Pendants
General info
Loops & Holes for cording
...flat holes (made in flattish clay)
...top loops
......U's
......full loops (eyepins, making eyepins, eye screws)
.........loops + frame
......already-baked clay
...tubes
...bails & foldover clay bails
Framed pendants
Stacked pendants ...lesson +
Amulets & fetishes
Tiny glass bottles, etc.
Hinges & Lockets & Tins
Other pendant ideas
Websites (pendants)

Cording
Many types (waxed linen, braided nylon, leather, etc.)
Plastic cording
...clear plastic tubing, filament (dyeing)
Rubbery cording
...Buna, Viton, decoy cord
...using... closures
…sm. o-rings... websites
Woven,braided,knitted --by you
Misc.
...finishing, tying
...adjustable cording (sliding knots, snug fits)
......pins-into-pendants
More “architecture” for all

PENDANTS & CORDING

The subjects of pendants, cording, pendant “architecture,” jewelry, clasps, etc. all tend to overlap, so look around all those pages if you’re looking for something in particular.
...To try and separate the topics though, the following category page will concentrate on necklaces which feature one primary "bead" or piece --large or small, flat or dimensional.

MORE KINDS of pendants and NECKWARE, at GlassAttic:
--for "rock" amulets/vessels, small containers worn on cording which are made over a rock which is removed after baking, or for a tiny tin which isn't removed after baking, see Vessels-Rock
.....for inro (small containers worn on cording made over Advantix film cannisters or other materials, see Vessels-Rock > Forms)
--for covering a matchbox then removing it for a pendant with a "drawer", see Covering > Paper,Cardboard
--for pectorals, collars, larger "pendants," rods and torques, see Jewelry >Necklaces
--for tiny, bottle pendants (some bubble wand bottles, some empty), see BOH > Embellishing

CORDING
--for thinner cords, often strung with beads (Stretch Magic, SoftGlass, SoftFlex, Tigertail, etc.), see Jewelry > Cord for Beads

PENDANTS

General Information

 A pendant can be any shape, style, etc., that you want…it simply needs to be small enough to hang around your neck comfortably
...they can be flat or dimensional, or even be openable containers like “rock amulets” (see Vessels-Rock) or tiny covered bottles
...they can be created with almost any polymer technique or pattern.
...most pins could be also pendants if they were just hung on cording
...most "tile" type beads could be pendants (see also Jewelry > Bracelets > Tiles.... Transfers)  

You can re-form purchased metal cookie/canape cutters to use as clay shape cutters for pendants:
….I got a bell at Christmas. By cutting off the "clapper" part of the shape, I get a nice "abstract" form that makes a nice pendant (I like it upside down from the bell orientation).
 …or bend the cutter to another shape (see Cutters for more)

spoons make great molds for pendants.... soup spoons, tablespoons, measuring spoons, etc. Check out the thrift shops and garage sales for different shapes. My blue domed pendant is made from a spoon. TLC

to add weight ....if you only need to add a small bit of weight, you could imbed a BB or 2 in the piece. Joanie
...or get the tiny sinkers that fisherpersons use ... these come almost as small as BB shot, and I got a box of them assorted for under $4.00 (a hundred)
....since these are lead, they cut easily if they're too big or the wrong shape, and they weigh a lot for their size. This will make those light pieces hang right. Janey

thin clay pendants may not be as stiff as you want ...(this is normal for most clays since flexibility equals strength in thin clay... Sculpey is stiffer, but also breaks easily)
...you can make thin pendants a bit stronger by:
......making them thicker, covering a Sculpey core with a stronger clay, embedding something (wire mesh, cardstock, thin metal, etc.), backing with another layer or stack two unequal layers together with the larger one behind to create a "frame," etc.

use an unattached drawer knob for a gently curving surface (to form a pendant or pin on top of)
http://www.tinapple.com/cynthia/98retreat/98retreat7.html
...or use a smooth glass jar for a surface that curves in just one direction, etc.

flat pendants or slightly rounded pendants.... can be completely or partly covered with cane slices and other dimensional or flat materials like metallic powders, leaf, etc.) while flat .... then all slices & bits can be completely flattened into the surface (or some left dimensiona) ...pendant can then be reshaped a bit, have its edges rounded, onlays added, or left as is
..Christel's female face cane slice plus added hair rope + background leaf...onlaid, then flattened onto a long bead
http://home.online.no/~raje/Polymer/projects/womanpin/index.htm
(for lesson details, see Onlay > Flattened Onlays)

caneguru's pendant finding for interchanging pendants or focal beads (curved metal tube fits over cord and has perpendicular straight rod extending down from its middle, with a decorative screw end
http://www.puffinalia.com/focalpoint/focalpoint.html
….metal post with screw-off part for interchangeable long beads ..."Change A Bead" Pendants and "Quick Switch"
http://www.blessedbeads.com/findings.htm
(see also below Cording > Pins Into Pendants)

for FRAMES, bezels, cabochon settings, etc.
....please see Frames > Very Small Frames for Pendants & Pins

for making magnifying lenses (magnifying glasses) into pendants as a substitute for reading glasses, see Other Materials > Magnifying Lenses)

LOOPS & HOLES
for cording or findings

(round, etc.) Flat Holes

For making perfectly round holes in flat-ish pieces of raw clay, it’s better to remove clay (than it is to simply push it aside with a pointed tool)
....so press & rotate a drinking straw (or a small cutter) where you want the hole... remove cutter from the clay, leaving a hole
... if using a straw, the clay can be blown out of it (not good for multiple holes though!)......or press the clay out with a rod of some kind that's narrower in diameter than the straw's diameter... or cut off the bit of straw with the clay in it and use the straw again

U-shaped (carving) gouges can also be used by pressing and rotating them in the clay (this works with clay raw, or even baked if the clay sheet is thin enough).

Top "Loops" ....(U's, eye pins, eye screws)

U- shapes

One of the simplest ways to create a connector at the top (or bottom) of a pendant or other clay piece, is to insert the two legs of a U shape of wire into the raw clay, leaving a U extending from the clay (..note: this is not openable like a jump ring etc.)
...regular wire can be used, or various colored wires including telephone wire... even the ends of paperclips (plain or colored) or old-fashioned rounded-end "hair pins"
...liquid clay or another glue can be added to any of the wire legs before insertion in raw clay (plastic-coated wires may not need glue since they often bond with the clay)
......or regular wire can be pulled out of the baked clay, and glued back in more securely with superglue
...be careful to put any wire in straight and not wiggle it around before baking, because the hole can become enlarged yielding poor contact

liquid clay works great if you're inserting a metal finding into a raw clay item (lesson):
..put some liquid clay on the metal... (make tiny hole first?) and push finding into the hole
..then dab more liquid clay around the entrance, stabbing with a needle tool to "pack" it in ...bake... holds great.

the plastic coating on telephone wire actually bonds with the clay during baking
....Pier Voulkos uses staple-shaped bits of telephone wire in her jewelry designs, to hang dangles from
...someone made their own telephone wire by coating regular wire with tinted liquid clay, twice (baking between the two coats)
(....see Wire > Telephone Wire for more details)

I made my U? connectors by twisting two strands of wire together and coating it with liquid clay (before inserting into raw clay?). It was very strong.

I use the round looped end of a small brass safety pin (for my top loop) --I find that the complexity of the shape really seems to catch onto the clay inside the piece and lock into posiition.
...I create a slit in the raw clay at the top of the piece, then push the pin in... then press from the front and rear of the pendant to snug the clay into surrounding everything but the loop.  Jeannine C.

I folded the wire in half ... ran the 2 loose ends up through the bottom hole in the bead
... I left a loop of wire at the bottom of the bead... then I "folded" that loop around and under, to the back of the pendant.
...at the top of the bead, the two wires were both coming out... I put another bead over both wires, and pushed it down to the top of my pendant
....then I pulled one wire right and one left, and began adding the rest of the beads onto each side of the main wire. Jai

full loops of wire

(openable, so other connectors can be slid on when open)
eye pins
... the simplest way to create a full loop of wire as a connector is to insert a shortened wire eye pin into the raw clay (1/2" or more)
(an eye pin is a length of straight wire with an openable loop at one end... can be purchased at Michaels, etc, in pkgs)
...as above, the eyepin can have liquid clay or other glue on it
...or the bottom area can be bent slightly zigzag at the bottom, inserted, and then have the clay snugged around it before baking
...or the eyepin can be removed after baking, and glued back in with superglue

I make the bend very tight so it lines up parallel with the other part of the pin
... then carefully insert it keeping the "eye" part turned just the opposite from the way you want it to be when it's finished
.... snug the clay up around the pin, then give it a twist so that the "eye" is in the right position (this will help to embed the clay in the buried bent portion of the pin shank. I've done this for years and have never, to my knowledge, had an eye pin come out.) Dotty in CA

The zigzag method doesn't create distortion in the pendant since it only takes a little squiggle in the wire, and the clay can be snugged up and smoothed around the entrance hole fairly easily.

If you want, you can even slice a short, small slit (instead of a round hole) with the tip of a sharp blade across the area where you want to embed the squiggle... then insert the squiggle part of the wire in the same orientation as the slice. That will allow it to go in without much distortion, and even any pattern lines can be aligned again easily when snugging (...and there really won't be any distortion on the surface of the bead/pendant caused by the squiggle itself ... it's too small for that unless your clay is really flat and thin.) Then snug the clay around the slit. Diane B.

Or an "eye pin" can be created from regular straight wire, then used in the same ways as above.
http://www.jewelry-tools.com/WJU/techniques/loops/eye1.htm

(for making holes in baked clay to insert eyepins, etc, see below in Already-Baked Clay)

(openable) Nanetta's lesson on sandwiching a straight length of wire (or a trimmed headpin) between a decorative shape of baked clay and a raw backing clay of the same shape
...a vertical trough is cut on the inside of the raw half with an Xacto knife to create an indention for the wire to lay in... liquid clay is added in the sandwich before baking together
...(this can leave a length of straight wire extending from the top and bottom of the pendant)
...she then curves both these extending wires into top and bottom loops to create loop connectors
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_EgyptianEarrings.htm

(openable) I make a sort of S shape of wire - large at the bottom and small at the top (the top loop sticks out of the clay).
...I put a small pancake of clay onto my worksurface and press the large loop into that. ...then I press on the clay that is going to be the pendant, making a sandwich and allowing the small loop to emerge at the top
... the big loop of wire curves inside most of the length of the pendant (I think an embedded small loop could pull out so I actually go for a big loop that is only a little smaller than the overall pendant size). Sue

(non-openable) ... wrapped shank (wrapped eye loop)
... a loop can also be created in the middle of a length of wire
http://www.jewelry-tools.com/WJU/techniques/loops/wrap1.htm
...Heather R's lesson on making one wrapped wire loop ("hangman's noose) to insert into clay at the top (Tropical Goldfish Necklace)
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_tropfishjewelry.htm
.......wrapped straight end of wire is inserted into clay
http://www.ejrbeads.co.uk/holographicearringstwo.htm
...sunni's colored wire wrapped around a top loop, extending down onto pendant as well
http://sunnisan.com/crafts/02/dragon009r2.jpg
....Micki’s lesson on wrapping a flat stone, and also creating a somewhat fancy top loop... with one unit of 2 connected wires
http://www.geocities.com/mick62001/simplecabwrap.html
....or put the wrapped part of the shank into the clay to use like an eye screw
.......I make my own loop and leave the wrapped tail end a little over 1/4" in length. Then I (screw) this into the clay before baking (the wrapped tail end is like a tiny "screw", and because of the texture and thickness of the wrapped portion, it is much more secure than a simple pin would be.) Jai
.........instead of the wrapped part of the shank being outside the clay, it can be embedded in the clay then have the clay snugged back around (like the bent-shank eyepins, etc) for a very secure hold, or it can actually be "screwed" in --may even want to separate the wires of the wrap just a bit if doing this for more toothy threads
...Emma's lesson on making a long top loop connector unit, which has a small tube bead threaded onto it
...... the wire is wrapped around itself in the area just below and just above the small bead... (final loop at top) (...one 12 cm wire used)

Danqing’s many wonderful & creative (fancy) ways of using wire to act as top loops, bails, etc.
http://icoldwell.com/danqing/Jframes.html
Julia S's wire architecture for pendants
http://home.insightbb.com/~mgrasso01/julia/setslide.jpg

I also attached bead dangles (each dangle created on a straight head pin), to the connector loop on the bottom of my pendant
( a head pin is a length of straight wire with a flat head at one end --like a nail, or silk sewing pin-- can be purchased at Michaels, etc., in pkgs)
.....(I made a loop in the top end of the headpin after adding the beads, so it could hang from the pendant's loop)

(...much more info on creating loops --with or without wrapping the shank, connectors, eye pins & head pins, etc.in Jewelry > Connectors and also in Wire > General Info, etc.)

eye screws
I sometimes embed little brass eye screws into the clay before curing, for the top of my large heart pendants .
....these are much stronger than twisted wire, though admittedly not as aesthetically pleasing. But, if the loop is going to be obscured by the cord anyway, it shouldn't make much difference. . . inserting the screw eye for a heart pendant is tricky (without distorting the raw clay). . ..
...I first make a pilot hole about 1/2 inch deep with a bead reamer needle, and with a tiny circular motion enlarge it slightly.....Then - here's the trick - I reinsert the needle into the hole about 1/4 inch deep, and press sideways with the needle point on each side of the pilot hole to create slits to accommodate the sides of the screw eye. There is no distortion this way. . .
. ...Then I very carefully insert the screw eye and pinch the open spaces closed around it. ....now this is VERY important - After inserting the screw eye, check very carefully to make sure that the screw eye is seated perfectly parallell with the plane of the heart. If it is at all crooked, the heart will not hang properly. It's easy to correct with some needle-nose pliers or tweezers before it's cured, but impossible after! Elissa P.
...Sometimes I've used a little liquid clay in the hole, then poked the eye screw or whatever else it is into the hole, then bake. So far so good... Jennifer
...see also few paragraphs above for making a "wrapped shank" loop which can act as an eye screw
......instead of the wrapped part of the shank being outside the clay, it can be embedded in the clay then have the clay snugged back around (like the bent-shank eyepins, etc) for a very secure hold, or it can actually be "screwed" in --may even want to separate the wires of the wrap just a bit if doing this for more toothy threads
...Look for small screw eyes in the miniature wood things section of Michael's, rather than in the jewelry findings aisle. Besidethebox
...also look at any hobby or craft shop that sells supplies for making miniatures (dollhouses, etc.)
... http://www.firemountaingems.com has a bunch of different screw eyes... I attach them with a bit of liquid clay, just drive them into the raw clay holds beautifully, I attach a bail after. adriaf
...I was looking for eye screws last Feb. when I was working on my GD's wedding favors because I needed a lot of them and could only get 5 or 6 in a package that ran $3.58. Karen at Clay Alley http://www.clayalley.com came to my rescue and found a supplier who had both gold and silver and they are much more polished and not as bulky as the hardware store variety. No, I don't work for Karen, just a happy customer. She went out of her way to provide an item that we as clay addicts use.... They come in lots of 12 per pkg. and were very inexpensive. Marilyn
......see other jewelry supply sources in Jewelry > Supply Sources.

