Twist & Fold Summer Beaded Necklace

Several months ago, I started playing with making twisted and folded beads. I start with a striped stack, cut a slice, wrap it around a thin tube of clay, and twist and fold. To get the stripes and folds as uniform and close as possible takes a lot of concentration, which I find I enjoy. Here are two snapshots of the necklace I made. It seems very appropriate for summertiime.

Butterflies Around Your Neck

I love the summer flowers, and the butterflies they attract. The colors and their grace as they flit from flower to flower is lovely. I've often thought they should have been called flutter-bys, but I wasn't consulted when they were first named. :) Here are a couple of polymer butterfly pendants. I put eyepins in the wing tips to attach the chain so the pieces lie flat and don't twist as they might with a single bail. A fun way to carry a butterfly with you all day long.