Bliss

Looking at this takes me to a tropical paradise where the waters are clear and refreshing!  Sometimes you just need a little vacation - even if it is just in your jewelry!  This set came from the crystals that are showcased in the center of the earrings and necklace.  The myriad of colors that they reflect just took me in and wouldn't let me go!  I decided to make individual "settings" in which to showcase the crystals (using brick stitch).  From there, the necklace just seemed to dictate to me which way it wanted to go!  The framework is done in St. Petersburg chain - I love how it looks like a fern!   The design slightly resembles a paisley pattern that is fun and graceful at the same time!  (The hand-crafted clasp is pure silver and the earring hooks are sterling plated.)**NECKLACE SOLD - EARRINGS AVAILABLE**

Diamonds are Forever

This bracelet is absolutely my newest creation!  The inspiration this time was directly out of Beadwork Magazine.  The three-dimensional design really caught my eye.  I changed it, but only a little.  The beads I used are all slightly larger than those called for in the magazine, which made it more bold!  (I used size 8 seed beads, size 10 delicas, and size 11 charlottes.)  Also, I "strung" it using two strands for more stability, and went with a flashy hot pink and black for the high contrast.  This was a lot of fun to make, and even more fun to wear!  ***AVAILABLE***

Rainbow Connection

So this is officially my first post that includes knitting! I've really been into making socks lately. These were fun just because of the rainbow colors involved. The socks include a cuff that is done in a waving lace pattern and a short-row heel. These fit a women's medium (approximately 7 - 8) The yarn used is from The Deborah Norville Collection and is made of 100% Dralon Microfiber. I also made the set of beaded split-ring markers which I used while making the socks (on the right). Fun, fun, fun!

Tigress

Can't you just hear it roar!!! I love the fun, bold statement this bracelet makes! The ceramic beads just beckon to be touched - especially when paired with the tiger-striped pillow beads. You may not be able to tell in the picture, but the off-white beads used are a satin-finish delica - they really do look like a shimmery, satin sheet. The pairing of decadence & wild earthiness make this piece special.

Tigress is the result of trying out a new concept. I worked the top of the pillow beads in patterned herringbone and worked up the back and sides with a modified peyote, using the idea of short rows (used in knitting) to make the half-dome shape. It worked out beautifully! The beading on the toggle and bar finishes the overall look as well as physically balancing it. I know you'll have as much fun wearing this as I did creating it!!!! **AVAILABLE**

Trillium Trio

I hope you enjoy this necklace - yet another adventure in asymmetrical design! It was inspired by the Labradorite rondelles I found at my local Gem Faire. Once I got them home, I rummaged through some books to start up the idea process, and again the book Shaped Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald did it for me. The project for Trilliums (the little flower in the necklace) really inspired me. It's very fun and fast to create. (Relatively - as fast as seed-beading can get!) I added the Russian Leaf off the side to offset the three Trilliums, and the pendant was off a necklace that I've loved for years! The metal components are sterling silver plated. Of special note is the clasp which is the vintage-style design (which works like a box clasp, but in an orb shape). This would be the perfect something old (recycled pendant), something new, something borrowed (maybe not), something blue (definitely!) for that special wedding!
***Available***

Hanging Gardens

This set captures the feel of a summer garden full blooms and vines! It was so much fun to create! It started with the flower - a project showcased in one of my favorite beading magazines. From there the design gradually unfolded. I went to the local Gem Faire in Turlock and found some beautiful tourmaline rondelles (The colors that naturally occur in this stone - a gradual change from mauve to green -just happened to match perfectly!) Then I found the cubic zirconia briolette that is at the bottom of the necklace. From there it just happened. The pearls and garnets just seemed to want to "drip" off the necklace. The floral toggle-style clasp is off-center in front - another escapade in asymmetrical design! (The french hooks on the earrings are gold-plated.) Perfect for a Garden Wedding!! **AVAILABLE**

Into the Mist

The pendant reminds me of mist rising from the ocean. I was discovering how fun it is to mix colors with polymer clay and made a few donut pendants. Then I added the peyote swirl (which is a lot of fun, and easy to do), which culminates in a cascading chain of glass drops. The metal components are entirely copper to keep the brown and blue color-scheme. The clasp is a filigree-toggle design that makes the length of the necklace adjustable - just drop the "T" part of the toggle through whichever part of the chain you like! SOLD.  (If anyone wants one of these, I still have one more pendant like this and can make another necklace - special order.)

