Geometric Shells

Jewelry making is one of the crafts I love because it is always nice to show some bling. I have a pattern for a set that I would like to share with you. I will be showing you how to make a necklace, bracelet and a pair of earrings. I have used pink and ivory as my color scheme, but you can use any colors you choose.

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• 7 Ivory rectangular shell beads
• 2 Pink rectangular shell beads
• 7 Pink round shell beads
• Silver jump rings
• A toggle clasp
• A lobster claw clasp
• Ear wires
• Head pins
• 2 pairs of chain nose or needle nose pliers
• Round nose pliers
• Wire nippers

Use both pairs of chain nose or needle nose pliers to open the jump rings by pulling them apart. Slide the jump rings onto the desired bead or other jump rings and close with the pliers.
Attach four jump rings each to five of the pink round shell beads and four of the ivory rectangular shell beads.

Use double jump rings to connect a pink round shell bead and an ivory rectangular shell bead by sliding the double jum rings through two jump rings at each end of the shell beads. You should have a round shell bead with two jump rings and a rectangular shell bead with two jump beads. The jump bead from each shell bead should be connected to two jump beads. Continue to connect all of the nine shell beads alternating the pink and ivory.

Add two more pairs of double jump rings to each remaining double jump ring pair on the ends of the necklace. Add one more jump ring to the last pair of double jump rings on each end of the necklace and attach the single jump ring to the end of the necklace and then to the toggle clasp.
Follow the same procedure using 2 round shell beads and 2 rectangular shell beads for your bracelet. After attaching your single jump ring to the double pair of jump rings at each end of your bracelet, attach the single jump rings to the lobster claw clasp.

For the earrings, begin from the inside top of a pink rectangular shell bead, insert the head pin up thorugh the hole in the bead and then through the loop of an ear wire. Use the round nose pliers to form the head pin into a loop. Wrap the head pin around the base of the loop at the top of the shell bead and trim off any access. Repeat the process for the other earring.

There you have it. A beautiful necklace, bracelet and earring set and you made them yourself.