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 “Purple Passion and Cream Necklace”:“Bea you to ful!! The flower dangle from the heart is perfection.…” read »
on “Witches Brew Bracelet”:“I'm waiting for those beautiful green rondelles to come back in stock! This is Halloween…” read »
on “Silly Summer Earrings”:“Thanks to all of you. Melody the knots are between the dangling beads. I usually sew…” read »
on “Silly Summer Earrings”:“Kids would love seeing and wearing these along with fun loving adults like me!…” read »
on “Silly Summer Earrings”:“So fun! You did a great job creating a fruity delight!
…” read »- on “Silly Summer Earrings”:
“Very cute! Where are the knots?…” read »
on “Silly Summer Earrings”:“These are just darn cute!…” read »
on “Czech Glass Mix Stretch Bracelets”:“So fun. I also like the silver tubes. Nice.…” read »
on “Czech Glass Mix Stretch Bracelets”:“Shin IL elastic cord is high quality and holds its shape really well. I've been really…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Quoth the Raven "Nevermore." I like your raven and your colors are fantastic!…” read »
- on “Czech Glass Mix Stretch Bracelets”:
“These are great for stacking. How does the stretch elastic hold its shape?…” read »
on “Rusted Duo”:“Perfectly suited for Lima's Home Page 'What's Fresh'!
…” read »- on “Czech Glass Mix Stretch Bracelets”:
“I love layering stretch bracelets! These have a nice variety of interest that catches attention--but…” read »
- on “Woodland Trails Teadrop Necklace”:
“Love the lessons on wire wrapping!!…” read »
on “The Raven”:“Thanks KR. Yes we have a lot of crows here also. I think city crows…” read »
on “Some More Nuggets”:“Love the copper flower and the chunkyness of the bracelet. It makes a statement.…” read »
- on “Getting in the Groove Again”:
“Sweetjane, I am just catching up with everyone today. So sorry for all you are going…” read »
on “Dogwood flower”:“Your work with the alcohol ink always astounds me. This is gorgeous.…” read »
on “Purple flower bracelet”:“You will sell this quickly. It's stunning.…” read »
- on “Truck necklace”:
“This just screams "free spirit." So fabulous.…” read »
- on “Rusted Duo”:
“These are so interesting. The patina and the bronze work well together. Very unique.…” read »
- on “Polygon Drops”:
“Casual and fun. Very nice Sweetjane.…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Hey Beady. This is a great piece. I haven't checked in for a few days so…” read »
on “Rusted Duo”:“This is such an amazing design! I love the combination of metal component and bead…” read »
on “Polygon Drops”:“Interesting earrings! I almost always have a plan for the things I purchase because the…” read »
- on “Polygon Drops”:
“Thanks you all!! I got a bunch of vintage/retro beads from this seller. I just kinda…” read »
- on “Rusted Duo”:
“I really like this design! The duos really bring attention to the patina. Very cool and…” read »
on “Stackable Czech Glass Nugget Bracelets”:“Thank you!…” read »
- on “Polygon Drops”:
“Wow. I really love these earrings sweetjane. The shapes are very interesting. And the colors so…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Wow Crystal. Wish I could have seen that waving, slapping and shouting. How entertaining! Yeah ravens…” read »
on “Polygon Drops”:“These are gorgeous! I love the reversible drops. It basically doubles the number of…” read »
- on “Polygon Drops”:
“Very cool! Love the large shape, especially for longer hair styles. The fact that…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Beady, Haha. No, I was stand outside making a fool of myself waving my hands…” read »
- on “Rusted Duo”:
“So creative! You gave these a lot of thought & the end result is very…” read »
- on “Amber River”:
“This really feels like an amber river...I can almost see the motion. The pendant and the…” read »
on “Rusted Duo”:“Great earrings, Becca! Creative use of the miniduos...definitely unique!…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Robin - Darwin is doing quite well. He's a real menace. Strawberry Hill is $4.99 for…” read »
- on “Rusted Duo”:
“Unusual, pretty design. Love the miniduos and the color combination. Great earrings.…” read »
- on “Amber River”:
“Beautiful, happy necklace. The navy colored strap pulls it all together. Wonderful focal.…” read »
- on “The Raven”:
“Thank you all so much. Crystal - Duh, I forgot to add the raven to my…” 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!!