DIY Blue Willow Statement Necklace

How do you come up with your inspiration for projects?

I am kind of all over the place.
Sometimes I like to start with an idea for the finished item and go from there – like making a fun hoop with cheery hedgehogs.
Sometimes I find materials that are super awesome, and the finished item kind of evolves from them.

That was definitely the case with these awesome blue china style beads.

I thought they looked just like my Blue Willow plates. They have such a pretty blue and white design, with a little bit of an Asian feel – just like traditional Blue Willow china.
They just screamed, “Make me into an awesome vintage-style necklace”.

And since that’s pretty much my go-to style – there was no way I was going to resist!
So today I’m bringing you my DIY Blue Willow Statement Necklace!

This bit of prettiness is really easy to do too!

If vintage or blue willow type beads are not your thing – you could take the same methods and put together any combo of fun pieces and colors!

Here’s your materials list:

• Beading Wire
• Crimp Beads (6)
• 2 crystal connector pieces (ideally these will have two loops at the top and two at the bottom – but it’s not a must-have)
• An assortment of beads to make up both strands – mix or match these.
  • I used a strand of 20 small blue and white beads, a strand of 13 large blue and white beads, 2 oblong pearls, 3 large pearl beads, 2 medium frosted beads, 4 small navy beads, and 4 medium crystal beads. (I’m pretty sure these all came from Michael’s.)
• a small group of crystal or rhinestone pieces
• 2 16″ strands of chains
• Jump rings and lobster clasp for necklace closure
• E-6000 glue
• jewelry tools

The measurements in the tutorial will make a 32″ necklace. Adjust your amounts and measurements if you’d like your necklace longer or shorter.

Cut a 16″ length of beading wire. Using a crimp bead, fasten the wire strand to the bottom left loop on the back side of your crystal connector piece. Loop the wire so there is about 1″ on the short side. If you need help with connector beads or other jewelry basics, you can check out the How To Do That page.

Thread two small beads onto the wire strand, making sure to cover your short piece with the beads too.
String your small blue and white beads – you should have about 6 1/2″ of beads on the strand.

Kato Kitty tooshie photo bomb.

Ahhh. Better.

Add more beads, the crystals and 2 more navy beads, until this strand measures 11″ of beads.
Connect the wire to the right bottom loop on the other crystal connector piece with a crimp bead.
(These are reversed because the connectors are face down.

Cut another length of beading wire 8″ long. Connect it to the outside bottom loop on the right connector piece. Add about 3 1/2″ of beads to this.

Connect the other end of the wire to your crystal/rhinestone pieces with a jump ring. The strand I’m using measures about 5″ long.

Cut another piece of beading wire 12″ long. Connect it to the other end of the crystal pieces with a crimp bead.
String 7″ of beads onto the wire, including your larger blue and white beads.

Connect your strand to the last bottom loop on the other connector with a crimp bead. Leave some wire on the end and feed it back through the beads so you don’t have a short sharp piece of wire jabbing you.

Now we have a pretty double strand going for the bottom of our necklace!

Cut your two 16″ strands of chain in half, so you have four 8″ lengths. Add these to jump rings, and add these jump rings to the top connectors of the crystal connector pieces.

Glue the jump rings to each side with a dab of E-6000, so they don’t flop around.

Once your glue is dry, connect each side of your necklace chains with jump rings. Finish them off with a larger jump ring on one side and a lobster closure on the other.

And you are all finished!! Woohoooo!

I am so in love with the combo of these beads and the crystals!

It’s just all kinds of vintage style and feminine yumminess.

What do you think? I’d love to know!

Linking up at Met Monday, Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Quilt Story, Shabby Creek Cottage, 504 Main, Everything Etsy, The 36th Avenue Party, Block Party, and the other fabulous parties on the party page. Make sure you check them out!