Tags
Allegory Gallery, Allegory Gallery Design Challenges, Andrew Thornton, Art beads, The Bead Chest, William Jones
I get some of my best beads from artist Andrew Thornton – his destashes, the shop he owns with William Jones, Allegory Gallery, and the kits he puts together for Allegory Gallery Design Challenges. Recently I got a strand of paper beads as a prize, and I love them. I had multiple ideas for them right away. (They have some similar beads in their etsy store right now.)
Andrew made the polymer faux Moroccan amber beads for a challenge kit. I took apart the necklace I originally made that didn’t do them justice, and I’ve been saving them for something special. I got some cool, chunky wooden chain from a destash that I knew would find just the right project someday.
After auditioning different metal spacers, I decided to use some I just recently got at Bead & Button. I added in an enamel Berber bicone bead from The Bead Chest and a large swivel clasp. I really love how it turned out. It’s a fun mix of materials – paper, polymer clay, metal, wood. Some of these materials have been waiting for the perfect project and some new beads came in handy right away. I’m already picturing what I will wear it with.
Bead Love 
Love all those disparate beads and how well they go together to make such a lovely necklace. Especially love the wooden chain links!!
Love the use of wooden chain. It gives an unique feel to this necklace
Love the final piece. Sometimes we do hang onto bits for just the right thing. Brava!
It all fits so nicely together!