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.

Flat Spiral

Having made four netted pearls sets for Nurse M, I was not looking forward to beginning the fifth. I needed to do something with a different stitch before starting the next netted pearl set.

Thanks to the generosity of Sistren Pearl, a tutorial on her blog, Beading Gem's Journal, helped me to learn the flat spiral stitch. I didn't have enough bicone beads to complete a bracelet, so I used 3mm and 6mm faux pearls with opaque black seed beads. The toggle is a peyote tube embellished with faux pearls.
We can now colour the Sav project done! We went back on Wednesday so I could complete the staff training. The owner flew in from America, but didn't participate in the training session. Since she brought a manager's cheque for the full balance due, I'm happy!

We did go back to MarBlue for our date last Sunday. He had the grilled snapper and I chose the grilled mahi mahi. We both had organic salads and steamed vegetables. Good thing there wasn't anything chocolate on the menu, or I would have succumbed to the temptation. Again, a delightful evening with my husband and a delicious meal in a beautiful setting. Thank you, Jah, for allowing us to full-joy the bounty of your magnificent creation.

Treasure Chest Jewels

The name for this set came from the tubes of "bead soup" used to make it. The ingredients of the bead soup mix included size 6-15 seed beads, E beads and bugle beads. If you click on the image to open it in another window, you will be able to see the colours better.

Eight N'debele beaded beads and one right angle weave-covered wooden bead make up the necklace. The nine beaded beads are on a gold toned neckwire I bought at Michael's in Dadeland Station the last time I was in Florida. I am waiting for a client for this set before adding the earring wires. The bracelet is done in N'debele stitch with brick stitch end tabs.

The focal bead on the necklace is a match to the beaded bead used as a toggle on the bracelet. I took a wooden bead as the base, coloured it with a permanent marker, glazed it with a golden polish, and then with seed beads and bugle beads created a right angle weave cage around it.

I've had to resort to scanned images because the digital camera has stopped speaking to me once again! If we resume a dialogue, I'll try to post better pictures.

Netted Pearls in Bronze

This is the third set of netted pearls I have done for Nurse M, the wife of the surgeon who worked on my ankle. The original set was done in a netting of gold seed beads with bronze accent beads. The second set was netted in opaque black seed beeds.

The bangle bracelet, pendant and earrings in this faux pearl set were netted in silver-lined bronze seed beads with clear gold seed bead accents. The earwires are 14ktgp.

Pearls Netted In Black

This is a set commissioned by Nurse M, the surgeon's wife. It is faux pearls netted in opaque black seed beads. The jump ring and earwires are 14ktgf.

Her original set was done in gold with bronze accent points. She liked it enough to order a set done in black and another to be done in bronze.

Southwest Sparkle

The colour combination of turquoise and orange evokes images of the American Southwest. It makes me think of the turquoise and silver jewelry made by Native American Navajo tribal artisans.


This bracelet was stitched with the N'debele stitch using silver-lined clear, turquoise and orange seed beads. One side of the N'debele tube is an embellishment of the turquoise and orange seed beads. The toggle is ladder and netting stitches covering two clear acrylic buttons. The closure loop is peyote stitched with a row of orange beads blanket stitched along the edge for added stength.

Bumpy Knobby

Opaque black and silver-lined clear seed beads in sizes 6-10 were used to make this bracelet. The toggle clasp is an embellished beaded bead with a seed bead loop.

Links of Loops

I bought these tortoise shell rings in a fabric store in Mandeville several years ago. When I bought them, I was attracted to the colour, but had no idea what I would do with them. I would take them out and look at them every so often waiting for inspiration to strike.
I used gold and silver-lined bronze seed beads to make right angle weave loops to link the rings together. One of the rings became the loop for the peyote toggle clasp.

The shot below lets you see the opening of the links a little better.

This and Therapy

All of my energies (physical, emotional, creative and spiritual) have been channeled into my therapy sessions and my beadwork. If the truth be told, the beadwork is getting me thru the therapy. Learning to regain my balance and walk again without fear of falling is hard at my age. The therapy hurts and I am expected to inflict this pain on myself on the days I don't go to the clinic. I can't imagine facing this without Jah and prayer!

When I do all the rehab exercises I have been given, it wipes me out! There has been nothing left over for blogging, no reading beyond the local newspaper, no phone chats, no texting, no e-mails and I haven't even responded to those of you who have been kind enough to visit and share your thoughts. I've been given three blog awards that I haven't accepted yet and I don't know if I will ever catch up.

OK, OK, the pity party for one is over. This is what I've beaded during my blogging absence.
I finished the N'debele bracelet that was on my bead board. Gold and bronze seed beads with brown stars were used. The toggle clasp is a peyote tube.

