Retired - The Bee Keepers Necklace

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Start this necklace by wire wrapping your glazed porcelain flat oval bead to make it look like a beehive. You will do this by first measuring and cutting 24 inches of 26 gauge brass colored wire. You will notice that your porcelain bead has 3 distinct ridges in the middle. Leaving a tail of 6 inches, start on one of the outer ridges and wrap your wire 4 - 6 times around the ridge. Next, just pull your wire to the next ridge an wrap 4 - 6 times around it. Do the same for the third ridge. Bring the remainder of your wire to the same side as where you have the original tail you started with. Take one of your 22k gold plated pewter honey bees and thread one of your tails through the top of it and one of your tails through the bottom of it. Pull snug so that it anchors your bee in the center of the beehive. Twist each of the wires around the under side of the bee several times - going in opposite directions. When done wrapping, pull your wires so that one is sticking out in the direction of the head and one in the direction of the stinger. If you have more then 2 inches on either end, snip the wire down to 2". Now create a spiral on each end as shown in the video on making decorative head pin. Set aside.
2. Take 1 brass head pin and place onto it 1 22k gold plated pewter 3-d rose bead and 8/0 Toho round seed bead in matte dark olive. Create a simple wire loop after the seed bead and snip off excess wire with flush cutters.
3. Place onto a 2" brass eye pin an place 1 22k gold plated pewter daisy bead cap, the beehive you wire wrapped in the first step, and another bead cap. Create a simple wire loop after the bead cap and snip off excess wire with flush cutters.
4. Open the simple wire loop at the base of the beehive and link it to rose dangle you made in the last step. Close the loop.
5. Onto a brass eye pin, place 1 matte dark olive seed bead, 1 honey bee, and another olive seed bead. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead an cut off excess with flush cutters. Make 2 of these.
6. Your antique gold plated textured cable chain consists of open links, meaning that you can open them just like jump rings. At this time, open and remove 7 links.
7. Attach one of those links to the simple wire loop at the top of your beehive as well as the simple wire loops at the base of your two honey bee segments. Close the link back up.
8. Onto a brass eye pin, place 1 matte dark olive seed bead, 1 daisy bead cap, 1 glazed porcelain twist bead in aqua blue with brown spots, another daisy bead cap, and another olive seed bead. Create a simple wire loop after the last bead an cut off excess wire with flush cutters. Make 2 of these.
9. Take another open chain link and attach it to one side of the porcelain bead segment from above and the other end of the bee segment previously attached. Close the link back up. Repeat this step on the other side of your necklace.
10. Open another link and attach it to the other end of your porcelain bead segment as well as an edge of your 22k gold plated pewter diamond bead frame. Close the link and repeat on the other side of your necklace.
11. Onto a brass eye pin, place 1 matte dark olive seed bead, 1 rose bead, and another seed bead. Create a simple wire loop and cut off excess wire with flush cutters.
12. Take an open chain link and attach it to the diamond bead frame as well as one of the simple wire loops on one side of your rose segment. Close the link and repeat on the other side of your necklace.
13. Cut 2, 6" segments of chain.
14. Open the end link on one of your chain segments and attach it to the simple wire loop on your rose segment. Close the link. On the other end of the chain, open the last link and attach it to one half of your clasp. Close the link. Repeat this same process on the other side of your necklace.
15. All done! Have fun wearing this bee-autiful necklace!

• BMB-3294 - TierraCast 22K Gold Plated Pewter 3-D Rose Beads 7.5mm (4)
  Project uses 3 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BMB-3526 - TierraCast 22K Gold Plated Pewter Daisy Bead Cap 8mm x 3.5mm (4)
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• BMB-3580 - TierraCast 22K Gold Plated Pewter Honey Bee Beads 9.5mm (2)
  Project uses 3 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• BMB-3666 -
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BWC-1082 -
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• BWC-1070 -
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• CHA-9802 - Nunn Design Antiqued Gold Plated Textured Cable Chain By The Foot
  Project uses 2 feet. You will need 2 packages.


• FCL-3214 -
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-6281 - Antiqued Brass Open Eye Pins 21 Gauge 2 Inch (x50)
  Project uses 10 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FHP-6300 - Antiqued Brass Head Pins 1 Inches Long/21 Gauge (x50)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• JSH-0115 - Toho Round Seed Beads 8/0 617 'Matte Dark Olive' 8 Gram Tube
  Project uses 13 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• WCR-4208 - BeadSmith Non-Tarnish Antique Brass Color Copper Craft Wire 26 Gauge - 30 Yards
  Project uses 24 inches. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose