down, over the three pieces of leather, just till the tips are poking out. Give the last coil a squeeze to anchor it to the leather






Now give the coil itself a bit of a mash.



Here I had to enlist the help of my husband to hold the end of the leather strands so I could braid them. I did a very tight braid and I should add, shortened the lenght of the leather to 16", which is where I wanted it to be. If you want a longer necklace, adjust the lenght of the leather. Just remember, after the braiding it will be five inches shorter. On the other end of the braid, 'screw' on the cone and repeat the steps as before to anchor the coils. Trim the excess leather.



Bend the last coil out to a 45 degree angle. This will be your connector link.



Attach the toggle ends to the connector links. To do this, just bend the link out slightly and slide on the eye of the toggle and push the link back in place. You can even 'wiggle' the connector link, by pushing it open and closed several times to 'heat' up the sterling and temper it so to speak. It will strenghten the silver.



Attach the charm to the round body of the toggle.



Now lets add some more!! Cut a four inch piece of 24 ga. wire.



Make a wire wrapped loop at the top, and connect it to the body of the round toggle.





Choose one of your faceted fans for this charm and slide it onto the wire. Bend the wire so the wrap it positioned at the peak of the bead. Do a sloppy wrap with the wire, starting at the anchor wrap and back down toward the bead. You can crimp the end and tuck it back up under the wrap.



Here is where my camera quit - My battery stopped on me - so i'll explain. I used a total of four faceted fans for the charms. I attached two to the toggle and two to the bail.

And this is how it turned out -





I am so thrilled with this piece. This may be a keeper :)

And of course, I am wearing it :)



Taken with my phone - LOOK AT THAT MOSS AGATE PENDANT!! - yes I am a bit excitable :)

Till next time kids!!

It's like christmas! Great things in my mail box!

Like a double whammy, but in a good way - I go to my mailbox and there I have not only my selections for the Sept. Rings & Things blogger challenge, but I have the necklace that I ordered from Dawno.

I squealed and danced in the street in front of my mailbox when I saw this wonderful double bounty.

Here is what came from Rings & Things -



4- Sterling silver rope design "S" clasps.
1 - Strand of 10 x 10 faceted fan beads - multistone.
1 - Sterling silver leaf face charm
1 - Sterling silver key charm
1 - 100 ct. India dancing bells
1 - Ocean jasper T-Drop pendant
1 - Moss agate T-Drop pendant

I grossly misjudged the size of the pendants, but I am not disappointed at all - They are Beautiful!! I can't wait to work with them. The faceted fans are brilliant. The bells made my heart happy - so many uses for this little gems. I had the design in my head when I ordered the pieces. Now all I have to do is sit down and build them. I will get started tonite.

Dawno had blogged about a necklace she made a month or so back. I fell in love with the hand made pendant and the necklace design. I began to pester her, asking when will I be seeing it on her ArtFire store so I can buy it. Come to find out - she had made it, and intended to keep it for herslelf. :( Dawno was so gracious as to order a focal pendant and create another one for me!

I love this necklace. It is fun and bright, and honestly will go with anything. I dont' want to limit it to just spring and summer wear. It is so lovely and the beautiful spring flowers are sure to lighten any winter duldrum!

Dawno was kind enuff to share with me where she got all the componets to make the necklace so I can share them with you.

The pendant is a beautiful. It is a Patti Stoll creation.



The blue beads are vintage Lucite - Sapphire moonglow rice ovals 9x15mm, from The Beadin' Path and the opaque yellow glass are 6mm Czech Druk beads from Fire Mountain Gems.


Now look at this craftsmanship - brilliant, sturdy, and beautiful! What a combination.



The scrimps are from Rings & Things. They cost a bit more, but are worth the investment. They add a polished touch to the design, very professional. The benefit to the scrimp is if the design needs to be re worked, you do not damage the beading wire by removing them. Just a turn of a little screw and you can do what you need to re work or even repair the piece. Not like crimp tubes, which require being cut off just so, as to not ruin the coating on the beading wire and cause fraying.

Now look at the Wire Guardians - cable thimbles. This keeps the beading wire safe from fray and crimping by threading the wire thru the 'stay' and then around the jump ring or the connector ring to the clasp. It prevents the wire from mashing or the protective coating from being damaged and causing the wire to fray. That can be uncomfortable and prickly!



And of course I am wearing it :)