Designing Jewelry with

Glass Beads

[ Stephanie Sersich ]
 Trapeze Necklace

This necklace is inspired by beaders in Papua New

Guinea, who make jewelry that is a harmonious
combination of geometric shapes and fibers,
using bones, shells, and glass beads. My version
puts together these strange shapes in a new way
that’s a little more wearable. The layout of the
shapes in this design creates a pleasing balance. Materials
The geometric shapes can be of any size and ratio 16 size 11° seed beads
to one another. Try using a smaller bar or larger 1 large disc or rondelle
2–31⁄2" (5–8.5 cm) bar
rondelle, and they still seem to look balanced.
8 Czech pressed-glass 6mm
rondelles or beads of a
[ Choosing Beads ] similar size
Here’s another way to hang a disc-shaped bead and see the side of 10' (3 m) of 4-ply waxed linen
it! Choose a disc, donut, or rondelle that has a smooth perforation 26" (66 cm) of cord or ribbon
so the string doesn’t wear on it.
Tools
[ Design TipS ] Scissors
¨ 
Wrap the waxed linen as tightly as you can. If you can’t get it
very tight or you tend to be hard on your jewelry, use a dab of Finished Size
epoxy on the bar before starting to wrap the waxed linen. 2 x 21⁄3" (5 x 6 cm) pendant
¨ 
To finish the piece more elegantly, you can tie beads
to the ends of the cords.

[] []
 Trapeze Necklace

This necklace is inspired by beaders in Papua New

Guinea, who make jewelry that is a harmonious
combination of geometric shapes and fibers,
using bones, shells, and glass beads. My version
puts together these strange shapes in a new way
that’s a little more wearable. The layout of the
shapes in this design creates a pleasing balance. Materials
The geometric shapes can be of any size and ratio 16 size 11° seed beads
to one another. Try using a smaller bar or larger 1 large disc or rondelle
2–31⁄2" (5–8.5 cm) bar
rondelle, and they still seem to look balanced.
8 Czech pressed-glass 6mm
rondelles or beads of a
[ Choosing Beads ] similar size
Here’s another way to hang a disc-shaped bead and see the side of 10' (3 m) of 4-ply waxed linen
it! Choose a disc, donut, or rondelle that has a smooth perforation 26" (66 cm) of cord or ribbon
so the string doesn’t wear on it.
Tools
[ Design TipS ] Scissors
¨ 
Wrap the waxed linen as tightly as you can. If you can’t get it
very tight or you tend to be hard on your jewelry, use a dab of Finished Size
epoxy on the bar before starting to wrap the waxed linen. 2 x 21⁄3" (5 x 6 cm) pendant
¨ 
To finish the piece more elegantly, you can tie beads
to the ends of the cords.

[] []
 Trapeze Necklace
1] Cut the waxed linen into four pieces, two 3' (1 m) lengths
and two 2' (61 cm) lengths.
2] Hold the midpoints of the bar and cord together. Use
the two 3' (1 m) lengths of linen to bind the bar and cord
together tightly: Beginning at the middle of the strands of linen,
wrap them outward from the midpoints for 1⁄4" (6 mm) in each
direction, being careful to keep the strands side by side, then
wrap back toward the middle. Secure the ends by tying them in a
square knot on the underside of the bar (Figure 1).
3] Use two of the tail ends of linen from Step 2 and the two 2'
(61 cm) lengths of linen to string the disc to about an inch
below the bar, placing the midpoints of the 2' (61 cm) lengths
of linen at the center of the disc. Use the 2' (61 cm) lengths of
linen to tie a fringe knot around all of the tails just above the disc
(Figure 2).
figure 1 figure 2
[]
4]
1
Use one of the remaining tail ends from Step 2 to form tight
coils around all of the other strands from the bar down for
⁄2" (1.3 cm). Use one strand from just above the disc to form tight
coils around all of the other strands up toward the bar for 1⁄2"
(1.3 cm). Use this strand and the first strand used in this step to
form a square knot on the front of the piece (Figure 3). Use two
other remaining strands to form a square knot. Repeat, to tie each
strand to another in the center, where they all meet, so there are
four square knots altogether.
5] Use one of the tails to tie an overhand knot 1⁄4–1⁄2" (6–13 mm)
from the square knots. String 1 seed bead, 1 rondelle, and 1
seed bead and tie an overhand knot close to the last bead. Trim,
leaving a 1⁄4" (6 mm) tail.
6] Repeat Step 5 for each of the remaining 7 tails (Figure 4).
figure 3 figure 4
[]
 Trapeze Necklace
1] Cut the waxed linen into four pieces, two 3' (1 m) lengths
and two 2' (61 cm) lengths.
2] Hold the midpoints of the bar and cord together. Use
the two 3' (1 m) lengths of linen to bind the bar and cord
together tightly: Beginning at the middle of the strands of linen,
wrap them outward from the midpoints for 1⁄4" (6 mm) in each
direction, being careful to keep the strands side by side, then
wrap back toward the middle. Secure the ends by tying them in a
square knot on the underside of the bar (Figure 1).
3] Use two of the tail ends of linen from Step 2 and the two 2'
(61 cm) lengths of linen to string the disc to about an inch
below the bar, placing the midpoints of the 2' (61 cm) lengths
of linen at the center of the disc. Use the 2' (61 cm) lengths of
linen to tie a fringe knot around all of the tails just above the disc
(Figure 2).
figure 1 figure 2
[]
4]
1
Use one of the remaining tail ends from Step 2 to form tight
coils around all of the other strands from the bar down for
⁄2" (1.3 cm). Use one strand from just above the disc to form tight
coils around all of the other strands up toward the bar for 1⁄2"
(1.3 cm). Use this strand and the first strand used in this step to
form a square knot on the front of the piece (Figure 3). Use two
other remaining strands to form a square knot. Repeat, to tie each
strand to another in the center, where they all meet, so there are
four square knots altogether.
5] Use one of the tails to tie an overhand knot 1⁄4–1⁄2" (6–13 mm)
from the square knots. String 1 seed bead, 1 rondelle, and 1
seed bead and tie an overhand knot close to the last bead. Trim,
leaving a 1⁄4" (6 mm) tail.
6] Repeat Step 5 for each of the remaining 7 tails (Figure 4).
figure 3 figure 4
[]
 Project Gallery

