Foremost Focal: Focusing on your designs

Our Focal Bead Philosophy

We see a focal bead for exactly what it is, a little piece of beautiful art.  Like all art it should be framed and highlighted so that it stands out from the rest of its embellishments.  While we applaud the creativity of those beaders who can create a piece of jewelry using multiple stitches and innovative techniques, we want our customers to be able to fashion a design that can be replicated no matter what their level of skill.

We try to give you designs that can be easily done by all levels of beaders as well as offering notes on how the design came to be.   We want you to be able to quickly get your focal bead out of its bag and into the world for all to admire!

NOTE:  We use the word "focal" as noun so you will see it used throughout to keep from repeating "focal bead" over and over.

Behind the Design

This design requires very few beads making it easy to use up leftover beads.  The focal is simple enough in design to handle the variety of textures and sizes of the other beads. The varying shades of gold bring out the variety of gold hues found in the polymer clay lentil bead.  Barb stayed with just gold and green coordinating beads because although there is a substantial amount of white in the focal, white beads distracted from the overall design.  The metallic finish on the green beads plays off the high sheen of the focal.  The seed beads in between the others give it a look of having been knotted.  By using chain for part of the necklace, Barb was also able to use up a short leftover piece of wire.

Directions

1. Cut the chain in half; set aside
    

2. Center the focal on the beading wire.  On one side of the focal string 1 seed bead, 1 4mm, 1 seed, 1 6mm, 1 seed, 1 4mm, 1 seed, 1 rondelle, 1 seed, 1 tube, 1 seed, 1 rondelle, 1 seed, 1 4mm, 1 seed, 1 oval, 1 rondelle, 1 oval, 1 6mm, 1 oval, 1 rondelle, 1 oval, 1 seed, 1 4mm, 1 seed, and 1 crimp.
    

3. Slip wire through 1 jump ring and back through the crimp bead.  Crimp. Trim excess wire.
    

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 on the other side of the focal bead.
    

5. Open a jump ring on one end of the beaded strand and attach to one segment of the chain.  Attach another jump ring to the other end of the chain.
    

6. Repeat Step 5 on the other side.
    

7. Attach lobster clasp to the jump ring on one end of the chain.
    

Resources: Focal bead: Foremost Focal Beads (Artist - Julie Anstaett);   Remaining supplies: Fire Mountain Gems  www.firemountaingems.com.