"Fit for a Duchess"

"Fit for a Duchess" 

... is the the name I've given to my latest bead embroidered cuff bracelet.

The base is a gorgeous Shibori Silk Ribbon hand-dyed by Deborah Weaver, showcasing a glorious array of colors that range from soft aqua to greenish-turquoise, bright periwinkle blue to cobalt blue, and a rich ultramarine blue on into a deep purple.  A bit of lavender and hot pink round out the mix.  

Truly fit for royalty.

I pulled out all of my turquoise and purple beads, and had so much fun choosing colors for this riot of a cuff bracelet.  The only difficulty in working with Shibori Silk Ribbon is the reluctance to cover up any of the inherent beauty in the dyed silk.

The photo above shows the ends of the cuff bracelet with lavender flowers, as well as the beaded edge which is made up of iridescent Japanese glass seed beads.

Above photo shows just a peek at the inside of the cuff, which is covered with a deep purple Ultra Suede for softness against the skin.  Also on the inside is a line of the same iridescent Japanese glass seed beads to cover the edges and for continuity.  The main cabochons are Jasper with shades of turquoise and lavender. 

As always, I have used Nicole Campanella's NBB (Nicole's Bead Backing) as my foundation for this bracelet.  This is the only bead embroidery backing I will use, and it makes every project turn out beautifully.  

The Subtle Side of Autumn

 The Subtle Side of Autumn . . .

This most recent bead embroidered cuff bracelet that I made is a commissioned piece for a lovely lady who wears and enjoys the beautifully subtle colors of autumn: bronze, olive, burnt orange, taupe, and brown.  It was a joy making this bracelet because I also love these colors.  The stones I used in this bracelet include Jasper, faux pearl, and Japanese glass Toho beads.

Because I believe that Nicole Campanella's Beadwright Beadbacking is the ONLY backing worth working on for hours on end, I chose her Hawk color, which was the perfect background for these autumnal colors.  It makes the experience of bead embroidery that much more enjoyable when your bead backing material is not only a color that compliments your design, but is 100% perfect for stitching beads of various sizes, and sewing through each of the beads as many as four different times.  If you are a bead embroiderer and haven't tried Nicole's Beadbacking, please do yourself an immense favor and you'll never look back!  Trust me on this!  (See my previous posts for information on Nicole Campanella's Beadbacking and Web site.)

This cuff has an inner brass bracelet inside for stability, and an UltraSuede lining on the inside for comfort.  The advantage of the brass bracelet inside is that the wearer can pull it to stretch the cuff larger, or squeeze it to make the cuff smaller - depending on her wrist size.

 

*Click on photos to see enlarged sizes.  

 

The top photo is the bead embroidered cuff bracelet before it is attached to the inner brass form.  The bottom photo shows the finished bracelet with beaded picot edging.

 

"Meadow Stream" ~ Shibori Silk Ribbon Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

Here is a look at my latest project, and a few step-by-step photos in the creation of

"Meadow Stream"  ~  Shibori Silk Ribbon Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet.

This started as a beautiful piece of Shibori Silk Ribbon dyed by Deborah Weaver of ArtisticWeavers on Etsy.com.  You can see this piece in the bottom left hand corner of the photo below.  In my opinion, Deborah Weaver sells the most attractive Shibori Silk Ribbon on Etsy.  If you are in the market for it, please look for her offerings.  You'll have a difficult time choosing from her wide array of stunning ribbons.  In this particular piece of ribbon, the lovely forest greens blended into rich olive greens and then into gorgeous aquas.  I had lots of beads from which to choose for this particular project.

Below is a photo of my possible choices laid out before the creative juices begin to flow. 

My favorite beading foundation, NBB by Nicole Campanella, in the Chartreuse Shine color was the perfect background for the ribbon and the beads.

Above, I have tacked down the Shibori Silk Ribbon with clothespins.  The edges are all tucked under, and I've imagined the pleats as water flowing in a slow-moving stream.  Perhaps one in a quiet meadow.

I must say that Shibori Silk Ribbon is so very lovely, it's hard to cover up any part of it with beads.  But, the show must go on ...

