Royal Ras Zulu Double Weave

This reversible bracelet is based on a piece from Diane Fitzgerald’s
book, Zulu Inspired Beadwork. I did make a few design alterations, but that’s the freedom of beading! I used only one clasp instead of two and omitted the picot edges of the original design.

The three rib rows are size 6 seed beads and the two woven connecting rows are size 11 seed beads, black on one side and white on the other. It gives me two looks in one bracelet. The toggle is a peyote stitched tube of size 6s with size 11 embellishments.

I find the traditional Zulu beading stitches to be labour intensive, but meditative. Once you understand the stitch pattern, it is easy to get lost in the repetitive motions of the beading. I was able to complete this one in just four days. I can see it becoming one of my favorites!

Cultured Kulcha

A base of faux pearls stitched in right angle weave sports an embellishment of ites, green and gold (red, green and yellow) seed beads. The gold-toned clasp is connected to the bracelet with rings of clear seed beads. I like the feminine look and feel of this piece.


While finishing Nurse M's fifth netted pearl set, I swore I wouldn't do another one for at least a year. But about half way thru it, I begin to visualize it being done in different colours, rather than all the sides of the net being the same colour. This is the manifestation of that vision.

Right Angle Weave Cross

When Sistren Shauna saw Idren Clay's bracelet, she ordered this cross for her Mother.

The beads are size 6 opaque seed beads. The stitch is layered right angle weave. The base layer is black.

Sistren Shauna will provide the chain from which to hang the cross. The box chain in the picture is for illustration purposes only.

Same Stitch, Different Beads

These bracelets show the impact of using different types and sizes of beads with the same stitch.
Angled brick stitch was used for both pieces. The smaller one was beaded with delica beads in a matte finish. The clasp is two snaps that are hidden in the design when worn. The larger one was beaded with size 8 seed beads in an opaque finish. The toggle clasp is a beaded bead.

I got a commission for a choker to match the seed bead bracelet. But since it is for a man, I will need to design a more masculine clasp.

Thank you, Jah, for giving me the gift of beading. I pray for the wearers of my jewelry, even tho I don't always know in advance who they may be. If it is a custom order, I raise their name in prayers as I bead their piece. I want the love and soul joy I feel while beading to be felt when my creations are worn.

Netted Cuff

On my monitor the red beads in the top photo look pinkish. Nuttin nuh guh so!(That's not how it really is.) The colours used are white, red, yellow and green.

The stitch is netting and the toggles are beaded beads.

Spiraled Peyote

This bracelet was beaded for my adored brother-in-law, CDR. He is now living in New York, but has begun the process of returning home to Jamaica. I know being home will be good for him and for my husband.

As young brothers they weren't given a chance to be close, but as men they have both made the decision to overcome childhood issues and work on their relationship. It is hard for them to vocalize the depth of their love for each other.

I used delica beads in a spiraled peyote stitch. The clasp is a silver plated lobster claw.

Four Pendants

The triangle pendants are peyote stitched delicas.

The brick stitched one was shown with a bangle inspired by Mandela's tribal collar. The other is a netted stitch.

Inspired By Mandela's Collar

Nelson Mandela's tribal collar was the inspiration for the bracelet below.
The bracelet is stitched in N'debele using various size beads to create the curve. The red beads are size 6, the yellows are size 8 and the greens are size 10s. The black seed beads on the inside and outside of the bangle are size 11s.

This bracelet is so flexible that it seems to float on my arm.

The pendant is brick stitched around a base metal ring.

RAS Celini Spiral and Pendant

The bracelet is a Celini spiral bangle. The seed beads are 11's, 10's, 8's and 6's. The larger the number, the smaller the bead. A clear tube helps hold the bangle shape.

The pendant uses the same pattern with bead sizes 11-8.

Square Stitch With Copper Clasp

Can the creativity needed for beading sap my ability to write?

The beading frenzy has continued unabated, but I am struggling with descriptions for the pieces.

I know the names of the beads and the stitches used, but can't seem to come up with witty words to paint the pictures verbally.

This bracelet is done in square stitch using size 11 seed beads. The sides of the piece are reinforced with a row of overhand whip stitching. The lobster claw clasp and jump rings are antiqued copper.

This unisex design has attracted interest from both male and female customers.

