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by: Dwyn Tomlinson

Breezy and beautiful! Whether you got your heart's desire for Valentine's Day, or are now plotting your revenge, let's have one more swing at the heart-themed jewelry! This one goes out to all you who love hearts! Or Bling. Or are just wondering how to make an attractive bail for those really big pendants.  ;-)

This is a truly pretty solution to making a bail (a bail is the hang-y part of the pendant - like the handle on a bucket). Sometime, a piece of wire just doesn't cut it, and you have to get fancy. It's easy enough to bend over a filigree finding - but how do you attach it to the pendant in question?

Here's how.

1. Bend your filigree over something large enough to give a graceful curve, not fold it in half. I used the large bail making pliers, but a pencil is also about the right size.
   
2. We're going to hide/disguise the loop on the front with some dangles - so make 10 or so rapid loop dangles. I used a mixture of 2 crystal colours for more depth and visual interest.
   
3. Cut a 6-8 inch length of wire (20 gauge). Start the loop - make it large enough to contain the dangles, then thread them in place and make a neat, wrapped loop.
   
4. Thread this through the front of the bail, the pendant, and out the back of the pendant and the bail. 
5. Start another wrapped loop on the back. Disguise this one too with a few dangles, but you don't need as many, as this is the back. In fact - I just did two "2-fers" - I did two rapid-loops at the same time - givng me two crystals side by side, on two separate headpins, but wrapped together so that they don't separate. (This is optional - if you aren't obsessed with saving time, just do 4 rapid-loop dangles instead.)
   
6. Add these to the started loop, and finish the wrap.
   
7. Then, carefully fold the loop so that it is flatter on the back. 

I was originally intending to hang this on a chain - but when I tried it - the whole effect was too matchy-matchy - so I decided to combine the high end sophistication of the Swarovski crystal with the home-spun comfort of Waxed Cotton cord. The contrast makes for a more interesting look.

To create a polished look for the ends, I took a set of bead bandits - discarded the screws, and glued the ends of the cord into the threaded ends of the bead bandits. I put a small jumpring into the loop on the bead bandits (the big jumprings wouldn't go into the loop) and added the clasp on one side and a short chain of large jumprings on the other, finished with a dangle. This handmade "chain extender" gives you more options for wearing length.

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Components Clicking on components links will open a new window so that you don't lose this page.
		76001009-00m Cord - 2mm Round Waxed Cotton Cord - Black (Metre) (about 23 inches or 60 cms, adjust to your preferred length.)	Price: $ 0.32 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		74701010-11 Craft Wire - 20ga - Brass (Tarnish Resistant) (Artistic Wire) (About 8 inches or 20 cms.)	Price: $ 10.95 per	In Stock
		s31076 End Cover with Loop - Bead Bandit - Gold Plated (Pair) (Just use the tube part)	Price: $ 2.10 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		22601032 Headpins - 2in / 24ga Flat Head - Goldplated (100)	Price: $ 6.95 per	In Stock
		22801012-02 Jump Rings Open - 5mm - Goldplated (5 grams) (small jumprings)	Price: $ 1.35 per	In Stock
		22801012-03 Jump Rings Open - 7mm - Goldplated (5 grams) (big jumprings)	Price: $ 0.85 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		23440005 Lobster Clasp - 12mm - Hamilton Gold (Goldplated)	Price: $ 0.48 per	In Stock
	Qty: 1	s21661 Metal Link - Eternal Knot - Bright Brass (Bend to make bail.)	Price: $ 4.25 per	In Stock
		27753011260001 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Crystal Golden Shadow (36)	Price: $ 8.22 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011319246 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Light Colorado Topaz (36)	Price: $ 7.78 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		34762401101001 Swarovski Pendant - 37mm Wild Heart (6240) - Crystal Golden Shadow	Price: $ 28.37 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		s18886 Tools - Adhesive - Small E6000 Glue -	Price: $ 6.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.