(one piece) loops + frame

Desiree's lesson on using a 4"length of brass wire to make a wire frame-outline around a clay pendant which also has 1 loop at bottom (for dangling other things, or just design), and 2 loops at top (soldered or wire-wrapped together to hold wire frame closed) ... sort of like a bezel
...first she creates the bottom loop at midpoint of wire length by holding there with round nose pliers while crossing each end to opposite side ... flattens both ends of the wire slightly... wraps the wire around a hard form of some kind to create frame's shape ...forms loop at each end of wire --flat side out (then solders or wire-wraps the necks together)
http://www.desiredcreations.com/howTo_PJBrassFramePendant.htm
...could do upside-down if wanted the single loop at top
(for more on how to make a clay bead by forcing the wire down into a sheet of decorative clay, and many more examples of Desiree's use of this technique, see below in Framed Pendants)

also see Linda Goff's (and others') outlining with wrapped wire around various clay shapes in Wire > More Uses
...she either carves a groove around side of the baked clay piece with a gouge to create a channel to hold the wire securely (often using wrapped wire, and/or various beads on the wire)... or just superglues the wire around the exterior for larger items
.....Linda used copper or brass 20 ga. for inside wire or main frame, and 28 ga wire for wrapping around that wire. Geo
...You could use metal craft wire or (more easily) PVC coated wire like telephone wire or a plain (white?) wire... this would work as both decorative trim and a way to get a loop for hanging. Linda Goff
http://www.lindagoff.com/wire4.html (also click on pages Wire one, Wire two, Wire three)
http://www.lindagoff.com/mokume.html
.....(red shell earrings also show a top loop which was twisted before surrounding the clay shape
...and orca earrings create a small space for hanging rather than a loop by extending just a bit of the frame away from the clay

already-baked clay

A hole for an eyepin (or a pilot hole for an eyescrew) can be made with the red hot tip of a pin or needle of the desired diameter (use pliers to hold the pin during the whole operation, preferably bent-nose pliers)
.....once the tip has turned red hot in the flame, quickly press it into the clay where you want ... there will be tiny puff of smoke (which you don't particularly want to inhale), and a tiny corkscrew of clay will come out of the top by the nail ... remove pin and pick clay corkscrew off
......insert the wire with a little bit of superglue and hold briefly, or use a 2-pt epoxy glue, or use liquid clay but in that case bake again to cure

OR, make the hole with a small-diameter, round, bead reamer file (these are coarse to fine, round files in handles, usually used by hand, often with "diamond tips" for strength while drilling)

OR, make the hole with a small drill bit (held in a homemade clay handle or a pin vise, or in an actual drill) drill a tiny hole in the clay.... then insert an eyepin shank or the legs of a U, etc., with a bit of glue if necessary

If a hole is too large, you can fill it with raw clay of the same color (with perhaps a little liquid clay on it).....then make the proper hole in the raw clay, and/or put in the shank of an eyepin/etc.... then bake

(for more info on drilling into baked clay, see Beads-Holes > Holes in Baked Clay)

(For flat holes, U-shaped carving gouges can also be used by pressing and rotating them in the clay --this works even with baked clay if it's thin enough, or pre-warmed)

Tubes

One or more tubes can be used to hold cording as well
...generally these small tubes are placed somewhere near the top, or on the sides of the pendant, but they can also be placed on the back so they don't show
...they can also be part of the visible decorative "architecture"... e.g., rock vessels or inro (small wearable container pendants) often use two long tubes on each side for the cording to run through
....tubes are also part of some hinges (see "Hinges" below).

....(the following lesson was for short tubes to hold the cording on the back of pendants...to make longer tubes, just don't cut the segment(s) short):
To make a tube is relatively easy as long as you know a few tricks:
--find something straight and stiff like a long doll needle (or crochet/knitting needle, esp. for larger holes)... the smoother it is, the easier raw tubes can be removed (shiny metal is good)
--turn the (piece) over, so its back is facing up
From here there are several ways to go...here are a couple:
--roll a log of clay a little bigger around than you want the tube to be, and a little shorter than your needle (though you can cut the log shorter if it's too long after rolling)
--slice your log along its length like a hot dog bun...not all the way through though
--press the needle into the cut and close the clay around it
--roll over the clay with your fingers, pulling your hands away from each other at the same time... this will both smooth and lengthen the log
--if you press to hard or take too long, the hole will get too big and sort of flop around... if that happens, twist the clay log on its needle from both ends till it's tight again... then roll again
--using a long blade (or a single-edge razor blade or wallpaper scraper blade...long Xacto might work too), place the blade on the log (perpendicular) at the spot where you want to cut the first tube... then roll the blade forward, letting the clay log-needle roll freely underneath for one revolution or so... this will create a cut all the way around the clay . .. then repeat for as many tubes as your log is long
--I pulled off my raw tubes at this point (holding the needle with my left hand, and gently *twisting* each little section off the end with my right) (....however, this segmented unit could also have been baked first, then removed as a whole and broken or cut apart ... if cutting, do it while they clay is warm; in fact you don't even need to make the initial cuts if you cut the clay while it's still warm)
(--for some of my raw tubes, I stood them and sliced a tiny bit off along one side to make them flatter, but it worked fine either way)
--then I put a tiny amount of liquid clay onto the back of the forehead of the ghost, and placed the tiny tube on top of it rubbing on the glue a bit for good contact (if you don't have liquid clay, just pressing them well should work, or you can use a bit of white glue or let them set together a few hours to make a better bond)
---if possible, bake upsidedown to keep very flat (on a piece of paper on a tile or baking sheet, etc.).. if the front is dimensional, you may still be able to bake with the front down, or bake on a cloud of polyester stuffing, or bake right side up on a riser so that the tube area can hang off while the rest stays flat.

another option for getting the clay onto the needle and avoiding the floppy hole problem is to use a sheet of clay about the thickness you want the tube sides to be; place the needle on the clay sheet and roll it one revolution (cut away the excess), then join the long edges.
...or a thinner sheet of clay can be rolled up on the needle until the desired thickness is achieved.

A fun thing to do is to make a "fancy" tube using a round cane slice, even a small one... roll the slice around the needle, then remove and bake; these make interesting spacer beads or even tiny dangles for earrings too, etc.
...or make tiny croissant beads by rolling up a long isosceles triangle of patterned clay, etc.

tubes can also have rubbery cording glued into one end rather than acting a a pass-through
... Beckah's use of tube beads with end caps to glue ends of cording into on both sides of pendants (plus one tube across top for cording to hang from)
http://www.bearingbeads.com/Images/_faux.jpg

Desiree's solid rod of clay (which looks something like a tube) has wire "headpins" inserted into each end, to which the cording is attached
http://www.desiredcreations.com/images/galleryTwoPics/langloEggNcklCU1.jpg
http://desiredcreations.com/howTo_PJNcklClosures.htm

Claudine's interesting tops, Japanese style (clay loop bails, sometimes around clay or metal tubes)
http://www.essi.fr/~claudine/Fimo/Gallerie/Textures/japo3.htm

MHPCG's wire coil strung on cording (both feet placed into a bead) ... tiny o ring at each end of coil
.... also 2 perpendicular top loops to hang each flat bead
http://www.mhpcg.org/clayDays/claydays02/jan2002/janClyDy02/pages/inspire12_jpg.htm

Puffinalia has a metal tube finding for allowing interchangable pendants or focal beads
(... it's a small curved metal tube, to hold the cording.... which is welded to a thin metal rod which extends downward and perpendicular to it, to hold the pendant/beads... with a decorative screw end, to hold the pendant on) ... could make your own??
http://www.puffinalia.com/focalpoint/focalpoint.html
..."brooch converters" can also be tubes to thread through the pin from a pin back, allowing pin to be used as a pendant (this shows a long thin metal tube, which hangs hoizontally, attached to a short loop or tube above it, for the cording to pass through
http://www.gwensjewelry.com/ rg/rg429.htm (see more on this in Jewelry > Pins)

Karen O's bails and interesting top connectors http://www.polychic.com/gallery_next.html

(.....see much more on tubes in Beads > Tubes)

Bails ...and clay bails

Regular metal bail "findings" can be purchased and used on top of clay pendants ...(or they can be made from clay--see below)
... bails come in various types... "prong" or "ice pick" bails (v shaped, which clamp on when the two legs are closed tighter)
.... also come as "snap on" (openable, closed clip-type loops, bit like a lanyard hook).... and "triangle" (wire triangles)
......the prong and snap on type can also have a hole of some kind attached to the top end of the bail for the cording to run through (rather than using the foldover area formed by the bail)
...the prong type is a metal strip, bent to form a V, with a "claw" on each end... when the sides of the V are closed tighter together around the front and back of a clay piece, the claws at the bottom will clamp on the clay but leave an open space above for cording to pass through
http://www.clayalley.com/misc.htm .... http://www.artbeads.com/thquteforusb.html
http://www.jewelrysupply.com/EJS/bails.htm .... http://www.rings-things.com/Catalog_Pages/023.htm

However, a shape of clay can also be used as a bail, when it's folded over or otherwise added to the top of a pendant (or could be sides or even back too)
..... for the folded clay bail, a space is left under the folded area for the cording to pass through ..space can be held open with a toothpick, dowel, or needle, or may not be nec
...a hole could also be created in the top of the foldover clay if no space were left (as long as the clay is thick enough in that area)
...or a strong U-loop or donut-shaped or other bit of clay (perhaps with an armature inside or under the clay) could be added to the top of a pendant

Tonja's various clay bails... mostly clay foldovers and tubes, but others as well
http://www.tonjastreasures.com/jewelry1/jewelry1.html
sunni's various ways of using spirals and curls of clay rope to make a loop or bail
http://sunnisan.com/crafts/dragnswap.html
Monica's faux gold clay bail on heart-shaped pendant
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4311023&a=31790690&p=72004758
Claudine's simple clay strip bails, sometimes around clay or metal tubes
http://www.essi.fr/~claudine/Fimo/Gallerie/Textures/japo3.htm
Gillian's clay strip (loop) and wire (loops parallel to pendant) at top of pendant
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/pcgill15_213x240.jpg

Or.. a whole clay piece (probaby thin) can be folded over or rolled toward the front (or back) to create a place for cording to pass though
...if the pendant is backed with a diff-colored clay sheet, when folded over the second color will be visible for that area

*Desiree's various pendants with disk and/or other pieces folded over top of pendant to look like large faux bail... embellishments may be added beside foldovers too
http://www.desiredcreations.com/gallery2necklacesPg2.htm (click on lentil pendants at bottom) ...look all around
Catherine’s folded-over strips and curved tube bead on top of pendants for hanging (gone)

Susan W. used a long isosceles triangle to fold over (point in front, widest area in back)... she also used a second slightly larger triangle underneath as a "frame" for the top one ... she further embellished the foldover area visible from the front by adding a (squiggled, then spiral rope of black)

Claudine's interesting tops, Japanese style (clay loop bails, sometimes around clay or metal tubes)
http://www.essi.fr/~claudine/Fimo/Gallerie/Textures/japo3.htm

Marie Segal's large pendant plaques (with onlays) sometimes folded over very thick woven? cording
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/gallery4.htm

Desiree hid? a tube or loop behind a cane slice
http://www.desiredcreations.com/images/HowToPics/Langloisia/langloPendants1.jpg

Any other item (clay or not clay) could be used as well over the top of a pendant
... something oven safe which could be attached before baking, or something that could be glued on after baking

Of course, wire of any kind could be bent and attached in any way, or wrapped around the pendant to hold it on.
.....Danqing’s many wonderful & creative ways of using wire to act as top loops, bails, etc. (pendants with mixed media)
http://icoldwell.com/danqing/Jframes.html

(jewelry ideas from the Daily Planet gifts catalog)... they feature "ethnic" stuff, the real thing or that look, and a number of pendants had bails which were very unusual and reminded me of Celie Fago's work... like a pendant hanging from a horizontal silver bead which the cord passes through, for example.)  Sherry

Tallie created a baking surface for baking pins (or anything with an overlap of clay on the back of a flat piece) because if the piece is baked with the non-flat piece attached, it can cause it to be uneven after baking
... she make a shallow box top and cut a rectangular slot out of it, then lays the piece on it so the non-flat part sticks through while baking
http://www.talliesplace.com/html/tools.html

Claude's faux or "half-bail"? on front of flat pendant ... a length of wire in wavy + spiral shape, with spiral end glued? onto pendant front ... a loop formed at the other end for the cording
http://www.chez.com/creabijoux/interieur/GALLERIE/grandes%20photos/197.htm

fishing swivels (without an added hook) can be used as swiveling bails to create reversible (flip-overable) pendants... just embed the loop at one of the swivel into the pendant.... patsy turned me on to this idea. Laurel
...this also might be handy for pendants that end up facing the wrong direction because of how the connectors were attached (hook/clasp on right vs. left)... or as a substitute for a locket (picture or other focal thing revealed from the back side, rather than from the inside, etc.

Miscellaneous

Julie’s focal bead pendants have (both ends of) a Buna-type rubbery cording glued into the top (in the same place)
http://members.aol.com/wisecraftsweb/afterallpendants.htm
...in this particular case, she also has a faux o-ring (small black ) which acts as a finish "bead" on the cording ...created by placing a small flattened ball of clay on the pendant top, then poking a hole though it and into the pendant (to made hole for the cords)

Framed pendants

wire outlines of various kinds:

Wrapping wire, or twisted wire, or wrapped wire around the outer edge of a flattish or dimensional clay shape clay shape
..Linda Goff first showed this technique on her fabulous pins and pendants... she also interspersed beads, loops, etc.
.....(create the finished wire frame, then press it down on a sheet of decorative clay to cut it out, then) you can adhere the wire framing with with super glue.
........or if you are into time-consuming, you could carve a groove with a gouge which is what I'd do for jewelry
.....you could use metal craft wire or (more easily) PVC coated wire like phone wire, or a plain wire.
..... this would work as both decorative trim and a way to get a loop for hanging. Linda Goff
….Linda (Goff) used copper or brass 20 ga. for the inside wire or main frame, and 28 ga.wire for wrapping it. Geo
....she also further embellished the framed clay piece with more thin or tiny bits of clay
http://www.lindagoff.com (click also on Wire 2, Wire 3, and Wire 4 for many wonderful examples)
http://www.lindagoff.com/mokume.html
...Karen G's similar random clay squiggles and shapes onlaid on animal shapes outlined with wrapped wire (with occasional beads interspersed on wire)
http://www.mhpcg.org/images/members/Kg/Kgpins3.jpg

…James L’s twisted and non-twisted wire wrappings around pendants
http://www.akrobiz.com/polymer_clay/gallery-00-01.html  (gone?)

