The Design Gallery
Follow along with step-by-step beading projects and share your designs with beaders around the world—it’s quick & easy!
Chatter
on “Spiral Collar”:“I love the earrings! The collar is worthy of RBG.…” read »
- on “Gingko Dream”:
“Looking through your designs for way back. What fun I'm having. I love the…” read »
on “My tree 2022”:“Isn't it so fun to create tree ornaments? Luckily I only have a 4…” read »
on “Newest Earrings”:“Cute earrings! The second pair is intriguing!! Hazen is cute and lucky to have…” read »
on “My tree 2022”:“Wow. You really went all out. Lots of work but such a beautiful tree.…” read »
on “Boney James”:“Beautiful design with the lamp-lit beads. I've been lurking on this site admiring everyone's work for…” read »
on “Newest Earrings”:“These are so pretty. That 2nd pair really intrigues me. Hazen is such a cutie.…” read »
on “Newest Earrings”:“I love the color combinations. The cute little millefiori sliced canes set off the teardrops nicely.…” read »
on “Mixed Media”:“This is beautiful and classic, a great design. I love Deco and this looks like it…” read »
- on “Boney James”:
“You guys are all so awesome. Romeo's new sweater just arrived. It's slightly big in the…” read »
on “Boney James”:“K. you have enough love and caring in you to help Romeo recover. Don't ever…” read »
on “Boney James”:“K, playing music, especially the soft relaxing kind like Boney should instantly calm his mind &…” read »
on “Holiday Hoops”:“marshplm, maybe you can purchased some of the 4mm beads in rounds & heishis…” read »
on “Boney James”:“Wow. Romeo is warming up to you fast! Too bad he can't dance. Ha.…” read »
on “Boney James”:“Forgot to add I really like your necklace...very appealing to me.…” read »
on “Boney James”:“K. Ralston...you are a wonderful dog mama and Romeo was fortunate to have found you .…” read »
on “Holiday Hoops”:“I loved how these looked on the site but I think the 7x5mm gold rice bead…” read »
on “Boney James”:“Good morning ladies. I thought if no one had seen this yet, I would take it…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“Thanks again you all for your support!! I have some Millefiori flowers coming today....which I…” read »
on “Boney James”:“I agree with Melody about the lighted beads. So lovely. I'm sure Romeo will find peace…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“Beautiful Jane. Love the chips and your charms are always right on.…” read »
on “Boney James”:“Those beads seem to glow, like they have light within. We know you have light…” read »
- on “Boney James”:
“It's been a tough day. Despite the fact that the people who live where Romeo hung…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“Oh, this is just lovely Sweetjane. At first glance I thought it was aquamarine, my birthstone…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“I love the way you have the Crystal charms above the heart. I guess a…” read »
on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:“Jane, that does sound like fun-- I can't wait to see what you make with the…” read »
on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:“Thanks you all!! Yes Crystal it's always exciting to get new stuff I have spent way…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“Beautifully soft colors that look so pretty with the heart, lock & key. The Swarovski…” read »
- on “Still More of Nancy's Beads”:
“Beautiful! It makes a wonderful piece to wear any time of the year!…” read »
- on “Black Tie Event”:
“Wow--marvelous use of the Ammonite coins!
…” read » - on “Blue Abyss Earrings”:
“Beautiful design and choice of materials!…” read »
on “Wedding Comb”:“It is beautiful! Would like to see some instructions.…” read »
on “Buttefly sun catcher”:“I ❤ suncatchers! This is absolutely beautiful!…” read »
on “Black Tie Event”:“I love how you used those beautiful ammonite beads. I can see that showcased with…” read »
on “Turquoise pendant”:“Oh my! Your wire work is stunning! You did amazing on this piece!…” read »
- on “Dread Wrap”:
“I haven't heard of that either, but your design is stunning! I am wanting to make…” read »
- on “My Favorite Colors”:
“Crystal....I had to look back...but these are vintage Lucite.…” read »
- on “Precious Metal Clay 2”:
“Gorgeous!…” read »
- on “Don’t make this mistake”:
“I think your oops! are beautiful!…” read »
Opal Tie
About this design:
My goal with this design was to create something light enough to not make you feel weighted down when wearing it in the summer while being cool enough to be noticed. This necklace is really very easy to make, especially if you buy the ready made gemstone bead chain rather than wire wrapping each link.
