Project Idea -- Czech Teardrop Bracelet

Traditionally pearls were knotted in between to keep the soft beads from rubbing against each other. Create the look of knotted pearls, without the frustration, by alternating seed beads between
your glass based (or freshwater) pearls.

An intermediate project: To make this project, you should have basic experience with beading-wire and crimp beads.

Supply List -
45 Glass Pearl Beads 6mm, 04-51-FM7748 or color choice
10 Fire Polished 6mm beads, 04-51-FM6002 & 03-51-FM6152 or choice of color
2 Fire Polished 9mm teardrop beads, clear 04-SWFC212
4 Plated Oval Jumprings, 03-51-FM3606 or finish choice
1 Lobster Claw Clasp 12mm, 03-DA1920-52 or choice
1 Plated Headpin, 03-DA1920-43 or choice (optional)
tube of size 11 seed beads, 04-DA1951-07 or choice
choice beading wire and crimp beads

Tools: Bead Stopper 03-51-RT4406 (or tape), flat nose pliers, crimping pliers (optional), G-S Hypo Cement 03-51-FM1583 (optional)

Start by stringing three (or a few more for a slightly longer necklace) seed beads onto the wire. Add a Glass Based Pearl, then a seed bead. Repeat until you have 17 Glass Pearls separated by seed beads. Next add a Fire Polished Teardrop bead with the smaller tip facing the end of the necklace.

Continue adding beads by placing another seed bead, a Glass Pearl, an additional seed bead, then a 6mm Fire Polished bead. (We've alternated Crystal Clear color with AB Jet beads.) Repeat until you have 10 Glass Based Pearls, with the other beads in between.

Add another seed bead, then the second Fire Polished Teardrop bead, again with the widest end of the bead facing inwards and the smaller tip facing the outside end of the necklace.

Once all the beads are in place, put a crimp bead on the wire end, then run through a jump ring, and back through the crimp bead. Use a flat nose or crimping pliers to flatten the crimp bead. Remove Bead Stopper (or tape), and add a crimp bead to that end, repeating above steps to have both ends of the necklace secure. If desired, add a dot of G-S Adhesive or other jeweler's glue to the crimped beads.

To finish, with your pliers gently twist open a jump ring on one end of your bracelet, add the Lobster Claw Clasp, and twist the jump ring closed. To create the extension chain on the opposite end, twist open and link two or three more jump rings, attaching to the ring end of the necklace.

Optional: Add a dangle or charm to the end of the chain. We added beads onto a headpin, then wire wrapped the top to create a loop.

All the supplies on the list above can be purchased in-store at Bead Jam or on our On-line store. Follow link for our store site. Do a search for the exact stock number or to see all choices, or we suggest using all or part of each bold phrase above to search for the particular supply.

Design and instructions copyright of Bead Jam LLC; creation of projects is for personal or gift use only. Feel free to print and distribute projects as long as credit is given to www.beadjam.com