I've used silver beads to highlight the various green beads.  The central focal cabochon is a Jasper stone that I have bezeled separately on NBB, then attached to the ribbon.  Also included are:   round Jasper beads, glass pearls, AB glass round beads, faceted crystal beads, square glass dichroic beads, turquoise Picasa beads, and faceted Czech beads.  The arrangement of the beads was somewhat random, but also in keeping with the "flow" of the imagined stream.

The finished beaded top is wrapped around a brass cuff, glued down, left to dry, and then the inside of the brass cuff is covered by an olive green UltraSuede.  The two edges are sewn together with beads, sandwiching the brass cuff inside.

Another view of the finished bracelet.

This view of the bracelet shows the picot edging with silver beads, 

and the interior olive UltraSuede that is finished off with a line of olive and silver beads, which effectively covers the stitching.

NOTE:   The owner of "Meadow Stream" took this photo for me.  The colors appear slightly different in this photograph compared to the photos that I took of the bracelet ~ but so much depends on the lighting when it comes to photography.  I've included this photo because it looks closer to the actual bracelet itself, whereas my photos of the bracelet are a bit on the bright side.  

* STARLIGHT *

"Starlight" is the name I've given to this latest bead embroidered cuff bracelet that I've created.

The three asymmetrical gemstones in the middle are Aqua Terra Jasper ~ a beautiful stone with gorgeous colorations of aqua swirled with a honey-colored topaz and a warm brown.  These three stones have been bezeled with Toho Japanese glass seed beads, then surrounded with other Aqua Terra Jasper beads in several different sizes and shapes.  Toward the edges are more Toho Japanese seed beads, aqua "sea glass" round beads, Czech crystals, bicone crystals, and decorative varigated glass oval beads.

Below is a closer look at the central gemstones.

Click on any photo for a larger image

Sky Blue NBB foundation by Nicole Campanella is the base for all of my bead embroidery.

For the best beading foundation to be found on the market today, 

please check out:

www.Beadwright.com 

Below are three photos showing the finished bead embroidered cuff bracelet.

A delicate picot edge surrounds the whole bracelet.

Inside the cuff, I've used a light blue UltraSuede lining. 

The lovely organic swirls in Aqua Terra Jasper led to the

choice of light aqua blue, brown, and honey-colored beads.  

"Cleopatra's Prize"

Inpiration:  "The Colors of Egyptian Art"

Leafing through a catalogue recently, I came across an example of Egyptian art.  I cut this part out because I love the combination of colors and wanted to use them in a bead embroidered cuff bracelet project.

I've covered up a part of the writing in the lower left corner to make it less distracting - but the colors are black, terra cotta, turquoise/verdigris and a subtle, light gold color.

The above photo shows the beaded bracelet on the foundation before it was attached to the inner brass cuff.

It's always easier to see the whole design flat like this, instead of wrapped around the circular cuff.   

click on any image to enlarge

The turquoise that I chose for my bracelet is a much stronger color with a deeper intensity than what is shown in the example of Egyptian art above.  I was happy with the colors I chose, and the ones in the example were merely a jumping-off point.  Perhaps at a later date I'll use the same inspiration but choose a true light verdigris and incorporate the light gold, as well.

For now, I liked the stronger palette - and I always go with my first instincts.

The turquoise stones in this bracelet are dyed Jasper. These small disks were arranged flat with a size 15 terra cotta glass seed bead as a "stop" bead to hold them down.  They showed more of the Jasper placed this way, instead of lined up flat, side to flat side.

 I've decided there just isn't a "look" that Jasper can't fill in for - it's been my go-to gemstone for most of my projects.  The central oval cabochon is also Jasper, and this one has a rich terra cotta color that works so well with the turquoise.

The round stones with an orange glow are Carnelian.  This stone marries well with turquoise, as it is a very close complementary color (green-turquoise + red-orange).  In addition, I added in some faceted crystals with a turquoise and gold, and a number of turquoise-colored glass pearls in two sizes.  The rest are seed beads - all glass beads, in sizes ranging from 8 to 15.  The blacks are both the shiny opaque black (Czech size 12) and the matte black (Japanese size 8) for added interest.  Tiny light turquoise seed beads are intersperced in any areas where the round stones left a bit of a gap.

