Barely Contained - Making Bead Link Chain

For the pendant, cut a 5 inches of 16-gauge copper wire. Make a tiny loop at one end and flatten it. This is to stabilize the end of focal bead, as it has a large hole.

Slide the focal bead on the bail and wrap the tail end of the wire twice around the small end of the bail making pliers. Cut excess wire off. Separate the wraps, into a V shape, being careful to make them even and aligned. File any rough edges.

Make 12 beaded links: cut 3 ½ inches of 20-gauge wire and make a wrapped loop with the chain nose pliers, slide 2 lapis beads and 1 glass bead then 2 more lapis beads, finish the link with a wrapped loop. Trim excess wire. You'll need to make 4 glass beaded links and 8 striped glass beaded links.

To make the jump rings: With the 16-gauge wire and your bail making pliers: wind the copper wire in a coil around the small side of the pliers to make 26 jump rings. Then make 2 jump rings with the big side of the bail making pliers.

Remove the wire from the pliers and using your heavy duty flush cutters, snip your jump rings.

Hammer each jump ring on the bench block, with your ball peen hammer to flatten each side. File the edges if rough.

The clasp: cut 3 inches of 16-gauge wire. Flatten each end of the wire on the bench block, making a paddle shape. Files the edges smooth. With the round nose pliers, make a small loop on one end. With the big side of the bail making pliers, shape a big hook with the wire. Trim excess wire. Make a large loop at the other end. Flatten the top curve on the bench block to work harden the wire.

Connect together 1 small jump ring, 2 large jump rings and then another small jump ring, with a glass dangle at the last jump ring for decoration. The dangle is made by cutting 2 ½ inches of 20-gauge wire. Using the round nose pliers, make a small tight loop on the end. Slide a lapis heishi bead and then a glass bead, finish with a wrapped loop.The extra jump rings allows you to adjust the length of the necklace.

Next, cut 2 pieces of wire, 6 inches long of 20-gauge copper wire. Using a stepped mandrel and the biggest oval shape, wrap the wire at the half way mark, bringing up each wire, so they touch. Take the right side of the wire and make a small loop (with the round nose pliers), pointing down, into the oval shape. As you finish the loop, bring your wire back up to the original position, parallel with the left wire. Wrap the right wire around the left wire 3 times, nice and tight, using your chain nose pliers. Tighten your coil and cut excess wire. Now you have just 1 wire remaining. Use your round nose pliers to make a small loop. Cut excess wire. Take the time to straighten your loops and oval shape. With the chain nose pliers, open the loop of your dangles and attach one to the oval and the other to the loop inside the oval.

For the ear wires, cut 2 inches of 20-gauge wire. With the round nose pliers, make a small loop on one end. Then, using the big side of the bail making pliers, wrap the wire around it. After shaping, use the chain nose pliers to give a 45 degree bend at the very end of the wire. File the end smooth. Lightly hammer the curve at the top of the ear wire on the bench block. This will work harden the wire, helping it keep its shape longer.