I wanted to create something trendy for today's project, since many of us have trendsetters on our gift lists. After a healthy dose of Etsy and Pinterest trend watching I was ready to give this style my spin with geometric shapes, a limited color palette, metallic touches and a fashion forward design.
Supplies
18" gunmetal chain with clasp
6" 22 guage steel wire
2 12mm polymer clay disks
4 10mm faceted black onyx
7 4mm faceted brass beads
1. Cut the chain in half with heavy-duty wire cutters.
2. Create a loop at one end of the wire, open it and slide the chain onto the loop. Close the loop and wrap it several times to create a messy wrapped looped.
3. String the beads in the following pattern with a faceted brass bead between each: 1 stone bead, 2 disk beads, 3 stone beads, end with a brass bead. Create a wrapped loop, repeating step 2, adding the chain before you finish the wrap.
These were so easy to whip up I thought I would try it in a few different variations. This one uses brass disks with the faceted brass beads and a polymer clay disk bead. I could see this one going to someone who is more of a minimalist. If you'd like a shorter necklace, cut off an inch or two of chain from both sides.
And feeling very challenged to create something manly, I used the same stones and paired them up a faceted ceramic bead from Diane Hawkey. I opted for no metal for this design, but African brass spacers that are simple in style would work on a necklace for guys.
Now we could have added the leather cord to both sides of the pendant, guys like leather
necklaces. But Jess came up with a handcrafted chain from steel wire that
we both loved!
He cut 1 1/2" pieces of 19 gauge steel wire and created a simple loop at
both ends. For a few of the links he used 2 1/2" pieces of wire for
some interest. You'll need to wax a steel chain with Renaissance Wax to protect it from rusting.
Resources: Brass beads and disks, gunmetal chain:
Rings & Things. Steel wire: Ace Hardware. Polymer Clay Disks:
Humblebeads. Ceramic Bead:
Diane Hawkey. Faceted Stones: A local bead store find.