Lantern Earrings

These earrings were inspired (like the Banana-Rama earrings) by Diane Fitzgerald's book Shaped Beadwork.  They are worked in peyote and strung with garnet chips.  The color of the delicas I used to weave this project are a really nice metallic neutral which would go well with many different colors.  These are a nice departure from your everyday earrings, but still good for the office!  AVAILABLE.

Waterlilly

This set started with a rare, vintage swarovksi crystal I found at my local bead shop! (I love the way the cut of the crystal looks like the surface of a still pond - like there's some mystery hiding at the bottom.) I bezeled it with gold-plated delicas. From there, it "grew" leaves and became the slightly assymetrical necklace you see here. The dangles are fresh-water pearls in olivine and purple to set off the colors reflected in the center crystal. The gold-colored elements in the necklace and the earrings are all gold-plated. The bluish-purples and greens of this piece remind me of Monet's Waterlillies. **Available**

Mirror To The Past

The reflective, mirror-like, almost magical quality of the Swarovski Crystal Rivoli is central to this design. I kept it as minimal as possible, not to detract from its beauty. It's my twist on a victorian, feminine style - thus the name, Mirror To The Past! It is strung quite simply as a floating necklace - which is why this picture only shows the bottom where all the detail is. Enjoy! **AVAILABLE**

Jester

The colors and color-placement remind me of a court jester - one color for each "leg".  It was done in herringbone - a design that morphed from one thought to another as I was going.  If you saw my wave bracelets in last month's posts, you'll see the progression of ideas.  I was trying to see if I could make a necklace with the criss-cross style established in the bracelets (which I call cable-style herringbone).  This necklace features delicas and swarovski crystals that end in a leaf-style pendant.   **Available**

- This would probably look really classy in black and white.  Remember to contact me if you're interested in a custom necklace.  Just click on the envelope logo to send me an e-mail.

Banana-Rama :-)

I was going for an art-deco look inspired after the fabric you see here. But when I finished, I realized how much these earrings looked like a stylized pair of hanging bananas! Oh well, these earrings were really a lot of fun to make and still make me happy just to look at them. The french hooks are sterling plated, but the body of the work is mostly made of Delicas. (If you are wondering about the inspiration for the design, look at the book Shaped Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald. It's really good.)

Golden Leaf

The inspiration for this necklace started with the lovely art-deco style leaf pendant made by swarovski. I went with simple stringing to accentuate the little pendant. It's strung with fresh-water pearls and swarovski crystal bicones, so even though it is more diminutive, it catches the light beautifully. The clasp detail continues the foliage theme. The earrings are a simple cascade of crystals hung from a gold-plated chain and french hook. **AVAILABLE**

Symphony

This was my first escapade with true wire-working! The cabochon was mined in Oregon and I encased it in a swirling sterling-silver bezel. The finished pendant reminds me of the big, open motions made by a conductor at the symphony. The silver-plated chain contains hematite links ending in a custom clasp also made with pure sterling-silver. **AVAILABLE**

Confetti Pearl

The classic faux pearl is entrapped in a confetti-like spiral which continues around your neck, in this fun, but classy lariat-style necklace. The warm, lipstick mauve against the gunmetal grey charlotte edging is a nice warm vs. cool combination which will keep the comments coming. **AVAILABLE**

Princessa

This design is a more down-to-earth variation on a design by Lisa Kan. I used chocolate colored charlottes to weave the main part of the neclace, and the loops are decorated with fire-polished rondelles, swarovski crystals, garnet briolettes and pink glass drops. This necklace is princess length and sits just about at the collar-bone. The french hooks on the earrings and box clasp on the necklace are gold plated. Wearing this makes you feel like a princess. **AVAILABLE**

Pacific Peacock

This necklace started with the metal feather piece (which actually doubles as the clasp). When I found this piece, the rest of it fell together. I love the bold statement made by using the large peacock-blue shells, and swarovski crystals combined with the asymmetrical design! **Sold**

