Materials:

• For the Clay Coil Beads:
  • 1 ounce Premo Polymer Clay
  • Sculpey Clay Gun with the small or medium circle die
  • Sculpey Super Slicer Blade
  • Bamboo skewer or thin metal knitting needle
• For the Wire Coil Beads:
  • 1 spool 24 gauge wire (Artistic Wire) in a matching or complementary color to the clay
  • 1 spool 20 gauge wire in the same or a contrasting color
  • Round nose pliers and flush wire cutters
  • Wire coiling Gizmo or a long, thin knitting needle

Instructions:

Clay Coils:

• Condition clay well, and roll into a cylinder that is just smaller than the diameter of the clay gun.

• Extrude clay through the clay gun. The smaller circle die will make daintier coil beads. The medium circle makes larger beads. (The largest circle does not work well. The clay coils become too fat and tend to separate while rolling.)

• Cut off 5-6" of the clay rope. This will be the core around which you wind the rest of the rope. Beginning at one end, wind the long rope tightly around the core piece. Keep the coils close to the core and close to each other, so that it resembles a spring.

• When you reach the end of the core piece, cut off the rest of the rope. Take your "spring" and carefully wind it around the bamboo skewer. Use your fingers to hold the coil together as it bends around. Tuck the ends of the core down.

• Bake your clay coil beads at 275 degrees in a calibrated oven (tested with an external thermometer) for 30 minutes. Allow to cool in the oven, prior to removing from the skewer.

Wire Coils:

• Cut a 3 foot length of 24 gauge wire. Use a wire coiling Gizmo to make a coil, about 4-6" in length, or wrap the wire around your bamboo skewer or a thin knitting needle.

• Slip the coil off of the mandrel of the Gizmo, and place it on an 8" length of 20 gauge wire. Then, wrap this piece into a coil in the same way, forming a "double" (consisting of two coils) bead.

• To make the "triple" beads used in the bracelet, start your bead with 6-7 feet of 24 gauge wire, and make your initial coil. Then, slip this coil onto an 18 inch piece of 20 gauge wire, and coil it around your mandrel to form a double bead. Take the double bead, slip it over an 8 inch piece of 20 gauge wire, and coil it again.

• Cut a 6 inch piece of 20 gauge wire for each of your beads, both the clay and wire coil beads.
• Make one end of each piece into an eye pin. Starting about 2 inches from the end of the wire, wrap the wire around the round nose pliers to form a complete loop. Wrap the tail end around the wire twice, to close the loop securely. Cut off any excess wire with wire cutters.

• Put the straight end of your eye pins through each bead. Begin to form the loop on each of the straight ends at about 1 inch from the end of the bead, stopping when the loop is formed, but before you twist it closed. (You want the loop to be as close as possible to the end of the bead.)
• Slide the closed loop of another bead into the not-yet-closed loop of the bead you are holding. Then, complete the closure by twisting the tail of the wire around itself tightly. Link all of the beads together in a line this way, alternating wire and clay beads. Close the loops on the two end beads.

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• To make a hook, cut a 3-1/2 inch length of 20 gauge wire. Make a loop at one end, and attach it to the end loop of your first bead. Twist the wire to close it.

• As close to the small tip of your round nosed pliers as possible, make a tiny bend in the end of the wire. Measure half-way between this end and the loop end, and bend the wire in the opposite direction, forming the hook.
• To "work harden" the hook so that it does not unbend, tap it gently with a hammer against your work surface, slightly flattening the wire.