Dainty Spring Necklace TUTORIAL

Dainty Spring Necklace TUTORIAL

Happy first day of Spring! I thought I'd leave you with my latest designer project for Ornamentea.com for the month of March. This necklace is inspired by the Spring season with faceted crystal like a drop of fresh dew and bright fringy silk like wisps of new grass or blossoms and Irish waxed linen in Emerald, the color of the year. This little necklace speaks of the delicate beauty and color of Springtime!

Ingredients

* 1 Swarovski crystal faceted pendant (briolette or baroque)
* 1 Czech glass 4mm druk bead
* 1" of ¾" dupioni silk ribbon
* 1 9mm lobster clasp
* 1 soldered link of extender chain (or a jump ring)
* 6" of 22 gauge wire
* 1 2" head pin
* 24" of Irish waxed linen cord in Emerald (or color of your choice)

Tools

- chain nose pliers
- wire cutters
- Scissors
- round nose pliers


1.Use the wire to form a wire-wrapped bail on the crystal pendant. Set aside. Use the headpin to string the 4mm glass bead; form a wire-wrapped loop.

 2. String the crystal pendant and the glass bead to the center of the Irish waxed linen cord. Fold the cord in half. Form an overhand knot above the dangles with both cords together. Leave the knot loose. Insert the piece of dupioni ribbon into the knot as shown.

 3. Hold the silk ribbon in place. Tighten the knot capturing the silk in the middle as shown.

4. Use one end of the cord to string the lobster clasp; form a slip knot. Trim tail to ¼". Repeat on the other side of the necklace using the soldered ring or jump ring.

Bead Cruise 2013

I'll be back to this space as soon as I can. I'm catching up with life following my adventure on Heather Power's Bead Cruise 2013. Oh, and it was an adventure! That is the best way I can describe the experience on my first cruise. On a high, living life to the fullest. In some ways, I felt like I was really living for the first time. I guess travel can do that to you, especially if you are visiting the beautiful locals we did. I can see how this could get addicting!

Well, I don't know if I'm ready for a jet-setter lifestyle just yet, but the trip definitely had a profound impact. I need some time to process it all. Heather, her family and the rest of the bead cruiser ladies are just the nicest, friendliest group! Everyone is kind, warm and welcoming. It feels like an intimate gathering of your best girlfriends. The vibe and feeling is similar to what I described at ArtBLISS last year. Absolutely wonderful. I feel privileged to have been able to go on this cruise and grateful for every opportunity.

  While I take some time to gather myself and get things taken care of here with my family and home, I thought I'd leave you with some of my favorite pics from the excursions from our 3 ports of call: Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I hope you like pictures cuz there's a lot of 'em!

 Boats in Cozumel:

Mayan Ruins in Tulum:

7 Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Island:

Stingray City, Grand Cayman:

Falmouth, Jamaica:

Bamboo Beach Club, Jamaica:

Our sweet guides on our excursion in Jamaica:

Loved these two girls!
If you'd like to see even more photos from the Bead Cruise, you can view my album on Facebook! Feel free to friend me there, too!