I have a tiger's eye button bead with a shank. For the life of me I cannot find a good way to use it as a pendant. It is only about the size of a nickel and the shank is centered. A friend put some silver wire through the shank and made leaves on either side and then wrapped around the shank with another piece of wire to make a bale but it still does not "hang" right.

Have you ever worked with this type of bead? How did you solve the problem? Any advise you send my way will be appreciated.
Thanks,
El

Aloha eleanorg!

Depending on the sizing, I do a combination of the following:

1) Fill the hole with appropriate sized seed or bugle bead(s) so the stringing material or head/eye pin fits snugly through.

2) Use curved shaped beads http://www.landofodds.com/store/angelwings.htm or buri beads come in this shape also, on the string/pin that will be hidden behind the button face. Use similar colors to the button, so they are camoflaged a bit. This props up the button and keeps it facing up at the correct angle.

3) Depending on the design and weight balance, once you've strung everything in place, you may need to use a touch of Hypo Cement inside the shank hole to keep the button from spinning around.

Hope this helps! ~alohabc [8D]

If you can get a copy of BEAD Style dated July 2007, they have some neat buttons made into jewelry. Page 61. If you want to use a shanked button that sure is a good way.