...Desiree's lesson on making a single-wire frame (any shape ..e.g, teardrop, rectangular, octangonal, etc.) to act as a kind of bezel or outline around a flat focal bead created inside it with thick sheets of clay
......she creates her wire frame, then lays it on her clay (2 layers of pasta machine #1 top color, and one layer of #3 middle color), and presses deeply into clay almost to bottom of stack with 2 pliers, which forces the clay "bead" up so it projects from frame... then cuts away excess clay around frame and removes clay
....places this cut out onto another sheet of clay (backing color, #1), and repeats removal of excess clay
....embellishes the top by pressing indentions and adding another wire shape, etc.... bakes.... antiques... sands/buffs
http://www.desiredcreations.com/howTo_PJBrassFramePendant.htm
Desiree's wire-frame outlines around pendants, beads
http://www.sdpcg.org/sc8album7.html ... http://desiredcreations.com/gallery2necklacesPg1.htm
http://desiredcreations.com/images/galleryTwoPics/brasswrapLeafNckl.jpg
http://desiredcreations.com/gallery5bracelets.htm

...Danielle's lesson on creating a domed cabochon in a bezel by forcing a ball of clay up through an empty bezel (from old jewelry?) (from the back side, with her thumb)... then cutting off the excess on the back... (she then onlays flowers/stems onto the tiny "cabochon" to embellish)
http://tutorials.theclaystore.com/beads-buttons-and-jewelry/pink-flower-applique-pendant

another type of "framing" can be created by "stacking" a smaller focal bit of clay on top of a larger/wider one
(...for those, see just below in Stacked Pendants)

see also "mini photo album" pendant below in Other Pendant Ideas

(for many more possibilities for small frames, see Frames & Mirrors > Very Small Frames for Pins/Pendants)

(for decorative clay sheet sandwiched between 2 microscope slides, see Covering > Glass)

"Stacked" pendants

my class notes (condensed lesson) using cutters, stamps, powders, and simple cording

1. Begin with leafed, powdered, textured-with-a-cutter, marbled, or plain clay.

2. Leave it a shape you’ve created
3. OR if the clay is in a sheet form:
--Cut a shape from clay with cookie cutter, canape cutter, etc (if using a small cutter, the clay may stick inside; to avoid this, powder the cutter, dip it in water, or use a quick rocking, side-to-side motion to cut & quickly remove).
--Cut a shape with the tip of an xacto or other kind of blade.
--Cut a shape by dragging the tip of a needle through the sheet, at a slant.
--Cut straight shapes with the sides of razor or other blades.
--Cut arcs with flexible, long blades (a tissue blade, or Kato blade –stiffer).
--Cut sides with pattern-cutting scissors for fancy edges.
-- use stencils & templates from Premo-Sculpey kits (or your own) to cut out these shapes–see Cutters-Blades > Stencils and Shapelets for details, for examples of this kind of stacked pendant, and website link)
 --(see some possible shapes to cut, on Ways to Hang page)

4. ADD info re POWDERS, STAMPS, MOLDS, etc. (or see Powders, Stamping, Texturing, Molds)

5. Stack pieces together, if desired (remembering to leave enough room for a hole not too close to the edge)
--(if you want, press small baked shapes into an unbaked piece (inlay) first,) then
--place one piece (for instance, a molded clay shape) on top of another piece (a flat piece)
….however, they won’t stick together if there is complete powder coverage on the bottom piece though—so don’t put powder there, or make scratches on the area)
(--you could also use a larger piece to act as a frame around (under) another piece)
(--Before baking your item you can leave it flat, curve it over a rounded index card, or curl the edges.)
....see Barbara McGuire's baking shapes on the curved side of an upturned glass bowl
...http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1399580,00.html

6. Make the finished item stringable:
--make a hole with any size of straw (largest at McDonalds, smallest are coffee stirrers) by pressing in, then twisting; remove straw and blow clay out, or cut off the tip with scissors.
--or use one of the other techniques shown on the Ways to Hang Pendants page. ADD

7. Bake
--lay your item flat on a piece of paper on a baking sheet
--bake in a preheated 250-275 degree oven for approx. 20 minutes (if the item is very light colored, Sculpey clay, or if it’s very thin, reduce temp. to 225-250.)
8. Seal if necessary
--Powders and leafing may require sealing to prevent rub-off, and also tarnishing in the case of leaf.  (However, some sealers seem to darken the powders; if using Future, for example, try applying a bit more leaf after the sealer has dried …and seal again?. Try other sealers listed in the original Basic Information sheets I handed out also.
....For powders or foil, most people use glossy sealers rather than matte.

9. Cords and stringing
--We used waxed linen cording because it’s cheap and available.  But there are many other things you can use for cording; one problem with other cording though, is that because it’s thicker, it won’t go through the holes in many (manufactured) beads.  Try things like rattail (fabric store), leather and vinyl thong or cording (craft stores & bead stores), elastic cord (black, white, metallic)—convenient because the cording can be shorter and still fit over the head, etc. 
--There are many ways of connecting the cord ends; we simply tied both tails as a single knot, then trimmed.  I will include a diagram for making a bead and loop closure, but if you’re interested in more closure methods, check out beading and jewelry books.

10. Pins
If you want to make your piece into a pin, use a purchased pinback and glue onto the back of the piece, near the top.  Some glues to try are gel superglues, Goop/E6000, or possibly Gem Tac glue. (also see Jewelry/Pinbacks for other methods)
11. Barrettes
--If you want to use these methods (or cane slices, etc.) to make barrettes, either glue the raw clay on the barrette with a superglue and bake upside down on a layer of stuffing or batting, or lay the clay over a rounded index card to bake then attach to the barrette with Goop/E6000, superglue, or possibly Gem Tac glue. 
--The bottom part of the purchased barrette forms (craft stores) can be removed for baking.
………To see this type of stacked pendant taken to a very high level! take a look at:
uniquebead’s (Barbara Sperling) many wonderful onlaid stacks and bits of other things
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic.htm
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic%20brooch.htm
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic%20pendants.htm

Beckah's stacked pendants with a transfer on top layer
http://www.bearingbeads.com/Images/_iartpen.jpg

nenuphar's triple-layer of shapes..top one is stamped and powdered (see Powders > crevices for details)
http://isisesc.supelec.fr/gallery-nenuphar/album01/aah (g0ne?)

Karen Sexton's many beautiful pendants in layers
http://www.mhpcg.org/member.html
multiple layered items pendants
http://www.aloha.net/~coral-c/jewelprc.html
pendants from my kids' class

Cheryl's pendants in layers, with powders (like my class) (website gone)

Cre*it!'s textured, white-Sculpey-in-the-box clay tiles, folded double thickness after one pass through pasta machine, which are mounted on ceramic tiles, notebooks, cards, vessels, even jewelry, giving them sufficient strength and retaining lightness; double deck effect, cameos, etc. (then finished with their special tinted glazes)
  http://www.dotcalmvillage.net/cre8it/polyglaze.html
  http://www.dotcalmvillage.net/cre8it/polyglazetech.html (lessons to come)

Amulets & fetishes

go to Sculpting--bodies > Abstract Figures > Amulets for most info about amulets and fetishes

Amulets and fetishes are small figures, animals or items which have traditionally been used as magical objects which confer protection, help or assocation to the wearer. They are often abstract and stylized figures --no legs, simplified bodies or torsos, for example, but can be other things.

often used as stand-alone pendants or pins .....or can also be attached or connected to something else
...can also be used as vessels, pouches, containers which are worn (...some original amulets were for holding a medicine, or recipe for it)
.........(for rigid, hollow, or somewhat hollow, amulets which are formed over small rocks, see Vessels-Rock > Websites, mostly)
...but they can also be used as embellishment on items such as vessels, jewelry, covers and mini books/journals, covered gourds, etc.

attached to them can be things like:
......all kinds of embellishments.... (even hair, bone, a belonging, etc. of one of the parties --intertwined with, attached to, or enclosed within, some real amulets)
......dangles comprised of beads, shells, or anything which can be hung or strung
.....framing or background piece ... or something to interact with, or to be associated with

Tiny Glass Bottles, etc

Tiny glass (or perhaps acrylic) containers can be purchased, then filled with various things or embellished with clay, and hung as pendants.
...if they are filled with a liquid, the stopper or lid will have to be very tight
...could fill with small items or mixed media, particulate or powdery substances, thick or thin liquids (water, glycerin for globes, paints, etc.) or paints/liquid clay/etc. could be drained from inside as sometimes done with clear xmas balls), or clay, or made into "bubble bottles with removable wands"... or fill with nothing at all

To make the containers into hangable pendants, see above in Loops and Holes
...or create clay or other tubes/flaps/etc, or use wire (wrap around neck or embed through clay)
...or use eyepins or eye screws, into the clay or stoppers, etc.
(see above in Bails for many more ways to create places for cording to be strung for hanging pendants, as well as below)

Tonja's tiny bottles covered with clay... small cork in top with inserted brass eye screw? for hanging
http://www.tonjastreasures.com/vessels/tn2.htm
...clay loops are added to the top of the black and gold bottle at center left so can hang http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/bottles.html
Tonja's slender hanging pendant bottle, covered with clay, then flower slices onlaid
.....to hang, wire is wrapped twice around a "neck" depression created in the clay covering, then extended upward and outward before a connecting loop is made (wire spirals) http://home.centurytel.net/tkaylen/group3.html
many bottles (med and small) covered with mixed media and (often) polymer clay ..including transfers, beads, fibers, etc
...many have wire embedded into clay areas near neck or top for hanging
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/bottles.html
Parrish's various interesting pendant bottles, with parts which are faux stamped metal ...Medieval-style
...many are hung (separately on each side) by embedding an eye pin into the outside of a faux metal "bead" which is around the "neck area" of the bottle
...many interesting partial covers, etc.
http://www.parrishrelics.com/vessel.html
Linda H's pendant bottles, with gold liquid clay drizzles? http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/scadventurer2001/detail?.dir=e8ac&.dnm=8a8e.jpg (gone)
Tonja's sand?-inclusion bottle pendants (loop ring in cork stopper) http://www.tonjastreasures.com/jewelry3/tn1.htm (gone?)

(see more on using colored liquid clay, etc. inside or outside glass bottles, and other ways to embellish glass bottles, in BOH > Embellishing )

Making bubble wand bottles from tiny bottles are a heck of a lot of fun! My sister and I were brainstorming ideas and came up with some more (see BOH > Stoppers for making the tightest fit).
...cover a small bottle (make as a pendant if desired by wrapping neck with wire) then turn it into a bubble bottle with wand cap
...Connie's various bubble wand pendants http://users.adelphia.net/~cclaycreations/html/BubbleBottles.html (gone)
.......some are flat squares of clay placed on opposite sides of a tiny bottle with edges pressed together and embellished... some are large flowers over the front and extending past the bottle... some are goddess figures with cork stoppers for heads

That looked wonderful!!! ....like a mix between dichroic glass and raku!! Laura (website gone)
....I mixed Kato liquid clay along with the coloring agent inside the little vial....then I gently turned the vial and drained til the whole inside is covered with the color
..... both coloring + liquid clay on the inside stand up to water just fine...no sanding needed (and no puddling around the margins of canes applied to the surface)
.....Pinata alcohol inks plus Kato liquid clay was the best combination... (though I don't have any Fimo Gel to compare). Sarah
.....Kato liquid clay tinted with Pinata inks is beautifully transparent and vivid
......(this inclusion--alcohol ink-- seemed to bubble less? than when it was mixed with either oil paints or Pearlex.)
....the color won't bake true.

tiny glass bottles with rubber (or cork) stoppers that people usually use as pendants for perfume are cute... they hang from a top handle...Helen
(....see examples of these used with clay in BOH > Embellishing ....some are bubble wand bottles)

I cover small (glass) bottles that I get for free from eye drs....contact lenses come in them and they are just thrown away after the lenses are given to the patients (They will usually save you a pile of them and just give them to you. I've gotten tons this way. They feel better that they are recycling and not just chucking them away..)
....Little bottles: also vaccine bottles from vets’ offices ...... and those little insulin bottles from diabetics.
..... I then can carry my Tylenol with me on a necklace when I don't want to carry a purse.
.... I do this too to make little toothpick holders (holds around 20-25 toothpicks). Cute!
(for many, many of these, see BOH)

(for much more on covering glass in general, and on various ways glass items can be embellished outside and sometimes inside, see Covering > Glass)

suppliers of small pendant bottles
...various shapes of tiny bottles to buy... with metal triangle top loop embedded in tops (glass or rubber), or eye screw screwed into cork tops
http://www.creditcardcastle.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi? (click on "Glass Bottle Items")
....Necklace Perfume Vial Holder & Atomizer, metal on outside
http://www.artcraftworld.com/pclay.htm +lesson http://www.artcraftworld.com/pcinst.htm#neck
....mini bottles (pendants).... 3 shapes of 1" tall mini bottles, with brass loop in their cork stoppers ...Rebecca
...artclayworld . . .Necklace Perfume Vial Holder & Atomizer? + Twist Ballpoint Pen -Key Chain -Ceiling Fan Pulls -Letter Openers -cabochon Bookmarks & Purse Mirror,
http://www.artcraftworld.com/pclay.htm and http://www.artcraftworld.com/pcinst.htm (+ lessons for covering each item)
...Parrish Relics various sizes and shapes ... no tops: http://www.parrishrelics.com/glassvials.html
..........for many more suppliers of glass (or plastic or metal) bottles and other containers, see Supply Sources --esp.Bottles & Containers

Hinges & Lockets ...& tiny tins

dangle-joint "hinges" (connectors which separate)
...Mike B. used beads as hinges to separate his pendant shapes into several pieces so they would dangle
.......he put a small bead between segmented parts of a single pendant form (movable in one direction)... in this case, like separated puzzle pieces)
http://thepolyparrot.com/mikeb.html
...Beckah's hinged dangle pendants (like Mike's) with molds, stamps, transfers .. using 2 short embedded eye pins in each piece, which are then directly connected (without a jump ring) http://www.bearingbeads.com/inspiration5.htm (gone)

Julia S's dangle joint hinges between glass slides, using wrapped loop in one segment, eyepin with small bead in other segment, connected with a jump ring between
... and various ways to use coils and hinges
http://www.juliasober.com/polymergallery.html (2nd half of page) & http://home.insightbb.com/~mgrasso01/julia/setslide.jpg (gone?)

