What a lonely week will do for productivity

[hedwigzinch.livejournal.com]

So I decided to try my hand at the whole multi-strand necklace thing. I don't do too much beading in general, so it took a bit of trial and error. I think the first one is the most successful...for some reason I wasn't able to duplicate that look with the other 2. Oh well, it was a good way to use up the gigantic stash of random/assorted/leftover beads I've collected. Any feedback would be much appreciated Thank you!!!
**WARNING**
very very image heavy, sorry


my first attempt, the blue/green necklace:


and a detail of some of the beads. I love these beads, I think I must have gotten them when I was a kid. They look like turquoise glass with faux MOP (maybe foil?) inlays


my second attempt, the red one:



it came out a bit shorter than the first, for some reason.

aaaand finally, the most recent attempt, the brownish/green one:



I tried to use only natural colors...brown and golds, subtle greens and some reddish stuff...not sure how well the color combo worked, though.

For each necklace I made each of the strands separately before braiding/twisting them together. I only used a few duplicate large/focal beads in each, but for some reason, it seemed that when I finally put them together, the duplicate beads on different strands always ended up right next to each other, like the orange ones on the last necklace, the red "petals" on the red one, and the turquoise balls on the first. I guess thats just poor planning on my part, I was trying to be random with my stringing, but I guess it should have been a bit more intentional.

and just to change it up, a leopard print bag I made for a friend to apologize for being a hermit this summer:



anyhoo, thanks much for looking, I hope I didn't slow anyone's computer down too terribly much...