This post brought to you by Beadalon.The dog days of summer are here.  Barefoot, I walked outside this evening to get something out of my car and the pavement was still plenty warm.  Visits to the farmer’s market and dinners of garden veggies.  Yes, this is summer.

Poking around on the internet, I’m still seeing plenty of boho style.  That’s what I do–look at fall fashions, dreaming of scarves with fringe and ankle boots.  In reality it’s so hot you want to sit around in your underpants.  I like to layer clothing and the sweltering summer temps don’t care.
Today I’m serving up some boho pendants using agate slices.  These go together in seconds.  Let’s celebrate Beadalon’s new 21 g. flat Artistic wire.
Beadalon also has a new small hole punch tool (on the left).  Hole punches make my heart flutter if you can’t tell from this last post.
You can eyeball the length you want your wire or you can measure.  Either way this flat wire cuts easily with wire cutters.
Use a file to knock off the corners so it’s not sharp.
Hammer the wire piece on a steel block and the round end of the hammer to add a planished texture.
This is a cool jump ring mandrel.  Use it for forming jump rings (not just a clever name), ear wires, wire wrapping or to bend this bail piece.
Punch a hole with the metal hole punch (psst…you can use it on leather too!).  Again, I’m eye-balling all of this.  Don’t tell my boss.
Use a micro bolt to hold the agate slice in the bail.
Twist the nut onto the bolt.
This is obviously too long so cut it, leaving about 1mm above the nut.
CAREFULLY hammer the cut end to create a rivet head so the nut can’t come off.  Take care to protect your eyes should you accidently hit the agate slice.  That would be bad.  Real bad.
String it onto a leather strap.  String it on a chain.  With beads.  Without beads.

Treats:

Artistic wire for bail

Hole punch tool

Jump ring mandrel