The great thing about this project other than the elegant and clean look is that Rio not only gives you the instructions in a clear manner, but they also give you a list of the materials and links to them within their website.

Yes, you can go out and buy you own components, but sometimes it is nice to have a clean and simple project to work on where you don’t have to scramble around to find the right bits and pieces.  Think of it as a great project to sit down and create to unwind after a long week, which you can finish in one sitting and wear all weekend long.

I love the classic look of this pearl and flower necklace, especially on a simple black sweater like this.

This one comes from Infarrantly Creative and has excellent instructions and illustrations.

Think a beading project for slow days at the office or a good recycled materials project. It is fun and drapes in a pretty cool way.

I’d like to see this project taken even further with some creative wire work or a bit of beading.  Could be a fun task.

I like the use of mixed tones of metal and how relaxed and easy to make this project seems, yet still having an edge and a bit of glam.

Plus I often find that I have odds and ends of chain that doesn’t really have a use yet, and this would be a good way to put it to use.

The great news is that she gives lots of tutorials for us fans and you can also buy some of her creations over on Etsy.

Here is this weeks tutorial for this lovely layered flower pin.  She also shows variations on color and additions such as rhinstones.

Instructions are included, and I really like the look of this clasp – would be great with some chunky, funky beads.

She has also found some fun and funky colored enamel chains sold by Mimi Lo Lo over at Etsy.

This looks like an easy and fun project with endless possibilities as far as colors, textures and thickness of the chain.

It seems like a fun idea to troll through flea markets and yard sales looking for color combinations or specific styles for this necklace.

I have also found that when looking for strands of colored pearls or big glass beads, or whatever really, eBay can be a good place to look.  You can often find deals, especially on the cultured and dyed pearls, that are much less than at traditional bead stores.

The possibilities are truly endless with this project

Here on instructables.com you will find instructions for making chainmaille out of the pull tabs on soda cans.   I like the look that this creates and think that you could use strips of maile for necklaces etc.

She plans to post tutorials twice a week.   Check out this post for the first of these planned tutorials.  This one is on zipper hoop earrings.  It is simple and fun.  All you will need is a metal zipper, and old pair of hoop earrings, glue and a pair of scissors.

I  really like the finishing touch of the pearl as well.

You can find instructions for this pieces on the Fire Mountain Gems website.

Bonus: To celebrate their 10th Anniversary – if you spend $20 you can buy this BeadFreak Tee-shirt for just $1.

I think the most exciting part is that the projects are not just basic beading projects but rather are based on mixing traditional techniques, stitches and styles from folk beading in many cultures.  The author also mixes materials such as wire work, and many different types of seed beads to get these unique looks.

Definitely a A+ for ingenuity and a great use for left over fabric bits that you can’t bare to toss.  I personally have tons that could be turned into a necklace like this.

I loved the draped necklaces, but there are styles for lots of tastes.