Double Ribbon Necklaces

I found these pretty double ribbon necklaces that were already attached to clasps (!), so I merely added pendants to them.

It's not really difficult to add ribbon endings and a clasp, but I thought it was neat that these were already finished.

These large glass foil beads made pretty pendants that complemented the ribbon colors.

I like the organza ribbon combined with the cord.  Now I just have to remind myself to get them posted into my Etsy shop!

Turquoise Beads Revisited

Remember this gift?

I received these Cousin Beads from Lisa Crone of A Bead a Day.  I used the beads in this necklace.  I thought the orange beads and the butterfly pendant gave it a nice summery look.

They also looked great in earrings!

Beautiful Gifts!

I just received a lovely gift from blogger and author Lisa Crone of A Bead a Day.  The pendant is large and adorned with aqua and red crystals in an antique brass frame.  It will coordinate with the faceted bi-color crystals in red and brown.

You can see that the pendant is completely open.  I would like to use this in a project where I put some sort of artwork as the base and possibly sealing it with resin.  I just have to do enough planning so I don't irretrievably muck it up!

As if that wasn't enough, I also received various bead strands in lovely shades of blue and turquoise.  Another project to contemplate!  I think I might use silver accents rather than the golden accents that it came with.  The turquoise might "pop" well with yellow or orange colors.  I have used the Cousin jewelry products in my designs before, and they always have many pretty things to get my ideas flowing.

These items were gifted to me, rather than purchased.

Kuan Yin Navy Blue Pendant

Kuan Yin is often seen as the saint of mercy and compassion in Asian religions.  I created a pendant based upon a vintage form and used it as a pendant on this necklace.  I've used shades of dark blue, crystal, and silver.

She is painted clay, made in my silicone mold.

Navy Molded Clay Clipon Earrings

These clip on earrings were an experiment.  Firstly, I made a mold from a vintage button.  I created a cabochon from white polymer clay, and painted it many times over with different colors of blue paint and then sealed it.

The second part of the experiment is to glue these cabochons to clip on backs that have a glue pad.  They seemed to adhere well.  I spent a long time deciding how large a cabochon I could use (I have many vintage buttons I can mold!).  These doorknocker motif molds are rather small.  I could not use anything too much smaller, or the metal clips would show when worn.  I could not decide if a bigger cabochon would look odd or not.  I'll leave that for another experiment.

Brass Fan Earrings

I've used these cute little brass fan connectors in earrings.   I thought the olive green and turquoise crystals were nice accent colors for the brass.

I'm not so sure about using these connectors in necklaces or bracelets.  They might flop around.  They do show off nicely in earrings, however.

Name that Flower!

These were such pretty flowers that I had to take a picture.  But what is the name of this beauty? 

Aren't they nice with the other blue whats-its?  They are at least 3 feet high, with plummy-mauve petals and creamy white petticoats.  Yes, I am just making up the flower terminology here. 

Can you also see the purple spikey things?  Like most of my photos, these will enlarge if you click on it.  I was very impressed with these flowers, and when I get a garden again maybe I will plant some (if I can figure out what they're called).

Blue Mother of Pearl Bracelet

I like the colored mother of pearl nuggets quite a bit.  These are in a pretty aqua color.

I've paired them with pastel aqua crystal pearls, and then accented them with chocolate brown seed beads.

Chalk Turquoise with Bamboo Coral Jewelry Set

These chalk turquoise nuggets have an irregular shape and lean towards the green side of turquoise.  I paired them with bamboo coral, which are shaped like gem chips.  I like turquoise and coral together. 

Also in the mix are labradorite rondelles and swarovski vitrail bicones.  Then I made some earrings to match.

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 Glitter Resin Pendant

Here I've used a heart frame purchased from Auntie's Beads.  It is quite deep and lends itself to some dimensional work.  Along with Ice Resin, I used both microbead glitter and flakey glitter in a similar blue shade, and then stuck in a brassy golden key charm.  The surface texture is bumpy, you can feel the glitter and charm in 3d.

You can see the depth of the frame more clearly here.

I wanted the resin pendant to be the main attraction here, so I strung various complimentary seed beads for the strand.  If you look closely (or click for closeup), you will see I used Miyuki 5/0 triangles in a matte bronze from Red Panda Beads.  I like to have several different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors in my designs, and when I discovered her triangle beads, I was thrilled!  I'll definitely be heading back for more of those. 

Turquoise Necklace with Square Focals

I made this necklace some time ago for my personal collection.  The focal beads are puffed squares of a turquoise composite, purchased at Aunties Beads.  I've used glass beads in complimentary colors of turquoise, tan, and silver to complete the necklace.  This is one of my favorite pieces and I wear it often.

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.

Red White and Blue Crocheted Bracelet

It is almost Independence Day, so here is a red white and blue design.  It looks a bit scrunchy in the above photo.

I crocheted red beading wire, which makes the design look scrunchy until it's on your wrist.  I had these beads that were blue stars with little rhinestones.  I originally thought they would be weightier, but once I purchased and opened the package, I realized they were quite lightweight, and really wouldn't work as charms.

I also had some red beading wire, for which I had no purpose either.  Therefore, I combined them all into this lacy stretch sort of bracelet.  The ends are attached to ribbon endings, and then into a button clasp.

Aqua Sea Glass with Shell Sticks

Sea glass is so pretty.  It is translucent and matte.  In these pieces I've used large round aqua sea glass with iridescent aqua shell sticks.   I've used patterns of various shades, sizes, and shapes of smaller glass beads to accompany the larger beads. 

Earrings to match, also!

You Can Never Have Too Much Blue

You might remember my post on this necklace back in the Spring.  I bought more of the same beads and made coordinating earrings and bracelets.  The clasp and connectors are pewter, which I think looks really nice with these blue beads.  These pieces always make me think of running water.