PROJECT 11: BEADED SUN NECKLACE

REDESIGNED DEEP BLUE SUN NECKLACE

My friend was gifted this nice necklace with a beautiful sunburst pendant. But the necklace wasn’t really her style so she asked if I could redesign it to better match her character. So the objective for this project is 1. It has to suit her personality & 2. The design should also match the pendant.

The pendant seemed to be made of wood that gives off an ethnic vibe which is really not her personality and finding beads to pair it with would be a real challenge. I could choose to be lazy and just attach it to a long chain and that would also come out nice, but I felt it was a waste to do that because the pendant is reaaallly beautiful. So I rummaged through my bead stock looking for something that would match the blue glass in the middle of the sunburst and I found glass beads that were perfect! But the problem was that there wasn’t enough! And we’re on lockdown due to the pandemic so there was no way to get new materials. So what do I do?? 🤔 Find out how I managed to create something that addressed both objectives even with limited supplies.

“Necessity is the mother of invention”

MATERIALS:

Lobster lock

Split rings

Bead caps

Metal beads

*4mm blue glass beads

*6mm blue glass beads

Blue seed beads

.02 nylon thread

**2  6” oval link chain

*Sizes might not be accurate

**I changed the chain as the bigger chain looked better.

STEP 1

Cut about 1 ½ yards of Nylon thread and string in split ring, letting it rest in the middle before tying a knot.

STEP 2

String in the beads alternating between the metal beads & the seed beads & continue until you have 3 metal beads and 2 seed beads.

STEP 3

Continue to string in the glass beads with a metal bead between each and enclosing each 6mm glass bead with a bead cap. Start with a 4mm glass bead, 6mm glass bead, 4mm glass bead, and 2 6mm glass beads and end with a metal bead.

STEP 4

Insert string through pendant and repeat the same pattern in reverse. Secure string in a knot. At this point I was debating with myself whether to make this into a bracelet instead because it was actually pretty good, in length and size, chunky but it was pretty. Will let my friend decide, when we can actually meet so she can try this on. So for now, on to step 5.

STEP 5

Attach the 6” oval link chains on the split rings on both ends of the beaded part. Attach the lobster lock on one end of the oval link chains.

And done!

It turned out better than I expected given the limited materials I had to work with AND I did fulfil both objectives. But after the quarantine, after the lockdown and it’s business as usual, I think I might buy the blue glass beads in bigger sizes and if my friend ever tires of this design, I’ll restring the necklace with bigger and chunkier beads!

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