simply modern

jewelry

Designs from the editor of

Stringing magazine Danielle
Fox

 Twiggy
mingle met als

T
This necklace throws matchy-matchy metals to the wind. I was inspired to this carefree
philosophy by the twig pendants. One is sterling silver with a brass bail while the other
is bronze. To combine them in a necklace would mean opening the doors to mixing
metals—something I hadn’t tried before.

I used a medley of chains—copper, brass, sterling silver, and vermeil—attached with

shibuichi (an alloy of copper and silver that, when heated, yields beautiful colors)
connectors and tiny bird beads in different metal finishes. I was surprised at how well the
different metals worked together. The finished product is a hodgepodge—but a happy
hodgepodge at that. And I think the twigs look quite at home.

M AT E R I A L S TOOLS
3 turquoise 6mm rondelles Wire cutters
3 pewter 10x6mm birdies (in cast antique brass, silver, and copper finishes) Flat-nose pliers
1 sterling silver 9x9mm pine cone charm Round-nose pliers
1 sterling silver 14x30mm leaf charm
2 metal 68mm twig pendants (1 sterling silver with brass, 1 bronze) FINISHED SIZE

1 vermeil 18mm toggle clasp 19" (48 cm)

2¾" (7 cm) of brushed sterling silver 9.7mm link flat chain

4½" (11 cm) of brass 7–8.5mm link flat chain TECHNIQUES

5½" (14 cm) of antique copper 1x2mm link chain Wireworking

1½" (4 cm) of vermeil German metal 8x5mm link chain Opening and closing jump rings

1 shibuichi 29mm tree pendant

3 shibuichi 12x32mm “Love Life” leaf connectors SIMPLICITY SCALE

9 assorted metal 5–8mm jump rings

6 (15 cm) each of the following wires: brown 22-gauge craft wire, 24-
gauge sterling silver wire, and 24-gauge gold-filled wire

 
 Twiggy
mingle met als

T
This necklace throws matchy-matchy metals to the wind. I was inspired to this carefree
philosophy by the twig pendants. One is sterling silver with a brass bail while the other
is bronze. To combine them in a necklace would mean opening the doors to mixing
metals—something I hadn’t tried before.

I used a medley of chains—copper, brass, sterling silver, and vermeil—attached with

shibuichi (an alloy of copper and silver that, when heated, yields beautiful colors)
connectors and tiny bird beads in different metal finishes. I was surprised at how well the
different metals worked together. The finished product is a hodgepodge—but a happy
hodgepodge at that. And I think the twigs look quite at home.

M AT E R I A L S TOOLS
3 turquoise 6mm rondelles Wire cutters
3 pewter 10x6mm birdies (in cast antique brass, silver, and copper finishes) Flat-nose pliers
1 sterling silver 9x9mm pine cone charm Round-nose pliers
1 sterling silver 14x30mm leaf charm
2 metal 68mm twig pendants (1 sterling silver with brass, 1 bronze) FINISHED SIZE

1 vermeil 18mm toggle clasp 19" (48 cm)

2¾" (7 cm) of brushed sterling silver 9.7mm link flat chain

4½" (11 cm) of brass 7–8.5mm link flat chain TECHNIQUES

5½" (14 cm) of antique copper 1x2mm link chain Wireworking

1½" (4 cm) of vermeil German metal 8x5mm link chain Opening and closing jump rings

1 shibuichi 29mm tree pendant

3 shibuichi 12x32mm “Love Life” leaf connectors SIMPLICITY SCALE

9 assorted metal 5–8mm jump rings

6 (15 cm) each of the following wires: brown 22-gauge craft wire, 24-
gauge sterling silver wire, and 24-gauge gold-filled wire

 
mix it up • twiggy
fig 1
Etc…
This is a great project for using
up those extra bits of chain you
have left over from other projects.
Substitute any of the chains used
here for what you have in your
own stash.

