website

Crystal Aurore Boreale Bracelet

Project Materials:
~12" long piece of Aqua 6mm WireLace™
~12" long piece of Marigold 6mm WireLace™
~Gold plated Rotunda Clasp #CL110.3G
~Two 4mm gold plated bell end caps with ring (available at
www.mimisgems.com/items/wirelace-/list.htm)
~Seven 8mm Crystal AB round beads #5000
~Seven 8mm Crystal AB bicone beads #5301
~Eleven 8x6mm Crystal AB teardrop flat back (no hotfix) crystals #2300
~One 7mm Crystal AB round flat back (no hotfix) crystals #2028
~Small amount of gold polymer clay
~Gold Pearl-Ex mica powder (Jacquard)
~Soft round paintbrush (Loew-Cornell)
~Rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or make-up applicator


1. Twist end of each WireLace™ ribbon to a point and add a drop
of hypo cement to secure. When dry thread 7 beads on each
strand, spacing them 3/4" apart.



2. You will use only the center ring on the each side of the
clasp. You can clip off the extra loops with end cutters,
flush with the clasp. If a rough point remains, file smooth
with a metal jewelry file. Or, you may choose to add tiny
crystal AB beads to the loops. Thread the bead onto head
pin, clip pin to 3/8" and create a loop (see jewelry
photo step 7 below.) Secure hook into loop of clasp
and close hook with needle nose pliers.


3. Press lever and remove the flat connector
piece of the clasp and set aside. Form a small smooth ball of clay
and press onto clasp, allowing the clay to remain in a
dome shape (cabochon). Press the round stone in the center
of the clay, and the teardrops side-by-side all around it.


3. Apply gold powder with brush to all exposed clay areas.
Don't worry if powder gets onto stones.


4. Dip cotton swab in alcohol, roll off excess on a paper towel
and clean powder from all stones. Bake clay in clasp at
recommended length and temperature for clay
brand you are using.


5. Measure wrist and add 1 1/2" to this measurement. Cut both
beaded WireLace™ pieces to this length. Note: the clasp will
add length which I already figured in, and twisting subtracts
length. Add a very thin line of hypo cement to 1/2" area of all
ends, twist ends together and allow to dry. Clip any frayed
pieces from ends. Add a drop of epoxy to each end and press
into a bell end cap snugly. Allow to dry.

6. Line up strands so the beads are askew to each other. Add
a dot of epoxy next to each bead and slide bead over glue to
secure to WireLace™. Let dry. Open the loop on bell end caps
and secure to each center ring on sides of clasps using pliers.
Twist bracelet stands loosely and close clasp to wear.
Return to Page Index above





Oval Pendant Necklace

Project Materials:
~1 yard 6mm Grass WireLace™
~Small rhodium plated Butterfly clasp #CL116-R
~Two 4mm rhodium plated bell end caps with ring (available at
www.mimisgems.com/items/wirelace-/list.htm)
~One 6x3mm Peridot navette stone #4200 for clasp
~14, 8mm Caribbean Blue Opal beads #5040
~Green (or silver) nylon coated tiger tail beading wire
(Optional crystals if making clay pendant:
~18-22 point back 3mm Caribbean Blue Opal stones
~18-22 point back 2mm Peridot stones)


1. Thread a 36" piece of beading wire through WireLace™.
Twist one end of WireLace™ to a point, add a dot or two of hypo cement
to secure WireLace™ to wire and avoid fraying of the tip. Allow mesh to dry.


2. Thread 7 blue beads onto WireLace™, then a pendant, and then 7
more beads, spacing all items 1 1/2" apart.



3. Spread out the WireLace™ evenly between beads to desired shape.


4. Shift each bead over slightly, one at a time, add a dot of
epoxy glue, then move bead back over glue to secure.


5. Press lever and remove the flat connector piece of the clasp
and set aside. Glue navette stone into clasp with epoxy and
let dry. Apply a thin line of hypo cement to the 1/2" area
at each end of WireLace™ and twist tightly. Let dry, then clip
the twisted area to 3/16" long. Fold WireLace™ end in half and
secure into bell end with a dot of epoxy glue. Let dry.
Return to Page Index above


Flower Necklace

Project Materials:
~1 yard each, of 6mm Grass & 6mm Tanzanite WireLace™
~1 yard, 20mm Tanzanite WireLace™
~1 yard 1mm Tanzanite WireLace™
~Two 4mm rhodium plated bell end caps with ring (available at
www.mimisgems.com/items/wirelace-/list.htm)
~30-40, 2mm light amethyst point back stones #1028
~12 LARGE HOLE 5mm round silver beads (see step 7 photo
below for necessary hole size)
~Small amounts of metallic gold, metallic blue, green, purple
and white polymer clay
~Reflex Violet Pearl-Ex mica powder (Jacquard)
~7" length of silver chain
~Large metal sewing needle


Prep: Mix and knead together 1/4" ball of green and 1/4" ball
of metallic gold polymer clay. Create two balls the same size
using purple and metallic blue clay (with a tiny pinch
of white) and set aside.

