Beaded Lanyards

My daughter is in preschool now. Every day I leave from work and get to her school with about 25 minutes to wait for her class to get out. So I sit there and bead while I wait. The teachers have noticed me doing that and asked for some lanyards (ID badge holders you wear like a necklace). So I've started a new line of them for Kintera Arts. This is the first - Calypso. It includes a key ring for keeping any work related keys on. The key ring and badge clip are easily removable so that the bead work can also be worn as a necklace. Many more to come.

Green Bracelet

I tried some freeform beading to use up a few leftover beads from other projects and wow, is this ever fun to do! This Green Bracelet is the first of many more to come.

Freeform beading is quite simple to do. First I choose several beads of different shapes, sizes and textures. Then I start with the Peyote stitch for the first few rows (though I could really start with any stitch - this is just what I've done so far). After that I just add whatever beads I feel like adding in whatever stitch seems to work best in that spot. The design evolves as I go and I have no idea what the finished piece will end up looking like. It's done when I feel like I'm done. The resulting jewelry is unique - a one of a kind work of art that will never be reproduced.

The Green Bracelet evolved with that point near the center all on it's own. When I was finished I realized that point needed something... so I added the crystal point.

I'm offering this Green Bracelet for sale on my Kintera Arts website, where I also describe the folklore associated with the beads and elements of this bracelet for those who are interested. http://kinteraarts.com/bracelet-green-bracelet.shtml

Billy Jo Necklace

Billy Jo Necklace
Originally uploaded by avogana

Made from the beaded beads I received from Billie Jo for the beaded bead swap on the Yahoo group Beadingaholics.

Carole's Ammonite

My Aunt Carole went to last year's Tuscon beading event and picked up a bunch of ammonites. She asked me to make this one into a necklace for her and expected I'd drill a hole or something and stick it on a chain. Well, I've never been able to do anything the easy way, so here's what I came up with.

The necklace part is done in garnet, citrine and labradorite stone chip beads. The ammonite is held in by all the tiny glass seed beads I stitched and wove around it. It should arrive at her house any day now. I hope she likes it!

Gallery

Click the images to see larger versions. Enjoy the eye candy!

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She Loves To Garden
A charm belt for Diana in Michigan.

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Carole's Ammonite
Created for my Aunt Carole. She got the ammonite in Tuscon.

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Pegasus Horse Bookmark

Sold to Leslie in the UK.

See more Shepherd Hook Bookmarks on my Kintera Arts website.

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Beaded Bead
Donated to Bead Aide to be auctioned. Bead Aide is beaders raising money to help other beaders in need.

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Church Key
More commonly known as a beer bottle opener, or in my case a beaded beer bottle opener.

See more church keys on my Kintera Arts website.

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The Garnet Diva Necklace

I finished up a new necklace last night, just in time to take in for a jury session this weekend. This should show that my jewelry isn't just strung stones like so many others out there and help to get me into the Elf Shelf show this year. Last year I couldn't even get a jury time scheduled because they already had the jewelry category full from return artists that were there the prior year. This should be a good show and lots of fun so I'm really hoping to get in.

Anyhow, the necklace is made using a dutch spiral stitch. It has a base of garnet chips, golden brown and red seed beads and antique gold lined seed bead for the "lacy" part. It tapers into tubular peyote to be more comfortable on the back of the neck when worn. It's a very rich looking necklace that grabs attention. What do you think?

Karen's Topaz

Just finished this piece for a client of mine. She provided the topaz and asked me to bead around it and maybe do some spiral rope too. I'm really proud of this one, it's one of my best yet. I used czech 11/0 rootbeer colored and czech 15/0 silver-lined gold colored seed beads and two cathedral beads .

As beautiful as it it, it was a pain to make. Those 15/0 czech sead beads have holes too small for any beading needle I could find. So I used fireline as stringing material since it's a bit stiffer than the rest and still small enough to go through those beads several times each. I simply pushed the end of the fireline through each bead. Ok, not so simply - some of those beads around the cab took up to 40 minutes of "pushing" to get the fireline to go through. Several times I decided it wasn't worth it, but that stone just demanded to be done this way and my muse agreed. Good thing too 'cause this one is my new favorite! Here's a larger than life closeup (click on it):

Spring Fashion Forcast

A rainbow of colors all sun drenched, subtle and soft as shown on the left. Clothing will be shimmering in these colors on fluid lightweight fabrics, so our jewelry will need to complement that.

Necklaces are forcast to be the most popular jewelry item. Gold metals will complement the spring colors nicely, try layered chains of different thicknesses. Natural materials like seashells and polished rocks will be quite common. Also popular - large colorful beads.

Earrings will be swinging, dangly or fringed. Think movement!

Bracelets will tend toward wide or stacked bangles with interesting and contrasting textures. Charm bracelets will still be in too.

For rings, think big, bright and noticeable.