·  Hawaiian Bead Necklace

From "Jewelry Making"
episode DJMK-101

Polymer goes Polynesian when Maria Del Pinto shows host Jackie Guerra how to create beads with an island flair.

Materials:

Kato Polyclay in orange, yellow, green, and red
(7) 8 mm faceted crystal AB beads
(56) 4mm diamond cut Siam AB Crystal Beads
22 mm silver drum beads
10 silver flower rondelles
2 silver bead tips
14 green glass beads
20 silver spacer beads 3mm
10 silver head pins ½" long
20 silver eye pins ¾" long
1 memory wire
Wire cutters
Round nose pliers
Pasta Machine (or Kato Clay roller)
Kato Nublade
Knitting needle or bamboo skewer
Future floor finish
Ceramic tile for work surface
Plexiglas sheets
600 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit automotive-grade sand paper
Toaster oven

 

Cane directions:

1.       Pre-condition all clays by hand-kneading for two to three minutes; or by cutting clay into thin slices and running it through the pasta machine several times.

2.       To create a Skinner blend cane, use the thickest setting on the pasta machine to roll out a sheet of orange clay and then another of red. Using the sharp blade, cut a triangle of each color and place side-by-side on the tile to form a rectangle (figure A). Fold the sheet in half and roll it through the thickest setting of the pasta machine (figure B). Fold the sheet in half again, matching orange to orange and red to red.

 

figure A

3.       Roll it through the pasta machine again and repeat 25 to 30 times. Once you have achieved a graduated blend of color, roll the clay through the pasta machine at the next setting. Repeat three more times until you have a long sheet of graduated color.

4.       Tightly roll the clay into a cylinder, starting with orange and ending with the red. Wrap it with a sheet of yellow (figure C). Trim excess clay with blade and put aside to firm.

5.       Repeat the Skinner blend instructions with the yellow and green.

6.       Tightly roll the clay into a cylinder, starting with yellow and ending with the green. Wrap the yellow to green cylinder with a sheet of green clay.

 

 

figure B

figure C

7.       Next, create a flower can. Take the orange to red Skinner cane and reduce it until it is 20 inches long. Cut it up to five equal pieces and slightly flatten them. Wrap them around a log of orange clay like petals. Wrap another piece of yellow clay around this new log. Trim excess with clay with blade and begin to reduce this log. Cut a slice from the end to reveal a flower (figure D).

 

 

 

figure D

8.       For the leaves, take the yellow to green Skinner cane and place upright. Cut straight down the cane into three equal parts. Put a sheet of green between each cut and reassemble cane. Using a sharp blade cut down the center of the cane. Between the two pieces place a sheet of green clay, followed by orange clay, and another sheet of green clay (figure E). Take one half and turn in upside down. Now put the cane together and reduce it. You should have a leaf cane.


 

figure E

Hawaiian Bead directions:

1.       Take the pre-made floral cane. Using a very sharp blade, slice extremely thin sliceds. Apply slices randomly to the base yellow beads. Repeat with the leaf cane to create leaves. One you have applied the flowers and leaves, roll the bead gently in the palms of your hands to smooth the surface of the bead (figure F).

2.       To create the bicone-shape bead, place the bead between two pieces of plexiglass and begin to gently roll the bead in a circular motion. If you tilt the Plexiglass carefully, you can control the shape of the bead. Once you get the right shape, pierce the bead through the bicone tips. Put aside for baking. Repeat same steps for all of the beads. Bake the beads in the oven at 275 degrees for 30 minutes (per 1/4" thickness). After baking, allow the beads to cool.
Crystal dangles:

1.       Slip two diamond-shaped crystals on to eye pin, follow with silver spacer, then two more diamond crystals. Use wire cutters to trim excess wire, leaving room to form loop.

2.       Use the round nose pliers to form a closed loop. Slip a diamond-shaped crystal onto eye pin followed with silver spacer bead. Using the wire cutters, trim excess wire leaving room to form loop.

3.       Using the wire cutters, trim excess wire and form an open loop. Attach the first piece to the second piece and close the loop. Slip two-diamond shape crystals on to head pin. Using wire cutters, trim the remaining head pin to 3/8".

4.       Using the round nose pliers, form an open loop. Then, attach to the long dangle. Repeat this step to make one more dangle.

5.       Slip two-diamond shape crystals on to head pin. Using wire cutters, trim the remaining head pin to 3/8". Using the round nose pliers, form an open loop. Repeat this process 7 more times.

6.       Slip a diamond-shaped crystal on to eye pin followed with silver spacer bead. Using the wire cutters, trim excess wire leaving room to form loop. Using the wire cutters, trim excess wire. Using the round nose pliers, form a closed loop. Slip a diamond-shaped crystal on to eye pin, follow with silver spacer, then another diamond crystal. Using the wire cutters, trim excess wire leaving room to form loop. Using the round nose pliers, form an open loop. Attach the first piece to the second piece and then close the loop. Repeat this process 7 more times. You should now have 10 completed crystal dangles.

RESOURCES:
Polymer Cafe
Website: www.polymercafe.com

Kato Polyclay
Van Aken International
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Phone: 909-980-2001
Website: www.vanaken.com
Website: www.katopolyclay.com

glass beads, gemstone, toggle
Surf City Beads
Fountain Valley, CA
Phone: 714-843-9188
Website: www.SCbeads.com

figure F

 

To create the necklace:

1.       Use round nose pliers to form a closed loop on one end of the memory wire. String a silver bead cap. Then, string a green glass bead followed by a silver drum bead. Repeat this pattern 3 more times.

2.       Now string one of the floral polymer clay beads, followed by a green glass bead. Repeat this pattern 2 times. String a silver drum bead, 8mm crystal bead, and silver drum bead followed by a floral polymer clay bead.

3.       String a silver drum bead, the 1-1/4" crystal dangle, silver rondelle, 8mm crystal bead, silver rondelle, crystal dangle, silver drum bead followed by a floral pc bead. Repeat this pattern once. String a silver drum bead, the 2" crystal dangle, silver rondelle, 8mm crystal bead, silver rondelle, the 2" crystal dangle, silver drum bead followed by a floral pc bead. String a silver drum bead, the 1-1/4" crystal dangle, silver rondelle, 8mm crystal bead, silver rondelle, crystal dangle, silver drum bead followed by a floral polymer clay bead. Repeat this pattern once.

4.       Repeat step 4 above.

5.       String a green glass bead followed by a floral polymer clay bead. Repeat this pattern 2 times.

6.       String silver drum bead followed by a green glass bead. Repeat this pattern 3 times. String remaining silver bead cap.

To finish the necklace, use the round nose pliers to form a closed loop on the end of the memory wire.

GUESTS:

Maria Del Pinto, CPD, SCD, CHA
Designer and Consultant
Del Pinto Design Studio
AMD Design Studio
E-mail: maria@delpinto.com
Website: www.delpinto.com

·  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:

· 

Hawaiian Bead Necklace

· 

Millefiori Cane Necklace

· 

Polymer Clay Shoe Earrings

· 

Magic Polymer Clay Beads