1. To form the flower petals and leaves, cut 1" long pieces of 6mm
WireLace™, 2 Grass and 9 Tanzanite. Slide onto thick knitting needle and
pull straight up in the center of tube to stretch. Slide tube
off of needle and set aside. Repeat for all petals
and leaves.


2. Fold the right point into the center and press downward.
Fold the left point to the center and press down.


3. Twist the bottom of petal together and trim excess with scissors.


4. Press a small ball of gold/green polymer clay onto baking tile
and press stems of leaves firmly into clay.


5. Press one purple clay ball over the leaves and press
all petals firmly into clay.


6. Secure second purple clay ball over center and press lightly
to form a dome shape. Press point back crystals into clay,
covering dome. Apply mica powder with soft brush to all exposed
clay areas. Don't worry if powder gets onto stones. Later you
can dip a cotton swab in alcohol and clean stones. Bake at
the recommended length and temperature of clay
brand you are using.


7. Cut a 24" long cut piece of 20mm WireLace™. Twist one end
to a point. Place project on plastic and add a drop or two of
hypo cement to the WireLace™ end to prevent fraying and
hold twist in place.


8. Thread beads over WireLace™, spacing them 1 1/2" apart.


9. Pulling from the bottom of the WireLace™, stretch each WireLace™
section side-to-side into a large pod shape, except for the
CENTER POD SHAPE. Leave that one flat! (See photo above step 14.)

10. Shift most of the silver beads (EXCEPT the last one on EACH
END) over WireLace™ 1/8", add a dot of Epoxy glue then slide bead
over glue to secure them. Allow to dry 10 minutes.


11. From the top of WireLace™ pods, stretch a second smaller pod layer of
WireLace™ on each section.


12. Cut ten 1" pieces of 6mm Grass WireLace™. Follow steps for
"WireLace Beads" below. Then, roll each bead between your finger
and thumb to shape them into football shapes. (Bead shown enlarged.)


13. Thread needle with 1 yard of 1mm Tanzanite WireLace™.
Thread through the first bead and sew down into the large pod at
the closest Tanzanite pod point. Then sew up through the pod 1/4"
before the center and add a football shape bead to the needle.


14. Pull the needle through all the way and push bead down over
eye of needle. Bead will lay flat against the necklace pad
shape and thread ribbon down into necklace pod shape and
through the next bead. Continue sewing beads to all pods
EXCEPT for the CENTER POD.


15. Thread a large crimp bead onto necklace ends and up against
the last bead. Crimp by crushing with pliers. Clip WireLace™
to 1/8" long. Shift the silver bead 1/8" AWAY from crimp.
Apply a dot of epoxy glue inside clamshell, place crimp into
glue inside clamshell and squeeze closed.


16. Apply epoxy to the upper third area of green clay button on
the back of flower pendant. Press flower onto the center
WireLace™ section on necklace and let dry on plastic! Apply
a dot of epoxy glue to Wirelace™ and slide bead in place up
against clam shell. Open clamshell loop and insert chain
on each end of necklace.


17. Connect the lobster clasp to the end chain with a jump ring
using pliers. Necklace is now adjustable, just choose
chain link you'd like.
Return to Page Index above



Choker with Ribbon Streamers & Drop Earrings

Project Materials:
~1 1/2 yard lengths of 6mm WireLace™ in: Purple, Lilac & Pink
~Rhodium plated Rotunda clasp
~16mm glass or clay Cabochon
~two 10mm round rose crystal beads (#5000)
~two 8mm bicone amethyst crystal beads
~5" piece of linked silver chain
~eight 6mm round silver jump rings
~four 1" silver headpins
~two silver earring posts with small ball and loop
~Needle nose pliers w/ wire cutter area
~Round nose pleirs (each end is rounded)


1. Remove the clasp connector piece. Glue cabochon into clasp
with epoxy glue and let dry. Re-insert the connector
to clasp. Attach jump rings to clasp loops making sure
they are closed tight to prevent WireLace™ from catching on
them. Twist one end of each WireLace™ color to a fine,
tight point and carefully thread through jump rings on the
left of the clasp, where connector piece is.

2. Match up all ends evenly, then, pull a one strand of each
color shorter so that all WireLace™ ends end up "uneven" at
the bottom.


3. Braid the three strands to match the measurement length of
your neck, then thread the ends into last three
jump rings on right side of clasp.


4. Tie an overhand knot to secure to each jump ring, and shape
the WireLace™ as desired.
5. Twist the very ends and apply hypo cement to secure and
give a finished look.
6. To make earrings, cut chain exactly in half with wire cutters.
Thread a round bead onto each head pin and clip pin
to 3/8" long (above bead).


