Disc bead necklace - need ideas

[Debbie]

I've made some disc beads and I want to make a necklace where the beads will be flat against the neck. I already figured out the earrings but am stumped with the necklace and a matching bracelet. Can anyone show me what they have done or come up with any suggestions? I've made it to go with an outfit I intend to wear to a meeting on Friday.

Thanks,

Debbie

[pam]

Here is my idea, Debbie. I made a couple of necklaces a few years ago this way and love to wear them. I overlapped the disk beads and used leather cording to bind them together. On the back I found these sort of clamps at Michales that had a loop on the end to hold the cords together. I cut off the loop and just wrapped the clamp part around the cords. You could use ribbon or wire or just about anything.

At least it's one idea for you.

[Debbie]

Thanks, Pam. I will try that for the next one because I LOVE that. I have just the discs to replicate for one like that.

Unfortunately for this one, I'm out of the glass and only got seven discs by the time I ran out. So far, I have taken some fancy-ended head pins and flattened them against the back of the disc. Now I am thinking of taking some silver sheet or wire and making some loops or holes for the five discs and stringing the rest. I think it needs to be stiff in order to hang correctly.

[AZ Joolz]

Debbie,

I've wired them as dangling "wheels" on chain, both as a pendant and as a regular necklace. I've also wire them somewhat similar to Pam's (though I'd kill to have disks that large!). Be sure to post a pic of what you end up doing.

Great necklace Pam.

[pam]

Thanks so much. I have a white one I hung from a chain, but I don't think I have a picture of it. I hung a bunch of disks of different sizes at different lengths. I love playing with disks.

Grabbed a pic that I recalled seeing. (Thanks, Shawnette) It's not great, but I think you can ge the idea.

[Art of Hand]

Thin disks strung with nylon thread:
106203
Thick disks with silver shaped links:
152988
Disks / rings with silver oval rings:
139153

[teachertracey]

[QUOTE=Deesigned Beads;2624264]
Thick disks with silver shaped links:
152988

I love this look. Did you make the links yourself? If so, what was your wire gauge? Thanks!

[SuzyQ]

Pretty options! I remember Pam's necklace in the fuchsia discs from a gathering, it was stunning on her.

[pam]

The blue is my favorite, De. That is gorgeous. How did you get the rings so uniform?

[Debbie]

The blue is my favorite, De. That is gorgeous. How did you get the rings so uniform?

I'm glad I started this thread. These are great. To answer this question, though, my solution (as with spacers) is to make a lot of them and just keep doing it until you get enough for a necklace. :lol:

[pam]

So, Debbie, do you make rings like the blue ones too? Those are so cool. I saw Ronit's newest work at the Gathering and her glass chains were fantastic.

[Debbie]

So, Debbie, do you make rings like the blue ones too? Those are so cool. I saw Ronit's newest work at the Gathering and her glass chains were fantastic.

I have one. LOL. It's sitting on my table as incentive for a future project. I have one mandrel that size. It would take me weeks to get enough for a necklace. I would think that one would want to use Bullseye for those, though - at least.

[fourpawsglass]

From a Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine, I used their example on how to put together disc beads to lay flat. I've done them in both silver wire and copper. If you would like me to send you the instructions, PM me.

http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL918/4262723/18862553/368673697.jpg

[Debbie]

Here is a detail of what I ended up with. It's actually nicer than it looks in the photo. :lol: I was specifically aiming for something to go with a light pink top I bought in Mexico - I'll try for the ultimate artistic statement with a future project.

[pam]

Very nice, Debbie. It's a great necklace! I love working with disks.

[Art of Hand]

Thanks for the compliments! Those were all pieces that I made in the previous 2 years - have not touched my silver this year yet ...

Tracey, the thick disks silver components were bent over a piece of wood that I carved (to get the right diameter that goes through the glass bit). I think it was about a 20 odd gauge. Soldered closed, with the jumprings also soldered closed. I have figured out a way to solder quite close to the glass, but it takes patience.

Pam, the blue rings were made with my ring mandrels. I have them in 4 sizes. The silver bits is just a huge thick guage jumpring that I soldered close and bent/pulled with the help of thick mandrels! I then hammered it flat, saw the ring open, insert the glass rings, and soldered it close again. I used the last glass ring as the ring part, and inserted a silver toggle through it. It really look lovely on person, but never kept a set for myself. The making of it is easy, the polishing not!

[Art of Hand]

Sorry Debbie, forgot to add - your necklace looks beautiful!

[Art of Hand]

Tracey Alfaro, Love your bracelets. Is the silver that goes through the glass a big jumpring folded?

[fourpawsglass]

No, its a 4" piece of 22 gauge silver which is folded in half, put thru the hole and then one side wrapped around the loop and then the other.

[AZ Joolz]

Very pretty pieces! I love disks too.

Debbie, that turned out lovely and that was what I was suggesting with them as dangles.