The edges of the cuff are finished off with a picot edging,
and the underside is a very soft teal-colored UltraSuede. 

As usual, my work is hand-sewn and embroidered on Nicole Campanella's NBB, the foundation that is perfect for this work.  There is a brass bracelet blank inside sandwiched between the top beaded part and the underside UltraSuede, which is in a rich teal color.

For more information on my preferred bead embroidery foundation called NBB, please click here:
http://beadwright.com/

Contact me if you are interested in sources for brass bracelet blanks or UltraSuede.

"Celebration" ~ Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

"Celebration"

Many times my bead embroidery projects begin with a color choice.  Other times it's a special gemstone cabochon that I want to feature, and then I pick colors to enhance that particular piece.

With "Celebration" I turned to two printed artworks that I have saved for a few years because I loved the color combinations in both paintings.  One painting is by Thomas Cooper Gotch and it is called "The Child Enthroned." This artwork features a young girl wearing an elaborate robe and sitting on a throne with a halo behind her head. (Seen below on the bottom of the photo on the diagonal.)  The other painting is of a mother holding her sleeping infant.  This was a Christmas card, and unfortunately, I do not know the name of the artist or the title of the painting itself. [If you know, please tell me, as I'd love to know the name of the artist or the title of the painting!]

What these two paintings have in common is their similar "colorway."  Both paintings utilize the complementary colors of green and red - and in these two cases, the green leans towards turquoise, and the red leans toward orange.  The addition of a golden yellow and a creamy oyster color add to the harmony.

click on any photo to enlarge

Turquoise-green and red-orange (coral) are my two most favorite colors, so it's no surprise when I choose them for my bead embroidery.  As complementary colors, they sing in the presence of each other.  

The above photo shows the bead embroidered cuff bracelet flat on the beading foundation before it is attached to the brass cuff bracelet.  

Above photo and below photo show the finished cuff bracelet.

The central focal piece is a Jasper gemstone.  It is bezeled with turquoise colored cut crystals, topaz-gold colored cut Czech crystals, and 8 mm golden fossil beads. 

In addition, there are red glass faceted beads in a few sizes, Japanese glass Toho beads, four oval green glass cabochons, ivory luster fossil beads, two vintage green buttons, and four red-dyed Mother of Pearl buttons.

The inside of the cuff is green UltraSuede, and the outer edges of the cuff bracelet are finished off with a decorative picot edge.  

As in my other bead embroidery jewelry pieces, the backing I favor is by Nicole Campanella, and is called NBB.  Here, I used the Green Leaf color.  

For 13 additional colors of NBB, please check out her Web site at 

www.Beadwright.com

"Forest Floor" featuring a yellow-green Jasper focal cabochon on a bead embroidered cuff bracelet.

"Forest Floor" 

click on any photo for a larger image

My attraction for the stone Jasper continues ~ my hand automatically reaches for them whenever I visit my local bead store.  Jasper comes in so many different colors, and combinations of colors, I can't imagine every tiring of it.  This particular Jasper stone with it's bright yellow-greens, dark emerald green "spider webbings", and gray-green organic patches won me over, and I knew I had to make a bracelet with these colors.  It reminded me of the colors one might find on a forest floor.  While I don't have access to an actual forest, I do walk in the woods quite often . . . 

Around the time that I was working on this bracelet, I walked outside on a cold, winter afternoon and noticed on the ground bright green patches of new grass peeking up and growing alongside gray-green pieces of lichen.  It made me think of spring trying to push winter aside.  I was struck by the beauty of the two greens together, and wanted to incorporate them in this piece.

As I have done in the past, the first photo of the bracelet (above) shows the bead embroidered foundation flat for photographing ~ once it's placed on the brass blank cuff to become a bracelet, it's harder to see the entire design together.  

Besides the oval focal Jasper cabochon in the middle, I have added smaller Jasper beads in various greens and gray-greens, glass pearls in both green and gray, cut crystals in several colors including a very bright yellow-green, and Japanese seed beads in a number of colors, sizes, and finishes. Some of the smaller Jasper beads are called "Landscape Jasper."  Also included is a small, round, gray-green Agate that is faceted on the top of the stone. 

