Ocean breezenecklaceString a set in nature’s watery hues

by Lorelei Eurto

Heather Powers’ sea urchin bead was the initial inspiration for this necklace. Then, as I looked through my bead bins, I realized that I already had many other ocean elements to include: gemstones that look like pebbles on the beach, a strand of tiny shells, beads reminiscent of sea glass, and a pewter button with a seaweed pattern. I set a few matching beads aside for the earrings, then strung a mix of sizes, shapes, and textures for an eclectic necklace.

Real sea urchins are usually 2–4 in. (5–10 cm) in size.

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3On one end, string: three 110 seed beads, crimp bead, four

110s, button, four 110s. Go back through the crimp bead and three 110s. Tighten the wire.

2On each end, string beads and spacers as desired until

the necklace is within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of the finished length. Check the fit, and add or remove beads if necessary.

1necklace • Cut a piece of beading wire (How-Tos). Center

a metal accent bead, a sea urchin bead, and a metal bead.

4On the other end, string an 110, a crimp bead, and enough

110s to make a loop large enough to accommodate the button. Go back through the crimp bead and the 110. Tighten the wire. On each end, crimp the crimp bead (How-Tos) and trim the excess wire.

2Open the loop of an earring wire (How-Tos). Attach the

dangle and close the loop. Make a second earring to match the first. ✳

1 earrings • On a head pin, string a spacer, a 5–6 mm

glass bead, a 9–12 mm glass bead, and a spacer. Make a plain loop (How-Tos).

Suppliesnecklace 17 in. (43 cm)◆ 25–30 mm sea urchin bead

(Heather Powers, humblebeads.com)

◆ 15 mm button with shank ◆ 10–25 6–25 mm glass beads◆ 5–10 10–13 mm gemstone beads◆ 5–10 8 mm metal accent beads◆ 5–10 6–8 mm shells◆ 2 g 110 seed beads◆ 5–10 3–4 mm spacers◆ flexible beading wire, .014 or .015◆ 2 crimp beads◆ chainnose or crimping pliers◆ diagonal wire cutters

earrings◆ 2 9–12 mm glass beads◆ 2 5–6 mm glass beads◆ 4 3–4 mm spacers◆ 2 11⁄2-in. (3.8 cm) head pins◆ pair of earring wires◆ chainnose and roundnose pliers◆ diagonal wire cutters

Round green glass beads from Cindy Hoo, cindyhoo.etsy.com. Lampworked disks and nuggets from Blue Seraphim, blueseraphim .etsy.com. Pewter seaweed button from Mamacita Beadworks, mamacitabeadworks.etsy.com. Check your local bead store for supplies.

Design alternativeFor easy mixing and matching, try Chinese sea glass disks and nuggets in shades of mint and seafoam. Beads from The Beadin’ Path, 877.922.3237, beadinpath.com.

Lorelei EurtoLorelei finds inspiration in nature and from different artisans online. She loves working with handmade beads and pendants in just about any medium — glass, ceramic, porcelain, polymer clay, or metal. Contact Lorelei at ljeurto@gmail.com or visit lorelei1141.etsy.com.