Mike Buesseler also used metal or clay tubes as hinges between parts of his hinged pendants
http://thepolyparrot.com/mikeb.html

faux dangle (rigid "dangle")
...Claudine's 3 segments placed onto a vertical strip of clay slightly separated and slightly unaligned
...she cut apart a decorated pendant (one an impressed gold stamping on Skinner Blend pattern ...one a transfer)
http://www.essi.fr/~claudine/Fimo/Explications/transferts.htm (almost at the bottom of the page)

Dotty's multiple-hinged pendant, made with muslin fabric & TLS backing
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1580264&a=12021883&p=43406412&f=0

Sunni’s small wire-twisted mini-hinge lesson for mini book (like the eye half of a hook-and-eye notion, with a coiled middle)
http://sunnisan.com/crafts/hinge1.html

Dayle's several hinged pendant triptychs http://www.dayledoroshow.com/pics1.htm

swing sideways pivot hinge ... flat shape on flat area of pendant, which swings open sideways at one point
... wire or baked clay rod, etc., passed through a small hole in pendant and door (with something added on each end, outside and inside, to act as stops ...e.g a bead, or could have used a headpin or eye pin)
Ginny's swing-to-the-side pivot "hinge" (made with a bead? of clay) ..spade and heart
http://imagesinthewind.homestead.com/Lockets.html (gone?)
Celie's pivot created at the top of two long leaf shapes (which otherwise lie exactly on top of each other)
http://www.celiefago.com/gallery_2003.htm# (Pierced Pod)
....(see also mini photo album of discs sort of like a locket, worn as pendant, below in Other Pendant Ideas)

For more info on hinges and types of hinged items, including vessel lids, frames, and books,
see Vessels > Hinges + Books > Hinges + Frames > Tri-Fold Panels

PURCHASED or MODIFIED metal hinges

Mike Buesseler's uses a metal pinback finding to create the hinge for the tiny door on his beautiful lockets
...I was just playing with design and made some holes in pendants...then I needed a lid...ledd to the hinge. Mike B.
http://polymerclaycentral.com/mikeb/Lockets.html ... http://polymerclaycentral.com/mikeb/LgLkt2.html
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/mikeb/LktHnge.html ...closeup of hinge , showing the body of a locket (thickish rectangle of clay) with hole cut out in lower half for adding image... the actual pin of the pinback is inserted all the way into the body of the clay at top of the image hole (hinge side upward), with the tiny hinges actually resting in a square area cutout area ...so the only part of the pinback now extending into the open hole is the flat part ("tang")... a lid is later glued onto that
....Now that I've sort of got an idea of the mechanics, I'm thinking it would be  really neat to put a baby picture in the locket part for my daughter, or make one for my Mother with an old tintype transfer in it. 
... one has rose-leaf transfers inside. Zig
...Ginny's MikeB-inspired hinged lockets http://imagesinthewind.homestead.com/Lockets.html (gone)
...Since I've been making pendants this week with oval, round, and square transfers that are framed, and with a little door that opens and closes over them, I've found that the easiest way is to use oval, round or square cutter sets with graduated sizes of cutters in each set. 
.....lesson: I just plan my transfer picture to fit inside the cutter area and cut it out. 
I then cut an opening in the clay I'm using for the frame the same size as the picture, then I remove the cut piece of frame clay and pop in the picture which fits perfectly. 
Trim the frame nicely. 
Then I cut another piece the size of the picture and make that the little door that opens and closes, using Mike B's pin back hinge. 
Tip: I bake the transfer picture piece first before inserting it into the frame.  I can then snug the frame around it nicely without distorting it. . . . I then lay a sheet of clay underneath the frame and picture, and trim the excess.  Dotty in CA

What if you take one of those metal button covers, the one with the hinge, and surround it in clay.... make a locket out of it.
.... the button cover part is deep and can keep a photo or a lock of hair or..... I sealed some button covers with glue and am going to embed them into clay. Put a necklace bail on it and see what all I can do with it.. Karen

tiny, real hinges.... Lee Valley Hardware catalog http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/index.asp?category=3&SID=&ccurrency=2  (click on Box Hardware, at least)
Oh, my yes. Those hinges, etc., have great potential. Right off the bat, I'm thinking pendants. Desiree

hinges created from TUBES and "PIN" to run through them)

*Mike B’s hinged lockets ...using metal or clay tubes, with wire running through
http://thepolyparrot.com/mikeb.html

Gerri's amulet necklace mini-books (spine is at top, steno-style... clay tubes & wire)
...one type of hinge has a tube of clay with flap at end (portion of rectangle not rolled) which is attached to the back cover (sticks up/extends a bit higher than the back though); stiff wire is passed through the tube, bent, and pressed between the two layers of the top cover... a seed bead cording passes through the tube to suspend it
...the other type has the clay tube directly attached to the back cover? (doesn't have the extension and doesn't stick up); then other parts the same
http://www.newfry.com/Jewelry.htm

Darla’s several hinged plates... connected with eye pin in each piece, and a jump ring to connect
http://hobbystage.net/art/celticdolphin/jewelry/pins/1010839223-000313.html (not accessible)

Celie's fancy hinges ... all wire, various wire shapes used for tubes or loops, and pins
...one on traingle box pendant http://www.celiefago.com/gallery_2003.htm#

Irene Y's "hinged" pendant ...all wire ... hinge made from a long coil of wire
could be done two ways
...(with short bit of both ends left uncoiled, so that they can be glued into the dangle part of the pendant...another wire put through, bent, and glued into other part?)...see top hinge also (for cording)
http://thepolyparrot.com/right.html

Robin Beaty's many hinges ...some like mini-books and/or pendants
...transfers are sometimes "hidden" beneath a hinged cover ...
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/july2001/mafa.html

3 ways to make hinges in pendants (or for frames) ...video: Hinges in Polymer Clay, by Tory (Victoria) Hughes
1. hinge on the side
2. hinge two parts together
3. hinge within, creating a swinging part
...she mainly uses the "door hinge" type of hinge, in which a pin of some kind is run through tubes of clay which are attached to each side (usually two tubes on one side, one on the other side)
... she creates the hinge tubes in place for an exact fit; these can be bent or finished with a bead, etc. on each end;
... she also shows a method of running a pin/wire through one clay tube (attached to one piece of pendant), then bending the ends 90 degrees and supergluing into the non-tube piece.
http://www.polkadotcreations.com/books/gp17a.jpg

other objects could be separated-hinged, or could have a hinge added in some way

for more info on hinges and types,
see ... Books > Hinges .... Frames > Tri-Fold Panels ....Vessels > Hinges

Other Pendant Ideas

Karen O's lesson on making a large, thin walled, tube bead (pendant) by baking textured clay on a large wood dowel covered with aluminum foil, baking and removing. . . then making end cap units with 3 stacked, progressively smaller disks, which she then made a hole through and TLS'd onto each end before baking again. She strung these like vertical pendants with a tassel below.
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/hollowbead1.html

Emi Fukushima's lesson on embedding a translucent-covered, baked, washi paper onto a larger shape of double-thickness black clay (textured with lace while a needle is retaining a hole in between the layers for cording), then rebaking (she also adds a Chinese coin to the black base clay for her final pendant)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_jewelry/article/0,1789,HGTV_3238_1383759,00.html

for sandwiching a decorative clay sheet between 2 glass microscope slides as a pendant, see Covering > Glass

Kathy W's large pectoral cross, featuring transfers, borders, chain twisting, etc.
http://hobbystage.net/art/kathyweinberg/

I think you're right, some of tattoo tile designs are so square or something and lend themselves better to more regular shaped objects like boxes. But some of those flowing floral patterns should make good pendants.   Desiree

I made some tic tac toe pendants last year. The "board" is the pendant..and X and O cane slices were strung on the cord until you wanted to play (they could easily be removed). It would work great for tins too..and I dont see that you'd have to have the pieces "stick". Just use the box to store them..and then take em out when you want to play...Jan R.
http://freeweb.pdq.net/janruh/clay/de2.jpg

sinilga's mini "photo album" hung on cord as pendant
... comprised of 4 large cardstock discs -- front and back "cover" discs are are fancy clay baked and glued onto the cardstock...the 2 interior discs have photos glued to them (no clay, but could be transfers, or decoupaged--- and disks cold be clay instead of cardstock)
...... she put a sheet of glass over the disc so could see shape and size for making the front and back clay discs, then baked on glass, and glued onto cardstock discs... discs held together by decorative cording through holes in top
http://www.craftster.org/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=103285&ppuser=126038
see also swing sideways pivot "hinge" above in Hinges for similar idea re multi-pieced pendants

The blank backs of dominoes can be used in various ways --take a look at these, e.g. (not polymer)
http://www.heartsintouch.com/items_embellish.htm

metal military dog tags can be covered on the front or all over with polymer clay, then hung through the hole that's already there
... one source for blank dog tags http://www.inlandproducts.com/dog_tag_blanks.htm
real pet tags for dogs, cats, or other animals could be suitable too

1st Kokeshi Doll ...Yes, the bottle is still underneath her.... Her head is the stopper and she could easily be a bubble bottle with the addition of a wand. I wonder if you'd want to use a mold? The forms are not difficult to make. I used scrap clay to fill in the neck of the bottle, make the sleeves and the bottom section. After baking, I covered her with #4 thickness decorative clay. The head is made over a ball of tin foil. I used to bake the stopper in place in the bottle, but I've found that the best way to get a good fit is to powder the bottle well, fit the stopper and take it out to bake on polyfill. Jody B.

iPod case (cover) --a thin box, open-topped... in this case also hung from neck with beaded necklace as a carrier... aluminum foil form used as a temporary armature, by beadizzygrl
...for photos and lesson, see Vessels-Rock > Other Small Vessels & Containers

WEBSITES (pendants)

many lessons using polymer clay to make jewelry
http://www.sculpey.com/projects_jewelry.htm
many types of connectors for cording on pendants
http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/pc2.html
Marie Segal's many pendants
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/gallery2.htm  (and the other Galleries too!)
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/gallery4.htm
Tonja's many types of pendants
http://www.tonjastreasures.com/jewelry1/jewelry1.html
Shelley M’s many pendants of different types
http://www.shelleym.co.uk/jewellery/pendant1.htm
MHPCG's various pendants and cording attachments
http://www.mhpcg.org/clayDays/claydays02/jan2002/janClyDy02/pages/inspire13_jpg.htm
Helen Breil's many artistic pendants
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=447834
uniquebead’s (Barbara Sperling) many wonderful onlaid stacks and bits of other things for architecture (pendants and earrings)
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic.htm
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic%20brooch.htm
http://www.beadunique.com/catalogue/catalogue%20mosaic%20pendants.htm
various pendants by StokesGalleries, onlaid stacks, framing ideas, faux metal leaves from molds, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stokesgalleries/sets/72157603734300483
Christel's long-shield shaped pendants or pins (click on women's pins too)
http://home.online.no/~raje/Polymer/pins/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/1644/ma-hmpge11pcg10.htm (gone)
Donna Kato's lesson on (open) swirl-shape & clasp-shaped pendants ...Buna cord glued into
http://www.jewelrycrafts.com/clayproj14.html (gone?)
Tawan's many "heavier" necklaces with large pendants and med.size beads along complete length of cording
http://pages.infinit.net/tawan/index.html (....click on all Galleries)
*Nora Jean’s fat U-shaped log pendants (tops scrolled to hold cording) (website gone) 
Crafty Michele's pendants (more in other galleries?) (gone?)
Simply Annie’s many pendants (mostly stamped and metallic), also interesting architecture
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291579709&p=4252890045&idx=3 (not available?)
Dorothy G's pendant shapes (made with flattened onlays, some translucent) (gone)
Susan’s abstract and some-powdered, some mokume, etc., pieces (website gone)
Alicia's mainly ethnic pendants and necklaces
http://creaplastic.free.fr/05gal_alicia.htm
Cindy’s “goddess” (mixed media, wild women) pendants (gone?)
http://www.geocities.com/claycrazy1/GoddessVes.html ... http://www.geocities.com/claycrazy1/goddess.html
*LadysMaidJewels Medieval, Renaissance, etc., pendants, earrings, etc., made with gold powder and jewels http://www.ladysmaidjewels.com/Polymer/polymer.html
Alicia's lesson on making a Renaissance pendant w/ red glass pebble & pearl cabochons (textured painted w/ gold acrylic paint, top layer wiped off)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/0306june/ren.html
many Celtic-etc. pendants and necklaces
http://www.kalupe.com/Kalupe-PN.htm
Stephanie's faux metal pendants, some with glass pebbles
http://www.teawithstephanie.homestead.com/claystuff2.html
Emi Fukushima's pendants (oops, new digital camera…) DB--replace old photo
Danqing’s many pendants with mixed media...wonderful & creative ways of using wire to act as top loops, bails, etc.
http://icoldwell.com/danqing/Jframes.html
Tonja's thick pendant with 4 square holes inside which a bead (is strung?)... see similar items in Vessels > Closed Box Construction, Ai Ping
http://www.tonjastreasures.com/jewelry2/tn43.htm
Sara J's pendants with transfers and frames
http://www.sarajenkins.com/Galleries.htm
Tonja's tiny metal tin "pendant" made by covering the top of a small rectangular (Altoid?) tin
..... (cording runs through sides of tin) ...top has dimensional "frame" around transfer with cane slice corners over it
http://home.centurytel.net/tkaylen/tinpendants.jpg
*Robin Beaty’s many mini-book and transfers pendants
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/july2001/mafa.html
Troika's lesson on making pendant frames (from silicone molds)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/july2001/molds.html 
PöRRö's lesson on framed pendants, using two sets of symmetrical slices from scrap clay logs to create one design
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/may2001/mirror.html 
Geo's unusual cording & photo encased transfer pendants--see below (& Transfers) (website gone
Tracie's framed watch pendants http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1158358&a=8538929
Ronda’s rock amulet pendants:
http://members.home.net/rohowo/rock.htm
“Rock Purse” (containers) Swap!!
(see Vessels/Rock for those swaps)
Joanie's drawings of possible stringings for rock amulets
http://members.tripod.com/PolymerClay_Interest/amacord.htm
polymerclayhaven's tiny pendants formed on polished rocks (lesson) http://www.polymerclayhaven.com/lessons/rockvess.htm
Pax's pendants & rock amulets
http://www.ixpres.com/frodin/polymer/pendants.htm
students' various-shaped vessel pendants (from a Gwen Gibson class) & some of Gwen's
http://www.gwengibson.com/gallery/students-1999-soreze.htm
http://www.gwengibson.com/gallery/evolve-1999.htm
Japanese inro examples (inspiration for rock amulet pendants?)
http://www.japancollection.com/inro.html
Polymerclayexpress' lesson on making a box pendant with petit four (small) cutters (oval or other shapes)  
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/nov2000.html
Marty W's matchbox covered pendants (website gone)
Tory Hughes (pendant bottles, & philosophy)
http://www.gameplanvideo.com/videos.htm
http://craftsreport.com/april00/onlineexclusive.html
Leigh’s many variations on connecting a pendant to hanger with wire, beads, etc. http://hobbystage.net/art/sincereleigh/ (not accessible)

Sandra gets inspiration for some of her pieces (not polymer) from photos she takes, using simulations of the images or just general patterns, colors, etc., in them
http://sandramiller.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=FGP1

CORDING

for cordings used for stringing beads like
Soft Touch, Soft Glass, Nymo, Stretch Magic, Tigertail, etc.,
see Jewelry > Cordings

There are all sorts of great ways to cord your work.

cording for pendants can be purchased at various places
....craft stores and bead stores ... fabric stores
... and also online at places like: ....Polymerclayexpress (which carries Bunka yarn, braided nylon, waxed linen, satin cord, elastic, Stretch Magic, dyed leather cord, Stringth, Buna, and plastic lacing)
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html
......(see Jewelry > Suppliers for more mail order suppliers)

Tawan's many "heavier" necklaces --large pendants + med. beads along complete length of the cording
http://pages.infinit.net/tawan/index.html (click on all Galleries)

lessons on attaching thinner cording of various types to findings
http://www.rings-things.com/index.html

making a floppy-type cording into a "needle"
...use a little dab of superglue on the end of your cord ...this can be trimmed off afterward
... you can also use clear nail polish if you're going to trim the end after stringing anyway
....also, sewing stores sell a product called Fray-Check that works nicely.

