Gail Nettles

Archive for the ‘Seed Beads’ Category

Seed Bead Jewelry Earrings, Coraling Stitch

I just got in a findings order, and I decided to play around with what I got.  One of the items I received was an accident; the bag was labeled correctly, but the wrong findings were included!  Fortunately, when I called Customer Service, they sent me out the right item and said to go ahead and keep what I have (whoopee!).

So, after getting together my seed beads, some Fireline and the earring findings, I set to work making some green, gold and red earrings, using the coraling stitch.

Now I've mentioned the coraling before, and it's basically a type of kinked fringe.  I thought it would work beautifully with the domed earring findings that I got by accident.

So here are the tools I used:

• Domed earring findings, with perforations
• Fireline, 6 lb, smoke color
• Seed beads, size 11, in green, gold and red

Domed Earring Findings

From that point, I just stitched up through the perforations on the earring findings.  I put 2 strands of the coraling through each perforation.  I started out with mostlu green on the top, then added more gold as I worked downward, added red to the gold and then mostly red.

Each earring took me about an hour to accomplish.  It was a fun way to spend a couple of hours to make some holiday earrings that are definitely different from what you normally see.

So, what else will I make?  I have some ideas as to what else I can do with these findings (I got 10 pair), although I don't know for sure that I will include seed beads, mainly because the perforations are farther apart than I'd like for using the seed beads.

I got something else that I normally would not order, for an experiment -- memory wire toe rings.  Now I don't wear toe rings, nor do I wear rings in general (aside from my wedding ring).  But I had an idea that I just had to try.

Here is a hint; it uses vintage beads, but in a way that's definitely not vintage!

So while I go and experiement with my memory wire, I'll let you check out .  Who knows where your next jewelry inspiration will come from!

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Here are the bracelets that I mentioned in my previous post.  I don't know what I did to deserve two of them, but they are gorgeous!  And much prettier in person; I couldn't get a photo good enough to show them in their true splendor.

Peyote Tube Bracelets, Made by Jennie

Jennie says that she got the idea and instructions from an issue of Bead&Button magazine.  Each one of the vertical bars are actually peyote tubes, each made individually.  Then, once enough tubes were made, they were joined together.

The toggle clasp was also a narrow peyote tube, and I am surprised at how firm it is (every time I've tried a toggle clasp like this, I've been less than successful).

I'd call this eye candy for the day!  So once again Jennie, thanks so much for the lovely bracelets.

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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APRIL Lampwork Beads Frenchy Frog Set of 11 SRA    US $4.99

APRIL Lampwork Beads Lentils Vines Flowers SRA    US $7.50

Flaming Treasures MooN Goddess Lampwork bead SRA    US $3.00

DINKY BEADS Studio Cleanout 50 lampwork beads SRA    US $24.99

CD Lampwork Peacock Crazy Focal Bead SRA    US $45.00

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I've shown you in previous posts some peyote bracelet tutorials, plus my Mermaid's Garden bracelet, which is based in the peyote stitch (albeit the freeform version).

So, I decided to go roaming around on ebay (one of my favorite places to shop as you know), to see what was up -- what were people doing with this versatile form of beading?

Then I thought you might like to see some of what I found for peyote stitch beading examples.  Why not share?

You can find the .  What you see below is just a few of the items I found, for your viewing pleasure.  Nope, I didn't make any of them -- they are all by various beading people.

Enjoy these peyote stitch beading examples!

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