EVERYDAY JEWELRY

I love stringing and knotting beads onto silk cording.

And during this holiday season, as I am looking for meaningful yet simpler projects to execute, I am finding myself doing a lot of beading and knotting. It's really quite simple. You start with silk cording that comes in small packets like this, that is pre-threaded with a super-fine wire "needle."

The beading is just a process of three steps: 1) knot, 2) bead, 3) knot. And then you repeat.

Remember that the cording comes with a super thin wire that makes the beading of even the teeniest bead very easy.

The only other tool that I recommend is a pin that will aid you in nudging the knot close to the bead. 

To finish, you need to thread one of these guys (with a tiny metal "clam") onto the cording, knot several times, and then close the clam shut over the knots.

Once you have it shut, you can trim the excess cording and then bend the hook around the jump ring/clasp elements.

Easy peasy. This one is long without a focal element that I can wear long or wrap twice and wear short. It's a great layering piece.

This one has a focal element that I make much shorter. Focal elements can be created in many different ways. It can be a larger bead, or beads that you wrap separately onto wire.

All of these pieces have that everyday wearability factor, don't you think? Well, that's exactly what we are looking for in a brand new pub that we'll be launching in 2010. If you have jewelry projects that are simpler in design and have the "Everyday Jewelry" aesthetic, we want to hear from you. More details to come. But in the meantime, if you have questions, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected] or Senior Managing Editor Christen Olivarez at [email protected]

Happy beading and knotting! :)

Comments

[Pam Carriker]

Very cool Jenny! I did not know such a cord existed, I may have to try this.

[inge]

nice necklaces !

I like to make some of my own, but only finished one... time and the HARD decision to choose between all the creative projects I would like to make and that in the spare time that is left for a mother and teacher....

I love all your new publications : they turn out gorgeous every time, but it's also hard to choose which ones to order, cause sending them to Belgium is much more expensive than buying them in a magazineshop if you live in the USA...
But I don't drink and don't smoke, so I treat myself to most of your magazines... I need something to read in bed before I close my eyes...:)

greetings
Inge

[Kristen R]

These are DIVINE I love them so delicate and lovely.
XO
Kristen

[Rachel]

Wow, these are GORGEOUS! I love them! I'll be linking.