7. Bend pin to a 90o angle with needle nose pliers, then form
a loop with round nose pliers. Insert loop into chain
end and close loop with needle nose pliers.
Return to step 2 if making the AB Bracelet above)
8. Attach a bicone bead the same way on the opposite end of
chains. Open a jump ring, thread through the loop in earring
post and also through the chain link that is just off center
of the chain length so beads hand staggered.
Return to Page Index above




Seashell & Starfish Set

Project Materials:
~1 yard 6mm copper WireLace™
~Copper (or silver) nylon coated tiger tail beading wire
~ 28mm Crystal Shell pendant #6723
~five 2mm Padparadscha flatback no hotfix stones
~14, 6mm bicone Padparadscha crystal beads


~Gold plated Petite Plain Hinged Bail (above)


~Gold Twist clasp
~1 gold pinch bail
~2 gold crystal end headpins
~2 gold fish hook earrings
~2 gold crimp beads
~2 small gold oval jump rings
~2 gold barrel end caps with loop


1. Pull entire length of WireLace™ over a large metal knitting
needle to expand it somewhat.


2. Thread 30" of beading wire with all bicone beads. Place a
piece of masking tape on one wire end.


3. Thread 2" of open end of beading wire onto a large, clay tip
yarn needle and tape in place. (See setp 1 photo of "Oval
Pendant Necklace". Pull needle through WireLace™ so all
beads are inside the mesh tube.


4. Space beads as desired by pushing through tube and twist the
WireLace™ on each side close to bead to secure. Place a dot
of hypo cement on each twist and let dry. Shape the WireLace™
areas between beads.


5. Glue small stones onto shell and starfish pendants with epoxy
using a toothpick, and let dry.


6. There are two methods to attach a loop to crystals with a
front-to-back hole. For the shell pendant, add a dot of epoxy
glue inside pinch bail, then secure prongs into hole and
squeezed to secure. Let dry, then add a large oval jump ring
with pliers to loop in shell bail to hang on WireLace™.


7. You can also use a crystal headpin to create your own bail.
Thread headpin through pendant hole and bend stright up in
the back. Second photo shows the side view.


8. Bend the headpin to the left slightly. Then form a loop around
round nose pliers (starfish is omitted from the second
photo above, and first photo of step 9 so you can see the
pin more easily), and bend to the left.


9. Wrap the pin around the bottom of loop two times then clip
excess with side cutters (or wire cutter area of needle
nose pliers). Pinch end of wrapped area with pliers or file
end smooth for safety. To finish earrings, open loop on fish
hook earring, secure loop of earring bail and close
fish hook with pliers.


10. Secure crimped ends of WireLace™ into a barrel end with epoxy
glue and let dry. Secure loop of end cap to loop on Twist
clasp with an oval jump ring using pliers to open and
close jump ring.

Return to Page Index above

WireLace™ Beads

1. Cut 1" long pieces of WireLace™. Use one piece for small beads,
2-3 for medium and so on. It's also fun to mix 2-3
colors in one bead.


2. Pull side to side to stretch the pieces in one
direction, grasp the WireLace™ on each side of the center and
pull in opposite side-to-side direction.


3. Press wire strands together to compact them. Roll the "wire-wad"
into a ball in the palm of your hand several times, using one
or two of your fingers, to form a tight, firm bead.
Return to Page Index above


Inspiration Gallery

Be creative and try your own techniques with WireLace™. Here's a
few inspiration pieces. The first photo shows an evening style
necklace using 1 1/2 yards of 6mm black WireLace™, 8mm Metallic
white pearls (#5810)and 8mm crystal beads (#5308). The pendant
is hung using a pinch bail hooked into a Petite rhodium
plated interchangeable hinged bail. Pearls are threaded INSIDE the
WireLace™ on tiger tail. WireLace™ is twisted on each side (see
Shell jewelry set). The beads are threaded onto the
OUTSIDE of the WireLace™ to catch the light.
The weight is supported by the hidden black
tiger tail beading wire.

The next two pieces are beautiful jewelry sets using Swarovski®
crystal beads and custom Alacarte clasps™. They are simply
strung onto tiger tail and crimp beads are used on the ends.
Alacarte Clasps™ are then customized with Swarovski® stones that
coordinate with the beads. Glue chosen colored stones in
clasp with epoxy glue and a toothpick. All pendants have a
pinch bail attached and then are added to the fish hook earrings.




This lapel flower is made by gathering 3 colors of WireLace™ on
one edge with thin wire, spiraling them up like a jelly
roll, securing with wrapped wire and gluing on a pinback.
Tiny flat back crystal stones were added to petals with
epoxy. An advanced project for sure....but fun to try.
The gold pearl, rose and clear crystal bracelet is simply strung on tiger
tail, ended with crimp beads and a Twist clasp. The earring beads
are threaded onto head pins and attached to fish hook
earwires using pliers.

Return to Page Index above