Free Friday Project: Bundled Pods Necklace

Bundled Pods by Melanie Brooks Lukacs of Earthenwood Studio

Winter is ending and the time has come to shed the bundled clothing and wake up to a new season! The beads and blossoms in gracing this colorful necklace will be sure to set you into a blooming state of mind. The little bundled face beads are little reminders of new life and youth.

Materials:
1 pewter 30x15mm courage doll pendant
4 lime 15mm porcelain peapod face beads
2 sea foam 15mm porcelain peapod face beads
2 sea foam 15mm porcelain spiral beads
10 turquoise 8x10 luster leaf bead
10 light green 9mm five-petal flower bead
10 rose yellow 8mm four-petal flower bead
10 tanzanite 6mm bellflower bead
70 opaque purple size 6 seed beads
56 color lined lime size 6 seed beads
2 sterling 14mm speckled ring
14 pewter 6mm beaded spacer
1 sterling 18mm dotted toggle
4 sterling 2x2mm crimp tubes
2 sterling 3x3 crimp tubes
4 sterling 3mm crimp covers
24” of .018 beading wire
80” of teal 4 ply waxed linen thread

Tools:
Chain nose pliers
Wire Cutters
Crimping pliers
Ruler

Step 1: Cut a 16” piece of linen thread. Fold in half and attach to the pewter pendant using a lark’s head knot. String onto two threads the following: 1 purple seed bead, 1 pewter spacer, 1 lime peapod face, 1 pewter spacer, 2 purple seed beads, 1 pewter spacer, 1 sea foam peapod face, 1 pewter spacer, 2 purple seed beads, 1 pewter spacer, 1 lime peapod face, 1 pewter spacer, 1 purple seed bead, 1 large crimp. String the thread onto the speckled ring and back through the large crimp tube. Pull firmly and flatten the crimp tube. Repeat on other side.

Step 2: After the crimp, string onto one of the thread ends 1 tanzanite flower and 1 rose yellow flower. Tie a knot at the end, leaving a ¼” gap in the thread after the crimp. Trim the thread to ¼” and fray the end. String onto the other thread 1 turquoise leaf and 1 green flower. Tie a knot at the end, leaving a ¼” gap in the thread after the crimp. Trim the thread to ¼” and fray the end. Repeat on other side.

Step 3: Cut 8 pieces of thread at 6” each. Fold 1 thread in half and tie in a lark’s head knot onto the cord right next to the pewter pendant. Repeat step 2 onto these thread ends. Repeat on other side.

Step 4: Fold another thread and tie to the necklace between the two seed beads between the lime and sea foam peapods. Repeat step 2. Fold another thread and tie to the necklace between the two seed beads between the last sea foam and lime peapods. Repeat step 2. Repeat on other side.

Step 5: Cut 2 pieces of 12” beading wire. Onto one wire, string a crimp tube, the speckled ring, and string back through the crimp. Pull tight and crimp the crimp tube. Trim the wire. String 1 spiral bead, 1 pewter spacer, and an alternating pattern of 1 purple seed bead, 1 lime seed bead, repeating 29 times, ending with a purple seed bead. String 1 crimp tube, half of the toggle clasp, and then string back through the crimp tube. Pull tight and crimp the crimp tube. Trim the wire. Open 2 crimp covers and put one on each end over the crimps. Repeat this step on the other side.

Step 6: Fold another thread and tie to one side of the necklace above the speckled ring on top of the crimp cover. Repeat step 2. Repeat on other side

Resources:

Porcelain: Earthenwood Studio,

http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com/

Pewter art beads: Green Girl Studios,
www.greengirlstudios.com/

Glass leaves and seed beads: Kandra’s Beads
www.kandrasbeads.com/

Glass flowers: Eclectica,

www.eclecticabeads.com/

Silver rings & clasp: Hip Chick Beads,

www.hipchickbeads.com/

Waxed Linen: Royalwood LTD,

www.royalwoodltd.com/

All other materials: Fusion Beads,

www.fusionbeads.com/

Melanie Brooks Lukacs is the ceramic beadmaker of Earthenwood Studio, who blogs from her Metro Detroit, Michigan home.