Make Mine Lime

Lime green is so popular now, and more to the good for me as is it one of my favorite colors to wear. There's just something bright and refreshing about it that makes me think of happy new leaves, delicious Key Lime Pie, and of course, Lime Sherbet!

The dichroic cabochon was made by GlassLadyLisa; it is a pale gray color with a high reflective layer that almost pulses with green, wild orange, red, and yellow flashes, especially in sunlight. I used size 15, 11, and 8 Czech beads as well as Japanese silver-lined 15s for extra sparkle. Two green-dyed pearly shell beads and 6 dark garnet dyed pearls accent the center cabochon. The clasp is a simple green glass button.

I hope Lime, and it sister colors of Green Apple, Acid Green, and Grass Green hang around for a long time! Completed 7-11 >>MPK

Bracelet - Fresh from the Sea

I rarely do simple stringing anymore but decided not to hold off on making this bracelet. A year or so ago, I purchased these unique shell beads from Meant To Bead. They are dyed, and formed around a solid core through which the hole is drilled. Their color and unique shape caught my eye. By adding the aurora borealis coated green glass beads, there was enough to form this bracelet finished off by one of Jill MacKay's magnetic clasps. Simple, fresh, comfortable to wear. Completed 7 - 11 >>MPK

Pretty Pewter Cubes Bracelet

Of course, one good turn deserves another. Here is the "opposite" of the previous bracelet, pewter colored Japanese cube beads with an antiques coppery clasp. Completed 2-11 >>MPK

Coppery Cubes bracelet

A bold and simple peyote bracelet made with coppery-finish Japanese cube beads and closed with an antiqued pewter clasp.

Completed 2-11 >>MPK

Bracelet - Obsidian Obsession

Purple Sheen obsidian isn't common, and it is difficult to cut into cabochons because the cutter has to take into account the angle of the slab cuts in order to get the most beautiful effect from the stone. I surrounded this 40 mm cabochon with dyed coral, Japanese # 8s in metallic purple and Japanese #11s in matte rainbow-coated purple It is said to provide clarity of thought. I just think it is really pretty. Completed 4-08. >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Septarian and Interstate 99

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A septarian nodule is a rock composed of Calcite (yellow), Aragonite (brown) and Limestone (grey). These beautiful and unusual rocks are found in southern Utah, a relic of ancient seas that dried and returned several times with geologic changes. I have often seen them carved into eggs, spheres, bookends and the like, (usually from Madagascar), but rarely are they seen as cabochons. This nearly-rectangular one was purchased at a pow-wow I visited many years ago. I married it with Japanese matte-grey/bronze beads in both tubular and flat peyote and added bronze baroque pearls as an accent.

The alternate pendant is a piece of sulfur-rich pyrite, a special piece because of its origin locality. It comes from Skytop Mountain, in central Pennsylvania, and was excavated during the construction of Interstate 99 through that part of the state. The lapidarist formed the cabochons and then treated them with polyethelene spar varnish, ending any chemical decomposition which might take place from exposure to air. The cabochon is hard to photograph, but has a nice metallic sheen, exhibiting both silvery and golden colors of pyrite. You can read more about Skytop Mountain pyrite here:

http://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I99.html

Completed 3-11. >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Citronella

Obtaining these Japanese silver-lined dark topaz beads from Land of Odds inspired me to create this necklace with jasper and a piece of banded quartz crystal. This yellow/gold isn't a color I work with often, but it marries so well with Baltic amber that I can't resist. Besides, it's a 'Burgh thing.

Completed 2/11. >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Quan Yin and Coral

This pretty carnelian Quan-yin carving serves as the focal point for this dramatic tubular peyote necklace made from 2-3mm coral beads. The tiny and sharp holes called for an extra fine (sz15) needle and a switch to 4-pound Fireline from my usual Silamide thread. (For abrasion resistance) As careful as I was, the beads were prone to splitting at the slightest provocation. So this rope took much longer to make than it would have had I been working with glass beads. Nevertheless the result is worth it! However I would recommend to anyone who wants to make this kind of necklace with tiny stone beads that they buy plenty extra to make up for the splitters. Completed 1-3-11 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: For Marilyn

In May, I got a request to enclose a special Tiger Eye pendant for a friend. This cabochon was already in a golden-colored bezel setting which didn't need to be removed. I stitched around the cabochon in the bezel as if it was an entire cabochon, covering the old bezel. Gold galvanized beads were added to the Cafe Latte #11 Czech bead mix from Beadwrangler, to match the golden leaf clasp and the matching earrings. Completed 6-11-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Glass in the Forest

