Art Nouveau Inspired Necklaces You Can Easily Create

These Art Nouveau inspired necklaces are fairly easy to make. The materials are not expensive and may be found at a combined fabric and craft store. If you have material at home with a nature pattern all you need are some jewelry findings. Maybe you have jewelry findings and no material. Ok. As I mentioned earlier all of the materials are available at a combined fabric and craft shop.

Materials:

¼ yd, or remnant of fabric with complete design
¼ yd fabric for back of necklace
Thread
¼ yd white felt
Appropriate thread
Sewing machine
Scissors
Pins

Jewelry findings:

Cord or chain for each necklace
Jump rings
Clasp (s)
Assorted rhinestones

I purchased ¼ yd of two different fabrics with nature prints. One is titled "Lotus Garden" and is from Legacy Studio, it is a screen print. The other fabric piece did not have the name of the manufacturer or design remaining on the selvage. This fabric has a tan background and intertwined leaves and vines with butterflies and dragonflies printed on it. I purchased both fabrics at JoAnn Fabric & Crafts. I also purchased one gold chain, one 3 yd pack of black, 3mm sueded cord, a 42 piece clasp mix package of jewelry findings from Jewelry Essentials in gold and a 20 set package clasp mix in silver. These packages contain several styles of clasps and jump rings.

To begin the project I made several paper patterns: one arc, one triangular piece and one circle. I centered the pattern over the selected fabric design, pinned it into place and cut one thickness of the fabric. I cut a matching piece of backing fabric and felt for each necklace.

Next I placed the cut fabric pieces together with the right side of the fabrics facing then placed the felt on top of the fabric pieces. I pinned the pieces together leaving an opening for turning after stitching. I stitched around the edge of the fabric reinforcing the beginning and ending stitches and leaving the opening. I made small cuts around the curved edges close to the stitching but not cutting through the stitching. I then reached into the stitched piece and pulled the fabric to turn the piece right side out. I smoothed the edges and pinned the opening closed turning the raw edge under and smoothing it as I pinned it closed. I stitched the opening to finish the piece.

I used the sewing machine to add a quilted effect to the necklace. I stitched around the edge of the butterfly, dragonfly, bird and large flowers. I stitched through the center of several of the vines and leaves. The felt sandwiched between the fabric pieces added both body to the necklace and depth to the quilting.

I chose rhinestones to glue onto the pattern design. I placed rhinestones on the wing tips of the dragonfly, onto the wings of the butterfly and as accent on many of the flowers.

I hand stitched jump rings onto the upper edge of the necklace pieces and then attached either cord or chain to the rings. I attached the clasp pieces to the cord by folding the end of the cord through the ring and stitching securely.

I have included five completed necklace designs in the attached photographs. I still have enough fabric to complete five more necklaces. These necklaces would make great accent pieces for your wardrobe or great gifts. A stroll though the fabric isles did allow me to find the fabric prints to create these Art Nouveau inspired necklaces. Using the combined techniques of soft sculpture and jewelry making I was able to complete these projects to my liking. I'm sure you will be able to find fabric to inspire you also.