When I picked out the beads for the November Pretty Palettes challenge earlier this month, I had grand visions of an elaborate statement necklace or a complex multistrand bracelet. Neither of those ended up happening. November is always super busy for me and when I'm busy or stressed, I gravitate towards things that are familiar and comforting. I'm not just talking macaroni and cheese (my favorite!); this is true even in jewelry design.
I ditched the complicated, mind-bending techniques and the idea of hundreds of beads. Instead, I created a simple asymmetrical necklace with lots of chain and beaded links. I used very basic techniques (simple wire loops and jump rings) and simplified the original color palette, using only silver, red, turquoise, and a couple shades of brown.
This is the kind of tried-and-true necklace that's easy to wear with lots of different outfits. The red rounds add a spark of cheer hinting at the holiday season to come. And it's a project you can squeeze into your busy schedule!
Long Leaf Necklace
Make It Yourself
Here's a quick look at the beads I used. All of the Bead Gallery beads are available at Michaels.
Here's a close-up of the necklace so you can see these beads in action.
Be sure to check out the Halcraft website to see what other designers created.