Family Tree Brooch or Pendant Tutorial!

A few years ago I was working in the fine jewelry department of a department store, and every Mother's day I could count on people wanting one thing: Family Jewlery.

The family jewelry selection was what made me decide that, if I ever had children, they would only be allowed to be born during April or June, because those were the only stones I liked. :o) (My due date with Paige was the end of April, and wouldn't you know it-the little darling was born May 1st! A rebel from birth.)

Anyway, as most of you know, buying jewelry with all your children's birthstones can be quite expensive; so I came up with a cute little alternative that you can make yourself. And you don't need any jewelry-making experience!

The Family Tree Brooch

(or pendant!)

The tools you'll need:

• needle-nose pliers
• wire cutters
• bendable wire (in a heavy weight)
• jewel-tone beads
• 1 headpin per bead
• 1 safety pin

1: Cut 7-3 inch lengths of wire.

2: Using your pliers, bend one end of each piece into a circle:

3:Gather all the pieces and wrap wire around 3-4 times, starting about 3/4" from the bottom.

4: Open your safety pin, (I used a flat-backed one, but I think a regular one would work just fine, too!)and lay it down just above your wire loops and continue to wrap the wire around until about 1/8" from the top of the safety pin. (The space will allow the pin to close without obstruction)

5: Use your thumb to bend your "branches" slightly, like so:

6: Thread each bead onto a head pin and trim it about 1/4" from the top of the bead, then loop into a circle with pliers:

7: Twist the end of the loop up slightly to open, and attach to the loop on one of the branches, then close the loop again with your pliers.

8: Repeat for the rest of the beads!

Ta-da!

You can also skip the headpins, and simply thread the beads onto the branches before you make the loops in them, but I dangly things. :o)

To make a pendant instead of a pin, skip the safety pin, and attach the loop of the center branch to a chain, using a larger loop or jumpring.

You can find chains and bendable wire in all sorts of colors, so feel free to pick mom's (or your own!) favorite!

I think I like the silver best, myself!

The copper version was my first try, and turned out a little crooked, but I grew to like it I think! But the second version was a lot easier! So if at first you don't succeed.....

I hope you have fun with it!!

P.S.

Have any of you tried Dana's first "Celebrating MOM" tutorial yet? I loved her idea for the no-sew flowers, and Paige's May Day birthday party is this weekend, so I had fun making these:

Thanks for the idea, Dana!

Check out what else she has cookin'!

And come back later today for a fun giveaway!!