Archive for the ‘Jewelry’ Category
Beaded Jewelry: Something Old, Something New
One thing about beaded jewelry fascinates me, and that is what's new is also what's old. I guess it's the same for fashion in general, but beaded work certainly.
I've mentioned that I've been haunting the vintage costume jewelry auctions on ebay, looking for both vintage jewelry and for inspiration. I'm amazed at home some seed bead jewelry from the 40's and 50's looks like some of the lovely work I see today.
Seed bead jewelry often gets a bad rap; somehow it's seen as inferior. Maybe because the beads are so tiny? Let me tell you, it certainly hasn't been that way in the past! I've seen loads of gorgeous vintage jewelry that have seed beads are a good portion of their make up.
I also have gotten a chuckle out of larger beads in general. There are oceans of pretty beaded "strung" jewelry from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Nothing fancy, just pretty beads, albeit usually in double or triple strand necklaces.
And I somehow got the impression that memory wire bracelets were a recent invention. Nope, I've seen flocks of wrap bracelets go by in the auctions. Not to mention some of the costume jewelry books.
Beaded Necklace With Pendant (Click to Enlarge)
Yep, what goes around, comes around. Any way you look at it, beaded jewelry in one form or another is here to stay!
Something New, Inspired By Something Old
I finally finished the pendant/necklace that I started during the previous post. The project took on a life of its own, and grew from a pin to a pendant to a full triple-strand necklace with pendant. It was at one point (if you can believe it) even more elaborate, but then I decided to back off on some of the extras.
I'm wearing it now, to check the comfort level, which I find useful before trying to make other similar projects.
Because it's a test piece, I didn't go all out with supplies. While the turquoise and Swarovski are real, a lot of the rest are "fakes". I do have some sterling silver beads in this piece, but some of the silver is suspect (might be sterling or it might not -- hadn't labeled them well enough).
But I did find this project to be fun. I find that I enjoy a more vintage look, and it's fun to try and re-create it using beads.
Speaking of beads, here are some lampwork offerings now showing on ebay (no, none are mine...these are just pretties). (You can also see a .
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 RAPUNSELS Clouded Sky Lampwork BHB Bead SRA ISGB  US $9.99
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 AMR Mix 3 Lampwork Beads SRA US $24.95
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 AMR Disc Mix 6 Lampwork Beads SRA US $34.69
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 GORGEOUS SRA Handmade Lampwork Beads Huge Lot of 48 Beads TBDL US $12.95
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 GORGEOUS SRA Handmade Lampwork Beads Huge Lot of 55 Beads TBDL US $13.95
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Bead Buying and Supply Sources
I don't know about you, but I love virtual on-line bead shopping. And yes, I do very much enjoy going to bead shows and fondling the merchandise, there aren't a whole lot of shows where I live. For that matter, there aren't many bead shops close by, either!
Lampwork and Swarovski
So, the internet, and especially ebay, are my shopping companions. Ebay especially I love for two items: and also
. Honestly, outside of a bead show, you can't find a better selection of artisan lampwork beads than on ebay.
Sterling Silver
Then there are places like Monsterslayer where I enjoy buying sterling products -- beads, clasps, wire, etc. Not a high-tech site, for sure, but the prices are great! (And the more you save the more goodies you can buy, right?)
Gemstone Beads
Buying gemstone beads is a bit tricky. In the beginning I bought a lot of my gemstone beads at the online stores you see advertised prominently in the beading magazines. Then I went to some gem and bead shows and saw what I had been missing (in other words - a lot). So these days, I try to buy hands-on whenever possible.
I did find one place online I was impressed with, though -- Stones 'N Silver. I bought a few loose gemstone beads to try them out, and I was pleased enough to go back. The blue lace agate beads I bought were especially yummy! Come to think of it, maybe it's time I go back again for more goodies like their beautiful leopardskin jasper.
Miscellaneous Beading Supplies
OK, other supplies. Yep, now is the time I use those big bead places like Fire Mountain -- stringing supplies, Delica beads, glues, needles and other miscellaneous items.
Lampwork Bead Supplies
And lampwork glass. I do an awful lot of glass shopping on ebay for glass as well, especially the . Then of course I am on several email lists for various small glass suppliers, so when I get word of a sale....
Eye Candy For Today
Right now I'll leave you with some beady eye candy from Sisters Beads on ebay. I do so enjoy looking at their auctions, and I hope you do, too.
Bead Jewelry and Choosing Your Supplies
Bead jewelry - is it in your blood? If you're reading this blog, you probably love beads, in one form or another. Maybe you like making them, from glass or polymer or silver clay. Maybe you like making bead jewelry -- lampwork, seed beads, Swarovski, gemstones -- it's all fair game. Or perhaps you just love wearing one-of-a-kind original artwork?
Whatever your love of beads, there exists (somewhere) beads for you. And although I'll go into it in greater detail in a different post, there also exists the best beads for you project. But in a nutshell; you don't want to use expensive artisan-made lampwork and loads of Swarovski crystals for a bracelet for a young child; inexpensive lampwork and generic crystal glass work just fine.
Conversely, you don't want to use cheap lampwork and generic crystal in what I term "grown up jewelry". Nope, now is when you want to select the most wonderful lampwork, the real Swarovski and maybe some sterling silver and/or gemstone beads. (In a separate post I'll talk more about how to determine the quality of lampwork beads).
Lampwork Bead Necklace (Click to Enlarge)
What I'm really trying to say is make sure the quality of the beads and supplies match the intended purpose. Yes, one time I tried making a beautiful Swarovski bracelet and necklace for my young niece. It didn't last long before she grew out of the bracelet and lost the necklace. Now, I'm waiting til she gets a little older before I try that again!
I've also made inexpensive "fun" bracelets for some craft shows I attend, just so the little ones clutching tight to a dollar or two can proudly buy something. But I wouldn't use the beads from those bracelets for anything even moderately upscale. Once again; use the supplies appropriate for the intended purpose.
OK, I've gone on enough for one post! I'll close with another photo from Jennie. Once again, these are some of my very early beads (mid-2005 I'm guessing), but I think Jennie did a nice job with them. I'm especially fond of the tassels hanging down from the focal; I just like some movement in my jewelry. Thanks, Jennie, for sending me this photo to post -- I appreciate it!
Hand Beaded Bracelet, Turquoise and Silver
A hand beaded bracelet is fun to make (or at least I think so). This kind in the photo takes me about 2.5 hours, start to finish, due to the number of strands I use (I like more substantial bracelets in general).
Hand Beaded Bracelet, Sterling and Turquoise (Click to Enlarge)
I think I used either 8 or 10 strands for this bracelet, strung with a mixture of seed beads (size 15, 11 and 8), sterling silver, turquoise and quartz crystal. The finish is sterling silver cones and a lobster-claw clasp.
OK, I started out making this bracelet for myself, but now I'm not quite sure what to do with it. Why? Because I made it a little too long (argh). Since I've lost weight, I'm tending to make the bracelets at my old wrist size -- haven't gotten used to the new one yet.
So I'm thinking that if I add another strand or two and braid them in, I can make the bracelet a bit shorter, by maybe half an inch. That would be just about enough for a nice fit (slightly loose).
(Of course if anyone wants to buy it and give it a home, let me know before I decide what to do with it.)
I don't in general do a lot of seed beading in strand form, but every so often I like to make bracelets like this. It's just something different that you won't find in a store. It's also in my signature organic style, which I can't seem to get away from (even my peyote bracelets end up with an organic look and feel).
Anyway, catch up with you again later! Oh, and feel free to leave me a comment -- always enjoy hearing from you folks.
