Shore Thing

Make a big splash this summer with James Stevenson’s seaside-inspired jewellery in blue and silver

James Stevenson, MJ Designer

Combine wrapped loops and a charm bracelet to use up leftover beads for a fantastically on-trend, unique piece of jewellery.

This season, many designers have taken their cue from all things nautical with names such as Roberto Cavalli showcasing sea-faring statement jewellery. And this on-trend set, including a choker necklace, bracelet and matching earrings, ticks all the fashion boxes with bold chunky beads in oceanic shades. The hidden seahorse, shell and starfish charms reveal themselves within the natural movement of the design, creating flashes of colour and catching everyone’s eye.

Earrings

1. String a 10mm pearl and a 8mm round bead onto a head pin. Make the first part of a wrapped loop and slip on an earwire. Complete the loop and trim. Make a second earring in the same manner.

Necklace

1. Due to the weight of the finished necklace, it’s easier to add the clasp first. Carefully ease apart two split rings and slip one onto each end of a 38cm length of chain, fastening the toggle component to one and the bar to the other. Using head pins, make 20 wrapped loop units with 20mm round beads, 40 with 8mm blue stones, 12 with 10mm pearls, and five with 12mm pearls.
2. Open the same amount of jump rings as pins (one for each) using a random mixture of 4.5mm and 6mm sizes so that the beads sit at different heights. Lay the chain onto a flat surface, and starting at the centre, attach a 20mm round stone pin. Skip a link in the chain and add another 20mm unit. Continue working up both sides of the chain in this way until all of the largest gems have been added.
3. Again starting from the centre, fasten an 8mm beaded pin to the unused link between each of the 20mm spheres. When you come to the end of the 20mm section, continue adding the remainder of the 8mm beads to both sides of the chain along every link to create a fringe leading towards the clasp.
4. Add the 10mm and 12mm pearl pins in a random manner to the chain, making sure that the majority are towards the middle. These will add bulk to help the larger round beads sit up and set off the vivid turquoise colour. Attach three of each type of charm evenly around the necklace to finish.

Charm Bracelet

1. Using head pins, make 21 wrapped loop units with 6mm turquoise rounds, 10 with 8mm round beads and 12 with 12mm pearls. Open the same number of jump rings as pins and attach the completed wrapped units onto the links in an elasticated charm bracelet, keeping the different gems spaced out evenly all around. Attach three of each type of charm evenly along the bracelet to complete.