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 “A Rose By Any Other Name...”:“Really pretty flowers. I love the big dark pink one. The bracelet is quite striking.…” read »
on “A Rose By Any Other Name...”:“Wowza! Beautiful bracelet. I love the colors and the delightful flower beads. Flowers…” read »
on “Beads From Nancy”:“Beautiful sweetjane. I just love the little owl and the roses bead. You have a real…” read »
- on “Mermaid Dream”:
“Cool mermaid and I love the chain with the seed beads. The chain goes perfectly…” read »
- on “Tin Toggle”:
“Lovely sweetjane. I really like the olive colored druks in this one. And the toggle is…” read »
- on “Beads From Nancy”:
“These are really pretty beads. And then you have that cute owl. Fancy bead caps always…” read »
- on “Beads From Nancy”:
“Wonderful bracelet!! The beads remind me of a rose garden and who doesn't love a…” read »
- on “Mermaid Dream”:
“Wow! This is gorgeous! I love your top with it. It makes me…” read »
on “Mermaid Dream”:“Melody, the pendant has two spikes to glue the pearls.…” read »
- on “Tin Toggle”:
“Really good colors in this one. I like the flower clusters. The Czech glass works well…” read »
- on “Mermaid Dream”:
“This is an awesome mermaid pendant. I've been looking for some mermaid beads but haven't seen…” read »
on “Mermaid Dream”:“Yes, it is very dreamy. How did you attach the pearls? They look great…” read »
- on “Tin Toggle”:
“The colors are spot on with the toggle. I also love the flower beads you…” read »
on “Checking out my new tablet”:“Love the brown bracelet, Jane! Perhaps a whimsical charm or ribbon for the rabbit? The bracelet…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“Thank you so much kye. I started it twice. On my first try I made brown…” read »
on “Checking out my new tablet”:“Thanks you all for your great comments! I'm undecided about the rabbit one...it needs something else...another…” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“Thanks everyone for your much appreciated comments! I actually sent this customer a gift...another pair of…” read »
on “Like Night and Day”:“I had to come by for a second look. I am so amazed by your creativity…” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“I just lost one of my favorite bracelets while visiting my mom. It's somewhere in her…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“Great bracelets. Great photos too. Great mix of beads. Love the color scheme on the first…” read »
- on “Spirals and Polka Dots”:
“Thanks kye!…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“Thank you all so much. KR - Don't give up - You'll get there. My husband said…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“Love both bracelets - great choices of beads. The little rabbit is so fun. Wonderful toggles.…” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“I also love the way you played up the colors in the Golem pendant. And the…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“Cute rabbit bead! You find such interesting stuff! Your eclectic style is outstanding. …” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“Love the way you echo the colors in the Golem pendant. I had a similar boo-boo…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“So pretty!…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“I like the brown one best as well. The earth / autumn colors make me think…” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“This is is so cute. The pearl one is pretty also. I'm glad your cuss was…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“Both are great! However, like Nancy my favorite is the one with the browns also.…” read »
- on “Faux Pas”:
“Beautiful! My favorite is the pearls one. Pearls are a favorite!…” read »
on “Checking out my new tablet”:“Love the brown bracelet. Black is nice as well but just favor the brown.…” read »
- on “Checking out my new tablet”:
“Apparently I'm not close enough.…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“These are fantastic!! They are not only practical but extremely decorative! I really like the texture…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“Wow BLE. These little pouch necklaces are the bomb. This one has so much intricate detail.…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“Lovely! The picket fence adds interest to the flowers that I haven't seen nor thought…” read »
- on “Like Night and Day”:
“Oh wow BLE! This is fantastic. So well thought out and executed. I love every single…” read »
- on “Mykonos Sands Necklace”:
“I think you achieved your goal. Delicate and beautiful.…” read »
- on “La Petit Oiseau”:
“Thanks to all for your comments! The little bracelet I made with the gold letters JOY...I…” read »
- on “La Petit Oiseau”:
“So sorry to hear about your loss. Life hurts sometimes. But I agree with Melody F.…” read »
Shiney Objects
About this design:
One day while shopping around on LB I found these gorgeous blue quartz shards and I had to have them!
Once I got started working with them I decided they were too heavy to use all of them on one necklace. When I started working on some ideas I was amazed at how many pieces I could make.
At first I tried stringing them on softflex but they were so heavy I didn't like the way they were hanging. So it was on to plan B.
Plan B was to stringing them on sections of memory wire. Seems I always have left over pieces of necklace size memory wire so I decided to give it a try. The results were more to my liking. All I had to do was make a loop on one end of the wire, string the beads on then make another loop and attach the chain.
Since I was only using short sections of the string I was able to make three necklaces including the lariat . The last two pictures that look like an unfinished piece are what was left of the shards. I thought about making ear rings but even the smallest pieces were too heavy.
Components:
metallic blue quartz shards, memory wire, glass lentils, silver beads and crystal for spacers, chainAdditional Images:
Read the comments (or add your own)
Add your thoughts!
On May 19, 2018 at 10:54 pm #
dolllady aka Pam says:Wow! I like the results of your experimenting so so much!
On May 19, 2018 at 11:09 pm #
Maggies Mom says:They all look nice!
On May 20, 2018 at 2:28 am #
ClovisakaLois says:They’re all great designs! The blue pops!
On May 20, 2018 at 11:37 am #
Medieval Momma says:Love them! Do make earrings, they are sure to be super cute!
On May 20, 2018 at 6:07 pm #
Kathryn R says:Thank you for sharing your technique and process creating these amazing pieces. Especially the idea of stringing the beads on a short piece of memory wire, then attaching to chain. Genius!
I never saw those stones on LB. Glad YOU did!
On May 20, 2018 at 8:27 pm #
Fresh Baked says:Memory wire seems like an inspired idea. The heavy beads will stay in this love array without drooping. Beautiful result!
On May 21, 2018 at 12:04 am #
S KatollakaSue says:Wonderful!
On May 21, 2018 at 7:32 pm #
kye says:Oh man is that blue quartz beautiful! What a clever idea to use memory wire. Really gorgeous work!
On May 22, 2018 at 12:37 pm #
jdtt says:The memory wire holds the stones well – great idea!
On May 22, 2018 at 9:37 pm #
Moogie says:Such a pretty splay across the décolletage! I think the use of the memory wire was a perfect solution for the weight of the beads.