[Gail Joseph]

These are all SO gorgeous!!! I love making disks with my glass, and have mainly making buttons due to total brain-drain for other ideas, so THANK YOU Debbie for the thread, and THANK YOU to all the talented artists!!!! I feel some disk making coming on in the near future!-Gail

[Art of Hand]

Oh Gail, I just love making disks. At the moment they are just one toned ones that I use as spacers, but I have an exhibition coming up in Oct, and requested to also supply jewellry. I made a black/grey/white one similair to the middle picture, and they choose that image as one of images for the invitation. So I guess I have to make another one, as that one is sold.

There is just so much one can do with a disk. Just plain single rod rolled up, or like Debbie did with the filigriana (sp?), different colours, and then surface decorations with dots or dragging glass to the mandrel. I am actually getting itchy feet just thinging about it! (and I am stuck at work another 4 hours, and then it will be to late to fire the torch!)

For those that really battle to control the heat/flame on the wheel without it collapsing into a doughnut, this is what I do:

Once the disk is made, you need to make sure that the glass is adhering to the bottom layers, otherwise it will break too easily. If you focus heat on the rim of the wheel, it will just thicken into a doughnut. So, rather move your wrist 45 degrees, so that the disk is getting heat from the side, move your wrist, and heat the other side, make sure that not too much heat is on the rim. Use marver to straighten the disk. By doing this I can melt in the ridges of the pinwheel, while keeping the disk fairly thin. This will cause a lot of heat on your mandrel, so work in a small flame otherwise you could burn your mandrel ...

[Debbie]

These are all SO gorgeous!!! I love making disks with my glass, and have mainly making buttons due to total brain-drain for other ideas, so THANK YOU Debbie for the thread, and THANK YOU to all the talented artists!!!! I feel some disk making coming on in the near future!-Gail

Oh Gail, I was thinking of you while I was making them. :badgrin: I had made a disc with one of the reducing rods you gave me and got the idea for the filigrana pink. Coincidentally, I just picked out your rod to make more!! - if I can figure out which one it was. It reduces and it has both blue and green in it. Humh.

[Gail Joseph]

I have no idea what I'll wear it with....but disks with this Core Duo (Sky Blue/Opal Violet) make me crazy/happy. Oh who cares what I wear, right? It's the lampwork that counts!!!:lol:
175625

[pam]

I hate to confess this, but I make jewelry and then search for clothes to match it! Been doing that for years.

[lhbeads]

Hi Debbie,
After seeing all the disk beads at the Gathering I sure was inspired. Here is my first necklace set made with disk beads.

175627

Lisa

[Debbie]

Hi Debbie,
After seeing all the disk beads at the Gathering I sure was inspired. Here is my first necklace set made with disk beads.

175627

Lisa

I didn't go to the Gathering this year, so I was completely unaware that discs were 'in' this year. I see we were thinking along the same lines. Mine are purposely simple because I was trying to match something but I plan on getting wacky and colorful with my next ones.

I also realized this afternon that making discs from Gaffer is A LOT easier than Moretti even though the COE isn't THAT much lower. In any case, a visit to Gail's is in order.

BTW Gail - It was the Silverado Blue.

[AZ Joolz]

I hate to confess this, but I make jewelry and then search for clothes to match it! Been doing that for years.

You are not alone... :)

[SharonP]

Have you tried making discs with bullseye? The glass really cooperates & holds its shape longer & better than effetre.
Pam, I love that necklace - the overlap is genius!
*s*

[valerie_folly]

I've made smaller disks than Pam's first post (I used boro tho) and bind them similiarly but with wax cord and not overlapping with a knot or knot and macrame in between. Sold them, wish I had a picture.

[pam]

Thanks, Sharon. Lisa, that necklace is gorgeous!

[lhbeads]

Thanks, Sharon. Lisa, that necklace is gorgeous!

Thanks Pam! I had fun making it. Lisa

[Cathie]

All beautiful :)

[papimom]

I wish Pam had a better picture of her necklace. It is so intriguing.
Joan

[pam]

Are you talking about the white one? I have it here and can take a better pic if that is the one you are talking about.

[lhbeads]

I would love to see a better pic of your white one! :biggrin:
Lisa
Are you talking about the white one? I have it here and can take a better pic if that is the one you are talking about.

[pam]

No problem, I will take it tomorrow and post it here.

[pam]

Here is the pic I promised.

[lbloomer]

Wow what a cool necklace, I love the toggle. Fun, fun, fun.
Jaquetta

[lhbeads]

Wow Pam that is a much better picture. Thanks for posting it. Love how you did the disks on chain. I especially love the toggle!
Lisa

[pam]

Thanks so much. Glad you like it. I've been doing my own toggles for a few years now, but this one I did a little something different - always trying new things!! I made a disk, removed it from the mandrel and then reheated it and stretched it out. It was really fun!