Customizing Your Jewelry

I like looking back through my jewelry box at necklaces, bracelets and rings that I've kept through the years. Sometimes they inspire a new idea or I'll pull something out and start wearing it again.

I bought this cheapie necklace (sans Katiedids circle pendant) somewhere along the way because I liked the asymmetrical beads and heart charm. It still appeals to me and I did a quick update by adding another pendant. Voilá! Something simple to wear around town.

Making a Continuous Necklace

I don't think I've ever posted a picture of this beaded necklace before and it's one of my favorites! I like the combination of shapes and textures and it always gets lots of compliments. For this version, I used Bead Gallery beads from Michaels with velour tubing and Beadalon 19, but you could use any of your favorite beads that look good together.

Continuous necklaces are easy to make. The beading wire ends pass through opposite sides of the last beaded unit and are crimped in place. I like to use two crimp tubes for extra security, so the end my necklace looks like this: crimp tube, last beaded section, crimp tube. It's super long, so you can wear it a lot of different ways: wrapped around the neck once, doubled and clipped together, or hanging straight down.

If I ever write a book with jewelry designs that I wear all the time, this piece will have to be in it. I made it a few years ago and it has been on heavy rotation ever since. I even grabbed it out of my jewelry drawer at the last minute before filming the latest season Beads, Baubles & Jewels and wore it on the show!

Katiedids™ Interchangeable Pendants

I demonstrated these interchangeable pendants using my Katiedids™ Creative Components at CHA and Tucson - they're super easy but I love the way they look. The bails clip onto ribbon, chain or any type of stringing material. I've been keeping them in my purse and switching them out!

Here are instructions for the small pendant with the flower in the center:

1. Start by passing a head pin outward through the upper two holes on a Katiedids™ Creative Component #356B-526.

2. Make a wrapped loop to attach the head pin to a removable bail.

3. Cut a 4" piece of .015" diameter Beadalon 19 silver color and pass it under the head pin.

4. String fifteen SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS 4mm black diamond rounds onto the wire and pass the other wire end through the beads in the opposite direction to form a circle. Press the beads down into the channel on the component.

5. Use E6000 to glue a crystal flower into the bezel in the center of the component.