* 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.  

"The Golden Bee"

~ Bead Embroidered Pendant with Necklace ~

"The Golden Bee" was created to showcase a beautiful rectangular pendant gemstone of pink dyed Jasper and an assortment of similar Jasper organic-shaped stones drilled for stringing into a necklace.

The Jasper stone was attached to a white foundation by Nicole Campanella called NBB.  This was before I knew she carried a hot pink NBB in the Tropical Berry color that might have been just perfect.  But with the white foundation, I merely used some liquid fabric dye to get the white NBB the color pink that I wanted.  Now I have the Tropical Berry color in my stash, ready for the next hot pink project.

Above is a closer view of the pendant.  I've included smaller pink-dyed Jasper stones in two different variations, plus a pink-dyed pearl, marbled glass beads, a hot pink cut crystal, bugle beads, Japanese  glass seed beads in a chocolate brown, gold, hot pink, pearl, topaz, and luster. 

The triangular gold piece in the 4 o'clock position is a gold button from my grandmother's collection - it truly resembles a gold nugget. Buttons from the `30's and `40's were so well made and very unique. 

Dangling at the bottom of the pendant I have added hot pink crystal bicones, bubblegum pink cracked glass round beads, and cut crystal AB drops in hot pink.  The little gold bee charm, after which the necklace is named, hangs from the bottom as well - it is anatomically correct on both the front and back.

The necklace part consists of strung pink-dyed and drilled Jasper stones with one glass seed bead in hot pink between each stone so they will drape well.  A gold chain with an AB pink crystal finishes off the necklace so that it can be worn at various lengths.

I seem to be drawn to Jasper ~ the different colors and looks always intrigue me. 

click on any photo to enlarge image





"A Moment In Time"

Pompeii, the Roman town buried under the fiery ashes from a volcano eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is a story that will forever shock and fascinate us.  The terrified residents ran for their lives, but couldn't out-race the sudden and fatal combination of heat, smoke, ash, and burning debris raining down on them.  A few grabbed their most precious jewelry at the last moment.  It would be years later before some of these ancient pieces were unearthed and miraculously preserved.  The amazing fact is that due to certain atmospheric conditions occuring that day, much of Pompeii was captured for us to later recreate and see for ourselves . .   "A Moment In Time."

In my books on Pompeii, the colors from the ruins are my personal favorites : gold, amber, turquoise, red-orange, and copper.  These colors decorated the walls and homes of many citizens of Pompeii, mostly in painted frescoes or in colorful tiles.

Above: Photo from Pompeii wall that survived the volcano's eruption.

Click on any photo for a larger view

"A Moment In Time" is an off-loom beaded bracelet that I made using copper-colored glass Luster cube beads for the majority of the bracelet. These are sewn together using only thread - it is the peyote or gourd stitch that holds them together.  These beads have a very slight pink-orange tone to them and are highly reflective.  Working with them under any source of light was a bit of a challenge - as they almost blinded me, they were so shiny.  It was my first time to work with cube beads, as I generally use round beads. The cube beads lock together in a very satisfying way. 

The central focal part of the bracelet consists of a rectangular Red Creek Jasper pendant, a turquoise Magnesite oval cabochon, and a red-orange Carnelian faceted cabochon.  These three stones were embroidered by hand onto Nicole's BeadBacking in the Hawk Wing color.  After sewing down these cabs and bezeling them with cut-crystal bicones and tiny seed beads, I added amber-colored matte size 15 Delica seed beads around each stone to highlight them.

Although it's difficult to see clearly, I've attached a tiny copper bumble bee that was a gift from my daughter-in-law in the lower right corner of the Jasper gemstone - it is attached with a loop of seed beads so that it can move, as it is anatomically correct both on the front and back of the bee.

The very edge of the bracelet is finished off in a picot edge that features turquoise Hematite cube beads given to me by my dear friend, Linda.  The central picot beads are a Luster magatama or tear- drop bead.  Underneath the middle part of the bracelet, I have sewn a soft, burnt sienna-colored square of UltraSuede.

Although you cannot see it in the photo, the Luster beads that make up the majority of the bracelet are very flexible and drape almost the way fabric does - the movement of this bracelet is fluid as it encircles the wrist.  The closure is comprised of three decorated beaded toggles with three loops on the opposite side which blend in with the rest of the bracelet.

"Stepping Stones" ~ Necklace Featuring Red Creek Jasper

The gemstone Jasper is playing a starring role again in my beaded creations.  This particular Jasper stone is called Red Creek Jasper, and the colorations of the stones range from a light creamy yellow, to a soft orange, on to a deep red, a gray-green, an olive green, and finally a brown.  Often the stones have most of these colors embedded in them in swirly patterns. 

click on photo for larger image

This necklace incorporates large Red Creek Jasper free-form beads (the long, narrow shapes), as well as a triangular piece in the middle, and several oval-shaped beads besides the round 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm beads.  I've added Yellow Jasper in places to play off the yellow coloration.  In addition, there are a few Agates, and lots of Japanese Toho glass seed beads in olive green, dark taupe, and a creamy yellow - these are in sizes 6, 8, 11, and 15. 

