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 “Sea Lotus Necklace & Earring Set”:“Gorgeous combination to create a set of 3 strand necklaces!…” read »
on “Sea Lotus Necklace & Earring Set”:“Such beautiful, golden layers! The smaller beads & chain really show off the colorful Cloisonné…” read »
on “Happy suade to You!”:“these earrings are really cute!…” read »
- on “Sea Lotus Necklace & Earring Set”:
“I really like the use of the beaded chain in this. Great design!…” read »
on “A Few More”:“JenJ, I tell myself that all the time--I hope you have better success exercising self-control when…” read »
on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:“Thanks again you all...your support really matters. I have been in a real funk lately...don't really…” read »
on “A Few More”:“It’s been 10 days since you posted this. I never paid any attention to the woven…” read »
- on “Happy suade to You!”:
“I like the way the leather frames the feathers and moon charms. Very pretty.…” read »
- on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:
“I agree with Crystal, I really like what you did with the honeycomb link. Pleasing color…” read »
- on “Happy suade to You!”:
“Love these! Such an eye-catching design. So much movement from all the dangling suede…” read »
on “Green dream”:“Wow! Ingenious design…” read »
- on “A Few More”:
“I love them all. My fav is the one in the lower right side. Lovely colors…” read »
on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:“Thanks you all!! Yes, Nancy, that was your pendant. I had it for awhile…” read »
on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:“Jane has cleverly presented a super colorful piece. I had that very same pendant and perhaps…” read »
on “Low Tide Earrings”:“Unfortunately, these do not come in gold.…” read »
- on “Heishi Hoops”:
“really cute! Love the heishi!…” read »
- on “Low Tide Earrings”:
“Do these come in gold…” read »
- on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:
“Nice piece Jane. I enjoy all the colorful accents, but especially how you used the…” read »
- on “Interlocked Rings Earrings”:
“Rings are in! Nice way to brush up on our skills or learn to do…” read »
- on “Fern Hoop Earrings”:
“Absolutely Awesome! The description says the links are plated, so I'm a bit confused. …” read »
on “Shell Cove Earrings”:“Love the combo of the Opal acetate (which looks like MOP), the shell links, and coconut--great…” read »
- on “Heishi Hoops”:
“My favorite style--the hoop ear wires are a blast to create with!…” read »
- on “Tropical Monstera Earrings”:
“Beautiful way to frame the Abalone acetate leaves! The fancy ear posts make this extra…” read »
on “Tropical Monstera Earrings”:“Thanks Pam!…” read »
on “Shell Cove Earrings”:“Another delightful pair of earrings! I must amend the fact that I love all 5…” read »
- on “Heishi Hoops”:
“Another fantastic earring! To be honest I love all 4 pairs.…” read »
- on “Tropical Monstera Earrings”:
“These are my favorite earrings!…” read »
on “Sunburst Chandelier Earrings”:“Thank you!…” read »
on “More Vintage Czech Beads”:“This is a beautiful eclectic necklace and earrings! I love it!…” read »
on “A Few More”:“That blue one has great appeal! Agree about the hula.…” read »
on “The hills are alive🎼”:“Well most of my comment didn’t post. …” read »
on “The hills are alive🎼”:“LRC, actually 3 hairs…” read »
on “A Few More”:“Interesting collection with great components. I especially like the blue pendant. It looks like…” read »
on “The hills are alive🎼”:“Wonderful color and an absolutely beautiful design! What size brush did you use... one with…” read »
on “New and Old Stuff”:“Love those vintage beads. They look right at home in this bright and cheerful design.…” read »
- on “Green dream”:
“Wow! I have to agree with all of the above. This is a fabulous…” read »
on “Second piece from Nancy”:“Wow! I love the design and the beads are lovely.very organic…” read »
on “Green dream”:“Thanks, everyone, for your kind words.…” read »
- on “Green dream”:
“I agree with what everyone else has said. I have tried chain maille on a…” read »
on “Green dream”:“Exquisite! The chainmaille is really wonderful and the green seed beads really add charm to it.…” read »
Quartz Nugget Necklace
About this design:
I love quartz with beautiful shimmering inclusions. They are like nature's surprise gifts in my beads. I wanted to stick with rich bronze tones for the necklace to accent the quartz. A 1.5mm leather cord fits nicely through the large tumbled nuggets, but I felt that it did not look "heavy enough" once the leather was out in the open. I chose to create a series of overhand knots in the leather cord for 2 1/4". The length of the necklace is 21" however this is a shorter necklace as it lays on the collarbone. The width of the nuggets makes the necklace diameter much shorter than what you may normally see in a 21" necklace.
What you’ll need: (buy products below)
- 5-9 large tumbled nuggets
- 4' 1.5mm leather cord
- 37 spacers or discs
- 1' silk ribbon
- 1 toggle clasp
- adhesive
Additional Images:
Step-by-Step Instructions:
|
Step 1: Gather all materials. See list above. |
|
Step 2: Begin stringing your nuggets and spacers discs from towards the middle of your leather cord. When you are halfway done stringing nuggets, switch to the other end and finish stringing. |
|
Step 3: Once you have all your nuggets strung, you need to secure them in place. Tie an overhand knot using both your leather cord and your ribbon at the same time. Embellish with your leftover spacer discs at each end. Mirror this step at the other end. |
|
Step 4: After each knot amde with both the ribbon and leather cord, fray your ribbon so it looks feathery. To do this you need to pull your finger along the edge of the ribbon. Then holding your ribbon approximately 1/2" from the knot pull your ribbon in opposing directions until it pulls apart. |
|
Step 5: To finish off the necklace, I wanted to make a heavier looking cord to balance the large nuggets. I created a series of overhand knots for 2 1/4" to achieve this look. You may need to make this portion longer or shorter based on the nuggets and quantity you chose. |
|
Step 6: Complete your necklace by knotting on a lovely toggle clasp. Secure the knot with adhesive. |
Buy Products from this Design
You are viewing all 9 items.
Last Chance—All sales final.
Last Chance—All sales final.
You are viewing all 9 items.
On Oct 04, 2019 at 6:49 am #
Beady Little Eyes says:Wow Ali – This is so fun. Reminds me of Wilma Flintstone.
Very rustic.
On Oct 04, 2019 at 8:16 pm #
Crystal Canary says:Ali, you incorporated some wonderful techniques and ideas into this piece. Those Quartz nuggets are awesome, and I really like how you knotted the leather in the back and added the frayed silk ribbon. I kept wondering how you added feathers until I looked at your directions! Great work!
On Oct 07, 2019 at 10:02 pm #
Little Round Chick says:Ali, Those nuggets are to die for! I love nuggets and crystal Together they make real “Look at me” statement!
On Nov 05, 2019 at 8:50 pm #
D Masters says:A truely lovely design and choice of materials, well done
On Dec 31, 2019 at 3:18 am #
Bhunter2116 says:Beautiful, so glad I came across this site!!
On Nov 24, 2021 at 11:47 am #
Tater says:Lovely design! Love those little “disc” spacers. Your knotting is superb!