ECT TV Episode 81: Focal Bead Tassel Pendant

Hi and welcome to Emerging Creatively Tutorials TV (ECT TV) Episode 81!I would love if you would subscribe to my YouTube channel.  Just click the YouTube button on the lower right side of the screen and when you get to the video on YouTube, click the red subscribe button. Thank you!

Here's the video:

In today’s episode I’m teaching you how to make a fun pendant design.  This pendant is great for all the long necklaces you may have been seeing if you happen to follow fashion trends, but if you prefer a shorter necklace it works well for that as well.My inspiration for this necklace is an art journal page I created recently.I love taking inspiration from my art journal pages to create jewelry designs -- so much that I created an eCourse, called Inspired eCourse, where we go through creativity activities and journal prompts and then map out jewelry inspiration that we take from the art journal pages.How I went from Art Journal Page to Jewelry Piece:When I made this particular art journal page I wanted to feature the word inspire.  I chose the elements on the page around that general theme.  Butterflies have a very symbolic meaning for me, especially around creativity and the word inspire.When pulling inspiration and ideas from an art journal page, you can go in several different ways.  I make a "Jewelry Map" from the art journal page that includes pulling out themes, colors, shapes, textures and techniques. (I teach this in detail in Inspired eCourse.)In this case, I was most drawn to the colors and the butterfly theme of the page.

Sketching jewelry:

Typically I'll sketch out my jewelry ideas after making the Jewelry Map.  In this case I went straight to picking out supplies.As I was choosing supplies the idea came to me.Inspiration comes in different ways on different days for everyone. Sometimes I need to create a Jewelry Map, sketch out a bunch of ideas and then choose the idea to try.Sometimes I look through old sketchbooks until I find something I designed previously.Sometimes my inspiration comes from the materials themselves, like in this case.However the inspiration comes, follow it.Once I had the idea, I made a sample and then I created the tutorial to share!Step-by-Step Photo Instructions:Materials and Tools:

• Focal bead
• 5 smaller beads and/or charms (I used 4 beads and one charm) + optional extra bead for clasp
• Headpins for all the smaller beads.  (I made my own knotted headpins.)
• Chain
• 4mm jump rings
• Clasp ( used a lobster clasp)
• 20 gauge half-hard, round wire
• Optional:  Filigree piece
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Bent nose pliers

Step #1Decide how long you want the tassel part of your pendant to be and cut 5 pieces of chain to that length.  I cut mine 1 1/2 inches.I slide the chain on a piece of scrap wire so I can cut them all evenly.  See the full jewelry making tip: cutting chain.Set the chain aside momentarily.Step #2Cut a piece of wire a few inches long than your focal bead.Step #3Hold the wire about 1 1/4 inches from the top in round nose pliers. Wrap the wire around the pliers to form a loop.Step #4Slide the 5 pieces of chain into the loop you just formed.Step #5Slide the chains to the side and hold the loop in chain nose pliers.Wrap the short end of the wire around the long end while pulling out the long end to straighten the loop so it's centered on the wire.Step #6Wrap the wire around 2 more times, keeping the wraps tight, straight and next to each other. Trim off the excess wire making a flush cut.  Use chain nose pliers to make sure the end isn't poking out.Step #7Slide the focal bead on the wire.Step #8Hold the wire in round nose pliers about 1/4 inch above the bead.  Wrap the wire around the round nose pliers to form a loop.Follow the instructions above to complete a wire wrapped loop.

This would make a really cute pendant just as it is.  Just slide it on a chain and you're set.

But I'll show you how to bling it up even more.Step #9Now we'll make bead dangles with the smaller beads.I made my own knotted head pins, as I mentioned in the materials section above.Slide a bead onto the headpin.Step #10Hold the wire with round nose pliers about 1/4 inch above the bead.  Form a loop by wrapping the wire around the pliers.Step #11Hold the loop in chain nose pliers.  Wrap the wire around once while pulling the bead out straight to center the loop.Step #12Wrap the wire around 2 more times. Trim the wire making a flush cut.  Use chain nose pliers to make sure the end isn't poking out.Repeat for all your smaller beads.Step #13 Attach one bead or charm to the end of each chain with 4mm jump rings.How to properly open and close jump rings.Step #14If you like, attach the top of the focal bead to a filigree piece using a jump ring.Then add 1/2 of the chain to each side of the filigree piece using jump rings.If not, you can simply thread chain through the top loop of the focal bead or attach it to the chain using a jump ring if you want it to be more stable.Step #15Attach a clasp.I used a lobster clasp on one side and a wire wrapped bead link on the other side.  I made one loop really large so it would be easier to hook with the lobster clasp.I hope you enjoyed today’s tutorial.If you love making wire wrapped jewelry or you’re interested, you want to have a solid background.

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Would you like this tutorial in an easy to download and save form?  Get the PDF version below.  (It's exactly the tutorial you see here, just in PDF form)[wp_cart_display_product name="ECT TV Episode 81: Focal Bead Tassel Pendant PDF eBook" price="3.00" thumbnail="http://kimberliekohler.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_1619.jpg" description="ECT TV Episode 81: Focal Bead Tassel Pendant Tutorial PDF" file_url=http://kimberliekohler.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ECT-TV-Episode-81-Focal-Bead-Tassel-Pendant.pdf"]