I've got the patience of a 6-year-old, but I can't stop myself from posting the DIY today rather than waiting until Wednesday... I just can't... I'm too excited to thank you and at the time of writing there are 1045 likes on the facebook page, I can't believe it: Thank you, I know I'm starting to bore you by saying thank you every four mornings, but there are worse words... I said I'd do a DIY that wasn't too importunate for this contest... I did what I could but I can't completely deny myself, and in fact I love this necklace so much it's going to be hard to part with it, but I'm delighted to let you win it! To do so, just leave me a little comment with your email address and wait until Tuesday 12 midnight for the draw! I've got to tell you a bit about this necklace... For those of you who come here from time to time, you know that I've got love in spades for all things Indian, bangs, moccasins, beads and all that... and a while ago I came across this Maje necklacenecklace, which costs a whopping 185 euros, and I thought, "Not bad, but I'm not convinced about the colors", so I emptied my drawers and went to my favorite Chinese pearl sellers: Perles d'or rue de turbigo and banco!

 

To make this DIY, you'll need:

  • A 50 cm necklace or chain,
  • nylon or cable thread,
  • crushable beads and flat-nose pliers,
  • feathers,
  • leather straps,
  • small charms from the same necklace as your chain,
  • and at least 4 different colors of wooden or metal beads.

 

Here you'll find a  "pattern to download, with the right number of beads and all... To start, cut 60 cm of nylon thread or cable, and double it by passing it through a link in your chain fig 3. Then pass a crush bead through the two ends and crush it close to the chain fig 3 and 4. I advise you to start with the longest fringe, the one in the middle of the necklace, i.e. the middle of your chain. Thread the beads fig 5 and 6, you'll find the right pattern ratio on the "pattern". To finish the fringe, string 2 crush beads and a charm, then pass through the crush beads again and, using the flat-nose pliers, crush everything together and cut any protruding threads.

 

Repeat the operation as many times as necessary (fig. 1 and fig. 2). And for another variation, to finish the fringe, you can glue the end of a feather and slip it into a bead with a large hole, and finish with a crush bead. As for the leather straps, use them to finish the chain, cut the straps at an angle and pass them through the chain link. As well as a clasp, you can also use them as bangs. All the wooden bead materials come from perles box, the clay, metal and skull beads, the leather straps from Perles d'or and the feathers and chain from La Droguerie.

Thanks again!

June 10, 2012