Cuff Love

Be inspired by Linda Jones' stylish interpretations of this season's hottest accessory

Linda Jones, MJ Designer

"This fashionable cuff, ring and earring set can look stunning worn with a t-shirt and jeans for a summer barbecue, or alternatively, to dress up a stylish outfit at a smart event"

Cuffs are big news this season and we are loving these bright and breezy examples sculptured from coloured wire and loaded with chunky beads. So, pick your colour and get creating or make them all and pile them high for a shot of summer cool. Then go matchy-matchy with co-ordinating cocktail rings and earrings – divine!

Cuff

1. Cut a 45cm length of 2mm wire with heavy-duty wire cutters. Find the centre and holding it firmly in flatnosed pliers, bend at an angle of 90 degrees. Move the pliers 3cm-4.5cm along the wire and bend 90 degrees again. Using your fingers, straighten both projecting wires so that they run parallel to each other.
2. Using round and flat-nosed pliers, create a spiral at the end of each projecting wire, making sure they curl outwards in opposite directions, leaving 20cm of parallel wire to create the bangle. Wrap and mould the wire unit around a cylindrical mandrel and check it fits your wrist.
3. Trim 50cm of 0.8mm wire and wrap it around the ends of the spirals to hold the bangle in shape. Continue winding along the top and bottom of the frame in an uneven zig-zag pattern; wrapping it two or three times each time to secure. If you run out of wire, cut another length and continue until you reach the other side.
4. Trim 50cm of 0.5mm coloured wire and secure at one end of the bangle. Wrap and thread with a selection of beads, weaving the length around the top and bottom of the frame to secure. Continue as before and if you run out, cut another length and repeat until fully covered.
5. If the circular shape of the bangle frame has distorted slightly after wrapping, push it once more around your circular mandrel and tweak any misshapen wires with the tips of flat or round-nosed pliers. Spend a little time pushing and flattening the beads onto the bangle until you are satisfied with the overall result.

Earrings

1. Cut two 10.5cm lengths of 0.8mm wire. Place round-nosed pliers at the centre of each length and wrap the wire around until the ends cross over, forming a circular loop in the middle. Position against a ring mandrel or cylindrical dowel of 1.5cm and press both projecting wires around the shape, until the ends meet to a point.
2. Using the tips of round-nosed pliers, create small circles at the very ends of each wire and form spirals that curl outwards away from each other. Gently hammer the frame to work harden, avoiding the crossed over wires on the top loop to avoid weakening the link.
3. Thread large faceted beads with 0.8mm wire, creating links at each end using round-nosed pliers. Add smaller gems to more 0.8mm wire, creating a link at one end and a decorative spiral at the other. Connect the smaller bead onto the larger gem and suspend from the frame.
4. Create two tight spirals, 8mm in diameter with a link at one end. Twist the loops 90 degrees to the flat coils. Glue an ear post to the back and connect to the top loop of the earring frame.

Rings

1. Cut 7.5cm of 0.8mm wire. Place the centre around a ring mandrel and bring the two ends together to form a teardrop shape. Create a tiny loop at one end using the tips of round-nosed pliers and push the other side through this to join together. Squeeze gently to secure.
2. Cut 50cm of coloured 0.5mm wire. Secure one end to the edge of the teardrop-shaped frame and begin wrapping it around in a random fashion. Once filled with a criss-cross pattern, use the tips of round or flatnosed pliers to tighten and work-harden at the centre of the frame.
3. Cut a 50cm length of 0.4mm wire and secure one end to the top of the wired frame. Thread with a selection of beads, wrapping to secure on the sides of the frame. When the top surface has been filled, secure the end of the wire around the shape and trim.
4. To create the ring shank, wrap 0.8mm wire two to four times around a ring mandrel. Slide off and create a small circle with the very tips of round-nosed pliers at each side. Trim 30cm of coloured 0.5mm wire and wind around the rings to hold the wraps in place. Push the ends through the loops and use these to connect and secure the beaded frame to the front.