Many types of cording

........rayon and nylon may be mislabeled below???.....

"Venetian blind" cording (a kind of braided nylon... or polyester?) ...Sears doesn't carry it any more...hard to find retail
.........I found found Venetian Blind Cord in several sizes and many colors at Blinds Across America..... I love this stuff
...the only caveat with this cording is that it does unravel so you need to glue the ends so the cording doesn't come apart. Margaret D.
http://www.blindsacrossamerica.com/liftcords.html

braided (rayon?) is similar to venetian blind cord . .it's actually fishing line (for really big ocean fish,etc.)...could probably find it at a fish/tackle/sporting goods store near where sport fishing for large fish is done, or on the internet. Kathy W.
...my very favorite cording is braided rayon over a nylon core ... not shiny.. drapes beautifully ..strong and cheap
...elegant.. perfect for stringing inro and box pendants.... .5, 1, & 1.5mm ... black, white
.....goes nicely with many different types of polymer pieces (layered, transfers, fauxs, Asian, Egyptian, artifact, industrial, modern, glossy, matte, it looks good with almost anything)
.......the black goes perfectly with the black Bunka tassels. Elizabeth

braided nylon (wider than Bunka)... silky nylon type of cording that drapes nicely ..(often used for cording on Inro Boxes and/or pendants). Kay

for making your own kumihimo braiding to make cording for pendants (or have beads added in it, over it, etc.), plus other knotting techniques like the "new macrame," see Mixed Media > Braiding, etc.
.......(for cordings that are woven, braided or knitted by you, see "Woven,Braided,Knitted" below ...)

wrapped polyester cord from Beaded Toucan has a nice hand and comes in a fairly wide range of colors... it's one of my favorites.... 1504 Lampard Road Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360- 378-5180 (wholesale only, color card available).  Lindly

One of my all-time favorites from the fabric store is "soutache" braid.  It has real character of its own and comes in a wide range of colors and at least 3 widths. 

Bunka ...slender, shiny, silky nylon (or braided rayon??) type of cording that drapes nicely (often used for graduation and other tassels)
.....Bunka yarn (solid or variegated)
....can also be used for doll hair http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_littleangel.htm .

One source for silk thread and silk cord is Lacis at http://www.lacis.com (go to the catalog, look at Materials, then to threads and scroll down to where you will see silk cord mentioned that can be used for jewelry).
....crinkled silk cord ... no dye allergenstakes and holds knots well... colorfast.

"satin" cord (not true silk cord) ...rattail, etc... woven from manmade fibers ...colorfast
...its sizing is kind of wierd... turns out that rattail is 2mm, mousetail is 1.5mm, & bug's tail is 1mm. Tim
....In my experience, satin cord works for lighter-weight pendants, but not heavy ones - it just doesn't hang nicely. Irene
...polymerclayexpress has some larger 3.5 mm satin cord http://polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html

waxed cotton cord ......looks like leather, but is stronger ...(braided) ... like Su-Preme
....it is waxed for ease of beading, but don't let the descriptive fool you - it's not waxy feeling, but fairly smooth.
....tightly woven cotton cord ....takes and holds knots well... colorfast.
....I've used it with success, and it comes in mostly earthy colors ...colors will not crack off
... it's a braided cotton cord with a nylon filiment inside, so it is *really* strong.
...don't know if that's what it's called everywhere.... I got it here: Irene
http://earthguild.com/products/cords/waxcoton.htm

waxed linen ... inexpensive... stiff (must run through hands a few times)... may still a bit waxy feeling... many colors
http://polymerclayexpress.com/images/waxlin.jpg

"macrame" cords ...various kinds of cords for variations of macrame, in various sizes
http://shop.vendio.com/MacrameBoutique/store.html (Chinese knotting cord)
....I used cord that I ordered from Whiteswan ... think it's conso
http://miva.comsvr.com/cgi-bin/mivavm?/merchant.mvc+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=TLS&Category_Code=T2
(Nylon Hand Sewing Thread ....used to sew buttons onto thick cushions by upholsterers..... smooth, shiny, holds the knots well but also is fairly easy to untie ...stiff, yet fine enough to fit through most 11/0 seed beads...ends can be melted... at least 20 shades (2 oz spools, approx.130 yds)
...macramé beading cord ...variety of colors...resists fraying ...not colorfast (all macrame cords though???)

hemp (not the same material as jute) ...like Hippie Hemp
... hemp is much stronger and less prone to breakage than jute (and doesn't itch nearly as much, although it still does get itchy if you wear it too long - a problem which can be minimized by applying beeswax to the cord
....Fire Mountain has hemp spools. 750 feet long for $9.95, less if you order more.
...hemp beading cord (same?) ...variety of weights sizes.... uniform, fray resistant, knots easily...our hemp beading cord is colorfast.

"leather cord" at PCE, in many colors: http://polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html

suede lace leather cord is made from genuine leather and permanently dyed so it is colorfast.

leather cord has a smooth, round cross-section....made from genuine leather and permanently dyed so it is colorfast.

leather boot laces work great for bolo ties --you can add clay beads or other embellishment to the ends. Jeannine
....look for bolo tie cording at Firemountain Gems online…
....best place is Tandy Leather, and it's online. http://www.tandyleather.com ...I've also seen them listed as bola. Kim2

imitation leather lacing with crimp ends to go with it is made by Beadalon... a lot of bead shops carry it. Laurie

Pleather ... imitation leather cord ..soft round cord, made from some kind of plastic
http://www.macramesuperstore.com
....(same??) imitation leather cord is a woven round cord, stronger and more uniform than animal leather....made of biodegradable cotton....takes and holds knots well. (not colorfast).

....since your leather cord bled onto your clothing (you didn't say whether it was smooth and shiny or closer to suede), I suggest you try sealing the leather cord you bought with acrylic matte medium if you don't want a shine, or gloss medium if you want a shine. You could also use acrylic paint. .....Depending on what it is already coated with, you may have to clean it with alcohol or similar first.
.... I have had the same "bleeding" problem with certain black fabric cords.... my body chemistry also causes leather and some vinyl cording to harden after a summer season. Karen in NC

I've stopped using leather cording in the jewelry or zipper pulls... over time, the color comes off the 2mm stuff, and the 1mm stuff breaks. Laurie

imitation sinew is spun from a continuous filament of polypropylene fiber for 60-lb. breaking strength...it is waxed and easy to split.

ribbon... another nice way to make a pendant into a necklace  is to hang it from a grosgrain,  velvet or satin ribbon
-- for children, try using a ribbon just wide enough to prevent the pendant from slipping along the cord.

You can even make your own cording from polymer clay
....use the Bake and Bend clay (which used to be called Sculpey Super Flex clay) and mix it 1 to 1 with Premo to get the best cording... ends can be glued together for longer uses like weaving
.........while baking, the extrusions must not touch each other or touch he tray though (use paper, etc. to separate) ... see more info in Characteristics > Flexible Clays and in Clay Guns > Weaving)
..(lesson): syndee and Marie say that plain Premo can be used for cording too... they extrude a thick rope with a clay gun, roll in Pearl Ex, insert ends into premade holes in pendant with liquid clay, bake in the shape that's expected when placed on the body, then wipe down with a damp cloth after baking rather than sealing the Pearl Ex (and possibly cracking finish).
http://expressionartmagazine.com/FTRND02.html

Plastic

colored

pony bead lacing material (tubular, much like SoftGlass..."Tooobs Pony Bead Lacing" --Pepperell Braiding Co)
.... s another option for cordage ....I've used it like buna cord several times and it seems to work just fine.
....found in the kids area of JoAnn fabrics. Kathy W.

flat plastic lacing.... it's bakable too!...
....11 colors (including glow-in-the-dark at PCE http://polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html
SAME AS?
..."S'getti" craft lacing is durable.... glossy and stretchy and comes in a gazillion (well, not quite) colors... (WalMart)
.......if baked at 275 degrees for 20 min, nothing at all happens to it!... will stay glossy if left alone while cooling
..........if you stretch it while it's still warm, you lose some of the gloss from the surface but none of its stretchiness (...repeated pulling exhausts it for the time being and leaves it a bit stretched out, but come back later and its memory and stretchiness has returned)
......attaching to clay... if the cording is embedded in approx. 1/4" polyclay (Sculpey III) bead (with and without Diluent), after baking cord pulls out of both but leaving surface compressed and abraded.
.......you might get *some* adhesion though with longer 'sit' time for the Diluent, but I think a crimp bead, or something of the type, would be nec
.......or you try maybe deglossing the plastic cord with sandpaper would help
.......or, as with wire, add a drop of superglue (...or liquid clay?)

Tattu Magic ...strong monofilament cord (somewhat rigid?) ...retains shape when making tattoo type jewelry...holds crimp well...sev. colors

plastic --clear (not stretchy)
monofilament and tubing.....+ dyeing it

cautions for some beads ...monofilament fishing line itself is fine for anything that doesn't use metal or glass beads that may have the slightest sharp edge inside the bead hole which will eventually cut the monofilament
... I have used monofilament for lightweight lariats that are mostly made up of seed beads, but would be cautious of using it in something that needs to withstand more weight (will become brittle and break after a few years --especially where it is stressed at knots.

I was at this art fair and I saw this awesome jewelry that just jumped right out at me, lol. I said, WOW is that fishing line -how did you do that??
....oh that’s just dyed monofilament fishing line, using Rit dye and a little vinegar. (I had been dying some t-shirts for the kids and just dunked some fishing line into the hot colored water and it took on the color right away,couldn't believe it!
.......I unwound some monofilament from the spool, dyed it, rinsed, then rewound onto another spool.
...I had seen this colored monafilament wrapped tightly around fan-like shapes of high-polished sterling silver pins and earings... beautiful.
...could also use lengths as cat whiskers, etc.
...licalee used hers for stamens

licalee uses Kool Aid to dye her monofilament nylon cording, and also nylon-covered beading wire
...in a coffee mug, boil water ... add a spoonful of vinegar to the hot water and soak monofilament for 10 min
...in a different mug, add a package of kool aid (don't add any sugar) and add hot water ...add monofilament... pop the mug in the microwave for a minute and a half, and remove the monofilament (use a utensil so you don't dye or scald your fingers). This is where you boil if you are using nylon covered metal.... Rinse it off
....(can mix colors but best done when the kool-aid is wet so you can see the eventual color)
....also, if you heat the monofilament too high with a flame, it turns clear again as it melts. licalee
(Kool Aid can be used to dye fabric, but will fade on cotton or cotton-poly over time, esp. if wash frequently or wash with harsh detergents)

nylon tubing.... I made cording from (clear nylon) tubing that I dyed yellow using Rit dye... and threaded some rubber cord from Rio, (which I won't buy anymore), threaded through it ...I also embellished the cord with artist wire and o-rings
...lesson: Rit dying is just too much fun! ....I save it in jars and use over and over
......I use a small amount of water,maybe 2- 3 cups... add maybe 1/2 a package of Rit dye... and a tablespoon of vinegar to the water.
......I bring the water close to a  boil...then dip the tubing in and out of the water till I get the color I like (this takes a minute or less). 
......Rinse in cold water. Geo  (websites ...gone)

Dianne C's lesson on dying clear vinyl tubing
....You will need vinegar, liquid Rit Dye in your color choice, vinyl/rubber gloves, hot water and a glass bowl or one that will not absorb the dye.
1. Bring water to a boil. Pour about 1 1/2 quarts of hot water into the bowl. Add about 2T. Vinegar, 3T. Liquid dye to the water.
2. Carefully put the clear tubing into the dye bath. The time in the dye bath depends on how deep you want the color. I like to leave my tubing in for 6-8 minutes. I check it about every 2 minutes.
.....Also, you can mix the liquid dye into the hot water to attain new shades. For example, I used dark green and navy for a rich teal color.
3. After dying, place tubing in hot water to rinse it. Carefully blow out on one end to blow the excess dye inside the tubing.
4. Then, place it in cold water to further rinse the tubing.
5. Finally, using a small amount of dish soap, wash it in soapy water, rinse and dry. Each time make sure you blow on one end to clear the inside of the tubing.

I went to Walmart last night and picked up 25' of nylon tubing for $1.97.  Boy, that goes a long way!   Lori
..........I wonder what kind of tubing Lori got? My Walmart charged $5.97 for 25 feet.
...the tubing that I had tried from Walmart was aquarium tubing and had a very strong odor...I did not like that smell. Dianne C.

The clear tubing that I ended up purchasing for selling (hardware stores) does not have the nasty odor or the aquarium tubing, and I felt that that fact alone makes it well worth the price (20 cents per foot).  Dianne  C.

(for stretchy plastic used for cording, see Jewelry > Cords for Beads)
(for plastic ear wires which can be dyed, see Jewelry > Earrings)
(for using paints like Lumiere on rubbery cording, see Decoy cord just below)

Rubbery Cording

for making somewhat rubbery strands from polymer clay, see Clay Guns > Weaving

“Decoy Cord”

I came across a very good stringing material in a local sporting goods store... called decoy cord and is used somehow with duck decoys
....be sure you get extruded PVC version though, not the "braided cording
...it has a nice weight, is smooth, and is very, very dark green (looks black)... will not rot, mildew or fray
...I like it better than buna N... definitely easier to obtain
...also far less expensive than buna (which can cost between .25 -.60 per foot, where decoy cord can cost around .04- .11 per foot.)
...comes only in one diameter (approxmiately 3/16" ), but with the huge cost advantage over buna-N, I can happily accept the single-size limitation. Desiree
...unlike buna, decoy cording has a semi-gloss finish
....... if I don't like the shine though, I use a fine grit sandpaper to make it matte
....the decoy cord also bakable
... since it is PVC just like polymer clay, you can use the same adhesives you'd use on baked clay

The two brands I've seen are really not equal to buna in appearance or "behavior" - they don't drape as nicely as Buna, and seem to want to decide for themselves how to lie....IMO, it would have taken a pretty hefty pendant to make the decoy cord drape well. Elizabeth
...I found the decoy cord to be a little stiff until it warms up....a few minutes after I put on my necklaces strung with the decoy cording, the cording softens and drapes nicely. Desiree (....but still maybe not for a lighterweight pendant)

one brand even had a "seam" type line running the length of the cord - some sort of extrusion mark, probably. Elizabeth

It can be baked with the clay, etc., but...
...decoy is PVC, and we know polymer clay is PVC and quite sensitive to temps.
.......(I read the typical high end of the temp range for buna-N o-rings is 250- 275 F...Viton is 400 F)....since it's a form of rubber and I assume behaves a bit differently if overheated.) Desiree
...it can't take too high a temp. ...my temp was a little too high (300) when I first put the cord in...it will melt some if too hot.  Judi

I like buna cord, but there are different qualities of buna are out there. ...I have some that stiffened considerably within a year. It's a pendant that I purchased, so I don't know the supplier.
....I did purchase some rubber cording a few years ago that left black marks on light fabric.
.....Also rubber cording is kind of industrial looking, which I like, but doesn't work for all pendants. Irene

Decoy cord would make a nice bracelet if you're using a clasp... it may not stretch as much as buna though and slip over your hand. Ginger

I also use the cord from Cabelas for the Audacious Rings I make, as it is more stable then the Buna. Dotty in CA

painting decoy cord: ...I found some of the dark green at a local sporting goods store and decided to experiment.  I love working with the buna cord, but hadn't baked it. I did a test with both.  I placed in a piece of each plain, and then painted a piece of each.  I was afraid the decoy cord wouldn't take the paint since it's shiny, but it seems to be just as good as the buna cord. .  I wasn't able to scratch the paint off of either type of cording.  I used the Genesis paints.
...I've only ever tried the Genesis and the Lumieres for coloring buna cord, but I'll bet there are a lot of heat-set substances that would do it. Eliz.
...I have heard that some have tried painting decoy cord with acrylic paints. I haven't seen it nor do I expect the paint would adhere well, even if it were first sanded to roughen the surface for better adhesion. But I haven't tested this so I don't know how well it would or wouldn't work. Desiree
...I painted buna cord for some of my pendants. ...it's very strong, but it will shrink (and get thicker) if baked in the oven to cure the heat set paints. ....Doesn't hurt it, but you need to cut extra length. Judi (same for decoy cord?)