The Projects stacked bead pendant

Tinkerbell Drops

Fruit Salad Necklace

Funky Fiber Earrings

Wispy Necklace

Wirework Brooch

Trapeze Necklace
fringey bracelet

Stacked-Bead Pendant
wirework brooch

Embellished Ribbon Necklace

Double-Clasp Bracelet

Spinning-Bead Pendant

Multistrand Necklace with Pendant

Berber-Style Hoop Earrings

Fringey Bracelet

Spiny Knotted Bracelet

flower drop earrings spiny knotted necklace

Flower Drop Earrings

fruit salad necklace
Berber-Style Necklace

Fiber Bangle

Pearly Sewn Collar

Spiny Knotted Necklace

Button Brooch

berber-style necklace
pearly sewn collar multistrand necklaCE double-clasp bracelet

[]
 Project Gallery

The Projects stacked bead pendant

Tinkerbell Drops

Fruit Salad Necklace

Funky Fiber Earrings

Wispy Necklace

Wirework Brooch

Trapeze Necklace
fringey bracelet

Stacked-Bead Pendant
wirework brooch

Embellished Ribbon Necklace

Double-Clasp Bracelet

Spinning-Bead Pendant

Multistrand Necklace with Pendant

Berber-Style Hoop Earrings

Fringey Bracelet

Spiny Knotted Bracelet

flower drop earrings spiny knotted necklace

Flower Drop Earrings

fruit salad necklace
Berber-Style Necklace

Fiber Bangle

Pearly Sewn Collar

Spiny Knotted Necklace

Button Brooch

berber-style necklace
pearly sewn collar multistrand necklaCE double-clasp bracelet

[]
Jewelry dazzles with glass beads
Lampwork artist and jewelry designer Stephanie Sersich
takes you on a colorful journey into the world of glass
beads! Learn to incorporate irresistible glass beads of
all shapes and sizes in twenty colorful pieces, including
earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Deepen your appreciation of glass beads and beadmaking by discovering their

history and science, complete with photographs of ancient and modern glass
beads. In a detailed design section, Sersich shares key elements of great jewelry
design accessible to beaders at any level. Techniques from wirework and stringing
to sewing and knotting are fully explained and illustrated, so you can build your
skills by progressing through the projects. Tips on design and selecting beads
(from inexpensive commercial beads to handmade art glass beads) offer opportu-
nities to create unique variations.

Add a magical dimension to your jewelry design with glass beads!

Stephanie Sersich’s beads and jewelry have appeared in several books, including
Exquisite Beaded Jewelry, 1000 Glass Beads, and Beading for the Soul (Interweave
Press). She teaches workshops internationally and exhibits at major bead shows and
galleries, and her work can be found at sssbeads.com. Stephanie lives on the coast
of Maine.

Paperbound, 8½ x 10¼, 128 pages

50 photographs, 80 illustrations
ISBN 978-1-59668-047-0 Interweave Press LLC is distributed to the book trade in the U.S.
and Canada by Independent Publishers Group, in the UK and
$22.95 Europe by Search Press, in New Zealand by David Bateman, Ltd,
and in Australia by Keith Ainsworth Pty, Ltd. Interweave Press LLC
April 2008 is also the publisher of 14 craft magazines including Beadwork,
Step by Step Beads, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Jewelry Artist, and
Stringing.