Brown Medallion Necklace

This is a long necklace made of tiger's eye with golden cylindrical beads.  I made the pendant from resin, in a mold I made from a found item.   I think it looks like an antique or at least part of a space ship.

I colored the resin during the mixing, plus painted and rubbed it after curing.  

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.

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!

Flying Birds Resin Pendant

Remember this lovely gift of an open pendant from Lisa Crone of A Bead a Day?

I thought I could enhance it by creating a design within the opening.  Here is the artwork that I created with Photoshop.

After sealing the design, I applied resin and attached the pendant.

After letting it set, I trimmed back the photo paper and applied gold Gilder's Paste to the back, sealing it with more resin.  The next step will be making the necklace for it!

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.

Silver Cable Necklace

I found this cute pewter pendant and thought I would try it with a cable necklace.

The cable chain is a bit flexible but stays in a circle around the neck.
It closes with a barrel clasp.  I think it is an interesting look.

Pretty Pewter Goodies

I recently won a pack of pretty pewter (say it three times quickly) from a twitter contest at Happy Mango.  There are some charms, findings, and other things in this nice little pack, and I haven't yet decided what to do with them.  I have a photo of each piece, so you can think about what you would do with it.
 

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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.

Turquoise, Violet, and Champagne Cream Necklace with Pendant

This necklace is a bit OTT in comparison to my other designs, but then I do like variety.  This is a double-strand necklace, although it is operating more like a single strand.  You can see that the main strand uses light and dark champagne cream seed beads, and then uses a few lampworked beads that are violet with turquoise.  The secondary strand uses turquoise beading wire (manufactured by Soft Flex) and metallic firepolished violet beads. 

I wove the pendant from mostly the same beads that are in the necklace, using a thin gauge silver wire.  I made a simple hook and eye clasp with a few turquoise seed beads to finish the necklace.  I don't think I ever go anywhere glam enough to wear this, although I suppose other people do! 

Mossy Green Pendant Necklace

A pewter bail holds three strands of beads and rose shaped pewter beads.  Beads in shades of green and red float on light green beading wire, closed with a sterling silver spring ring clasp.

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.

Hannah

 

This is a very sweet necklace made with white beading wire and a beautiful green lampworked heart pendant.  The two “tails” below the pendant are finished with tiny white glass pearls.  The necklace is finished with a sterling silver lobster clasp.  It’s really adorable!