The dichroic glass pendant on this necklace was a challenge because of its creamy interior and its odd shape. I chose to hang it horizontally and added the green blister pearl to balance it. The #11 Japanese beads have a peacock green finish and because they are cylindrical, rather than quoit-shaped, they have a sparkle to them in the rope as well. The clasp is a rectangular Jill MacKay design. Completed 5-10-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Fossil Coral

This fossil coral cabochon intrigued me with its spiral pattern, not its rather beigy colors. The #11 Czech bead mix, called "Caffe Latte" (From Beadwrangler) does have some matte blue-grey colors in it, which compliments the beige/tan of the cabochon. I am sure that I'll use this mix for other stone cabochons that I have in my collections, as it suits the natural earthy colors. Completed 4-5-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Petrified Wood

This beautiful, color-saturated, piece of petrified wood defied coordinating beads until I got this mix of Czech #11 beads called (Woodland Forest" (from Beadwrangler). It does contain some light browns and pale orange, and really compliments the creamy orange of the cabochon. I'm not much for orange and brown but this is one of my favorite summer pieces to wear. Completed 3-10-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Geode Crystal

Years ago, when I was into cracking geodes to view their beautiful insides, I had a smallish one that remained in my cabochon box for a while. As I developed the skills to enclose it in beads I gradually saw it as a pendant rather than as a pin. The piece has both crystals and druzy crystals which show as a white patch in the picture. A small dangle of clear crystal beads adds to the pendant. The smooth matte charcoal-grey Czech #11 beads which compliment it were purchased at a show. I have never seen them again. Completed 1-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Navy and Blue Lace

The best Blue Lace Agate comes from Namibia and this large pendant with its dangle of matching Blue Lace Agate shows the best of the type. The light blue is paler than sky blue with delicate white rings and swirls throughout. I set it in navy blue Czech #11 beads, and the pendant is held with magnetic clasps so that the necklace rope can be worn without the pendant. Completed 10-21-09 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Blue Russian

Like the red Russian pendant, this signed miniature painting of blue flowers is charming and called for a setting that wouldn't overpower it. Adding galvanized Czech silvery beads to the light blue, both in size 11, brought out the natural spiral in the Tubular Peyote rope necklace. A silver disc toggle clasp and matching earrings completed the set. Completed 11-14-09 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Red Russian

A hand-painted Russian lacquer pendant was the inspiration for this necklace. The signed piece is enclosed such that the signature on the back can still be seen. Since this method of bead enclosure remains on the edge of the piece, no glue is needed. A magnetic clasp is hidden in the "flower" on the rope. Coraling earrings complete the set. Completed 3-23-10 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Tiger and Grey

The stone called Tiger Eye is actually quartz which has infiltrated and petrified asbestos into this beautiful material. Since the chatoyance travels only in one direction, I set the two stones so that their axes glow in opposite directions, making the pendant distinctive no matter which way it is turned. The pendant hangs from Tubular Peyote rope and a pair of coraling earrings complete the set. Completed 11-17-09 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Imperial Jasper

This purplish stone from Zacatecas, Mexico, called Imperial Jasper, also comes in green. The purple ranges from very pale to medium color and is often tinged with green. However this cabochon cut by MacNeal contains only the striped purple material. I married it with Japanese "frosted root beer" #11 beads in a simple enclosure and rope necklace. This necklace looks stunning against soft gray. Completed 10-25-09 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Matte Mix 101

I have posted work made with this mix of beads before. Available from Shipwreck Beads, I only added matte black beads to bring out the matrix in the turquoise stone. The stone is from the Morenci Mine. I bought it as a specimen but always wanted to turn it into a pendant. I had enclosed it with a backing years ago, but never quite knew what to do with it from there. Learning the Tubular Peyote technique gave me the opportunity to give the pendant a complimentary rope, instead of a plain beaded string. The rope can also be worn without the pendant thanks to a magnetic clasp. Completed 9-09 >>MPK

The Tubular Series: Apple green

Early in 2009, I learned how to make tubular peyote stitch. It can be used for many things - from amulet bags to rings, but the solution for me was to use it for a more substantial necklace rope from which to hang pendants. The pendant in this necklace is Mexican Opal set in sterling. I had worn it on a plain silver snake chain. But it wasn't always long enough to go over collars, or versatile enough to be shortened. Besides, I wanted something that had more color than just a metal chain. It is also long enough to be worn without the pendant, singly, and/or knotted.
I learned the technique from Beading With Peyote Stitch, by Jeannette Cook and Vicki Star, a great source book for peyote technique. This necklace was completed 3-10 >>MPK

