chain style

5 0 c o n t e m p o r a ry j e w e l ry D e s i g n s

jane Dickerson

materials

6" (21 links) of brass 10mm round cable chain 9" of brass 6mm oval cable chain

urban cluster
Lisa Blackwell
The materials in this necklace are a cluster of recycled metals, vintage brass, and leather. Inspired by the city, it holds tales of urban life renewed.

2 bronze 45mm freshwater pearls 1 shibuichi 23mm ring link 10" of gold 5mm leather strips 1 brass 6mm lobster clasp 2 shibuichi charms 1 resin leaf head pin 1 sterling silver 20-gauge head pin 10" of sterling silver 20-gauge wire
tools

round-nose pliers 2 pairs of chain-nose pliers Flush cutters scissors e6000 glue
Finished size: 20" (51 cm)

Begin a wrapped loop about " (6 mm) above the top of the leaf on the resin leaf head pin. Before completing the wrap, attach the head pin to one hole of the ring link. This will be the bottom of the ring. Remove 1 link from the round cable chain. Use the link to attach both charms to the ring link. Use the head pin to string the two pearls and form a wrapped loop that attaches to the bottom hole of one of the charms. Attach the end link on the oval chain to 1 of the top holes on the ring link. Attach the other end of the chain to the loop on the lobster clasp. Cut the leather into four 2" (6.5 cm) strips. Take 1 piece of leather and fold one end to the middle of the strip, then fold the other end so it overlaps the first end in the middle. Glue the leather in place where it overlaps. Repeat 2 times. Take the remaining piece of leather and pass it through the ring link. Fold and glue the leather in the middle as before.

Cut four 2" (6.5 cm) pieces of wire. Wrap one piece of wire around each piece of leather at the glued joint. Each wrap should sit next to the previous wrap, covering the join completely. Trim the excess wire and tuck in the end with chain-nose pliers. Cut round chain into four 5-link pieces. Open the end link on one 5-link piece of chain. Pass the link through the fold in the leather strip, starting with the end fold of the leather strip attached to the ring link. Continue connecting the leather strips together with 5-link sections, ending with a 5-link piece of chain. This end of the necklace connects to the clasp.

chain style

materials

color splash
look, add even more dangles!

18" of sterling silver 10mm rolo chain 19 assorted 12mm lampworked glass saucer rondelles 18 assorted 115mm lampworked glass coins 13 assorted 4mm crystal cubes in coordinating colors 10 assorted 6mm crystal cubes in coordinating colors 38 sterling silver 2" head pins 1 silver s-hook clasp
tools

Karen Keegan

Dress up any simple chain with loads of colorful dangles, creating a dramatic look with lots of movement. For a fuller

round-nose pliers chain-nose pliers wire cutters

Finished size: 18" (45.5 cm)

Open one end of the hook clasp slightly and attach one end of the chain. Close that end of the hook. Use 1 head pin to string one 6mm cube and two 4mm cubes. Form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other end of the chain. Use 1 head pin to string 1 coin. Form a wrapped loop that attaches to the center link of the chain.

Use 1 head pin to string one 4mm coin and 1 rondelle. Form a wrapped loop that attaches to the next chain link. Repeat entire step fifteen times, randomly stringing coins or cubes and rondelles. Repeat Step 3 on the other side of the center link of chain. Hook the clasp on any link in the chain to shorten or lengthen, leaving the cubed dangle to hang down in the back for a nice finishing touch.

chain style

project gallery

Tinker Toys

TipToe Through The Tulips

chain style

Brass rings

CarTwheels

Bohemian hearT

gallery
klimT DelighT

fast, fun, and affordable

chain!

chain is the hottest fashion trend in jewelry with designs ranging from classic to vintage to punk. Chain Style showcases 50 inspiring projects using chain as the key design element, featuring designs by top jewelry artists including jane Dickerson, kerry Bogert, Denise peck, yvonne irvin, leslie rogalski, lorelei eurto, melanie Brooks, and more. Using basic wirework and stringing techniques, plus easy-to-find tools and materials, these projects are suitable for jewelry makers of all skill levels. a getting-started section shows all the basic techniques, and each project features detailed step-by-step instructions. with 50 fabulous projects, there is wide variety of design styles and levels of time commitment to choose from, plus lots of inspiring ideas for using chain creatively. a few special beads connected together with chain makes a fabulous necklace in minutes!
Paperback 8 x 10, 120 pages 70 photographs 10 illustrations ISBN 978-1-59668-150-7 $19.95 Available September 2009

ABout the Author jane Dickerson is the managing editor of Step by Step Beads, editor of Creative Jewelry 2008, managing editor of Jewelry Gifts for the Holidays, and a contributing editor to Step by Step Wire Jewelry.