I painted a bunch of the decoy cords, and then heat cured them in the oven and they shrank substantially in length. So if you're doing that, cut them longer than you need. Ginger (same with buna)

....It takes super glues and other adhesives just like buna.
...I've jammed the decoy cording into those leather coiled spring crimp ends.....it seems to have the same or a little less stretchability than buna, though that would depend on the type of buna cord and the type of decoy cord. Desiree
....rubber cording can be connected to itself with superglue. Slice the cord ends at a sharp angle (or some people have success with butt cuts), add a tiny drop of superglue, then join….
...ends of rubbery cording can be glued into clay itself (each end separately, or both ends together at top of pendant)... poke a guide hole, add a bit of superglue or liquid clay?, then insert into clay and bake

I also ordered some of "crimps" for the cord from Cabelas
.....they DO hold the cord well but they're also (fairly large).. I was thinking about covering them with clay. Karen H.
...the crimps sell for $10.00 for 150 crimps.... size is about 1/2" X 1/2".
......they also offer black cord crimps which I sometimes use when I make a piece that will fit over the head
......you can also use the crimps to make a (loop and ball closure) .. loop at one end (held with a crimp), and a clay piece at the other to fit through the loop. Dotty in CA

Sometimes I cover the entire cord with small beads I've made (with a hole large enough to accept the cord), mixed with some commercial beads with large enough holes. Dotty in CA

SUPPLIERS:

LOCAL: I just got back (from Bass Pro Shop) and there was quite a selection of decoy cording brands.
.....one brand came in a very dark green, but the rest were black.
.... all types were slightly shiny except for one, which has a non-glare finish... there were rolls of 100, 200, and 500 ft.
....I bought the non-glare one, in a 100 ft roll, for $7.99.... you cannot visually tell the difference between this and buna cord. Ginger
...Thanks so much for this info... it's great to hear the selection of extruded pvc decoy cord is growing. Desiree

ONLINE:
..Cabelas sells the best decoy cording and reasonably priced (I bought some other stuff, and it was stiff) ...this cording has a wonderful drape to it ..they also sell crimp closures. Margaret D
..... if you want to buy a quantity, there's absolutely no cheaper way to do it than to go to Cabelas.. it only comes in black and in one size, but it's a nice size! And it's unbelievably cheap--a huge spool (lifetime supply) for about $5! Suzanne
......I just bought the duck decoy cord from Cabelas and I LOVE it! What a great deal. It's perfect for the larger beads I make, and a lot cheaper than the buna.
http://www.cabelas.com (search for "Quick Fix Duck Decoy Cord")
..Bass Pro Shop is online too …. http:///www.basspro.com , then search for decoy cord. It's called Greenhead Gear Quick-Fix Cord. Sells 200ft for $7.99, order # 38-801-460-00, or 500ft $17.99 order #38-801-461-00. Sharon
..Grain Valley Dog Supply..I got a spool of about 100 feet for $9.00 here: http://www.grainvalleydogsupply.com/Other/bagacc.html (scroll down to the entry 'Knot-Proof Decoy Cord)'.Desiree
http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTarget=search&hvarTextId=20586
….specifically, the brand Hunter's Specialties ® QuickRig Decoy Cord is great (locally?)...

Another option for cordage is pony bead lacing material found in the kids area of JoAnn fabrics . . . it is a tubular material, much like SoftGlass. The product is called "Tooobs Pony Bead Lacing" made by the Pepperell Braiding Co.... I've used it like buna cord several times and it seems to work just fine.Kathy W.

“Buna N” & “Viton”

Buna

Buta-N is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylinitrile.  One brand name is Butaprene (buna N).
…buna-N (nicknamed "buna") is one type of material used to make "o-rings". Desiree
…It's one of my all-time favorites for jewelry, despite being sensitive to sunlight and ozone after time (see below in Viton, for more on that)

…(large?) o-rings come in colors ... black, red, white and clear. Desiree
...and come in several thicknesses. Irene
...maximum temp for Buna is rated at 250?
…the smell of Buna will dissipate after a while.. I wear my buna necklaces all the time and never notice it.. and I have a very very very keen sense of smell. . . Dave

Buna is cheaper to buy as o-ring cord instead of as o-rings, but unless you are near an extremely well-stocked bead store, you'll probably have to purchase buna online. Desiree
...“o-rings” are rings (as of synthetic rubber) which used as as gaskets for sealing two parts of machinery.  They can be used in various ways with polymer clay, depending on their size.  They come in many sizes, from very small to large.

I've found o-rings (made from buna-N) in auto repair supply stores
...you need to ask for "o-rings" and even then some auto store clerks will look at you funny.
...In the stores I've shopped in, o-rings are usually in a little storage bin.
...Since they're used for sealing in various machines, o-rings come in various diameters and thicknesses.
.....but they are rings, so you would need to cut them to string beads onto rings... and you might need two rings, which you'd cut and glue to make a long enough strand. Desiree.
...I got mine at a True Value Hardware store which has cords of the stuff that they sell to make your own size O rings
... they had a small grey box next to the place where the O rings were stored filled with 3-4 different sizes of buna cord, priced about $.15 to $.25 a foot. ...you might try also some of the good hardware stores. Peggy
....try looking for them in  automotive parts stores. Desiree
....also any industrial supply store like Grainger Supply will have also.
....the kind I found was called “O-ring “splicing  material” at my local hardware store, near the O-ring display. It comes on a spool (in lengths, not the rings themselves)…. don't know if it was Buna brand or Viton. Denise
…....the (large) o-rings in automotive parts stores are for sealing, not splicing (rings, not lengths)…Desiree
…...but will this stuff work the same as Buna etc.?

ONLINE
---I get mine mail order from IB Moore -- phone in credit card orders, they mail….they work with you on the phone to figure out what size/s you need and sell it by the foot. Also sell o-rings, in fact this is really "o-ring cord.")   Ask for Grace at I.B. Moore . . . Irene
.........do ask for Grace, but also ask it be shipped the least expensive way. I didn't do that the last time, it was sent out ups special, and increased the cost of the cord by fifty percent per foot. Yikes! Carol
….Polymerclayexpress sells black, white and rust Buna cord
........they also have a "Buna-V" cord which is supposed to last longer (same as Viton?) http://polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html
….Clay Factory sells Buna-N.
....this site sells both rings and cording: http://www.globalrubber.com/ocord1.html
….I purchased my black rubber o-rings from H & D Distributors, Inc.  Not online as far as I know  phone number 214-351-1251.  I called my order in & rec'd it in about 4 days. Oscelyn
….Oh, by the way, I've never used the cord sold by the Clay  Factory, so I can't compare it, but the Rio Grande rubber cord left marks, so I returned it.  IB Moore's cord didn't leave marks. Y'all keep in mind that IB Moore supplies rubber products to an *industrial* market, and they think we are a little kooky to want to use this for jewelry…Irene
…If you use a lot of the Buna-N rubber cord you can buy it in large quantities for a much lower price than anywhere else at: http://www.alliedseals.com  I bought 300 feet of it for $40, about 7 1/2 cents a foot this is not the really fat stuff.  It's the thinner type.  I have this lovely big spool of it under my work table and can just reel off a few feet whenever I need it. . ..  they carry all the sizes. Dotty

After bringing (buna? or other) it home, I realized that it is sort of crinkly. I should have paid more attention when I bought it, since it was off of a spool that was near the inside core. Does anyone have ideas of how to "relax" the kinky-ness out of it? I did try putting a piece in hot water----and that didn't seem to do much. Fayette
...This may not help you in the near term, but I have been very satisfied with using plastic duck-decoy cord instead of buna cord. (see above)

If you want to get hip deep in info regarding o-rings, here's a url for you:
http://www.marcorubber.com/index.htm  (click on either "O-rings" link, then click on the link "O-Ring Material Selection and Design Guide") Desiree

Viton

Actually, I got a lecture from my machinist at work that we should be using Viton because buna-N is sensitive to ultraviolet and heat.

Viton comes in all the same sizes as Buna-N
... it's used for 0-rings like Buna... just a stronger material ...and it doesn't get brittle or break down as easily
...better for baking than Buna because upper temp is 400 degrees?
....it costs a little more though.

Okay, I understand that Viton is preferable for that reason, but how much UV light is it really going to take to degrade Buna-N cord?. . . no one seems to know if we're talking after a week, ten years, or what.  ...And must it be constant exposure, or is twice a week for an hour at a time going to do it?  Irene NC
…I have a piece of Nan Roche’s from about 5 years ago that has broken twice because the Buna-N has gotten brittle. . . . none of those conditions (Irene).  I do live at the beach, but the piece is not in the sunlight or changes of temp. syndee.
....I did eventually replace (Nan's cording) with Viton and have had no further problems.

I found a great source for various types of cord and o-rings, including Viton and Buna
.......the prices are great, and they have lots of details about the performance.
.......McMaster-Carr http://www.mcmaster.com (when you get to the main page there is a search window on the upper left... enter rubber cord there) Judy
...the material is available by the foot from Real Seal - 619-743-7263  in Calif. and Grainger, which is national.  Syndee
...polymerclayexpress has 2 sizes of "Buna-V" which lasts longer than Buna-N... may be same as Viton?
http://polymerclayexpress.com/cord.html

There are 4 kinds listed: (this is what that catalog says)
Buna-N -outstanding resistance to petrleum oils and gasoline; temp range -40 to +250 degrees .
Viton -Withstands excessive heat and crosive chemicals; temp range -65 to +400 degrees
Silicone -especially resistant to chemicals, solvents, fuels, oils; temp range -65 to +400 deg.
Ethylene Propylene (EPDM) excellent resistance to ozone, oxygen, heat, and weather; temp range  -40 to +250 degrees
....there are two types of EPDM, one with a max. temp of 300 F
(see here for another chart: http://www.marcorubber.com/material_chart.htm )
……For what PC people want to use it for my DH says the best thing would be EPDM.
……For cost comparison I picked one size (1/16" 0.070" Dia. 1-49' per foot 50'+ per foot):
...........Buna-N 14 cents...Viton 89 cents... EPDM 16 cents... Silicone 15 cents
.....all 4 are avaible in the following sizes:
...........1/16", 3/32", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2". Christine

Using

Because an O-ring is a solid circle …hence the name ;-) . . .it has to be cut in order to string beads. Desiree
…this problem can be solved by splicing two o-rings together, gluing cut ends into clay or into findings, or using a mechanical hold alone (crimp or wire-wrapping, e.g.), or some combination.

--the other problem is that just one o-ring is too short (for most necks), at least with the ones I found. It was about 6-8 in. in circumference. But two, cut and eventually spliced together with a little dab of superglue (cyanoacrylate) works very nicely.Desiree

….I'd recommend using a fresh razor blade or tissue blade or the like to cut buna. I think scissors would leave a slightly rougher cut edge. If you plan to splice two buna cord ends  together, you'll want the smoothest edge possible.Desiree
…this cut should be made diagonally, not simply crosswise for the smoothest appearance and the best hold (Desiree)
…the ends can be glued together with superglue and they hold fine. Irene
I use the thinnest buna-N for stringing pendants, and so far, so good. 

...that buna cord dried and broke after a time. To my surprise it was dry only in the places where the clay parts were attached to the buna cord with super glue. Varda
...cyanoacrylate glues do indeed seem to harden (and even crack) rubber and vinyls. (We learned this while attempting several household repairs that didn't work for all that long). Sarajane
...Buna rubber is extremely reactive with solvents and may have reacted with the solvents in the glue, I dunno. What I do know is if you put rubber in paint thinner it will expand to many times it's original size then as the solvent leaves the rubber it will shrink and harden, becoming brittle. Kathmandu
...two-part epoxy glue always works. Meredith
…Future Glue made by super glue inc. says works on oily or dirty surfaces and holds the best for me.  Cheryl

. . . for that necklace, there was no gluing …one end of each cut o-ring was finished with a spring finding. Desiree
http://desiredcreations.com/howTo_PJNcklClosures.htm

The Buna Nitrate cord won't stay tied on it's own, at least for very long when there is pressure and movement of it.  You have to use a (superglue) such as Zap-a-Zap to secure it (or a mechanical hold).  I use a crimp, first super-gluing the end of the cord into it, then crimping the metal around the cord. Then you can fasten a jump ring and a clasp to the leather crimp. The website Desiree put up shows pretty much how I do it, the second one with the spring connectors. Dotty

I superglued the other ends of the cord into both ends of the curved rod pendant (baked clay?). Desiree
…I thought she (Donna Kato, that is) said just to glue the cord into the holes in the clay. Thalassa
…for some I don't make holes, just indent it….yes glue the cord to the bead, I indent the same size (hole) in the clay first.  Cheryl

Buna is bake-able at our regular clay temperatures - you can cure bead ends and closures right on the necklace if you wanted to. Elizabeth
...someone said above that the decoy cord which is similar can't take more than 265 though?
....I baked the o-ring cording I got a True Value at 275 and had no problems. Peggy

Nan Roche video: Ancient Structures and Surfaces ...make integrated findings with polymer clay and Buna rubber (and much more).
This video presents http://www.abbadabbavideo.com/NanRoche/nrpages/nan.html

Cindy P's lesson on making end caps for rubber cording ...by using it as a "needle" (poke a hole across one end for an "eye," then insert a doubled length of wire through it to thread wire through a bead (then making an eye loop with the wire and and wrapping the wire tail underneath) in order to finish cord ends so they will be able to accept a hook/etc. finding
http://www.geocities.com/pcinterest/bunahead.html (gone)

polymerclayexpress’ lesson on applying (metallic) Lumiere paints to Buna cording (layered and spongy appearance, or solid)
http://polymerclayexpress.com/jan2001.html
...I painted buna with Lumiere... just dabbed it on, let it dry and then baked it for about 15 minutes at regular clay heat. Voila! I haven't been able to rub it off at all... and it looks COOL.) Teresa
...I frequently paint my buna cord with Lumiere paints...they have a tendency to crack at stress points...then agsin, I could be doing something wrong. Valerie
...I painted buna cord for some of my pendants. ...it's very strong, but it will shrink (and get thicker) if baked in the oven to cure the heat set paints. ....Doesn't hurt it, but you need to cut extra length. Judi

… I discovered that the buna I ordered is larger diameter than I should have ordered.  I guess I'll have to make some larger beads to use that with. Laura A/Sparkle

Closures

larger pieces can hold their own with a polymer clay type clasp, whereas to make a piece look more delicate, small fancy metal clasps are good. Dotty

A very simple loop and ball for the buna cord is to slice one end of the buna diagonally; drop 1 drop of Zap-a-Gap onto its edge, fold it over so the diagonal edge with glue on it attaches to the side of the buna cord; thus making a loop. With the other end, slide a bead that coordinates with the necklace onto the end-- usually I put on an o-ring, then the bead, then another o-ring, cementing the o-rings to either side of the bead with a touch of Zap-a-Gap. Works great and the Zap forms an unbreakable link with the buna. Dianne C. (see website above)
Desiree’s lesson on Buna clasp (loop and ball) and examples of other closures types
http://desiredcreations.com/howTo_PJNcklClosures.htm
http://www.desiredcreations.com/Misc_PCgallery2.htm
Kellie’s lesson on making a loop and ball closure with buna cord
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/cyclopedia/bunacord.html
Cheryl’s closure using a small black ball on the end (website gone)  
Cindy's lesson on making polymer bead enclosure for ends of Buna cord
http://home.earthlink.net/~claycrazy/buna.html (gone)
Dianne C's lesson on making long-diagonal-cut, Buna loops (Za-pa-Gapped, with the join covered by o ring-s) for attaching beads to wire loops, or as closures (slipped over a large bead)--see below for more
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/february2001/technique.html
Donna Kato's methods of embedding Buna ends (in clasp & in pendant)
http://www.jewelrycrafts.com/clayproj14.html (gone?)
Donna Kato's two bracelets made from tiles joined with Buna cord
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1197327&a=8842373&p=28761466 

Very small O-rings

Think of them as little donuts, about as big around as a pencil shaft.

