and Steps to Making Bird Nest Jewelry

and Steps to Making Bird Nest Jewelry<br /><br />When I saw bird nest jewelry, my impulse was to learn to make my own. To me, do it yourself projects are always preferable to buying most products, as this allows for total creative control, more fun, and less of a monetary investment. Rings require an additional foot of wire which will be wrapped around a finger to create the ring body while necklaces require a chain which will be fed through a small loop at the top of the bird nest. The first is usually the most fun; choosing wire color. While a matte brown create a more realistic bird nest, metallic colors work surprisingly well and help the nest appear whimsical. Colors such as bronze, gold, and silver are therefore fashionable options. When choosing a wire color, I always consider what kind of eggs I wish to include. For example, matte brown wire will work best with a very realistic egg color such as Robins egg blue or off white, while bronze or silver wire may work best with a dramatic teal or blue. You should also consider whether you wish the wire and eggs to match or differ from one another, as silver wire and white eggs may appear more subtle than gold wire and red eggs.<br /><br />The second aspect involves choosing the actual make of wire. Depending on how much time or detail you intend for your bird nest, you should choose wire of 20 gauge or less. Anyone familiar with making their own jewelry will know the less thick the wire, the easier it will be to bend. Firstly, ensure your eggs are opaque. Wire will inevitably hold the eggs in place, meaning transparent eggs will reveal the wire running through them. Secondly, be certain your eggs are totally round objects, as even the slightest edge will compromise the desired natural look. Edgy or geometric beads should be completely avoided. Thirdly, even though beads of any color will be passable, choosing colors such as Robins egg blue, off white, teal, or grey will make the eggs look even more realistic. Speckled beads will also add a nice touch. Fourthly and lastly, you should consider how large the eggs will look relative to their nest. For example, choosing a bigger bead or pearl and creating a regular sized nest may cause the look to be less believable.<br /><br />Assembling the Nest<br /><br />Once you have gathered your materials, assembling your decorative jewelry is simple. First, arrange your eggs so that are all laying together in a desired pattern and run the wire through them. Take care to arrange them with care, as it will be impossible to rearrange them without taking apart the nest when you finish. Secondly, begin to wrap the wire around and beneath the eggs. For a simple pattern, merely begin at the base of the egg cluster, making circular patterns until the perimeter of the eggs are bordered with a proper nest. Variations of this nest can also be made by twisting the wire either by hand or with pliers. I find it most helpful to experiment with extra wire before I attempt complete jewelry projects as the end product will be much neater and anxiety free.<br /><br />A bird nest can adorn any type of jewelry. However, deciding what sort of jewelry you are making may effect the size of your nest. For example, a very small nest may appear anticlimactic on a necklace but may be just right for a dainty ring. I always make my bird nest about of an inch in diameter for necklaces and about a half inch for a ring. When the nest has been assembled, either hot glue the bottom to a ring made of wire twisted around your finger, or make sure to create a loop at the nests top where a chain can run through. After all, Dallas is full of terrific jewelry stores that sell quality stone.