Unfinished wooden beads are inexpensive and can be bought in bulk. Ours range from 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, with 35 to 90 beads per necklace. Dye a few and let them dry for 15 minutes to test a hue.

Tools and Materials

• Wooden beads, by Woodworks, available at craftparts.com
• Powder dye in Evening Blue, Denim Blue, Taupe, Teal, and Yellow, by Rit Dye, ritdye.comor crafts stores nationwide
• Round leather cord, 2mm, in Iceburg, White, and Yellow, from Leather Cord
• Polyurethane spray (optional, to seal beads)

Dyed Wooden Beads Necklace How-To

1. String wooden beads onto leather cord to determine how many to dye. Transfer beads onto floral wire. In a nonreactive bowl, mix 8 cups boiling water with dye.

Color Recipes: Submerge beads until desired shade is achieved. (Once dry, the color will be much lighter.) The dyes are from ritdye.com.

Yellow: 2 teaspoons Yellow

Blue-Green: 1/2 teaspoon Teal, 1/4 teaspoon Taupe

Light Blue: 1 teaspoon Evening Blue

Dark Blue: 1/4 teaspoon Denim Blue, 1/4 teaspoon Taupe, 1/4 teaspoon Teal

2. Bend wire ends upward. Wearing rubber gloves, submerge beads for 2 to 6 minutes, agitating gently.

3. Let dry overnight on paper towels. To seal beads (optional), spray with polyurethane, following manufacturer's directions; let dry. Restring beads on leather cord; knot and trim ends.