Shell square and green pearls

I was intrigued with this square made of shell and noodled over it for a few months until I had a special occasion and decided to make a bracelet with it. The flat green coin beads matched the blouse I was going to wear. I had no trouble putting the colors together - but how to actually construct the bracelet while keeping the center open? And I worried about the bracelet being too big - for it would certainly want to turn on my wrist because the shell square was so large and rather heavy. But it turned out just right, with a bit of fiddling with the length of the side "straps".
Completed 6-5-09 >>MPK

Mexican Lace & Shell

The brilliant cabochon of Mexican Lace Agate, cut by MacNeal held color challenge for me. The light shell beads and drops went well - but what to use for a clasp? I found the solution in this antiqued copper toggle that brings out the dark copper #11s that surround the cabochon. I added chips of Leopardskin jasper to make the necklace more interesting. Completed 12-05 >>MPK

Tuxedo Bracelet

An early experiment with pattern, this bracelet created its pattern as I stitched it in Peyote. The beads are Czech #8s The fabric-covered button with its tassel originally came from a blouse. I liked it much better on the bracelet! Completed 5-04 >>MPK

Raku cube bracelet

In the years that I have been beading I have not seen many #11 Czech CUBE beads on hanks. I saw these at a show. Again I bought all of the hanks she had - 3. I fell in love with the matte bronze/blue/purple color. I wanted something simple for these beads so as to show off their smoothness. So I went for an unadorned peyote stitch strip, but it seemed so narrow and not at all like the wide cuff bracelets I frequently wear. So I added a single row of fringes to each edge. Then I paired it with a Celtic knot glass button from Awesome Beads & Buttons. Using black Silamide for the construction, the bracelet feels like silk on the skin and has a wonderful drape. One of my favorites. Completed 12-06 >>MPK

Spring green leaves

Autumn leaf beads are very common in jewelry designs. However, to find leaf beads that call to mind the fresh green spring sprouts that brighten our yards and gardens is rare. I bought the matte green Czech #11s first while wandering through a show. The Czech pressed matte green beads came from Awesome Beads & Buttons. I bought all he had. However, marrying the two in a design was not easy. I first wanted to make a necklace, with the beads on the ends of fringes. But that didn't lay correctly. I needed something grass-like to put them in. I decided to try this big chunky design of plain peyote base with the embellishment of the leaf beads and just a few little grassy fringes... But it got away from me a bit. There are nearly two hanks of the matte green beads on this bracelet. Since it was the first of the heftier embellished Peyote stitch bracelets I made, I learned a lot. Each stalk is individually knotted to the base. This bracelet took over 25 hours to make. (I thought I'd go crazy with it.) Unfortunately, I can't get those apple green matte Czech #11s. So, there will never be another one quite like this. Completed 10-05 >>MPK

Hot, Red, and Hefty

The Czech pressed red/gray flame-like beads were the inspiration for this peyote stitch bracelet. I placed them with matte red Japanese beads, and stitched with red Silamide thread. This is another of a series of embellished peyote-stitch bracelets. In my experience, bracelets like these with embellishments are time-consuming to construct, but the results are so worthwhile! This is a thick and substantial bracelet, and a joy to wear. Completed 3-07. >>MPK

A Multi Mix bracelet

This combination of matte Czech beads from Shipwreck presented both opportunity and challenge. Rainbow - goes with everything and nothing at the same time.
To the stock hank of mixed colors I added matte black; it seemed to make the other colors pop a bit. I also used black Silamide thread. The bracelet is clasped with "raspberry" beaded beads. Completed 5-07 >>MPK

An Early Favorite

The texture of these rough amber chips is what first attracted my eye to them at a rock and gem show around 1995. It was the only strand the vendor had that was like this - both in texture and color. (I love the butterscotch amber color and search for it.) Returning home, I had nothing that I felt would compliment the chips - the chips were too rough to make a short necklace out of it alone. I often attempt to find complimentary beads by using what I call the drop-it-in method. I put the strands of gray pearls into a bowl and dropped the amber chips in. Perfect! My only regret is that I didn't make matching earrings. Completed 1996 >>MPK

The string of ideas continues.

