I love a happy accident. Without even planning it, I managed to make a DIY beaded necklace using all of the warm shades of the Pantone Spring 2017 colors.  Truth be told, I made this before I knew about the upcoming colors.  Sewing my own clothes and making my own jewelry keeps me both on and off the streets!   I never know where I will find inspiration to create….

The Pantone Influence
When Pantone introduces the colors for a season, I’m always interested and curious, but that is as far as it goes.   The colors serve as a springboard to create something new in a slightly different color combination or they prepare me for what I will be seeing in the fashion, home decorating and fabrics.  So far, I am liking these new Spring 2017 colors, both cool and warm.   Do you see anything you like?  Do you already have these colors represented in your life?  One easy way to incorporate them is to pluck your favorite color(s) out of the mix and add an accessory to your wardrobe (maybe something you already own), add a throw pillow on the chair or wear new lipstick/eye shadow shade.  Or say NO to all of them!

Much to my surprise, it looks like Pale Dogwood, Primrose Yellow, Hazelnut, Flame and a pinch of Pink Yarrow are all present in this necklace.  It seems to me that the current necklace style trends are long, tassel, diminutive and/or minimalist. But for those of us who are told to keep the focus upwards, I follow that advice to the point that the majority of my feature necklaces are more substantial in nature and fill in necklines.

Different Styles
Speaking of necklines, I was happy to see the attention these necklaces bring to the celebrities’ faces in this photo.

Imogen Lamport wrote a great post illustrating necklace styles that best flatter necklines.

The picture above shows that there is a time and place for all necklace types, day or night.  What’s your style?  Are these too much for you?  Too gaudy or just right?  I have heard some women say that most necklaces are just too heavy to wear and the weight gives them headaches.  I.  Would.  Die.  I like em’ big and bold here, here and here.

Now I do realize that this is not one of the serious topics circulating in our world right now.  However, what I can control is how I present myself in the best way I know. Wearing things I make is very gratifying because I can express my style, satisfy a creative ‘itch’ and complete a project from my many queues.

And then there is style icon Iris Apfel. I love her spunk! I read somewhere she said, “More is more, less is a bore.” She is a person who knows how to use abundant accessories as her trademark.

Moving in the other direction, is a simple chain with some adornment more your style?

Although sewing is my first love, making my own jewelry using beads of all types comes in second place.  The accessory department is my first destination when I enter a department or consignment store.  It is there that I find inspiration for color schemes, construction and style.  I’ve been know to whip out my phone to take a picture or two….

Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show
As I write this post, it occurs to me why the Tucson streets are crowded with out-of-state licence plates…our city is revving up for The annual Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show running from late January through mid-February. It is a world famous minerals, fine jewelry, lapidary, fossil and all things rock related show. It brings tourists and vendors from around the world and is overwhelming the first time one attends. But then after that, it is all-consuming and exhaustive. I encourage you to visit if beads and rocks are your thing…that sounds weird, I know, but there is so much to see.  If you are able to attend, my advice would be to bring a backpack, water bottle and comfy shoes. Oh wait, MONEY, too!

My Necklace Inspiration:
First of all, I never know when I’m going to see something that motivates me to create.  Often it is color.  Believe it or not, the little .99 bags of assorted peachy/gold beads from Walmart were the inspiration for this necklace.  The little bags contained a random assortment of these juicy colors.  As a result, I pictured them blending well with the other beads in my stash.  The few random big balls were the focal beads, supported by all of the other supporting colored beads.

It was certainly a bead stash-buster and use up some small and medium size beads as filler and color blenders. Instead of looking at containers of money beads sitting in my stash, I love finding a way to use up these little lovelies.   For this style, I simply started stringing beads graduating from smallest to largest toward the center and then down to smallest again.  If a multi-strand necklace is too bulky for you, refining your beads selection and making it only 1-3 strands would also work.  Maybe the color scheme is right, but a longer style with a tassel would work better.

All five of the strands are pulled up into large cones using beading wire, crimp beads and an eye pin.  The strands are attached to a toggle closure.  I find large toggles to be the best way to fasten the multi-strand necklaces around my neck because they are easier to grasp, fasten and undo.  I have plans to post a DIY tutorial on how to finish a multi strand necklace for anyone who may be interested.

To read more about the shirt I made to wear with it, click here.

And fianlly, what are you making/wearing/ buying that incorporates the new Pantone Spring 2017 colors?
-Dana