illusion necklaces

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 0:35:38 -0400, Pam wrote (in message ):

Like I'd pass up an opportunity to stick my big nose in the middle of your business! :-) I've seen the ones made with tiny little crimps, and they're really rather beautiful.

But the best argument I've heard for using crimps instead of glue is that if the pearls and such are glued, the necklace can never be repaired. Glue in the middle of a Swarovski or similar "Austrial Crystal Bead" would look revolting, because even a clear glue will not refract light at the same angle as the leaded glass. Knowing that, I'd stick with crimps. To finish off the necklace, How about using one of those cool heavy duty clamshells I wrote about yesterday and a delicate silver clasp?

Today I read a tip on another board about keeping the crystals at exactly the same distance apart with little trouble: When you next go to Starbuck's, Dunkie's or the like to buy a cup of coffee, grab a handful of those little stirrer straws. (No, you're not stealing - Any place that charges $4 for a cup of coffee should give you a box of stirrer straws twice a week!)

Cut the stirrer straws into short, equal lengths that just happen to be your preferred distance between the beads. String a piece of straw between each bead "unit" (like crimp-pearl-crimp), and voila' - one hell of an ugly necklace! (heh, heh, heh)

To finish, use a pair of embroidery scissors, a sharp paring knife or a single edged razor blade to remove the straws (be careful not to cut the illusion cord!). I'd wait until any glue used had dried - I use watch crystal cement in clamshell findings and sometimes in crimp beads to add an extra measure of security. I am considering slitting the pieces of straw beforehand, but then the illusion cord might slip through and the beads become imperfectly spaced.

Do not divulge this secret when people ask you got the beads so perfectly spaced. Tell them that you planned it exactly that way, and your materials just cooperate due to the sheer force of your personality.

Kathy N-V

Kathy, Thank You for all the advice! Had not thought about the spacing, just figured I'd wing that part - your way is so much more scientific - I'll have to try it!

So... yes I need to get some of those clamshells you wrote about... will do - they sound wonderful - I just purchased about 30 of another kind I need to use up though.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the glue is not the best way to go - I don't know how long Illusion cord lasts, but I figure its not as long as pearls and crystal would. It would be a shame to have to throw it all away if the cord failed.

The thing I'm worried about with the crimps is if the silver will wear down the pearl or scratch it. Maybe I just need to try it and see. Or maybe I can try buffering it with another small bead of some sort - though that kind of takes away from the look I'm going for.

Thanks again, will have to hit starbuck up in the AM for some straws and a mocha :)

I know that Fire Mountain sells a type of clasp intended for use with illusion cord, and I think Rio Grande does as well. The straw idea is fairly common, but this was the first time I'd heard it suggested using plastic stirrer straws. That makes much more sense, since your crimps would fall right into a regular straw!

Celine

Ok, another question - is it acceptable to loop the pearl/crystal into the illusion cord rather than use crimps or glue - as in, I put the crystal on the string, and then looped back through it and pulled tight and it doesn't show.... or is this cheating in some sense???

Thanks :)

Ok, so that might not be so great after all - they slide around pretty easily which is a good thing if you want to re-position the beads, but not so good if the bride messes up the beads and freaks out right before the wedding because her necklace is lopsided... and it doesn't look so invisible with the pearls - crystals, can't really tell, pearls, you can...

I make them with sterling or gf mini-crimps, pearls and Swarovski, have not noticed a problem with the crimps scratching the pearls. I usually put a tiny toggle on mine as a clasp. I have found that the crimps I got from one supplier are too sharp, and they cut the illusion cord. The crimps from South Pacific, although 3x the cost, do not. Need to order some more of those. :-)

They're very popular, especially with younger girls... (10-20).

Kar>

Try using a tiny drop of glue on the illusion cord where you want the bead to stay, and then slide the bead onto the glue. You have to be careful not to use too much glue or it could smear.

Ellen

thanks Karin - I got my mini crimps from beadshop.com - have to try them still. They said just flatten them, not to crimp and roll them like normal crimps.

I'm trying to make some bridal jewelry - I have 2 girlfriends who are getting married and have requested some pretty baubles be made for them...

On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 10:12:32 -0400, Pam wrote (in message ):

It won't hang right. Give it a quick try and see for yourself. It will also look amazingly amateurish.

Sorry. Good idea, though.

Kathy N-V

Yes, that is acceptable. In fact, I remember seeing a project article in a magazine which suggested just that and showed the stringing pattern to use. Of course, I can't remember anything useful like *which* magazine, let alone which issue...

This wouldn't work, of course, with anything but illusion cord, because you'd be able to see the loops.

Celine

Yes, you just flatten them with a regular flatnose plier... makes them into little square flat pieces of silver or gold. They do end up looking pretty nice. And once you get into the groove of putting them together, go reasonably quickly. I'll have to try Kathy N-V's straw suggestion - I've just been doing mine visually, not measuring, but get it pretty accurate just by drawing it through my fingers as I mash. (I string all the beads/pearls/crimps, then go back and set the crimps.) Make sure all your crimps are in the same plane. :-) I've made a bunch of multi-strand ones, then the spacing isn't as critical.

Kar>

is of not-quite-an-illusion necklace made using a tip in Bead & Button magazine. It uses clusters of 1 pearl and 2 seed beads. The cord is wrapped twice around the three-bead clusters, anchoring them so that no gluing, knotting, or crimping is necessary. The tip calls for clear seed beads - they would be harder to see than the transparent sky blue seed beads I used.

As for finishing it off, you'll see that I just used cheap clamshells (with seed beads inside) and a toggle. I'm sure there are better ways to do it.

Do you have any pictures?

:) Pam

It seems to be ok with the crystals - clear. Not colored. The pearls don't work at all - it shows and they slip and the cord loosens up a little and looks sloppy.

I have to try the crimps. Just didn't want to waste them trying it out. I guess it's only a few cents...

that's pretty, but I really didn't want groupings of beads - I want single beads floating around her neck... I may have to resort to knots and glue after all... though I hate that idea as it seems like it turns the piece into a disposable piece, rather than an heirloom piece. Oh well, if they wanted heirloom, they'd be wearing their grandmother's pearls I guess.

I don't have any online right now; I'll scan some in the next day or two and send them to you via email if that's alright. :-)

Kar>

The problem is, as Kathy pointed out, it makes the cord go wonky. This stuff is very light, and you're not putting much on it, so getting it to 'lay' right is tough enough. If you tie knots in it, it changes the direction that it wants to lie, and you end up with all kinds of weird angles in your necklace.

I think it would work if you were doing it with heavier beads, but of course then they would be bigger, and it would look strange anyway.

Kar>

I would love that - thanks!

jewelry @ bluebetween . com (remove the spaces of course)

Pam, are you totally sold on using the illusion cord? The reason I ask is because griffin thread is often used for floating necklaces especially the smaller diameter. I love knotting this thread!

I think size 0 might surprise you. Here's a size comparison chart.

It comes in a variety of colors and might work well for that "illusion" effect depending on the color of your friends' skin. BTW, I've used the grey color and it almost looks like a silver chain. If you're willing to try it this time, possibly try it in the future and report back to us. :=)