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Beaded Wine Glass Charms Help Set a Charming Table

by Paula S. Morgan
for About.com

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Gather Your Supplies to Make Your Own Beaded Wine Glass Charms

With so many beautiful bead colors from the Czech Republic, the only problem is choosing just one!

Wine Glass Charm - Pressed Glass Bead Color Options

Photo Credit: © Paula MorganGuide, Beadwork.About.com
Now that you are stuffed full of ideas for using these charming bits of beaded elegance for the table, here's a list of beads and other supplies you'll need to create your own Beaded Wine Glass Charms:
  • Finger-ring size Memory Wire coil cut into 2-coil sections.
  • An assortment of colorful pressed glass beads.
  • Assortment of accent beads in glass and metal.
  • Metal charms to suit the occasion - optional.
  • End-caps made for the cut ends of Memory Wire, your choice of 3mm or 5mm size.
  • Headpins in a metal color to match your accent metal.
  • Small spring or lobster style clasps.
  • Gap-sealing glue such as "Zap-A-Gap" watchmaker's glue.
  • Powerful wire cutters to section the Memory Wire.
  • Round and Flat pliers for making wrapped loops on headpins.
  • Regular wire cutters to trim headpin ends.
  • Eye protection to use while cutting Memory Wire.
  • Beading mat, magnification, lighting and other supplies as needed.[/li}

    A Word on Eye Protection While Beading Projects with Memory Wire

    Memory wire is a very different material than sterling silver, copper, or other metal wire such as we use in beading or jewelry making. It is more like an industrial product, with a core of tempered steel and a sterling silver covering. It is difficult to , even with the right tools and lots of upper-body strength. The "springback" to its original shape (caused by the tempered steel core) is powerful and if it gets away can cause serious cuts and puncture wounds. If it must be trimmed, the small pieces are almost demonic; they fly off from the "parent" wire with such velocity that the combination of that speed, the sharp steel and the very hard metal combine to create extremely dangerous missiles, especially to vulnerable eyes.

    So no matter how goofy looking, no matter how unattractive, please use the proper eye protection when cutting or bending Memory Wire.

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