help please? :)

[netofjewels.livejournal.com]

hi guys, i've been struggling with this all evening and I can't figure it out!!
I'm a newbie at crochet, but I can read directions and abbr pretty well, i'm just not so good at creating my own patterns and working just from a photo.

I'm trying to make something like this:



I want to make a crochet necklace like that with crocheted "beads".
I have beads that are the right size, but I can't crochet around them without it looking horribly lumpy and unattractive.
i can't tell if they are crocheted around an actual bead or if they are crocheted balls stuffed with filling, but either way is fine!
if anyone can point me in the right direction, i would be so grateful.

thank you :)

(xposted in crochet & knittingpretty)