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Lots and lots of practice... you should see my inept early trials! My advice is to start with resistors, since they are cheap and easier -- you don't have to figure the length of the wire and you don't have a bead flopping around. I am also very slow, and can only do a little a day. It's a lot...

I had an awful time using silk thread, too. I find that with serafil it is very much easier to get the knot where you want it. I use an awl to help guide it. If you have the knot pretty close, when you separate the threads it glides right into place.

And another wirelink: multicolor sapphires.

Thank you, thank you! I should have added that the pendant is by another Linda, Linda Queally.

Some time ago, I got this pendant of Neptune. I had it on a strand of freshwaters, but really wanted tahitians. I haven't been able to find tahitians small enough, so tried wire linking some:

Thank you! I just ordered one. I really look forward to reading it.

As my father in law would say: Oh my, my! Thank you for the postings!

Cathy, an interesting idea, mixing beads and resistors! Resistors are great for learning or practicing wire link -- cheap and very easy to work with. You can even leave one side unwrapped if you like. I usually use sterling with beads or pearls, or sometimes copper. What would I use if I mixed...

My first thought was abalone pearl, from the colors and the shape.

Still playing with resistors, this time a bracelet:

Another version:

For these projects I bought 2000 resistors on eBay for $30, of mixed values, 1000 half watt and 1000 quarter watt. Definitely not a major material cost, at under $1 per necklace. Getting them at Radio Shack is much more expensive (are there any Radio Shacks anymore?). The metal oxide versions...

This time I alternated half watt and quarter watt resistors:

And now for something completely different.... Making that malachite strand gave me the idea -- why not use actual resistors? They are a natural for wire link.

Note: they really are round, but there seems to be some camera distortion!

Here are a couple of neck shots:

And here is the second one, a mixture of the same 3 sizes but with a different pattern because I used what was left over from the other one: Neck shots to come later; my husband doesn't approve of taking them with the shirt I have on now.

Pattye: oh wow! They are lovely, but. The nice thing is that 2 strands can always be connected together if desired. I wish I could get a really good photograph that would do the luster justice.

It is really incredible... It is such a pleasure to be working with such lovely pearls.

I think that the eBay authenticity guarantee will just guarantee that they are pearls, not imitation. Cultured freshwater pearls will be considered authentic.