Layered Right Angle Weave

The focal piece of the bracelet is three layers of right angle weave. The band is two layers.

The magnetic clasp is covered in a seed bead tube. This prevents the clasp from attaching itself to metal objects like filing cabinets and shopping carts.

Crystal Rondels

Ites, green and gold (red, green and yellow) crystal rondels are the design focal point for this set. The necklace, constructed of seed beads between bugle beads, is long enough to go over my head without a clasp. The pendant is made of the same beads and rondels.
The bracelet has two magnetic clasps, enclosed in beaded tubes.
The bangle was created with embellished tubular N'debele and tubular peyote stitches. For dimension and texture I used different sizes of black seed beads and bugle beads. The bangle holds it's shape because it is beaded around a large metal ring.

Tri Tri Tri

Three closed triangles were created by peyote stitching delicas between N'debele spines. The open triangle acts as the loop for the two drop peyote stitched toggle clasp.

The band of the bracelet is tubular N'debele, ending in brick stitched segments that give more sturdiness to the loop and toggle. The triangular charms are attached with gold-toned jump rings. The charms slide along the length of the bracelet, creating movement.

Ras Celini

The stitch is technically tubular peyote, but I think it is using beads of different sizes that turns it into a Celini spiral. The smallest seed beads are size 11 and the white beads are size 6. The black and white beads are are the same ones I used in the African Square Netting bracelet.

The bangle fits snugly over my hand, so no clasp is needed.

Phases

I have been working on this piece in fits and starts for several months now. The necklace is 29 inches long and uses opaque seed beads ranging from size 13 to size 6. (For non-beaders, the larger the sizing number, the smaller the bead.)

The toggle is a two-drop peyote beaded bead. The center beaded tube is covered with an outer layer of two drop peyote. Both layers have black seed beads brick stitched on the ends. The stitches used in the body of the necklace include one and two-drop peyote, ruffled peyote, spiral peyote, celini spiral, right angle weave, netting and ndebele.
Several of the segments are embellished for dimension and texture and fun.
Accuflex beading wire runs thru the clear tubing that is inside the necklace for support.
I need to pick one of the segments to replicate for a bracelet. Any suggestions?
The loop can be worn at the back of the neck or asymetrically in the front as a focal point as our wooden sistren below is wearing it. Here it is in it's entirety!

Beaded Bead Bracelet

This is one of my favorite bracelets. It is one piece that always gets noticed.

The beaded beads are created with glass seed beads in a two-drop peyote stitch over wooden beads. More than one person has asked me how I glued all those tiny beads in such a neat pattern. NOT GLUED! BEADED! Individually stitched onto the wooden support using peyote decreases to follow the curves.

The band of the bracelet is tubular two-drop peyote over an armature wire. The toggle is also two-drop peyote and slips into a brick stitched loop.

You Can See The Star!

I think I finally got it! Using the macro button on the camera did not allow a close enough shot to show the shape of the star at the end of the beaded toggle. This will open an image of the entire bracelet in a different window.

After numerous disappointments with the camera, I decided to try the flatbed scanner. With the lid down, it got the correct lighting, but the toggle would always pull to the side, distorting the angle, so the star did not show.

My last inspiration was to use the scanner, but leave the lid up. I am not sure how I feel about the dark background, but I am delighted I found a way to show you the star shape.

Aquarium Glass

Both the pendant and the bracelet were constructed of netting around small aquarium stones. The pendant stones measure 7/8 inch wide and the bracelet stones are 1 inch wide.

The bracelet band is tubular Ndebele. The toggle is made from two of the aquarium stones encased in RAW (right angle weave), peyote and netting stitches. The weight of the three center stones required that I use at least two of the stones in the toggle for balance. Otherwise, the bracelet kept sliding around on my wrist, so that the center stones were underneath my arm, not on top, as intended.

I could not find a way to get a picture of the bottom of the toggle. It is a netted Star of David. I will keep trying and if I manage to get a good shot, I will post it. ****UPDATE****LOOK! I think I got it!

Many thanks are due to those of you who continue to visit here, even when circumstances prevent me from blogging daily. We have not yet had 48 consecutive hours of electricity since the passage of Hurricane Dean last month. But when I can get on-line, I will blog.

Comments welcomed, subscribers adored!!!

More Aquarium Glass