(the very small --3/8"?) o-rings are used to:
--finish a pendant (on top or anywhere to cover a hole for cording, etc.)
http://www.kelliesklay.homestead.com/inro.html (various sizes, shapes...these are made from clay, but show the general idea)
--for decorative purposes, place on both sides of a single bead (on rubber cording or not) hold an end loop in place and to conceal the ends of cording. Dianne C.

They make great spacers (between beads or other hardware). Dotty
Desiree's http://www.desiredcreations.com/images/galleryTwoPics/hornNeckl.jpg

…You can use the o-rings themselves as (end) caps beads, to leave parts of the cord bare.  In other words you could use a OD cord and string beads on it every two or three inches instead of all together (glued to cord?).  Or you can space larger heavier beads some distance apart.  Dotty

When you use three or four of them together, they look as if they are wrapped around the cord. Dotty

more websites & info (rubbery cording)

Desiree's various uses of Buna with beads & pendants (some w/ glued metal findings on ends)
http://www.desiredcreations.com/gallery2necklaces.htm
Dianne C's various stringings using Buna (website gone)
Cheryl’s many necklaces featuring rubber cord (website gone) 
Desiree's covered mini Altoid heart box hung as pendant with Buna
http://www.desiredcreations.com/images/galleryThreePics/AltoidHeartPurseCombo.jpg
...tell us how you managed to get the buna cord strung onto the mini altoid...did you drill?

I've found that different rubber cordings are of different quality. I got some a few years ago that left black marks on light fabrics. And that was from a jewelry supplier! So be careful what you buy..... You might consider taking a white rag with you and rubbing the cord on it to see if the black transfers. Irene

Woven, Braided, "Knitted" (by you)

...for cordings which are purchased already woven or braided, see above (Braided Nylon, etc.)

...for weaving, braiding, crocheting, etc., with strands of polymer clay, see Clay Guns > Weaving, Crocheting, etc.

Marie's clay ends connectors for a thick cord http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/gallery5.htm

Cool Corder (used to be called Magicord) ...
...I used it mostly to make interesting looking "cording" that's kind of lacy like chain "mesh"... but it also works for embellishments, and other things.
...various kinds of threads, cords, and lightweight yarns can be used in it (...the overall thickness and appearance of the final cord will depend on what's used).
...the cording is "knitted" in this gadget by turning a crank which moves the four "needles" up and down, quickly creating a long mesh tube; it's fun to use, though the first parts can be a little fiddly ...the finished cord comes out through a hole in the bottom of the corder (a weight is clipped onto the bottom of the finished cord so the tension will be kept even)....
...finished cord looks more holey until the weight of a pendant, etc., pulls on it, which makes it appear to be sort of chain-braided ...also makes it much longer
...resulting cord is actually quite attractive because it's very even.
......one of my favorite cords to use in the machine was some old rayon? cord (gold, kind of shiny), but pearl (perle) cotton works well too for making the thinner cords... my finished pearl cotton cord is about 1/4" when loose and 1/8" when stretched.
......the fattest cord I made was with baby weight yarn, using one of those multi-colored ones; it's final width is 5/8," and 1/4" when stretched lengthwise ...this one's too thick to stretch much though.
instructions: string the cording as directed, crank a bit, avoiding the 2nd and 4th needle only on the first round
.... then just turn the handle to crank out the cording, pushing or pulling down at various points if needed (go slowly until the first few rounds are completed... then zoom)
...None of these photos show the finished cording very well though!
http://www.bond-america.com/help/help_cc.html
(the link below for the WyrKnittr shows the needles action as the handle is turned, and when to push or pull)
photos and projects for Cool Corder http://www.bond-america.com/products/cool_corder.html
http://www.bond-america.com/projects/cc_proj/cc_project_index.html (not good projects, unfortunately)
other places to buy... Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc. http://www.bond-america.com/dealers.html
This gadget is actually a mechanical version of the old "knitting knobby" or "knitting mushroom" you may have played with as a child. . . . (...here they've made a coaster by spiraling a length of the finished knitted tube http://www.caron-net.com/mar00files/mar00kid.html )

Wyrknittr....does the same thing as the Cool Corder but with lightweight wire... (don't know if it will also work for yarn, etc.).
...uses 28, 30 or 32-gauge wire, to knit a tubular mesh
...the finished mesh cording "can also be flattened, compressed, braided, folded, or twisted as well ....knitted mesh will be light as a feather
...Bond America sells thin, colored wire too
...can also drop one or more 6mm or 8mm beads down the center of the Wyr Knittr (inside the forming wire tube) and tube will automatically enclose the bead.... or can thread the wire with seed beads or small bugle beads
...shows the pattern that the cording makes somewhat better (when the cording is stretched by the weight of a pendant, it won't look as large and holey as it does here though) http://www.wyrknittr.com
...projects... http://www.bond-america.com/projects/wk_proj/wk_project_index.html ....http://www.wyrknittr.com/projects.html
...photos of the Wyrknittr in action ....http://www.wyrknittr.com/howto.html

These gadgets are actually mechanized versions of the old "knitting knobby" or "knitting mushroom" you may have played with as a child
http://www.caron-net.com/mar00files/mar00kid.html )

Have you considered Kumihimo (Japanese "braiding")? ...(seems to be similar to the Cool Corder, but isn't mechanized ... large though)
....http://www.mtnloom.com/Kumi.htm ("loom") ....http://tinyurl.com/4m4nm (finished braids)
...the braids take a while, but I can exactly match the colors I need by using embroidery floss. Diane V.

I've used lucet (a Y-shaped tool often made from wood) to make really nice cording for many applications. It's an ancient technique using from one to four different colors woven together. You can find an example here: http://kws.atlantia.sca.org/photos/lucet/ You can buy a lucet here: http://lucettelady.50megs.com/ It's easy, fast, and makes very pretty cords. Talia
...With luceting, since the floss or string needs to be able to slide against itself while you're making the cording, it's best to use a smooth floss, string, cording, yarn, etc for making your cording. You can use slubby yarn, but you won't end up with an even-looking cord. I have used lucet cords made from both cotton and silk embroidery floss for polymer clay beads and pendants and they look lovely. Embroidery floss works well for the luceting, and the cording is not so heavy that you cannot string beads on it. The nice thing is that you can color coordinate your lucet cord to your pc project! Talia
...Another place to purchase a lucet is Lacis, in Berkeley, California. Cordmaking on the lucet is delightfully low-tech and no-think--the perfect occupation for TV watching or sitting through boring meetings.
.....They also have a very nice instructional book from which you can learn how to make different kinds of cords. http://www.lacis.com/cgi-bin/lekeys.cgi
...Lucets are still common tools for weavers and spinners. I have a couple of sizes .

"cable"?...Quickest of all is the spinster tool to make cordage from different fibers that are twisted together, and then twisted again on themselves. I have seen the spinster tool in the Clothide catalog. You can make a custom twisted cord to match your piece in about 3 minutes!! ...available through http://meinketoy.com/catalog2.htm?category=Tassel+Making+Tools
...but you can do it without a special tool... my weaving friends just use a cup hook in their portable drill .... Karen in Florida
...I think this is what we did with the kids one time... two kids stood a distance apart and each held the end of one or more yarn lengths (yarn can be doubled, tripled, etc., first).... both kids twisted the yarns (in opposite directions) until it was pretty well twisted... then they (or an adult) grabbed the middle of the long "rope," and one kid brought his end to the other kid, then grabbed what used to be the middle (now the end)... one then released the end they held and the two twisted ropes twisted again around each other automatically.
...adults can do this alone, by hand, also by attaching one end of the yarns to something non-movable, then twisting the other end...when it comes time to grab the middle, if the cord is long try using a foot <g> ...Diane B.

Miscellaneous & Finishing & Tying

Finger buffing the surface with cornstarch or talcum powder is another technique good for large areas...
( wear gloves to keep the clay from sticking to your hands when you first cover with clay to avoid bubbles.) Katherine Dewey

Micki’s lesson on doing a simple wrap/holder/top loop with wire for a flat oval stone (or whatever)... more in Wire
http://www.geocities.com/mick62001/simplecabwrap.html

Eni's lesson on "wrapping" a doubled-back cording with thin wire to create a loop for jump ring (and also making an S-hook for a clasp)
http://www.enioken.com/jewelry/012leather.pdf

*Annie's interesting mixed media pendant hangers http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1168751&a=8667789&p=36040362

how to rivet with polymer clay while making a neckpiece from components made with these surfaces
... and make integrated findings with polymer clay and Buna rubber (in Nan Roche's video: Ancient Structures and Surfaces)
http://www.abbadabbavideo.com/NanRoche/nrpages/nan.html

Goodness, no. I anchored a couple of brass fishing swivels to the bottom/back of the box and linked those to spring findings. Personally, I think spring findings were made for buna cord.  ;-) Buna fits so nicely into springs. Desiree (see more on fishing swivels in Jewelry)

I have been trying to finish some necklaces with the spring connectors (the last coil on one end bent up).... it says to pinch the last coil at the end to hold it in place. Well, I'm having a hard time with this. I wind up with it going diagnol, or smushed ... what am I doing wrong? Annadara
...I use those a lot and still, every once in a while, I spaz out and screw up while trying to crimp the unbent coil end. Usually this happens because I'm impatient. Practice is one answer. Another is a little harder to explain. But I'll try.. . . From the end of the coiled wire, mentally mark the spot that is about halfway around that last coil. Gently and partially pinch the coil at that spot.... Then about 1/4 up from the end of the coil, do another partial pinch. (Overall, you're doing little pinches on the last coil, instead of trying to do one big pinch on one spot). Desiree

There are special jewelry findings for having things hang flat against a neck, and they are (at least by one company) called charm holders. They allow the bead or charm to swivel so it will lay flat. Charli

To add weight to a light pendant so it will hang well . . . pendants may not hang nicely if you use a cord that has "body" to it, like buna rubber. And if you're making small pieces, even the lightest cord won't drape well - the pendant ends up on your shoulder, behind your neck, etc. Elizabeth
....if you only need to add a small bit of weight, you could embed a BB or two in the piece. Joanie
...tiny sinkers that fisherpersons use come almost as small as BB shot, and I got a box of them assorted for under $4.00. (a hundred.) ...select a sinker (or cut one up) that is small enough to hide in the clay object. Since these are lead, they cut easily, and weigh a lot for their size. This will make those light pieces hang right, or help a figure to stand up (or kneel, or whatever) in just the right way. Janey
...I think that the fishing weights is probably the best answer to this - you can buy them in lots of sizes and weights. Elizabeth
....For really big pieces, I have used metal washers, and those work too. Just be sure to bury the metal well into the clay, as you don't want to "find" it when sanding and buffing. Janey
...Other possibilities are to shape the pendant over a flat stone.... or to use weighted accent beads above the pendant itself. . . . (Unless they are made of lead) the weights that are sold to hold down draperies or the hems of garments might be another possibility to include inside the clay pendant. Karen FL

Joanie's drawings of possible stringings for rock amulets
http://members.tripod.com/PolymerClay_Interest/amacord.htm

Donna Kato's lesson on using ball chain as cording... she embeds each end of the ball chain on one side of the top of a pendant by making a 1/4" hole on each side with a (flat-end?) skewer (don't meet up), adding a small black ball over it and repiercing, then dropping 3-4 balls of the ball chain into the hole and pressing the clay in around it
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1399750,00.html (click on photos to enlarge)
...colored ball chains at PolymerClayExpress... http://polymerclayexpress.com/findings.html

I wanted something simple yet more interesting than leather or buna cord, plus I wanted to be able to match the pendant colors. I made polymer sleeves to thread onto leather cord.
lesson: Extrude a bunch of clay with the second smallest round die of your clay gun. Powder it well with cornstarch so it can't stick to itself. Wrap it around a skewer the right diameter for the cord and bake it. When it's cool, slide it off the skewer. You should have a long flexible polymer clay spring! . . . .I ended mine with a round bead of clay at each end, blending in the end of the spring. To put together the necklace, I crimp and glue a bead tip to the leather, pull it into the end bead so it's embedded, string the sleves and pendant and finish the other end with another bead tip. The leather cord supports the weight of the necklace and the spiraled clay flexes beautifully.
...The springs are pretty cool to play with, though they aren't very strong by themselves. ... Jody B.

Finishing or Tying cord ends

There are many ways of connecting the cord ends; we simply tied both ends into a single knot, then trimmed the tails. 