This embellished N'debele bracelet doesn't photogragh well. It truly sparkles! I used size 6 silver-lined clear beads for the base with transparent peacock blue bead insets. The embellishing seed beads are opaque royal blue, transparent peacock blue and transparent light olive green.

This N'debele bracelet has four rows of seed bead embellishments with gold glass bead inserts. The toggle clasp is a beaded bead.

This is another one that has more sparkle than I can capture with the camera! It is tubular N'debele of silver-lined clear beads with blue insets and embellishments. The magnetic clasp is hidden inside a right angle weave tube.

These are a few rings I beaded. I need to find a better way to photograph rings. The picture doesn't really show the details well.

This set is for the wife of the doctor who performed my orthopedic surgery. She saw several of my beaded pieces during one of my check-up visits. The doctor called me later that afternoon and placed an order. The faux pearls are captured in a net of gold and bronze seed beads. She will wear the pendant on a gold chain.

Gonna Get Some Mommy Love

I am so excited! My Mom is coming from Florida for a visit. My husband will drive to MoBay to get her from the airport. They share exclusive membership in their own "mutual admiration society". I am delighted that they love each other.

I have been in need of some Mommy Love recently. We've talked and e-mailed, but now we can hug and kiss and hold hands! My husband has been a blessing thru my recent trials, but nothing soothes like Mommy Love! Yes, I am a GrandMother, but I still need to get my Mommy Love, too!

At 79 years young (80 in May) my Mom is one of the coolest women I know. She survived an abusive marriage with her ability to love and forgive still intact. She got her first computer when she was in her 60's and now corresponds with folks from around the world. She also travels around the world!

If I ever decide to grow up, I want to be like my Mom.

This is a shot of what is on my bead board for now. A partially done N'Debele bracelt and one earring. I probably won't bead or blog much while Mom is here. I want to focus on being with her.

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.

Variation On A Theme

The bracelet on the left is the original. The faux pearls are lined up diagonally.

I was wearing the original and someone wanted one "just like it". To keep my pledge of making only OOAK (one of a kind) pieces, I designed hers with the faux pearls in a zigzag. Even tho it doesn't show, the toggle clasps are different, too. Hers has a spiral of faux pearls across the top of the toggle clasp, while mine was plain. The stitch used in creating the bracelet is N'debele.

For Erica

The receptionist at my husband's doctor's office saw several of the bracelets I beaded. She wanted one done in earthtones. I used clear, gold and bronze seed beads in right angle weave (RAW). The clasp is a copper toggle clasp attached with copper split rings.

The photo below shows her bracelet next to the one that inspired it.

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.

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.

Blue Spiral N'debele

This bracelet looks nice, but doesn't really wear well.

The beads are size 6 and size 11s in both silver lined clear and blue. The body of the bracelet is N'debele, with peyote stitched end caps. The loop is square stitching, with two brick stitch encased buttons creating the toggle clasp.

I will cut it apart and use the beads to make something else.

If jewelry isn't comfortable, it won't be worn.

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.

For Leslie

I recently met Leslie in Negril. She was vacationing from America with her fiancee. This was his first trip to Jamaica, while it was Leslie's tenth visit! She hopes he learns to love Jamaica as much as she does.

Leslie is an artistic soul. She loves flowers and she loves to laugh! Out loud! With enthusiasm! Her blog, Flowers of Life, can be seen by linking here.

She selected the semi-precious stones, oval peridots, and I chose the size 6 silver-lined clear and size 10 silver-lined green seed beads. The tab ends are brick stitched ending in a magnetic clasp. The band of the bracelet is embellished N'debele.

This shows the bracelet closed so you can see how the magnetic clasp is hidden inside the seed bead tube. It helps prevent the magnetic clasp from attaching itself to metal items like shopping carts, metal desks and stair railings.


One day when I hit the Lotto jackpot, I am going to commission Leslie to paint one of her beautiful murals on my back verandah!

Peyote Re-Do

Sometimes a piece begins life in one form and then later is transformed.


The original bracelet was my first attempt at chain maille. Very amaturish, but just enough to let me know that chain maille is not for me. I prefer the soothing movements of beading.

Two-drop peyote stitched segments were connected with base metal split rings. I wore it several times, got lots of compliments on it and then the split rings begin to show signs of rust. I removed the split rings and then the two side segments sat on my dresser top for months while I tried to design a way to reuse them in another bracelet.

This is how I did it. I two-drop peyote stitched six tubes of pearlescent white delicas for the focal piece.

I like the reincarnation! What do you think?