This bead embroidered cuff bracelet is sewn onto Nicole's BeadBacking in the Chartreuse Shine color ~ a yummy yellow-green color that allows the transparent and translucent beads as well as the cut crystals to show their best.

Above is the finished bead embroidered cuff bracelet.

Around the entire bracelet edge I have sewn a double row of picot edging using Japanese glass drops called Magatamas.  This is the first time I've tried a double row edging, and I really like the way it turned out.

Inside the bracelet is a soft, olive green UltraSuede lining.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

"Promise Of Spring"

Because I love this bright, apple-green Jasper stone so much, I made a second bead embroidered cuff bracelet with it as a focal center stone when I discovered another one at my local bead shop, "Beads and More."  I just couldn't resist! (The first one I made to give as a gift.)

The Jasper stone is actually a bead meant to be worn as a pendant - there is a hole on each end lengthwise.  Both sides were equally beautiful - it was difficult to decide which one to show.  

I am calling this bracelet "Promise Of Spring" because I incorporated bright, yellow-green glass beads, as I was out of the "lichen-colored" gray-green stones.  In addition to the Jasper stone beads, I have also included faceted green Jade beads and faceted multi-toned Agate beads.  With spring always on my mind, and in anticipation of it after a long, cold winter, I think of this beautiful yellow-green color as a *harbinger of spring.*  

This image (above) shows the bead embroidered piece on the foundation after it has been cut away from the Nicole's NBB in the Chartreuse Shine color.  These bracelets photograph better flat, as the whole design can be seen at once.  After the beaded foundation is wrapped around a brass blank cuff, [which is sandwiched between the beading and the UltraSuede backing], it's more difficult to see the design - as only parts of it can be photographed at one time.

Here is the finished cuff (below) :

I have embellished the outer edges of the cuff with Japanese TOHO #11 glass seed beads, 

and added a picot edging with green crystal bi-cones. 

The next photo shows the ends of the cuff in an angle that features 

the inner UltraSuede material in a peacock pattern.

For information on the fantastic bead embroidery foundation that I use and highly recommend, please visit:

http://www.Beadwright.com

and discover Nicole's BeadBacking, which comes in 14 colors.  Treat yourself to the best!

"Coming Attraction"

Going to see a special movie, 

I remember sitting in the darkened theater 

waiting for my eyes to adjust.   

Slowly, my eyes grew accostomed to the dim light, 

and then all the colors sang out.  

The movie screen showed the "Coming Attraction"  . . . 

The beginning of "Coming Attraction" started with the idea of using black beads sewn on a black foundation.  Black is wonderful for showcasing my favorite turquoise color.  But could my eyes adjust to sewing black beads with black thread onto a black foundation?    (Yes!)

I chose two oval magnesite cabochons with black and brown matrix (veining), 

and then added several shiny jet black cabochons, 

all of which I bezeled with seed beads.   

From there, I began a beading journey with texture in mind.  

Above photo shows the finished bead embroidered piece before 

it is attached to the brass blank cuff and made into a bracelet.  

Click on any photo for larger view.

Here are some of the various components in "Coming Attraction."

• magnesite
• dyed jade
• faceted crystal beads
• glass seed beads
• bugle beads
• vintage buttons (3)
• wool-covered button
• AB glass 8 mm beads
• black Lucite flowers
• turquoise and brown dyed Jasper
• crystal bi-cone beads in black and turquoise
• iridescent seed beads
• black sequins (3)

Around the edges of the cuff bracelet, I've sewn on 

size 11 shiny, opaque, black seed beads 

with an apex of three turquoise AB seed beads in the picot design.

I was delighted with the Midnight Black foundation 

by Nicole Campanella (NBB) ~ 

It was not difficult at all sewing black beads onto the black NBB.  

Discover NBB for yourself by visiting:

www.Beadwright.com

"Save The Date"

Who doesn't love receiving a "Save The Date" card in the mail!  Time to pull out your pearls!

What is so amazing about pearls is that they have a chameleon nature to them ~ they look lovely with your little black dress, but you can also rock pearls with a tee shirt and jeans.  It's all about your confidence. My dear friend, Victoria, enjoys wearing her pearls even when playing a fast and furious game of tennis.  My mother wisely said, "If you are fortunate enough to own pearls, wear them often so they will become more lustrous with age."  With that attitude in mind, I've created:  "Save The Date."

