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On the 1st Day of Christmas: A-layin’ Pendant

December 4, 2009


According to Wikipedia,

The twelve days in the song are the twelve days from the day after Christmas (December 26) (Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s Day, as being the feast day of St. Stephen Protomartyr) to the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, or the Twelfth Day). Although the specific origins of the chant are not known, it possibly began as a Twelfth Night “memories-and-forfeits” game, in which a leader recited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake, with the player who erred having to pay a penalty, such as offering up a kiss or a sweet.

I’ve taken a little bit of license with the song, Twelve Days of Christmas and used a little blue bird charm instead of geese. The blue bird is patiently waiting for her offspring and spring to arrive.

Project Rating: Easy Wire

Materials
1 blue bird glass charm
3-4 feet of Vintaj 20 gauge bronze colored wire
3-4 fine gauge Vintaj headpins
3-4 bronze colored pearls

Tools:
chainnose pliers
Round nose pliers
flush cutters
(Tip: If you’re new to jewelrymaking, here’s a good review of pliers

Directions:

1. String the 20 ga wire up through the bottom of the blue bird charm. Use the roundnose pliers to make a eye at the top end (or head) of the bird charm.

2. Wind the 20 ga wire around the bottom of the blue bird to make a nest leaving about 2.5 inches to make a wrapped loop at the bottom of the nest.

3. Make a wrapped loop using the round nose pliers. Wrap the remaining wire around the bottom of the nest or if it looks good to you after the wrapped loop, cut with the flush cutters.

4. String a pearl onto a headpin. Make a loop using the round nose pliers. Make 3-4.

5. Attach the pearls to the bottom loop of the pendant.

Voila! You have a “bird a-layin” pendant ready to string onto your favorite necklace, use as a zipper pull, or cell phone charm!

Tutorial by Cindy Gimbrone who is busy in her studio creating art beads and jewelry making projects.

Written by

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8 Comment

  1. Jeannie
    December 4, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    This is adorable!. I also love the red heart necklace on your blog.
    Thank you for the project. The blue bird is so cute.

  2. FunkyMonkey Girls
    December 4, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    Too cute!

    Funky Monkey Girls,
    Jolene

  3. Regina
    December 4, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    Hi Cindy, while shopping for my art bead for the December challenge, I saw these cute birds in your shop, and now I see your design, love it. they would make great earrings too!

  4. rosebud101
    December 5, 2009 at 3:46 am

    Cindy, I have a lot of little birds sitting around. Now, I know what I can do with them. Thanks so much for the tutorial.

  5. Cindy Gimbrone
    December 5, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Thanks, Jeannie! glad you like the heart necklace and this wire project 🙂

    Cindy

  6. Cindy Gimbrone
    December 5, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Hi Regina,

    The little blue birds are sweet aren't they? I couldn't decide exactly which way I wanted to make them, fetish style or nesting style so I made both!

    Thanks for the comment!
    Cindy

  7. Cindy Gimbrone
    December 5, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Hi Mallory,

    Glad to be of help! 😉

    Cindy

  8. Mary Ann Carroll
    December 10, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    VERY Creative!! I love it :O)

Comments are closed.