fig 2
1: Cut the chain and wire into pieces of the following lengths:
Vermeil chain: one 8-link (15/8 or 4 cm) piece. (This particular chain has unsol-
dered (severed) links, so instead of cutting it, you can open the links like jump
rings to adjust the chain.)
Sterling silver chain: one 5-link (1¾ or 5 cm) piece, one 3-link (1 or 3 cm) piece.
Brass chain: one 12-link (2¾ or 7 cm) piece, one 8-link (1¾ or 4 cm) piece.
Copper chain: two 25-link (1 or 3 cm) pieces, two 40-link (1¾ or 4 cm) pieces.
Gold-filled wire: one 3 (8 cm) piece.
Sterling silver wire: two 3 (8 cm) pieces.
Brown craft wire: two 3 (8 cm) pieces.
2: Open one end link of the vermeil chain, string the loop of the ring half of the
clasp, then close the link. Open the other end link of the chain, string the bottom
hole of 1 leaf connector, then close the link (Figure 1).
3: Use 1 jump ring to attach one end of the 5-link (1¾ or 5 cm) silver chain to the
top hole of the connector just used (Figure 2).
4: Use the gold wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other end of
the silver chain just used. String 1 turquoise and 1 brass bird (bottom end first),
then form a wrapped loop that attaches to the ends of the two 25-link (1” or 3
cm) pieces of copper chain (Figure 3).
5: Use 1 brown wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other ends of
the copper chains just used. Form a wrapped loop that attaches to the bottom
hole of 1 leaf connector and wraps over the first wrapped loop (Figure 4).
fig 3 fig 4 fig 5 fig 6
6: Use 1 jump ring to connect one end of the 12-link (2¾" or 7 cm) brass chain to
the top hole of the connector just used.
7: Use 1 silver wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other end of the
chain just used. String 1 copper bird (top end first) and 1 turquoise, then form a
wrapped loop that attaches to one end of the 3-link (1 or 3 cm) silver chain.
8: Use 1 jump ring to attach the other end of the chain just used to the top
hole of 1 leaf connector.
9: Use 1 jump ring to connect one end of the 8-link (1¾" or 5 cm) brass
chain to the bottom hole of the connector just used.
10: Use 1 silver wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other
end of the chain just used. String 1 silver bird (top end first) and 1
turquoise, then form a wrapped loop that attaches to the ends of the
two 40-link (1¾" or 4 cm) copper chains.
11: Use 1 brown wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the
other ends of the copper chains just used. Form a wrapped loop
that attaches to the loop of the toggle half of the clasp and wraps
over the first wrapped loop (Figure 5).
12: Use 1 jump ring to attach the leaf charm to the ring half of
the clasp. Repeat with the tree pendant, twig pendants, and
pine cone charm (Figure 6). 
mix it up • twiggy
fig 1
Etc…
This is a great project for using
up those extra bits of chain you
have left over from other projects.
Substitute any of the chains used
here for what you have in your
own stash.

fig 2
1: Cut the chain and wire into pieces of the following lengths:
Vermeil chain: one 8-link (15/8 or 4 cm) piece. (This particular chain has unsol-
dered (severed) links, so instead of cutting it, you can open the links like jump
rings to adjust the chain.)
Sterling silver chain: one 5-link (1¾ or 5 cm) piece, one 3-link (1 or 3 cm) piece.
Brass chain: one 12-link (2¾ or 7 cm) piece, one 8-link (1¾ or 4 cm) piece.
Copper chain: two 25-link (1 or 3 cm) pieces, two 40-link (1¾ or 4 cm) pieces.
Gold-filled wire: one 3 (8 cm) piece.
Sterling silver wire: two 3 (8 cm) pieces.
Brown craft wire: two 3 (8 cm) pieces.
2: Open one end link of the vermeil chain, string the loop of the ring half of the
clasp, then close the link. Open the other end link of the chain, string the bottom
hole of 1 leaf connector, then close the link (Figure 1).
3: Use 1 jump ring to attach one end of the 5-link (1¾ or 5 cm) silver chain to the
top hole of the connector just used (Figure 2).
4: Use the gold wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other end of
the silver chain just used. String 1 turquoise and 1 brass bird (bottom end first),
then form a wrapped loop that attaches to the ends of the two 25-link (1” or 3
cm) pieces of copper chain (Figure 3).
5: Use 1 brown wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other ends of
the copper chains just used. Form a wrapped loop that attaches to the bottom
hole of 1 leaf connector and wraps over the first wrapped loop (Figure 4).
fig 3 fig 4 fig 5 fig 6
6: Use 1 jump ring to connect one end of the 12-link (2¾" or 7 cm) brass chain to
the top hole of the connector just used.
7: Use 1 silver wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other end of the
chain just used. String 1 copper bird (top end first) and 1 turquoise, then form a
wrapped loop that attaches to one end of the 3-link (1 or 3 cm) silver chain.
8: Use 1 jump ring to attach the other end of the chain just used to the top
hole of 1 leaf connector.
9: Use 1 jump ring to connect one end of the 8-link (1¾" or 5 cm) brass
chain to the bottom hole of the connector just used.
10: Use 1 silver wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the other
end of the chain just used. String 1 silver bird (top end first) and 1
turquoise, then form a wrapped loop that attaches to the ends of the
two 40-link (1¾" or 4 cm) copper chains.
11: Use 1 brown wire to form a wrapped loop that attaches to the
other ends of the copper chains just used. Form a wrapped loop
that attaches to the loop of the toggle half of the clasp and wraps
over the first wrapped loop (Figure 5).
12: Use 1 jump ring to attach the leaf charm to the ring half of
the clasp. Repeat with the tree pendant, twig pendants, and
pine cone charm (Figure 6). 
 Gallery of Projects

