Jewelry

[eskcindy]

ANOTHER LONG POST!
I also highly recommend Softflex or Accuflex beading wire (a more 
flexible version of tigertail) for stringing necklaces. You use 
crimp beads to fasten either end to a clasp. The end result has a 
nice drape to it. Most bead stores carry it in one form or another, 
and it's really easy to use (one of the reasons it's very popular 
among beaders).

Materials:
-whatever beads and charms you wish to string
-Spool of Softflex beading wire (or other similar beading wire)
-two crimp beads
-a single strand clasp
-chain-nose pliers
-wire cutters
 
Simply cut a length of the Softflex that's around 3 inches longer 
than the final length of your necklace. Put some tape at one end to 
keep beads from falling off (you can temporarily remove it to make 
changes to that end, then replace it once you're finished). String 
the beads on and add charms until you've got roughly what you want 
the necklace to look like. 
To finish off--while one end is taped--take the other end and string 
on a crimp bead, thread the Softflex through the loop of the clasp 
to attach it, then go back through the crimp bead again, this time 
towards the necklace (if you can fit the Softflex though some of the 
beads next to the crimp bead as well this gives it a better finished 
look). While holding a quarter inch of the tip of the Softflex in 
your fingers, slide the crimp bead as close to the end as you can, 
making the loop through the clasp small, leaving as much extra 
Softflex at the other end of the necklace as possible. Once you're 
happy with the position of the crimp bead use chain-nose pliers to 
flatten the crimp bead thoroughly. Trim the excess Softflex, and 
you've just finished that end. 
For the other end repeat the process of stringing on a crimp bead, 
bringing the Softflex through the loop in the other half of the 
clasp, then back through the crimp bead toward the necklace (and any 
extra beads that you can). This time pull the end of the Softflex 
until it's pulled tightly, so there is no excess space between 
beads. Once this is done to your satisfaction, use the pliers again 
to flatten the crimp bead, thus securing the end. Trim off any 
excess Softflex with wire cutters and you're done!

In addition to seed beads, I also like working with Czech Fire-
Polished round faceted beads and Swarovski Crystal faceted beads. 
True, these are more expensive and harder to find, but the finished 
product is very beautiful. 

Making Harry Potter-themed jewelry is a sort of hobby of mine, and 
I've done several necklace and earring sets, particularly with 
Hogwarts houses themes. Although I lean toward Gryffindor, I have 
enough respect for all of the houses to cover them all equally.
One of my favorite necklaces is an amulet purse (a small purse worn 
around the neck) that has a more general Harry Potter theme. It 
started out as merely a vehicle for making use of some special Harry 
Potter licensed pewter charms that I'd been collecting from 
Hallmark. There were 11 charms total, and I wasn't sure how to use 
them as some were too large and unwieldy for a conventional charm 
bracelet. I wove it while waiting for Book 5 to come out, and it 
turned out beautifully. The main comment I get from it is "you could 
make a lot of money for that on E-Bay"! It took enough time and 
work, though, that it won't be showing up there any time soon. ;-)
 
I've spent some time teaching beadworking skills to children, and 
enough of them are Harry Potter fans that I've created patterns with 
a Harry Potter theme that incorporate different beadweaving 
techniques. It makes the effort of learning the techniques seem 
more worthwhile if you've got something unique to show off to your 
friends. If any of you have a basic knowledge of peyote 
and/or brick stitch methods of beadweaving and know how to use a 
pattern, I'd be happy to e-mail you graphs for jewelry with 
whichever Hogwarts house you like. I've created house-themed woven 
bracelets, bookmarks and little house banners that can be strung 
like beads, as well as graphs for necklaces that I still haven't 
finished making yet. 

Eventually I want to put together of web site of patterns and 
pictures of Harry Potter-themed jewelry I've made, but real life far 
too frequently intervenes, and the plan gets put on the back burner. 
In the meantime, if you need help finding on-line sources for charms 
or beads that fit a Harry Potter theme, I'd be happy to help out.

Cindy