create jewelry

crystals

Dazzling designs
to make and wear

Marlene Blessing & Jamie Hogsett

Editors of Beadwork magazine
 Azure Treasure
The romantic nature of this simple necklace is
achieved with the blending of indicolite crystals and
vintage-looking brass findings. The result is as
M at e r i a l s
magical as the dark blue sky just before sunset.
280 aqua/Montana-lined AB size
t H d ] M at e r i a l s
15° seed beads
9 jet nut 2X 4mm crystal bicones (5301)

1
23 indicolite satin 4mm crystal Cut the chain into one 15½" (39 cm) piece and one 16½"
bicones (5301) (42 cm) piece.
10 indicolite 4mm crystal bicones (5301)
8 indicolite satin 6mm crystal

2
rondelles (5040) Cut the flat end off each head pin.
9 indicolite 20mm crystal avant-garde
pendants (6620)
8 brass 4x20mm links

3
4 brass 12x18mm 2-to-1 connectors Hold two 2-to-1 connectors back to back. Use 1 jump
1 brass 20mm toggle clasp ring to attach the connectors to the ring half of the clasp.
5 brass 6mm jump rings
14 brass 2" (5cm) head pins
32" (81cm) of 4mm brass ladder chain

4
40" (102cm) black Fire Line 6lb test Use 1 head pin to form a simple loop that attaches to
the bar end of the toggle. String 1 indicolite satin
bicone and form a simple loop that attaches to the
T O O LS two remaining connectors.
Scissors
Size 13 beading needle

5
Wire cutters Use jump rings to attach the chains to the connectors.
Flat-nose pliers
Chain-nose pliers
Round-nose pliers

6
Use a surgeon’s knot to tie the Fireline to one end of the
15½" (39 cm) chain, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail. String 20
Finished size seed beads and pass up through the second link of chain
18" (46 cm) (shortest strand:) and down through the fourth link.


 7
String 1 indicolite satin bicone and 10 seed beads and pass up
through the sixth link of chain. String 1 indicolite bicone and
10 seed beads and pass down through the eighth link of chain.
String 1 jet nut bicone and 10 seed beads and pass up through the
tenth link of chain. String 1 rondelle and 10 seed beads and pass
down through the twelfth link of chain. Repeat entire step eight
times, passing up/down through every other link of chain, and omit-
ting the final rondelle. String 10 seed beads and tie the thread to
the final link of chain. Weave thread ends back through the strand,
tying square knots every ½" (1 cm).

8
Use 1 head pin to form a simple loop that attaches to 1 pen-
dant. String 1 indicolite satin bicone and form a simple loop.
Repeat for a total of 5 pendant dangles.

9
Use 1 head pin to form a simple loop that attaches to 1 pen-
dant. String 1 indicolite satin bicone and form a simple loop
that attaches to two links held back to back. Use 1 head pin
to form a simple loop that attaches to the other end of the links.
String 1 indicolite bicone and form a simple loop. Repeat for
a total of 4 pendant-link dangles.

10
Use 1 head pin to form a simple loop that attaches to 1
pendant. String 1 indicolite satin bicone and form a sim-
ple loop that attaches to two links held back to back. Use
1 head pin to form a simple loop that attaches to the other end of
the links. String 1 indicolite bicone and form a simple loop. Repeat
for a total of 4 pendant-link dangles.

Resources:
Seed beads and Swarovski crystal rondelles: Beyond Beadery.
Brass find: Vintaj Natural Brass


did you know . . .
What Is a “Herkimer
Diamond”?

What this stone isn’t is a real diamond. Mined

in Herkimer County, New York, this unusually
beautiful clear quartz crystal is famous for its
shape (it is, doubly terminated, or comes to a
point at both ends) and for its high luster and
clarity, giving it the appearance of a precious
stone. Both the Mohawk Indians and early
settlers in Upstate New York knew about the
crystals, which they often found in stream
sediments and in fields as they were culti-
vated. These beauties were formed nearly
500 million years ago in the Cambrian era and
have been found in other parts of the world,
such as Afghanistan, China, Norway, and the
Ukraine. However, only those crystals found
in Herkimer County are entitled to bear the
name Herkimer Diamond.


 A selection of projects

Above, Cosmic Jewels. Below, Catch a Falling Star. Above, Mystic Crystal. Below, Ruby Dreams.


Above, Lush Layers. Below, A Rani’s Paisley. Above, Nouveau Riche. Below, Filigree Drops.


C o nt e nt s
Get in touch with your inner sparkle!
The Allure of Light:
Showcasing the sparkle, shine, and many
A Radiant Favorite
facets of crystal, the second book in the
The Many Facets of Crystals
Create Jewelry series, Create Jewelry: Crys-
tals, presents 20 stunning designs from
CLASSIC the editors of Beadwork magazine.
Arabian Nights
Purely Crystal The book is divided into three main sec-
Royal Tapestry tions—Classic, Special-Occasion, and
Nouveau Riche Fashion-Forward. Classic features jewelry
Catch a Falling Star you’ll reach for again and again, such as
Spring Thaw a timeless paisley brooch or a midnight
A Rani’s Paisley blue multistrand necklace. Special-Occa-
sion highlights must-have pieces, such as
a glittery lariat and a showy cocktail ring.
SPECIAL-OCCASION
Fashion-Forward includes runway-worthy
Glittery Lariat
designs, such as a necklace of rock crystal
Cosmic Jewels
and silver chunks and a layered, lush
Filigree Drops bracelet dripping with crystal briolettes.
Toujours Topaz
Ring of Fire Inside you’ll find:
Crystals in Camelot • Crystal basics—learn the difference
between man-made glass crystal and
FASHION-FORWARD rock crystal
Brilliant Bangles • “Did you know” tidbits—lore and his-
Ruby Dreams tory about this mainstay in the fashion
Medieval Mood and jewelry industry
Blue-Green Reflections
• Original designs accompanied by easy-
to-follow instructions and illustrations
Mystic Crystal
• Resources and suppliers lists to fulfill all
Lush Layers
of your crystal needs
Azure Treasure

Start creating your own jewelry today with Create Jewelry: Crystals!
Tools and Techniques
Resources
Index

Marlene Blessing is the editorial director for Beadwork, Stringing, and Step
Paperbound, 8½ x 10¼, 128 pages by Step Beads magazines. She lives in Longmont, Colorado.
100 photographs, 30 illustrations, 5 charts
ISBN 978-1-59668-022-7 Jamie Hogsett is the editor of Stringing magazine, the special projects editor
$22.95 US $28.95 Canada of Beadwork magazine, and the author of Stringing Style. She lives in Fort
September 2007 Collins, Colorado.

interweave.com Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade in the U.S. and Canada by
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Interweave Press LLC is also the publisher of 13 craft magazines, including
Beadwork, Stringing, Step by Step Beads, Jewelry Arts and Lapidary Journal,
and Step by Step Wire Jewelry.