Cross In Lucite

The pendant is a cross embedded in lucite. I used a combination of right angle weave, netting and peyote to make the band that holds the lucite oval. The necklace is made of seed beads and a beaded toggle clasp.

Client Designed

This is the first time I have had a client completely design a set, then commission me to make it. She chose the AB noir seed beads and the glass pendant. Having seen many of the beading stitches I use, she selected right angle weave for the cross on the front of the pendant and the center of the band around it.

She chose the length of the peyote stitch chain. I did recommend the creation of the peyote tube bail, since it allows the pendant to move more freely on the chain. The toggle clasp is done in the peyote stitch, also.
The earrings are on 14ktgp earwires.

Seven Stitches

Like many beaded pieces, I started this with one direction in mind and ended up following the beading muse to a totally different and unintended destination.

A one-, two- and three-drop peyote seed bead and bugle bead bracelet was what I started. Fifteen or so rows into it, I realized that since I was using bugle beads, which are notorious for cutting threads, I should have doubled the thread. Instead of undoing it, I rolled it into a tube and it became the bail around the one tortoise shell ring that was left after this piece was finished.

The tube alone lacked something, so I kept beading. One thing led to another and it became a pendant using ladder, brick, and flat N’debele stitches. I wanted the chain to be made of the same beads, but I didn’t want it to be boring. The center piece of the chain is tubular N’debele that transitions to a spiral rope stitch. The transition point is covered with tubes of one- and two-drop peyote.

A magnetic clasp is hidden in a tube of ladder-stitched bugle beads with N’debele spears on each side.

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.

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!

Pearls on Branch Fringe

Remember the beaded beads I made from silver-lined gold seed beads and faux pearls? While making them, I wasn't sure how they would ultimately be used.

Since the previous post was titled, "Parts of a Piece to Come", I must have thought I would be using all of the beads in one final piece. That just didn't happen.

This necklace is the first completed item using one of the beads. Thank you, Sistren Camile, for agreeing to be the model. It is strung on memory wire, a thin wire that retains it's shape, so no clasp is required. I finished the memory wire ends with a faux pearl.

The picture below shows the back view. The memory wire overlap keeps the necklace comfortably secure without using a clasp.




Still waiting for inspiration on how to use the other beaded beads. Stay tuned!

Netted Stone Necklace

This necklace was designed to showcase the colours of the stone, as well as let the owner have a way to keep the stone close by. He had been carrying it in his pants pocket.

Initially we discussed drilling the stone and creating a wire-wrapped bail, but small flaws in the stone made it susceptable to splitting. Instead, I created a 5-point net in which to suspend the stone. Since a 30-inch chain was requested, no clasp was required. The chain is done in a two bead wide peyote stitch.

Lady Roots Is A Featured Designer!

I was delighted to see one of my necklace designs featured on an fantastic site, Beading Gem's Journal.

Sistren P and I have shared several e-mails and she expressed an interest in featuring one of my other pieces. Since I haven't been able to get to the internet regularly, I didn't know she had put up this one for her readers to see.

Since I read her site as often as I can, I have to admit, seeing my work there was a thrill. She features jewelry designers from around the world. I am honoured to be included with some amazing designers.

Faux Jade Donut Choker

This choker incorporates multiple stitch types. The focal piece is a green faux jade donut. The right side of the choker is a peyote stitched band with picot edging on the top and a netting stitch on the bottom. The left side of the choker is alternating segments of square stitching and stringing.

The closure is adjustable since the crystals used for the toggle can be inserted into one of five different segments of the closure loop.

I am usually drawn to a more symetrical shape for necklaces, but this one just didn't work out that way this time. Each time I do something different and it works out, I feel so empowered.

Thank you, Jah!

Hematite Cross Necklace

This necklace design was loosely based on the large, elaborate EthiopianCoptic crosses. Two-needle right angle weave stitching was used for both the necklace and the cross. The cross was embellished with smaller beads. The clasp is a trailer hitch.