Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry. Mother-of-pearl, pearls and shells are the perfect accessory for any outfit this season.
Krystal's Choice
by Dale Armstrong
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Wrapping
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Mother-of-pearl, pearls and shells are the perfect accessory for any outfit this season. When wirejewelry brought in so many cool carved shell and abalone pieces, I was excited to play with them. This is my first design using them; a seemingly simple pendant, with a single/heavy wire bail, that speaks of summertime, beaches, and vacations. (I can hardly wait to see what the rest of our designing faculty comes up with!)

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft Argentium .930 Silver Wire
H19-18D
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.58
  • Gold Club Price: $3.44
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5-5.5mm Round Black Fresh Water Potato Pearl Large 1.2mm Hole - 16 Inch Strand
PRL-13
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.87
  • Gold Club Price: $12.65
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Blister leaf 58 x 45mm
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Abalone flower 40mm
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Gold Filled Cable Chain 1.0mm - 10 Feet
C4-119U
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Price: $46.40
  • Gold Club Price: $34.80
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Tools

Chain Nose Wire Plier
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Flat Nose Wire Plier
G2-506
  • G2-506
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Round Nose Wire Plier
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $14.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.23
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12 Inch Stainless Steel Ruler
G7-30
  • G7-30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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Instructions
Step 1
Using the tip of chain nose pliers to make a tiny, tight spiral at the end of the 8" round wire. Slide on the 5.5mm round pearl (or your choice of 5 - 6mm round/faceted bead).
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 2
Add the abalone flower and then use needle nose chains to bend the wire at a 90° angle, as close to the back of the flower as possible.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 3
Use round nose pliers to hold and fingers to bend a small curve into this wire.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 4
Add your choice (short chain lengths, headpin charms) to the wire loop just created. Hold the loop with chain nose pliers while using fingers to complete the loop by wrapping the length of wire around the stem, back toward the flower.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 5
Use chain nose pliers to make a 90° bend in the wire, heading away from the back of the flower.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 6
Add the leaf and make a 90° angle heading up and away from the shells.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 7
Wrap the 18-gauge wire around the leaf and back under and around the loop (behind the flower) and bring the remaining length out of the top. About 1" above the leaf, use round nose pliers to roll the wire toward the back, beginning the bail.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 8
Carefully tease and feed the wire back through the leaf and use the end to wrap the bail in, 2 to 3 times toward the top.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,
Step 9
Finish off the bail by using flat nose pliers, placed just above the wrap on the back, and slightly dip toward the front.
Dale Armstrong's Krystal's Choice - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Wire Wrapping, Wrapping, Wire Wrapping Jewelry,