Bracelet shown flat for better viewing of design.

click on any photo for larger image

This bead embroidered cuff bracelet lets the pearls run wild.  Two shell pearls are sewn on upside down to showcase their flat side, and not the bumpy, textured side.  An array of glass pearls in various tones and tints, from creamy white to golden, embellish the bracelet along with glass crystals and seed beads in shades of ivory.  Six mother of pearl buttons are added with glass crystal beads in their center.  Six frosted white Lucite flowers are hidden among the beads, each with very tiny pearls for stamens.

"Save The Date" is bead embroidered onto the tan-colored Hawk Wing NBB, and the beads are sewn down numerous time with crystal Fireline Braided Beading Thread for added security.

Nicole Campanella's Bead Backing (NBB) is my #1 (actually, ONLY) choice for bead embroidery foundation.  Order yours in any of 14 rich colors by visiting her Web site:
http://www.beadwright.com/

Photo showing the inside UltraSuede lining of the cuff bracelet, and the tiny crystal beads adorning the outer edges.

"Sea Breeze" ... bead embroidered cuff bracelet.

As in older posts, I've photographed the completed bead embroidered top part of the bracelet flat before attaching it to the brass cuff bracelet, for easier viewing.

Click on photos for a larger view.

Here is my first attempt at making a narrow bead embroidered cuff bracelet.  I call this one "Sea Breeze" for the pretty sea-green color of the aventurine cabochon stones. The center cab is somewhat rectangular, and the two on either side are very narrow and also rectangular.  Here's where I learned a lesson (and I learn something with each project, thankfully!) the smaller and narrower the cabochon, the less likely the final row of bezeling with size 15 beads will show up well.  I suppose there just isn't enough room for them to spread out nicely, and they have a tendency to bunch up - live and learn.  The remainder of the beads are gold-toned Japanese glass seed beads and bugle beads. In addition, I have added topaz gold Swarovski cut crystal beads, round and bi-cone, clear-green glass 4 mm. beads, plus 10 glass pearls in the beautiful sea-green color.

Aventurine is a form of quartz characterised by its translucency ~ this is the green aventurine.  The majority of green and blue-green aventurine originates in India.  I think it's a very soothing color, and I was surprised at how well it married with the gold additions.

This braclet was bead embroidered onto Nicole Campanella's NBB bead backing in the Leaf Green color.  For ordering information on this excellent embroidery backing material, please click on this link:

http://www.beadwright.com/

The color combination in this bracelet led me to use an UltraSuede pattern that incorporates the same sea green and gold colors with a charming "peacock feather" pattern.  

"Canyon Creek" Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

*Canyon Creek*

This latest bead embroidered cuff bracelet is called "Canyon Creek."  The Aqua Terra Jasper stones are currently my favorite gemstones ~ they have that water + land appearance, with swirling earth tones in blues, creams, tans, and rusts. 

Click any photo to enlage image.

Above I've shown the beaded top finished on the "Hawk Wing" color of Nicole's BeadBacking foundation.  I think it's easier to see the entire bracelet design when it's flat like this, since the curavture of the cuff bracelet allows you to see only small sections at a time.

In the photo above, I have cut away the backing foundation, and the beaded top part is ready to be glued to the brass blank cuff.  The central focal jasper stone is rectangular, but the two jasper stones on each side are not exactly the same - this lent a slightly free-form design to the bracelet.  It's always enjoyable to pull out the colors from the stones and let them flow where they will.

After I finished the cuff, I decided the central focal jasper cabochon might benefit from a circle of Aqua Terra jasper beads. 

This below photo shows the side view.  Besides the smaller Aqua Terra jasper beads, I placed six larger beads in the same coloration flat on the bracelet with a "stop bead" to hold them down.  I also had four glass flower beads that carried the same color theme.  The rust-colored beads are also glass, but with a matte finish.  Included are aqua crystals, and AB glass beads in several sizes and shapes.

 Inside is a soft, brown UltraSuede.  The edging on this cuff follows the bead choice on the bracelet itself - which is a different look for me, but one I am pleased with.  I even included some metallic cube beads for added interest.