I often struggle with irregular beads in order to get them to lay right and play nice with each other. I tend toward round beads because I know how those work. I like other beads, and sometimes even buy them, but I end up struggling when I use them in a piece. Take this necklace that I made today.
I think this turned out pretty good, but I might make a couple of little tweaks (or I might take it apart and completely remake it. I never know how much stuff is going to bother me until I wear something.) The turquoise teeth (as I think of them) are obviously irregular shapes and sizes. The copper tubes in between the turquoise are similarly rough and non-uniform. The turquoise drops and tiny metal drops in between the colored beads don’t always hang right and it was a challenge to get the strands the right space apart so the drops didn’t hit the bottom strand.
I do like the elements that came together for this necklace. I used a focal by Andrew Thornton, and a metal bail by Metal Me This. This is the first time I’ve used this colorful flat fabric cord. I’ll see how I like this after wearing it for some time. I often wonder how other jewelry artists get their things to look so much more finished, even when they use a variety of materials and have multiple points of connection.
I hear you loud and clearly! I have lots of beads that I purchased – just for the sheer beauty of looking at the bead! I never know if I am using too many, not enough..yadda..yadda.yadda! Your necklace looks it will wear well – no flippy floppy, as I call it (I hate that!)
I love the look of the finished piece! The colors are wonderful and they fit perfectly together. I love it!
Dang…. that looks nice! You got them to all play nice, for real!