Black Choker with Pendant

I decided I needed a short black necklace with a small pendant, so I went through my bead stash.  I had 9 shiny bicones, so I picked up beading needle and thread to fashion a pendant. 

Some people are very good following intricate bead weaving patterns with tiny beads.   I am not those people.  I usually get the larger beads, and then start waving my needle around thinking "I'm sure something will turn out eventually."  So, this pendant is what turned out. 

I used black beading wire for the necklace because I wanted it to show through the clear beads.

Black and Gold Pendant on Twisted Cord

This necklace was an experiment in using thick braided cord.  I made a pendant from a large acrylic bead and gold plated pewter bead caps.  The cord is black intertwined with gold metallic thread.

The trick was getting the correct size for the endings.  The cord is probably 4mm thick and was from a fabric store, rather than a beading store.  It all ended up well, and I think it looks rather Elizabethan.

Black Filigree Beaded Brooches

A while back, I found these black enameled filigree disks.  I'm not always sure if I'm using a component in the manner it was intended, but then again, I'm not sure if it really matters.  I made several brooches with these little filigrees.  The first photo shows the brooch with fuchsia rhinestones and cream pearls. 

This one was done with all green.

White and red.  When I used seed beads rather than perfectly round beads, you can see the thread a little more.

This last one has a red beaded center and heart shaped rhinestones.  I think I'd like this one for Valentine's Day!

Teal Pearls with Lampwork

Still thinking of fall colors, I used teal pearls with lampwork beads in two shades of blue in this necklace.

I used black seed beads to pick up the black swirl in the lampwork beads, and to darken the overall look of the design. 

The necklace makes me think of the different colors of blue in the sky immediately preceding the twilight hours.  But then, the teal pearls also make me think of Philadelphia Eagles green, which is also a teal color.  I don't think I would wear this with a football jersey, though you could if you wanted to. :)

Blue Floral Ceramic Double Strand Necklace

Here I've used large ceramic round beads that are almost a dark aqua in color with a black floral motif painted on them.  I have glass beads in blue and complimentary colors on the main strand, and then small black beads on that secondary strand, which also weaves through the focal beads.  It gives a "scalloped" look to the design.

I'm calling this a double strand necklace rather than a two strand necklace, although I'm not sure if I'm using those terms correctly, or if there is a universal understanding of those terms.

Black and White Lampwork Bracelet

I always like a black and white color pallette, so here I go again!  I've used flat shell disc beads with rondelle lampwork beads.  The rondelles have a black and creamy white swirl pattern that is encased in clear glass which gives it some nice depth.  I bought these lampwork beads some time ago before I improved my record-keeping skills, so now I have no idea where they were purchased and cannot buy any more of them.  Ah, I wish I had more!  (a common complaint from me)

Pearly Stars with Lampwork Stripes

These grey stars are made from shell, and the oval beads are lampwork glass with stripes in white and grey-ish black.  I made a necklace, bracelet, and earrings in this style.  The accent beads are seed beads from Red Panda Beads.  I really like the color-lined clear beads from Miyuki.  I like the way they can echo a main color from the piece without having a too strong appearance. 

Black and White Leaves

I really like the color combination of black and white.  It is so classic.  Here I have made a chain bracelet with black and white resin leaf charms and matching earrings.  I am still trying to hone my photography skills.  I photographed the bracelet on an ivory background, and then used a grey background for the earrings.  I am wondering if I should have used a more contrasting background, such as red.  The jewelry looks much better in person than in the photo, which is not much solace when one is selling on the internet. 

The leaf charms have a nice dangle movement to them.  I don't know of any naturally occurring black or white leaves, do you? 

Black and Gold Necklace and Earring Set

It took me a while to decide what to do with these large black and gold foil lampwork beads.  I believe they were described as "pendants", but I didn't let that stop me from using them not as pendants.  I used a smaller black glass pearl as the pendant, or more of a "dangly drop".  The rest of the necklace uses gold plated pewter bead caps and toggle clasp, black glass pearls, and black rondelle spacers with an aurora borealis finish.  I made earrings to match.  I am experimenting with earring displays, none of them to my liking as yet.  You will note in the picture of the earring pair that one looks shorter than the other.  Actually, it is the way they are tilted.  This particular display doesn't leave much room for the back of the hook.  I have another display which is too short for a longer earring.  I am beginning to feel a bit like Goldilocks, who often found things just a little off.

Black Organza Ribbon Beaded Bracelet

This is a very pretty bracelet using 3 strands of organza ribbon.  Black and white beads are strung on the ribbon and it is finished off with a silver magnetic clasp.

Violet and Black Beaded Crochet Bracelet

This bracelet has violet purple and black beads on two types of crocheted stringing material.  I used a violet pearl cotton and also black beading wire for the crochet.  I believe the bead crochet is fairly new to popular beading.  I have many afghans, scarves, caps, and slippers in my past and was interested to see its surge in popularity.  I believe these fashions stay out of style long enough for me to lose things, for instance my old crochet hooks and my yarn stash.  No doubt I will find them once they are no longer a la mode.  I had to buy new crochet hooks for this. 

Silver Foil Lined Beads with Black Flower Cones

Large silver foil lined beads with stripes are set off with black flower cones.  I used these both in a pair of earrings and a bracelet.  The beads look a bit like wrapped candy.  The earrings are on silver earwires.  The bracelet closes with a silver button clasp with is easy to use. 

Black and Gold Cat Bracelet

Every cat lover should have a cat bracelet, and so here is a gold chain decorated with four little black and gold cat faces and other pretty black and gold beads.  This is 7-1/2 inches long and will fit the average wrist.  It closes with a magnetic clasp so you will have no problems getting it on and off.

Dramatic Red and Black Necklace

Red and black combine to make a dramatic statement.  Puffed ovals of red turquoise magnesite are strung with black glass pearls along with shiny silver spacers.  It is completed with a sterling silver hook and eye clasp, and strung on high quality beading wire.

Black and Gold Pendant on Ribbon Braid

A large black and gold pendant is strung dramatically on a black and gold ribbon braid.  It is finished with golden cord ends.  I think it has an Elizabethan look to it.