Live wires

Transform coloured wire into Linda Jones' funky statement jewellery

Linda Jones, MJ Designer

The spiral bead maker is so simple to use and creates perfect coils for a variety of stunning effects!

Stand out from the crowd wearing this vibrant and unique jewellery set! Pink, turquoise and silver wires are coiled into tight springs with a Spiral Bead Maker, then threaded onto thicker wires that have been formed into wavy shapes. Crystal beads add extra sparkle to these stunning pieces!

Necklace

1. Using the thin handle of a Spiral Bead Maker, create five 13.5cm coils of 0.5mm wire: two pink, two turquoise and one from silver-plated wire (Fig.1). To make the sides of the necklace, cut two 20cm lengths of 0.8mm silver-plated wire. Push each piece around a jar or bottle to shape into a curve and thread with one 10mm clear crystal bead, followed by a long coil of pink or turquoise wire (one colour for each side) and another 10mm wrap around a cylindrical mandrel, such as a curtain pole. Once the pieces are curled, stretch them out a little (Fig.3). Cut the remaining coloured wire coils into varying lengths and thread them onto the wire, adding beads at various points. Once you’ve covered each wire with a mixture of clear crystal bead. Create links at each end of the wires with round-nosed pliers (Fig.2).
2. To form the centrepiece, cut three 20cm lengths of 0.8mm silver-plated wire and randomly coloured coils and clear crystals, use round-nosed pliers to make links at each end.
3. Place all three curly coils together and connect each side link to a large jump ring (Fig.4). Attach the necklace sides to each end of the curly coils with a jump ring (Fig.5) and complete the necklace by attaching a clasp at the back. Spend a little bit of time re-adjusting and arranging the front of the necklace until satisfied with the overall shape.

Earrings

1. Cut two 18cm lengths of 0.8mm silver-plated wire. Create a link at one end with round-nosed pliers and wrap the rest of the wire around a cylindrical mandrel, such as a pen or pencil, to create the wavy shape. Stretch the coil out to form two even curls.
2. Using the thin handle of a Spiral Beadmaker, create two 15cm springs of coloured wire, one turquoise and one pink, as well as a 5cm coil in silver. Thread one of the wire curls with the pink coil, followed by a 4mm silver bead, then repeat for the other with the turquoise coil, creating coils at the end to secure.
3. Cut two 5cm lengths of 0.8mm silver-plated wire and create a link at one end with round-nosed pliers. Thread these short units with approximately 1.5cm to 2cm of the silver coil, followed by a 10mm clear crystal bead. Create a spiral head pin at the end to secure the coil and the beads onto the straight stems.
4. Push a beaded stem through the centre of a coloured coil and attach the top links together, so that the beaded unit is suspended at the centre of the wavy shape. Connect a ready-made earwire to the top link, then repeat to make a pair.

Bangle

1. Cut 25.5cm of 0.8mm silverplated wire and create a large wrapped loop at one end; this will form the ‘eye’ of the clasp. Shape the wire around a cylindrical mandrel, such as a soya sauce bottle, to create the circular bangle. Using the small handle on a Spiral Bead Maker, make three 12.5cm coloured coils from 0.5mm pink, turquoise and silver wire.
2. Snip the coloured coils into random lengths with wire cutters, making some longer than others. Thread the bangle frame with a clear crystal bead, followed by a section of coloured coil. To create the curly shapes around the frame, cut two 15cm lengths of 0.8mm silver-plated wire and create a small link at the end of one with round-nosed pliers, then wrap the wire around a cylindrical mandrel such as a pen to create curly shapes.
3. Thread the coloured coils onto the wire and using round-nosed pliers, create a link at the other end, securing the coils in place onto the curled wires. Thread the end link of one of the coloured coils onto the bangle frame and continue threading the rest of the frame with more coloured coils and beads.
4. Finally, slip the opposite link of the coloured coil onto your frame then slip on a bead before adding another coiled link. Continue threading the frame then secure the opposite link and complete the frame. Use your fingers to re-adjust and tweak, so that the positioning looks right. Once the bangle has been threaded with beads, coils and curly coils, create a doubled fish hook, or another wrapped link onto which you can attach a ready-made clasp.

Ring

1. Thread a 41cm length of 0.8mm silver-plated wire with a 10mm clear crystal bead, positioning it in the centre. Wrap the ends around a ring mandrel a couple of times, forming the shank of the ring. Thread the wires projecting on either side of the bead each with a 13cm coloured coil created with the small handle of a Spiral Bead Maker; one turquoise, and one pink.
2. Randomly wrap the coloured coiled wires around the perimeter of the bead to create the twirly frame setting. Then secure the ends of the wire together and push behind the back of the bead to complete.