My other favorite trick for a very simple necklace is threading both ends through a metallic pony bead or large-hole clay bead, then tying a knot in each... it looks more finished than a plain knot and is easy. I learned the first from my husband's former employer a jeweler, and the second from a book on beading. Adrienne

back-wrapping...there's a nice looking finish which is quite strong for securing and also making a decorative finish around any thick cord (rubbery cording like Buna, round leather cord, etc.)
....the end of the cord will be made into a small loop by turning it back on itself so that it can hold a jump ring or other finding
...... or made into a large loop if it will have a bead passed through it as a toggle closure
....this can be done with fine wire around any kind of cording... or with embroidery floss around a satin cord, etc.
....note: back-wrapping a bare cord is easier than wrapping the 2nd end if that end now has beads strung right up to that area... in that case, may have to hold the 3 parts in the opposite direction (loop right) and make each revolution of wrap in two passes because the free end inside your hand
(lesson) WIRE:
...use a very fine wire (about 12" long to start)
...it's helpful to cut the end of the cording on a diagonal so it will create a tapered area where it overlaps the main cord (rather than ending in an abrupt straight cut)
--holding cord end in left hand (if right-handed), fold it back on itself creating an end loop of the size you want ...the amount of overlap where the cord will be wrapped (and where the cord now touches iself) should be the length of wrapping you want minus a little bit (...say 1/2 -3/4" in all)
..... (be sure to thread on a finding before closing the loop if you want one)
--lay the wire along the cording and loop (on top of, or beside it), with a 1-2" tail extending past the overlap (to the left) and the rest of the wire resting to the right
--grasp tightly and hold the 3 parts together with thumb & forefinger fairly close to where you want the loop to end and the wrapping to start (the closer fingers are to the wrapping, the stiffer the parts will be and easier to wrap! ) 
--(just below the loop) make a couple of tight wraps to secure the parts, then move fingers back a bit and continue wrapping around and around
....make the "coil" warp nice & smooth by going slowly and being sure each wrap lies exactly next to the previous wrap without overlaps
--continue wrapping a bit more, then trim off the short tail of wire
--finish wrapping over the cut-off tail, and till you're a bit past the diagonally-cut cord end ...the wrapping will taper a bit at this point
--use needlenose pliers to crimp the end of the last wrap into the cording (so it won't feel scratchy or come loose)
(1/2" of wrapping is plenty for security... more can be stylish)
--string on beads or pendant, etc., then make a similar loop at the other end for a jump ring or clasp if needed
(lesson) FLOSS:
--Cut a length of embroidery thread (several strands) about 6" long
--Fold cord end back on itself creating an end loop...keep about 1" of the cord end lying next to the main cord (below the loop) ...(hold in your left hand, if right-handed, with the loop free --pointing left) 
--Lay the floss ON TOP of the overlapped part (below the loop)... it should extend at least 1-2" below the cord end
--Hold all 3 parts together with your thumb & forefinger, fairly close to where you want the loop to end and the wrapping to start 
--(just below the loop) Start wrapping about 4" of the floss around and around OVER the 3 parts --make the "coil" nice & smooth by going slowly and making sure each wrap lies exactly next to the previous wrap without overlaps... continue wrapping until you've achieved the look you want (1/2" is plenty secure, more can be stylish)
.....it's helps to make the unit as stiff as possible, so hold the 3 parts close to where you're wrapping then release and regrasp a little farther down when you've reached your thumbnail (and can't wrap more)
--When you've wrapped as far as you want, tie the floss in a good strong square knot with the other end of the floss (which will be lying next to it at that point). 
--A tiny dot of glue makes it secure (or Fray Check)....  trim the streamers & the extra satin cord... string on beads, etc..
...if there a bead happens to be right at the end of the cording and the bead has a good sized, as much or as little of the cord can be hidden in the hole  

Tania's 18 ways to create clasps on cording
http://step-by-step-tutorials.blogspot.com/2008/03/18-methods-to-clasp-necklace.html (click also on next page)

For knotting up close to the bead (when knotting between beads), use a large needle like an embroidery needle. Put the point of it inside the knot then pull the needle towards  the bead and pull as hard as you can. Good string wont break! then  carefully remove the needle, grab each side of your string and tighten by  pulling. I make knotting tools for myself and others using the embroidery  needles, making a clay handle on the end to grab on to.  Cindy

Adjustable ...cording

Cordings of various kinds can be made adjustable in length in several ways.
... the primary ways are to use sliding knots and "snug" beads (latter probably looks and feels a little better)
... there are other methods too, such as hidden knots, etc.
(or simple tied cordings, perhaps with a bead on each end of cord for more finished look)
(some techniques won't work with stiffer cords like Buna, etc.)

sliding knots

Ruby's lesson on sliding knots
http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/SlidingKnots.html
Emma's lesson on adjustable knots on each side of a bead (when shortened completely, these knots lie on each side of the focal bead)
http://ejrbeads.co.uk/adjustable%20page%201.htm

Laurel's lesson
-- Cut your cord extra-long, then add your beads.
--I lay the necklace down on the table, and kind of cross the top ends over each other (in an X?). I visually do the best I can to ensure the knots will be "centered" when (I'm finished) (this takes practice).
--tie the left cord to (around?) the right-cord (where?). A regular old (overhand) knot is all you need--so I loop it once around the cord, but loop the tail back through twice, and pull the tail tight, leaving as little tail as possible.
--Then I tie the right tail to the left-side cord.
(-- I use a pair of pliers and a needle-type tool to help pull my knots tight.)
--When you're done tying, slide them away from each other to lengthen the necklace, and pull them toward each other to shorten it.
-- I don't imagine this would work w/ buna cording. ....Works terrifically w/ leather & w/ rattail though, and with single-strand or multi-strand designs. Laurel (ADD MY DIAGRAM--same?)

Tephra's *wrapped slider knots (more finished looking)... also in Bead and Button
. . a bead with two (parallel) holes in it rather than one, can also be strung between the knots so that the wearer can more easily feel and separate them for adjusting (website gone)

snug fits in beads, etc.

What a wonderful way to finish a cord using beads that match the rest of the necklace! m'lis

An easy to make an adjustable necklace is to make 2 beads, each of which has 2 holes (the holes should not touch, i.e. they should be at least 1/16 of an inch apart)
...one of the holes should be drilled half way through the bead, the other hole needs to go all the way through (holes should be just large enough for the cording to barely fit through ... snug!)
.....take one of the beads and put the cord through the complete hole so that the partial hole is pointing out.
.....now glue the other bead onto the end of the cord using the partial hole
.....thread the other end of the necklace cord through this second bead, and glue the end into the partial hole in bead one. Bob (fimobob) .
Cindy's explanation http://home.earthlink.net/~claycrazy/buna.html though she uses a drill bit the exact size of the cording she intends to use to make the initial hole larger after baking? ...she also uses wire somehow to attach a clasp??

For a box-pendant, I put twisted cording through the slides (tubes) on the sides with their ends toward the bottom
....then I threaded each free end through a snug bead, using a dental floss threader.
.......the bead is polymer clay with a hole about the size of a soda straw (and the twisted cord is about the same thickness as a soda straw... it wasn't particularly easy to thread up, but is not so tight that it damages the cord or bursts the bead).
...I knotted the ends of the cord afterward, and left a trimmed tassel on each.
(this lets you loop the necklace over your head, and adjust the height of the pendant with the slide bead).

Desiree's criss-crossed cord ends (with bead on each end)
... after each passing through a small central clay flap-loop, each passed through another flap-loop over the top pendant edge farther to the outside
(if you pull on the balls at the ends, it's adjustable). Desiree

hidden knot in vertical hole...
...I make the hole in a pendant so it runs vertically, top to bottom, and I make the hole large enough to accept 4 strands of the stringing cord
(...the cord at the top of the neck will end up being continuous)
...the bottom of the pendant is a square knot with its ends tucked up inside the bottom of the pendant's hole
...Longer, shorter, and then glue or not later on, gravity holds it together. Lindly H.

I'd also like to figure out how to make beads that can be snapped onto cording, kinda like the concept of button covers. That kind of bead could really take advantage of the adjustability. Desiree

turning Pins Into Pendants

ways to make pins function as pendants ?  There must be a variety of ways to do this...

making pins

the Rio Grande gems and findings catalog shows several sizes of yellow and white finish base metal pin backs with bails which allows them to be used for both pin and pendent.  These are available in lengths from 3/4" to 1 1/2".

there is a pin finding that has a metal loop attached to the pin back, so that the one attachment on the back of a piece of jewelry can be worn either as a pin or a pendant.
…The pinbacks are 1.5 in, and have a double loop in the top for the neckchain, cord or whatever to go through. The stock number on the bag is 631-240. It is a package of 10.  I can't put my hands on the catalog at the moment, so I can't tell you the price.
….Rings and Things in Spokane, WA carries the finding you are talking about
…I used to use those types of pinbacks...but, when the wearer gets a bend in any of the pin parts, it becomes almost impossible to EASILY flip that little circular part around...so...when I found this other type (Fire Mountain), I decided I liked it *much* better.  My customers do too...also the pins "lay" a little closer to the clothing.

I have some stick pin findings (can't remember where I found them) that have an eye on the top (that curves around to hang down) instead of a pad.  If the pendant has a wire loop or can be affixed to one, I just hang it from the eye.  It tends to slip down in the cloth I'm wearing it in so that all of the stick part of the pin is hidden, because of the weight of the dangle, but that's ok, I can wear my pendant on my jacket!

I've using little pieces of brass tubing that way (see below)... what I did though is glue the tubing on the back of the pin (close to the top), then cover the tube with a layer of clay, leaving the holes open..... that lets me place the pinback anywhere I want, and the tubing piece is next to invisible, but ready to be  strung (a very short section of the brass tubing can be used, and you don't have to run the length of the pin... it's strong).  Joanie

finished pins

tubes of all kinds
....slip a small length of vinyl tubing over the pin part, then thread the cord or chain through it
....metal tubing of various kinds (some may be findings, etc.)
....some purchased tube-shaped beads may be narrow enough too
... even clay tubes if they're made strong ... or fabric tubes

lesson on creating a wire coil (tube) with extra loop at each end to slip over the pin
......leaving a 2" tail of wire loose, wrap wire around a metal turkey lacer or other small rod/toothpick creating a coil that's 3/4" long
.....(leaving coil on the small rod) place a larger rod or dowel (diameter at least as wide the clasp and cording you'll be using) along the top of the coil-on-rod
.....hold all firmly, and wrap original tail twice around both larger and smaller rods
.....repeat for other end of wire so and you'll have a hanging loop at each end of the coil... remove wire from rods
...to use, slide wire coil over pin, and close pinback... thread cording through loops at each end of coil
..if the pin is to hang veritically, create coil as above, but trim off the excess first tail rather than wrapping it.... wrap just the other end around both rods and trim excess... bend the 2 wrap-loops outward till they stick straight out from the end ... then bend the loops apart slightly so they form a V ....thread cording through the 2 loops
http://www.twocraftyladies.com/pendant_bail.html

could also use a chain... either run some loops in the middle of of a full necklace chain through the pin before closing it
...or use a short length of chain like a coil or tube as above...or connect the ends of the short chain on the pin to regular cording

Be aware though that the cording will then have a wider stance when viewed while hanging than it would for a normal pendant hung from the top because it will be coming from 2 ends of the tube (which are spaced apart) instead of from one connector that's centered
...if that's a problem, the two cords exiting the tube could be temporarily held together with a bead or tube (but would have to fit through the clasps)
...... or a bit of wire or bendable metal or even thread/string, etc, could be used to hold them together (wrapping, tying , etc.) and/or to make the area where the cords divide closer to the top of the pin

could run the pin through a piece of fabric to which has been sewn or glued a jump ring or some kind of connector

for vertical pinbacks, most of the ideas could still work if modified
... into a tube, perhaps put a wire with large loop on each end (bottom loop to keep from slipping out of tube, and top loop for attaching to cord or jump ring, etc.... or use a strip of fabric tied at the bottom end

OR, tape or glue an eyepin or jump ring or tube to the back of the pin so that it's nearer the top of the pin, or even sticking up above it, then string the cording through that in the normal way

there are probably all kinds of approaches--even wild and wacky ones

OR ...make the connector permanent by drilling or red-hot-pin pricking a hole or just a small hole for embedding an eyepin... or by adding a bail, making a frame or backing then attaching to that, etc.

more pendant “ARCHITECTURE”

If you've made a hole to hang the item as a pendant, either use a jump ring to put it onto a cord or chain, or fold a cord in half, put the loop through the hole, the two ends of the cord through the loop and pull firm - then tie or otherwise fix the ends of the cord. This will make the pendant lie flat in wear.

That ornament could easily be a pendant. It is star shaped and sort of thicher in the center than the tips of the points.
.. The artist put the hole through the star top to bottom, starting at the tip of the top point and coming out of the "body" of the star at between the bottom points. ...A ribbon goes through and is knotted at the bottom, leaving "shooting star" tails
… If the design requires a visible hole, I'd build in a supportive armature, maybe a piece of telephone wire inside the pendant, covered with clay, but supporting the top of where the hole will go and of course going further into the clay to distribute the stress)

For pendants or ornaments or pins:  wrapping wire, or twisted wire or wire wrapped with a tiny wire around the rim of a clay shape or dimensional clay shape, possibly adding beads, etc.. leaving a loop for handing, would work well too
(...for all lessons and examples, see above in Framed Pendants)

Tania's large long tube bead strung onto cording.. then large clay disk pendant hangs from it via another cord wrapped multiple times around the center of the tube bead and the dangled pendant
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1001artbeads/2080834785

Tanya F's bit of clay around the belly of a long bead strung on a cord (gone)

Brigitte's wrapped and connected cane slices ...large central and smaller side cane slices with holes in their middles.... the end of one cord is slipped through the hole of the central slice and pulled out (halfway), then both sides of that cord are joined at the outside of the slice by tying or threading a small bead over both, before being put through the center of the next slice (this is done with 2 separate cords, heading in opposite directions from the middle of the large slice and results in a 90 degree cording); for the remaining slices, the cords must be passed through the top hole then down under the second half to the opposite side? (and joined, 180 degree); repeat
http://creaplastic.free.fr/08_05.htm

Terry’s extruded ropes of clay used around the joint of two lentil beads (beads or bells inside)... which is looped at two places along the way to create loops for connecting to a cord
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/octo2001.html

making tiny flowers (or other clay items) to attach to large snaps for hair decorations (Sculpey may be too brittle after baking; use a stronger clay like Premo or Fimo)
http://www.chamomiletimes.com/crafts/hairsnaps.htm
…or snap a series of them onto some beading thread and make a necklace you can change with your mood! Sunni

Linda T’s faux turq and amber pieces with charm –interesting arched shape components (website gone)
Linda G's pendants with chain tassels on bottom (website gone)
Annie’s many pendants with architecture, many framed (website gone)
Matilda's curled wire (with few beads strung on) protruding through a hole in each side of a plate-type pendant necklace, ending up on the front side (gone)

Claude's faux "bail"... a wire spiral-and-wavy wire (spiral end glued? onto the pendant, and a loop formed at the other end for hanging)
http://www.chez.com/creabijoux/interieur/GALLERIE/grandes%20photos/197.htm

(book) by Ramona Solberg: Findings: The Jewelry of Ramona Solberg ..
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/029598158X/102-2863220-5922551?v=glance
http://www.americanstyle.com/magazine/archive.html?Source=/Archive/2002/2/22-30422.html

(see also Jewelry, Vessels/Rock/amulets, Wire, Glues,     )

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