In this last class in 2021, I wanted to tie together all the skills we have learned so far to create a cohesive set of jewelry- a necklace, a bracelet, and a pair of earrings - that are made from the same materials and have a feeling of connectedness, but are not exactly matching. I show two examples of earrings plus a few extra samples to show you how you can take a specific set of beads and make various designs.

If you haven't taken my first two jewelry classes, they are linked here in case you want to check them out first - I spend more time in those first two classes explaining and showing large examples of wire-wrapped loops.

Tools:

Round Nose Jewelry Pliers, Chain Nose (aka Flat Nose) Jewelry Pliers, Flush Cutters or Wire Cutters (Flush Cutters are better.) Links below.

Optional: Bent Nose Pliers can stand in for Flat Nose aka Chain Nose Pliers and make a really useful addition to chain nose pliers. I also introduce the Jump Ring Opener tool in this class. You can find one here: Amazon

Note about tools: These must be jewelry making tools, not hardware store tools. Most craft stores and big box stores with craft sections sell these tools. Here are some links to tools on Amazon and Michaels.com. I am not an affiliate and these are not sponsored - I simply want to make it easier for you to find the right thing.

Set of 3 - Round & Flat Nose Pliers plus Flush Cutters - Amazon

Round Nose Pliers Amazon Round Nose Pliers Michaels

Flat/Chain Nose Pliers Amazon Flat/Chain Nose Pliers Michaels

Flush Cutters Amazon- These are the exact ones I have. Flush Cutters are not currently available on Michaels' website, or apparently in store either.

Optional but great to have: Bent Nose Pliers Amazon Bent Nose Pliers Michaels

Beads (See **Note below): If you have a local bead store, and can do so safely, visit a bead store after you watch the videos so you can both see what appeals to you and you can always screenshot any of the beads I use if you need help from your bead store in picking out beads. Another option is to visit your jewelry box and see if you have any old or broken jewelry that you can harvest and repurpose beads or chain from.

Here are the exact beads I used from Michaels:

Smaller

Medium

Larger focal element

The mystery spacer bead is from Firemountaingems.com. This is a similar one on Michaels.com

Here is one of the four-size sets of faceted glass beads on Michaels.com that I show in the earring 1 video.

Findings:

As you buy findings, remember to check the color or finish if you care about matching your metals.

Quality: I worry about the quality of the bulk buy jewelry findings on Amazon but I will put a link here to some clasps and jump rings so that you have an idea of what they look like. Clasp/Jump ring Set on Amazon.

Otherwise you may need the 7mm Jump Rings or after you watch the class, you can decide if you like the newer style "oval" jump rings that they have on Amazon. The jump rings are only necessary if you are going to attach a clasp to your necklace. If you make a long necklace you can put over your head, you may not want/need a clasp.

4mm Jump rings if you are going to put on a clasp. I get these at Michaels, but here is a set of many sizes of jump rings with a special jump ring tool I mention briefly but do not use, and then it comes with a pair of bent nose pliers.

Daisy Spacers (optional) - Here are some 4mm daisy spacers on Amazon.

Chain - this is bulk chain darker but similar to the chain I use in the video. I am using a sterling silver chain I was gifted. The kind of chain I am using is cable chain.

Wire: 22 gauge or 24 gauge wire. This is the exact wire I am using which fits inside the exact chain I used.

Ear Hooks: If you decide to do the optional bonus earrings, you will need some ear wires. This style is easy to connect if you haven't ever done earrings before. I used lever back sterling silver wires.

Ball Pins: I love ball pins but sometimes they are harder to find in 2.5-3" lengths. Here are 2" ball pins on Michaels.com- be sure to verify the type of metal (ie. silvertone or goldtone.)

Extender Chains: Premade base metal on Amazon. Silver plated brass on FireMountainGems in bulk.

2mm Sterling Silver Ball Beads (to balance out earrings made on ball pins.)

**A note about beads: I show a couple examples of jewelry supply websites, explain the way "bulk assortment" quantity discounts work on each of the two sites, and show how you can start to learn about the very wide assortment of gems, semi-precious gems, glass, and beads of other materials by looking through these websites, including some tips about how to get a sense of the size of things when you can't hold the beads in your hands.

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Music Title: Give Me a Smile https://youtu.be/F7TEe-fYKac
Released by: Free Music https://soundcloud.com/fm_freemusic
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Tara Finlay

✅Left-Brain Artist and Instructor

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