Reveal - SJ Designs Jewelry Honey Do List July Design Challenge!

This month's Honey Do List challenge (the monthly challenge that Eric Wentling has been giving his wife Sarajo over at SJ Designs Jewelry) drew its inspiration from the gorgeous patterns found in natural stones.

In fact, that was the challenge itself: to use patterned natural stones in a jewelry creation.

Close-ups of some stone patterns.
Also, not my picture!
This is the inspiration photo from SJ Designs Jewelry.

...So, that's just what I did!

I went rummaging through my stash, and found some lovely agate barrel beads that I've been holding onto for quite some time. I haven't known what to make with them, so they've been languishing in my stash. Looking at them this time, however, I was inspired.

And so, I made this necklace:

The stones were knotted with copper rounds onto black waxed linen. The linen tails were then woven through links of bright copper chain, with more copper rounds added to unify the design.

I chose both bright and antiqued copper as metal accents due to the orange fire-glow found in some of the beads... I wanted to highlight that glow, and make the necklace a mixture of cool agate and warm copper. 

Truth be told, I was quite pleased with how nicely this design came together--especially since I started off just playing around. I had not even expected to finish off with chain as I had; my plan was to bead it all the way around. However, I just happened to have some leftover chain on my crafting table... And the rest, as they say, is history. :)

I had hoped to make more for this challenge, but unfortunately time got away from me. Still, I am very happy with what I was able to create. It is always extremely satisfying to find just the right design for something that had previously stumped me!

Thank you, Eric and Sarajo, for letting me be a part of this challenge. And thank you so much, my wonderful readers for stopping by! Be sure to swing by SJ Designs Jewelry to see what everyone else made.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!