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.

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?

Ndebele Ruffles on Peyote

Getting a good picture of this bracelet was a challenge because the clear seed beads in the center peyote band created reflections that kept you from seeing the bracelet clearly. I tried taking the pictures in different settings, but none were acceptable to post. My husband suggested hanging it on the rose bush to take the shot. It turned out to be the best idea of all!

The beads placed between each Ndebele point created the ruffles along the edge of the band. That was not the original design intent, but I have learned the hard way to listen to the beads when they begin to speak. I think it gives the bracelet a more feminine look.

Two Crosses

These crosses were done as a special request for the wife of one of my husband's childhood friends. She couldn't decide whether she wanted the pendant to be flat or dimensional, so I did one of each to give her a choice.

She kept both of them!

The flat one on the left is done in peyote stitch and the thicker one on the right is done in right angle weave (RAW).

Fiesta 2

Not having phone or internet service at home has left me with lots of time to bead. That will have to be my silver lining in this cloud of corporate inefficiency.


When I called Cable & Wireless (Chaos & Wutless) again this morning they confirmed the records reflect that I have been without service since last month. Then they tell me that the problem was given to a technician on November 2nd! Today is the 14th and not a sign of the tech anywhere!



So this is what I have been doing in the mean time. This set includes a fringed peyote bracelet with beaded toggle clasp, brick stitch earrings and an adjustable peyote choker.

I made the bracelet last year. After seeing it worn alone, I felt it needed some companion pieces. Thankfully, so did the bracelet's owner! So I did the earrings and choker to complete the set.

I wish you could see how vibrant the colours are against her beautiful chocolate skin! Di colours dem jus' a shock out!

Fiesta!

This was my first attempt at the Celini spiral stitch. Keeping an even thread tension is vital to maintaining the spiral shape. The lady who ordered the set says it slips right on to her wrist.

After this scan was taken, I made 14ktgf earwires for the earrings.

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!

More Aquarium Glass

This set was beaded for a lovely lady who is one of my technology clients. I hope she enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoyed creating it for her.

The focal beads are aquarium glass stones set into a delica bead net. The net is open on the front and back, so you can see straight thru both pieces. The pendant bail and the bracelet band are peyote stitched in gold and pearlescent white delicas. The magnetic clasp ends are hidden in a peyote stitched tube of delicas.

The tiny, uniform size of the delica beads give this aquarium glass set a formal, yet dainty look. The other set I made using aquarium glass has a more substantial, informal look caused by the larger, irregularly shaped seed beads.

Blue Mood From A Beading Muse - Pt 4

Isn't it great how the blue phase is ending at about the same time as my stash of blue beads?

A three-bead wide ladder stitch of silver-lined clear size 6s creates the band for this bracelet. The looped embellished edge gives dimension to the piece while protecting the edge threads forming the base. The toggle clasp is made from two acrylic buttons and the closure loop is created from seed beads and the size 6 base beads.

The patterns in this one didn't scan well. There are spirals, stripes and bands of blue and crystal seed beads peyote stitched around a metal ring.

Blue Mood - Pt 1
Blue Mood - Pt 2
Blue Mood - Pt 3

Blue Mood From A Beading Muse - Pt 2

Another blue piece. This is a peyote band embellished with picot edging and a ruffled loop down the center of the band. The toggle clasp is a clear acrylic button.

(Click the image for a larger view.)

This view shows the 3-D effect of the looped embellishment along the band.

Blue Mood Part 1
Blue Mood Part 3
Blue Mood Part 4

Mis-Educating Mi Gran-Pickney

Swallowing repeatedly, counting to ten, clenching/unclenching my fingers and taking deep cleansing breaths in an attempt to calm my warring emotions do not seem to be having the desired effect.

So, I am asking Father Jah to guide my tongue and help me speak only wisdom, truth and love; rebuking the anger that continues to rise in me.

The irrational, ungoverned, primal urge inna mi belly bottom wants to BLAZE FIRE ‘pon di rankin’ eeeediot dat mis-teaching mi gran-pickney ova foreign. (Translation for non-patois speakers: I am angry that uninformed minds are in a position of authority over my grandchild in America.)

The wise, mature, loving, grandmother-who-wants-to-set-a-good-example-for-her side of me needs to find a way to 1) correct the misinformation she was given 2) applaud her courage 3) help her learn kindness when dealing with mental midgets 4) minimize the effect that small minds can have on her development.

My granddaughter proudly wore one of my beaded bracelets to school.

It has the Jamaican flag on either side of her name.

Her teacher called her to his desk to tell her the bracelet promotes and advocates the smoking of marijuana! She is 12…soon to be 13 and a valiant warrioress-in-training. In what must have been an infuriating tone of voice she informed him that the bracelet was to show that she had lots of culture and since her GranMa made it, she would be wearing it.

Thanks, sweet girl, for standing up for GranMa. When we are faced with ignorance, we must meet it with the truth, with love and with a spirit that seeks only to increase understanding.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

ZigZag Peyote Bracelet

This 1 and 2-drop peyote stitch bracelet receives attention and comments whenever I wear it. The beads include white pearlescent and hematite delicas, size 8 hematite hex cuts, and size 3 matte black and hematite cylinder beads. The toggle is a wooden bead covered with delicas in peyote stitch and a peyote closure loop. It is 1.25 inches wide and 7.75 inches long.

Even using the macro setting on the digital camera, I could not get a clear shot that shows the raised effect created by using the three different sizes of beads. It it a very textural bracelet I enjoy wearing.