Beaded Eyeglass Holder Made with Polymer Clay and Glass Beads
Design Tips For Making Eyeglass Lanyards That Are Both Comfortable and Fashionable:
In yesterday's post I mentioned a custom order for beaded ID badge holders and eyeglass leashes. Today's photo is of one of the glasses holders I made for that order. The color combination turned out so pretty I decided to make a duplicate leash for myself to wear.
Here's a link to the article from yesterday if you want to check it out: Custom Beaded Lanyard Made With Polymer Clay Focal Bead
The trick when your making eyeglass necklaces is to keep in mind how they are used. This eyewear accessory may be hung from the neck for hours at a time, so it needs to be comfortable to wear. I like to keep the center of the lanyard that lays on the neck, fairly smooth by using only seed beads.
Also, the area of the chain that attaches to the glasses is going to be the most visible part of this lanyard jewelry piece. It's good to add your polymer clay focal beads here. However, don't make them too large. Otherwise they might compete with the design of the glasses, or with any earrings the person may be wearing.
As far as color palettes and styles, that really depends on the type of people that will be wearing your eyeglass leashes. Dramatic, lively, subdued or classic styles can all work.
The pink and turquoise polymer clay bead in this design was created with something called a ghost cane. This is a polymer clay cane where the 'lines' in the design are made of opaque clay and the 'spaces' are of translucent clay. It makes the design, in this case a turquoise flower, appear as if it were floating. The pink base bead shows through the thin layers of the ghost cane for an interesting effect.
For another example of some ghost cane beads, you can read this article: Polymer Clay Rose Beads and Ghost Cane Jewelry
Have you ever made any beaded eyeglass holders before? Are you interested in learning how? Let me know, by posting below!
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Comments on Beaded Eyeglass Holder Made with Polymer Clay and Glass Beads
8:07 pm
For a very customized look, you can replace the wire coil on the silicone eyeglass finding with a large hole bead. The bead must be tight enough however to cinch up and not slide back down.
2:40 am
Yes, Cindy, I am very interested in learning more about beaded eyeglass holders. I also have to tell you that I am super interested in your ghost canes!!! What a cool thing!!! I LOVE your ghost cane beads here and on your "Polymer Clay Rose Beads and Ghost Cane Jewelry" page. I am quite intrigued!
:) Hugs to you,
Cindy E.
2:33 pm
Thanks for your interest in the eyeglass leashes Cindy E. and thanks as always for your great comment!
8:46 pm
I'VE ONLY MADE 1 OF THE EYEGLASS HOLDERS, BUT I USED ALOT OF CANE BEADS AND REALLY THINK IT'S TOO HEAVY. SO I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE IT APART & REDO IT. MY PROBLEM IS: WHERE DO YOU FIND THE CLEAR PIECES THAT CONNECT TO THE BEADS & THEN TO THE GLASSES THEMSELVES? I HAD TO MAKE MY OWN BLACK ONE OUT OF A RUBBER "O" RING. THANKX DE BRADEN
1:29 pm
Hi Darinder! You can find eyeglass holders in lots of places online like orientaltrading.com and firemountaingems.com. I can usually pick them up at the dollar store or craft store too.
Very clever of you to make your own! They are pretty much the same thing. You could slide a bead with a large enough hole over an o-ring as long as it it tight enough to make a great eyeglass holder.
As far as the beads being too heavy, I usually only put a few small focal beads at the ends and seed beads around the neck to avoid it getting too heavy.
You may want to restring yours to get what you are looking for. Use a nice quality beading wire for durability and drape.
5:32 pm
I need to know how you attach the bead tips onto the end of the chain. I put them on but they keep falling off. I,m just learning and would appreciate your help. Do I put a crimp tube on first or just use the bead tip? I'm getting very frustrated. Thank You so much for your help.
4:54 pm
Sandy, I am not totally sure what you mean. I think of bead tips as something that looks like an open clam shell with a hole in it for stringing your bead thread or wire through, crimping or tying a knot and closing the clam over the crimp/knot. Then you add a jump ring and clasp or chain to the bead tip in the provided loop.
Is that what you mean? Did I help or do you need more info? There are some jewelry making basics on firemountaingems.com if you need more help, or just ask me again in another way. Maybe I can still help.
5:51 pm
yes and thank you very much
3:00 pm
I attach lobster clasps to the end of my eyeglass holders and clip the rubber end pieces into them. That way when the rubber pieces wear out they can be easily replaced. You can also remove the rubber pieces and use the eyeglass "Leash" as a necklace.
You can get end pieces at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Fire Mountain Gems and most bead stores.
Happy Beading!
3:45 pm
Very good idea Lori! I think I may do that with my lanyards as well, would give them more options for using them.
2:53 pm
I use the plastic or rubber eye glass holder ends (the kind that have the coil in the middle for cinching). I have had complaints from customers who say this type of end does not hold up well as it continues to stretch out, even after tightening. Are there other types of ends out there that may be better tightening? Any suggestions?
12:42 pm
@Barbara – I use the black elastic with either silver or gold balls on the ends. They seem to work very well.
6:03 pm
Thank you Sandy for answering Barbara's question! I have only used the ones Barbara talks about so I didn't have any good advice. I too, will have have to try the ones you suggested. Thanks for the tip!
9:06 pm
You are very welcome.
Sandy