The entire piece was hand sewn and embroidered bead by bead on Nicole Campanella's NBB foundation in the color Hawk Wing.  The backing is a soft tan-colored UltraSuede.  Around the edges of the piece I have added very delicate picot edging with tiny size 15 beads. 

The toggle bar and loop closure is made with seed beads, and I got a little ambitious and made a beaded bead as well.  I'm still working on improving that technique . . .

Here is a closer look at the various colorations in Red Creek Jasper beads. 

"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!

"Journey's End"

My latest bead embroidered cuff bracelet, "Journey's End," is a pairing of the gemstone Tiger's Eye with Amazonite in a turquoise-green color.  I think the two colors are charming together, exhibiting a very attractive warmth.  As it is still very cold this winter, I am drawn to these warm colors.

This is my first time to use gemstone chips in my bracelets.  This overall design is somewhat symmetrical, and the chips add a random look that is unexpected while offering relief from too much pattern.

Above is the bead embroidered top before it is attached to the inner brass cuff and finished off with edging and an inside addition of UltraSuede.

Along with the Tiger's Eye cabochons and beads, and four large Amazonite beads, I have added round gold-colored cut crystals, gold-colored crystal bicones, natural pearls dyed green, and a variety of glass beads for interest.  The beads surrounding the focal Tiger's Eye cabochon are glass Hybrid Picasso beads, which mimic the look of a green shade of turquoise. I have sewn and embroidered the beads one or two at a time onto Nicole's BeadBacking (NBB) in the Leaf Green color.  Each bead is then sewn through again for security and to align the rows of beads.  All beads that protrude from the tops of other beads are sewn three or four times for added strength.

The inside of the cuff is lined with soft green UltraSuede. 

The edges of the bracelet have a 'picot edge' with more 

turquoise-green seed beads, plus several topaz-gold seed beads.

"Journey's End"

Photo below - click on any photos for larger image.

For information on my favorite bead backing, and to order NBB, 

please check out Nicole Campanella's Web site:

 http://www.beadwright.com/ 

"Journey's End" is in a private collection.

"Blue Harmony" ~ Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

"Blue Harmony"

*click on photos for larger image

The above photo shows the beaded bracelet after all the top embroidery is completed, but before it is attached to the inner brass cuff blank.  It's easier to see the bracelet design when it is photographed flat like this first. Once the top beaded foundation is attached to the cuff, the rounded form is more difficult to photograph well, or to see in its entirety. 

Many of my bead embroidered bracelets start with an interesting gemstone cabochon - this one, "Blue Harmony," is no different.  The central jasper gemstone cabochon is a beautiful swirl of blue and earth-toned colors.  I chose to feature the blue and the brown colors, choosing to use a sapphire blue that is neither warm nor cool - a true blue - and a soft brown to play up the blue.  I did not want this blue bracelet to veer to the cool side (aqua blue), or the warm side (violet blue). 

Two swirly glass cabochons flank the focal gemstone and carry out the blue/brown colorway.  Light blue, half-domed pearls encircle the jasper stone in the middle and add a subtle elegance.  In addition to these, I've added glass seed beads, Czech crystals, AB glass cut crystals, earth-toned matte Picasso beads, and four light blue, Lucite, "hibiscus-shaped" flowers. Springing from the middle of the Lucite flowers are blue beaded stamens.  Lucite is a type of acrylic glass - these flowers have a charming frosted look to them.

The inside of the cuff bracelet is finished off with an UltraSuede fabric in a floral and lace pattern in soft blues and creams. 

Below are three photos of the finished bracelet.







 "Blue Harmony" showing side view.

"Blue Harmony" showing bottom of cuff, and inner designed UltraSuede, as well as the picot edging around the bracelet that finishes off the design in a delicate manner.

Top view of "Blue Harmony" bead embroidered cuff bracelet.



"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.  

"Night and Day" ~ Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

My latest bead embroidered cuff bracelet presented a challenge.  Could I make something interesting out of only black and white beads without any color to sing out?  Color is the driving force behind all of my jewelry creations, so this limitation was new for me.   I'm calling this bracelet:

"Night and Day" 

click on any photo to enlarge view 

Although I like the combination of black and white, I prefer the more "vintage" appearance of ivory/cream/ecru shade of white instead of a stark, bright white. This project's goal was a more modern look.  I think the bracelet turned out very contemporary.