Leopards and Limes Cabling Casablanca Punchy & Dotty Posh Porcupine

Family Style Snap Fizz Pop

Glittery Ears Royal Arachnid Posh Porcupine

 
 Gallery of Projects

Leopards and Limes Cabling Casablanca Punchy & Dotty Posh Porcupine

Family Style Snap Fizz Pop

Glittery Ears Royal Arachnid Posh Porcupine

 
 Boutique-style
Using This Book
Shopping for Supplies
Tools & Techniques
jewelry made simple
Key to Projects SIMPLY MODERN JEWELRY is the quick and easy guide to making
fashionable necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that express
Find Your Inspiration
Golden Everglades personal style. Danielle Fox, editor of Stringing magazine,
Leopards and Limes shares her expertise on how to create simple yet unfor-
Rhinestone Garden gettable accessories for the fashionable DIY crowd. All
Back in Black
the designs reflect a modern design sensibility: crystals
Little Devil
Family Style and chain combine in dramatic baroque-style chandelier
earrings; charms, pearls, and photo frames come together in
Mix it Up
Punchy & Dotty an inspired bracelet; novel bottle cap beads work up into a
Snap Fizz Pop sassy one-of-a kind bracelet.
Twiggy
Big Sky Bling Inside you’ll find:
Posh Porcupine
✦ Bead shopping 101: describes basic beads and shows
Not for Wallflowers
how to make the most of shopping time and money.
Play with Symmetry
✦ Basic techniques: stringing, crimping, use of jump
Brass Menagerie
Aqua Bloom rings, wireworking, and knotting complete with step-
All Abuzz by-step instructions and photos.
Sorbet Songbird ✦ Project chapters: design concepts are divided
Industrial Chic
Dark Angel into EASY DOES IT, which features projects that can be made in under an hour;
EXPERIMENT WITH SIZING showcases projects that play with length; FIND YOUR INSPIRATION illustrates how
Experiment with Sizing
to use inspiration and translate that into projects; MIX IT UP inspires beaders to experiment with new
Glittery Ears
Emerald Styles beading materials; and PLAY WITH SYMMETRY shakes up designs for an entirely new look.
Royal Arachnid
Cabling Casablanca Each project lists materials, tools, finished size of project, level of difficulty, technique, and complete step-by-
Seeds of Chain
step instructions and photos. Throughout the book Danielle provides insight into her own design process,
Easy Does It demonstrating how easy it can be to add personal twists to the projects in the book.
Peace Cord
Hoop Hoop Hooray
Plastic Posey
A Toggle to Ogle Paperbound, 8½ x 10 1/4, 120 pages
Ring Me 150 photographs
ISBN 978-1-59668-048-7
$21.95 US/$25.95CAN
April 2008
Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade
in the U.S. and Canada by Independent Publishers
Group, in the U.K. and Europe by Search Press, in
New Zealand by David Bateman Ltd., and in Australia
by Keith Ainsworth Pty, Ltd. Interweave Press LLC is Danielle Fox is the editor of Stringing magazine. Prior to working at Interweave Press, she
also the publisher of 14 craft magazines including
Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, Spin-Off, was an editor at House Beautiful magazine in New York City and an editor at Colorado Homes
PieceWork, and Fiberarts.
& Lifestyles magazine in Englewood, Colorado. She has done freelance writing for the
Paperbound, 81⁄2 x 101⁄4, 120 pages
150 photographs Denver Post, the Boulder Daily Camera, Natural Home magazine, Footwear News, and Boulder
ISBN 978-1-59668-048-7 magazine. Danielle lives in Longmont, Colorado.
$21.95 US/$25.95 CAN
April 2008