What you’ll need: (buy products below)
- 2' gemstone bead chain
- 1' leather lace
- 1 length of silk string cut into 2 3-4" pieces with one long length remaining for back of necklace
- 6 4" lengths of non-tarnish brass wire
- 2 6" lengths of non-tarnish brass wire
- 2 Patricia Healey Triangle Arc
- 1 Patricia Healey Textured Curved Tube
- 3-4" worth of seed beads
- 9 feathered daggers or flat drops of equivalent width
- adhesive
Additional Images:
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Step 1: The best thing to do with a necklace like this is to lay it out first. I began with laying out the main large components of the "tie", knowing that I wanted to fill in between those components with with simple rows of seed beads. |
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Step 2: Once the layout for the necklace is done, cut your chain in half, setting aside the extra opal beads. Wire wrap the Patricia Healey Copper Curved Textured Tube Bead to each end of the chain. This will act as the anchor for the necklace. |
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Step 3: Attach your 2 rows of czech drops by wire wrapping them to the chain as they were laid out. Make sure to add a seed bead or 2 in between each drop. This will keep the drops lying flat. |
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Step 4: Now comes the time to use the 2 shorter lengths of silk string. Knot the silk to the chain, string on the Patricia Healey Copper Triangle Arc and knot to the chain on the other side. If you are having trouble getting the silk string to go through the triangle arc, either use a collapsible needle or take a piece of your wire folding it in half and twisting your silk to it. Once you have done the one triangle arc, repeat stringing on the other triangle arc. |
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Step 5: Now that all of the main components are connected to the chain, you can go back in and fill the gaps with rows of seed beads. This is also where you can use the left over opal beads from you chain. See Tip: Make a Wire Wrapped Bead Link |
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Step 6: Finish your necklace by taking 2 6" lengths of 24 gauge wire, wrapping each to an end of chain. Create another loop close to the one connected to the chain and string the leather and silk cord through it. Make sure that you leave a 1/2" tail of leather and a 2-3" tail of silk cord at each end, keeping in mind that in the supporting part of the necklace, they need to be even. Now that the leather and silk have been strung through the loop, dab a touch of adhesive and wrap the wire around and around until it is all used. When you are done wrapping the wire, begin wrapping the silk string around the leather tail and the supporting leather and silk. Finish off the will wrapping with a knot. Repeat at the other end. |
Buy Products from this Design
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You are viewing all 2 items.
On Apr 26, 2012 at 3:52 pm #
KatsAllThat says:Very interesting design. I love the Patricia Healey pieces.
On Apr 26, 2012 at 8:17 pm #
Elis Mom says:Ali, this is so wonderful and unique! How long is the finished piece?
On Apr 26, 2012 at 11:27 pm #
Lynn Eileen Chicky LE says:Susie, I wondered the same thing about the finished length! Great minds and all that jazz….
Ali, this is fantastic! What a perfect example of the popular “mixed media” designs! This is so versatile, too — you could personalize it however you wished! Thanks for the instructions, too!
On Apr 27, 2012 at 1:13 am #
Jennalynn says:Very unique! It’s just lovely
On Apr 27, 2012 at 8:00 am #
Chicky Zee aka Alice says:LOvely!
On Apr 27, 2012 at 8:49 am #
sunny chick says:Ali, another winning design! Thanks for the step-by-step instructions.
On Aug 15, 2012 at 9:14 am #
C Haddock says:Gorgeous!!!
On Sep 30, 2013 at 10:16 pm #
D CONNICK says:The details are so…sweet!
On Apr 16, 2014 at 9:51 am #
DahleaM says:has a very native american look to it!
On Jun 08, 2014 at 12:44 pm #
P THOMASON says:I would love to see other peoples design ideas besides Ali. Is she your only person that makes jewelry there?
On May 13, 2015 at 1:09 pm #
Kathi D says:this is an awesome piece, reminds me of a Native Arts peace made with tiny seed beads
On Mar 23, 2016 at 3:25 pm #
beadngirlee says:I just love your work! And this is no exception!
On Apr 07, 2017 at 7:32 am #
B Wong says:What a gorgeous necklace! Thanks for sharing the instructions!
On Dec 03, 2017 at 5:15 pm #
S lazan says:you’re so inspirational. Thanks for all your tips and techniques.
On Aug 26, 2018 at 4:13 pm #
L Dryman-Rice says:Beautiful, Ali! I love the “architecture” of this necklace.
On Mar 22, 2019 at 3:05 pm #
Annis P says:I’m not finding the curved beads or the triangle arc beads? I thought there would be a better link straight to the items needed to purchase and make one of these necklaces.
On Jun 20, 2020 at 2:36 pm #
DonnaE says:Loooove your creative designs, Ali!! xo
On Dec 12, 2021 at 1:50 pm #
Fullermary63 says:How natural, raw. And absolutely unique! You have taken a step forward in desighns and shown how these materials can be used together and compliment one another in an all original desighn! Well done! Thanks for lighting that fire!!