Below is the finished bead embroidered top piece - photographed flat so that it shows up better:

After the bead embroidered top piece is cut away from the bead backing (Black NBB by Nicole Campanella ~ the BEST backing on the market!), then this top is attached with glue to the brass cuff bracelet blank.

This is the top view of the cuff.  The beads are many varieties, sizes, shapes, and finishes of glass beads.  Although it may be difficult to see in the above photo (black is difficult for me to photograph), there are a total of four black Lucite flowers - each has a white beaded "stamen" in the middle.

This side view shows one of the two large, oval, striped beads.  The design of these two beads contributes to the modern look of the bracelet.

Finally, an end view of the cuff showing the inside black UltraSuede that finishes off the cuff with a soft fabric against the skin, as well as encases the inner brass cuff bracelet.  Around the edges I have sewn a picot edging, which is subtle so as not to take anything away from the focal beads.

* For more information on the BEST bead backing on the market, please visit:

www.Beadwright.com

"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.  







 

"Burnt Offering"

"Burnt Offering"

"Burnt Offering" is a bead embroidered pendant strung on a beaded necklace.  Oh, these colors are my favorite!  Especially this time of year as we approach Autumn. 

After making several bead embroidered cuff bracelets, I was amazed at how quickly this pendant came together. 

*Click on photo for enlarged view

Below is a closer view of the pendant.  I embroidered the stones onto Nicole's BeadBacking

(order yours by clicking here: http://nicolecampanella.com ) in her beautifully vibrant red color, which lent the piece a firey tone. 

The upper stone is Pyrite - it looks gold in this photo, but it's really more of a vintage silver look. 

The bottom stone is a cabochon that I ordered from India.  It came marked as:  "Natural Silver Spider Web Copper Coral Cushion," and indeed it does have a silver-toned spider web look to it.

In addition to the two gemstones, included are burnt orange cut crystals, two jasper "donut" beads, and various glass seed beads in matte and opaque - sizes 6, 8, 11, and 15 (around the bezel of the Pyrite stone). 

The beads in the necklace are called "Sponge Coral" and each one has a slightly different organic shape to it.

I made a toggle and loop for the closure, as I find this kind of beaded toggle closure ties in the whole design better than a store-bought "silver" metal toggle.  Besides - it's fun to make your own toggles.  You probably already have enough beads, and they make up very quickly. 

The back side of the bead embroidered pendant (not shown) is a very deep, cranberry-colored  UltraSuede fabric.



"IVORY COAST"

"Ivory Coast"

Everything I create gets a name, whether it's an original painting or a beaded bracelet.

This bead embroidered cuff bracelet I have named "Ivory Coast." 

The pearls and beads remind me of the color of shells I've found on the beach. 



* click on photos for larger image

Above is the bead embroidered work before it is attached to the brass inner cuff, and before it is finished off with the inside UltraSuede lining.  These bead embroidered bracelets are easier to see flat first, before they are shown circling a cuff bracelet.

This photo shows the finished cuff bracelet.  The center focal piece is a carved ivory rose cabochon that I encircled with jasper gemstones, glass seed beads, and glass pearls.  On the four "corners" are Lucite tulip flowers with pearl stamens. By each flower is a carved acrylic leaf.  The outer edging on the bracelet is finished with a lacey picot edge.

Besides the ivory rose and jasper beads, this bracelet also includes fresh water pearls, AB crystals, and assorted cream/ivory/ecru beads of various sizes and shapes.  I purposely chose only off-white beads, so no white beads are in the mix.  I think it turned out more elegant with only the cream-colored beads.  The foundation fabric onto which I beaded is a lovely warm tan shade, and the inside of the cuff is covered with ivory-colored UltraSuede in a faux tooled pattern.  The brass inner cuff is sandwiched between the top bead embroidered work and the UltraSuede to give the bracelet form and strength. The bead backing or foundation that I used is by Nicole Campanella (*see last paragraph) and the beautiful tan color is called "Hawk Wing."

I wanted this bracelet to have an old-fashioned vintage jewelry feel to it.  This was my favorite bead embroidered cuff bracelet to work on ... but then, I seem to think that with each one as I'm designing and working on them.  I'm actually a little sad when the bracelet is finally finished, but immediately I'm eager to start a new one.

*For those of you who are already enjoying your own bead embroidery projects, I must share my recent discovery for an exceptional bead backing (the foundation upon which the beads are sewn.)  It's called:  Nicole's BeadBacking (NBB).  This proprietary/copyrighted material is a most excellent surface for not only beadwork, but other sewing applications, and is fast becoming the go-to backing for bead embroidery artists - I know I am a forever fan. 

If you are interested in more information, please visit her Web site at:

www.NicoleCampanella.com or www.beadwright.etsy.com