When the two previous bracelets were completed, I had used all the large beads. I had more 4mm fossil stone beads left, of course and so paired them with some same-sized green Serpentine beads, using the same peyote stitch. I was even able to use the same color Silamide thread. Completed 3/07 >>MPK

One Left Over

In the previous post, I told about the first bracelet I had made with the Australian Picture Jasper. Of course - as so often happens - I have ONE bead left over! Too heavy for earrings, I solved the design by pairing it with Fossil Stone beads sewn into a peyote stitch base. The large bead is stitched onto the base through its hole. Also completed 3/07 >>MPK

Simple and Elegant

One of the kinds of Australian Picture Jasper is in browns and tans. These four beads reminded me of clay marbles I had made years ago in an art class. They are strung with sterling beads and a simple S hook clasp. The beads are quite different on each side, though - the pattern doesn't carry through the stone. Completed 3/07 >>MPK

Recalling Ancient Egypt

This royal embroidered necklace pendant piece began with the inspiration of the luscious Lapis Lazuli drop-shaped cabochon, cut by MacNeal. It is surrounded by matte cobalt Czech bugle beads, tiny gold beads and accents of bronze pearls. The cabochon has a lot of sparkly pyrite inclusions, which are matched by the golden accents. This piece was completed 1-08. >>MPK

A colorful bracelet for a colorful friend

Another in the embellished peyote bracelet series, this bracelet was created to resemble confetti. The base is flat peyote stitch, and the embellishments are a t-shape (fork) variation on coraling stitch. It is made with #11 Czech beads and was completed 6-07. >>>MPK

Cobalt Blue 3-cut Bracelet

The Czech republic has a way of making beads that is like no other! These tiny cut beads are faceted by hand all over and yet are called 3-cuts. They sparkle and shine, especially in sunlight or focused light. This bracelet is a part of a series of peyote-stitched bracelets I made featuring embellishments using the same beads as the background bracelet base. This bracelet was completed in 4-06. >>MPK

Apple Green SuZe's Spiral bracelet

As I have stated in my post about belonging to a beading group, one can learn all sorts of useful techniques. This is one of them. It is an "extreme spiral" rope taught by SuZe M. Stitched with Vanish(R) monofilament thread, it is tight enough to hold its own without crushing, and yet is comfortable to wear. A magnetic clasp completes the piece. Completed 11-2-09 >>MPK

Frosted beaded-bead necklace

A technique taught by a bead group member to embellish an already beaded bead produced this cool frosted focal piece for a necklace. Inside this "bead" is a wooden bead, covered in right-angle weave with plain beads and then embellished on top of that with the frosted root-beer colored beads. The focal is on an elastic cord.
It has been described as "organic", "like something from the sea", "fuzzy - but not fuzzy", "intriguing".
I think it is all of these.
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Teri's Tri-Spiral with Amber

After a demonstration at my bead group, I decided to push the design of this tri-spiral technique by adding amber chips instead of "normal" beads, as well as varying the size of the other beads used.
Thanks to Teri S. for teaching the technique - the bracelet always garners compliments! The bracelet was made 6-07
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Experimenting with clear beads

In early 2007, I happened to be in a huge sporting goods store with time to kill. I wandered into the section for fishing lures and accessories and was immediately drawn to small spools of neon nylon "laser lemon" thread. Not really knowing what I'd do with them, I purchased three and took them home. I had a vague idea that they might be useful with transparent beads, changing the base color to create something unique. So I experimented with crystal clear beads and was so pleased by the tiny first result that I made this embellished peyote bracelet. But Oh, what a nuisance the thread turned out to be in long lengths! It split and snarled. It had to be heavily conditioned and the ends woven thoroughly into the body of the bracelet. Knots didn't hold. I was pleased with the result, but not sure I want to go back there anytime soon with this type of thread. Completed 3/2007
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Bracelet - Blue Matte Peyote

Before I began embroidering jewelry pieces in 2008, I experimented with Peyote Stitch. I love the silky feel of the beaded bracelet bases, and the way they fit as a cuff bracelet. The center row and the edge ruffles are stitched onto the beaded base. These matte blue beads came from Shipwreck beads, and the pearly button is from a fabric store. Completed in December of 2006.
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Glad to be back!!

Dear Friends and fellow Beaders,
I'm sorry that I have not kept up with this blog for a long while. I have posted new pictures for the old posts and will be making new posts with great pictures of the bead work I have been doing.
And Happy New Year!

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