Celtic Reflections

Talk about adventures in beading! This design was the real epiphany! I wondered if some traditional knitting cable-patterns could also be translated to beadwork with the new herringbone-cable technique. Excitedly, I tried it out, and voila!!.. This bracelet emerged! The waving edges are just a product of the technique. The same amount of beads are used throughout the width of the piece. I used cubes (1.5mm) for the background, matte triangle beads for the edges and size 8 two-cuts (I believe) for the rope pattern, and size 8 delicas for the end sections. I later added the berry-colored button pearls for a finishing touch. **AVAILABLE**

Wave Bracelet

This is the second progression in my fun with cabled bracelets. These are also done in herringbone, cable style, but in this design I added increases in the center to accommodate swarovski crystals and used delicas. The drape of this bracelet style is fluid and can work for casual fun or dressy occasions. It was fun to play with different color placement in each of the bracelets which slightly changes the effect! This is the design I taught at the local bead shop, Envy Beads. Is there a custom color combo you'd like? Remember - I do custom work!

Twilight Bloom

This was the first of a few bracelets that stemmed from a new technique I learned from Beadwork Magazine! The herringbone twist on the body of the bracelet came from the project called Cabled Bracelet. This was my first attempt. However, I added a snap closure and this little bloom that's colors are like a fiery sunset just about to drop off the horizon. I love this little thing! **AVAILABLE** (This new technique really fired my imagination!! My next couple of posts show how I tried varying the technique, and what it produced.)

Denim Rose

This bangle was made using spiral herringbone in different sizes of beads, 11 delicas to 8 seed beads around a memory-wire core. It doesn't need a clasp - just pop it on and go! The indigo matte beads in this set are reminiscent of denim and would be fun on a casual day. **SOLD**

Melange

This was fun free-form bracelet to make! The beads (a mix or "melange") were randomly stitched together creating this kind of wavy edge, and the texture just calls to be touched. The more serious earth-tones balance out the haphazard style of construction perfect for the office or a night out. **AVAILABLE**

Moonlight Sonata

The colors of the pearls in this bracelet remind me of the moonlight - thus the name! The pearls and black goldstone chips (a deep purple, man-made stone with shiny flecks) are "caught" in a circular-netting of silver-colored seed beads. This is a very open feeling bracelet - the netting shifts and you can get a whole other view - sometimes goldstone sometimes pearls! **SOLD**

Leaf Set

I love the colors in this set! The triangles the entire set are made with sparkle and refract the light - at different angles you see a hint of a different color. The openwork style was refreshing and very elegant and feminine. I call this the Leaf Set because it reminds me of a stylized leaf that you might find in a stained-glass window. The french ear wires are gold-plated, and the bracelet has a cloisonne button-loop closure. **AVAILABLE**

Harvest Cuff

This cuff has a swarovski crystal, button-loop closure. It measures 6.5" long by 1" wide. The colorplay and the differences in the finishes of the beads, i.e., matte opaque verses shiny & transparent are what gives this bracelet its life. SOLD

VICTORIAN PANORAMA PURSE

This is called the "Victorian Panorama Purse" despite the scene of a chinese bridge & almond blossoms because its overall style strikes me as more Victorian. The netted fringe is done in the style of a chandelier. It contains seed beads, glass drops, fresh-water pearls, fire-polished rondelles, garnet briolettes, and rose quarts. The body of this draw-string purse measures approximately 5"x6". It is lined with a chocolate-colored Shantung dotted with charlottes on the inside edge.

This little treasure took approximately 4 - 6 months to actually create (not including planning stages) and is probably one of the most extensive and challenging projects I've designed! The bead fabric was made using circular herringbone and was inspired by a scene found in a book at the local library. This particular project has a special place in my heart! Enjoy!

Duplicity

I call this Duplicity because it is reversible. I was trying this easy bead-knitting technique I learned from one of my favorite beading magazines. The gold lame cording used to knit this bracelet shows through and adds to it's sparkle. The triangle beads used on the one side make it more fun and casual, while the hex beads on the other side are a little more serious. It's very versatile, and because of this, is one of my favorites!

Flamingo Bracelet

This was dubbed the "Flamingo Bracelet" because of the bold hot-pink beads in the center. This was a lot of fun to do - pink and black always seem so playful. I included a close-up of the button-closure so you can see it from all sides. This bracelet is done in herringbone weave and has a very supple drape to it. **SOLD**