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How to Create an Orphan Bead Necklace and Choker Set
by Sheri Hill

Description: This is a great project for all of those leftover seed and bugle beads and your bead "orphans".

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Difficulty level: fairly easy
Time: about an hour

SUPPLY LIST:

Variety of bugle and seed beads, mixed
5-6 Czech flowers length drilled
4 Czech flowers side drilled
10-15 Swarovski crystals, 4mm and 6mm mixed
Variety of oval, round, rondelle and square czech glass beads, faceted
1 Focal lampwork bead
8" of 22 gauge wire, non-tarnish silver
1 Head pin
1 Button clasp
2 Silver crimp beads
Softflex beading wire, fine, at least 22"
1 1/2 Turns memory wire for necklace

TOOLS:

Scissors
Wire cutters
Round nose pliers
Crimping pliers
Flat nose pliers

Directions for necklace: Decide the length of your necklace, mine is about 18", and trim your beading wire, leaving enough for tying off at end. Add male end of clasp and secure with crimp bead. There is no perfect order for stringing, but my rule is to have a "patternless symmetry"..that means that about every 1 1/2" I add a bigger bead to break up the smaller czech beads, bugle and seed beads. Keep in mind what colors you are using...and make sure that your color doesn't "pattern"...i.e. a lot of gold, then a lot of purple, etc...you need to really break this up. When you've reached your desired length, add female end of clasp and secure with crimp bead.

Directions for choker: Cut your length of memory wire to 1 1/2 turns...you can make it smaller later. I prefer the extra length to layer around the back of my neck for security...no need for a clasp! Go ahead and create a small loop at the end of your memory wire with roundnose pliers, then tighten the loop with your flat nose pliers. This will keep any of the smaller beads you may use on the end from coming off. Using the same "patternless symmetry" string your beads on just under 1/2 of the length of your memory wire. Then you will string on 3 1/2 drilled czech flowers. Then string the rest of your wire as you did the first, in the "patternless symmetry", leaving 3/4" to turn with pliers and tighten, creating your end loop.

Now for the tricky part! Take your 8" of 22 gauge wire and create a loop on the end. On this you will string in this order...3 seed beads, 1 1/2 drilled czech flower (matching the others in the center of your choker)1 small crystal, your focal lampwork bead. Then, you will take the remainder of the wire and wrap around the 3 czech flowers on the center of your choker. This is done by bringing the wire between the center and right flower from behind and back down, then up again between the center and left flower, and back down the front again. Then "wrap" the remainder wire on the wire between the focal bead and your center flowers to secure. Trim with wire cutters. This may take a couple of tries, so don't be frustrated! To finish off your focal piece, put a crystal on the head pin, create a loop and string through the first loop you created at the bottom of your focal bead. Create your last loop to attach your crystal drop.

Sheri Hill is a stay at home mother of three and a self-proclaimed bead enthusiast. Having recently joined the Catholic Church at the age of 41, she loves to share her faith with others. Visit her website at http://www.freshmarketbeads.com

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