Bird Nest Necklace s

Last summer (2011), I had a very inspiring professor that changed my life in more ways than one. I will always be grateful for her lasting impact and wanted to get her or make her something to show my appreciation. One day I was on Pintrest and came across this DIY Bird Nest Necklace with tutorials from http://www.sarahortega.com/2011/05/diy-bird-nest-necklace.html, this was perfect because my professor had talked several times about her passion for bird nests. So I bought the supplies and did it!

(Sorry about the quality of the photos but for now I am using my cell phone camera.)

Here's what I got: glass beads, 24 gauge jewelry wire, necklace, jump rings, and a clasp.

First I picked out what beads I wanted to use for the eggs.

After choosing the three beads I thought would be best for her, I put them on the end of the wire and started wrapping! I pulled it tight and wrapped the end of the wire around the beads and onto the other part of the wire (on the other side of the first bead). Then I started wrapping the wire around the three beads, over and over. This was a little challenging because it kept wanting to pop off and cover the beads.

So I started holding it a different way and this made it a little easier, in the sense that the wire was wrapping around in the same area and getting thicker instead of trying to spread out.

I thought I was going to get a cramp in my hand from holding so tightly, but I pushed through the pain! :) After I got the desired thickness, I started looping the wire in the middle and did this in 3 different spots. I had to go back and undo some because I had pulled it too tight and it made the nest look too neat for my liking.

Somehow I looped the wire through the wires on the back of the nest and made a loop for it to hang off the necklace. Then I just wrapped and stuffed the end of the wire so that it couldn't be seen nor could it come lose.

Here's what I ended up with! I am really happy with it and can't wait to give it to her!!

Here is a picture of the madness on the back of the nest. There might have been a easier and neater way, but this worked for me and I don't think it was too bad for my first attempt. I even have enough supplies left over to make one or two more!

Here is my "up close" shot, the best I can do with my cellphone camera. So what do you think???