Bead embroidered leopard skin jasper pendant

Here's another stone that I've had hanging around for a long time, not because I don't like it, but because it's so...busy!  I finally decided enough is enough.  Time to tackle the leopard skin jasper cabochon.  Since you are unlikely to be able to find a stone exactly like this one, I've included some currently available suggestions at this post: Bead embroidered pendant update. 

The simplest plan was to choose colors that come directly from the stone, and not too many at that.  I chose four, but added a second finish to one of them (matte and rainbow).  Even that seemed like a lot, but I believe that the stone can handle them all.

This is an extremely straightforward stitching project, so I will only be outlining it here.  If you need some instructions for back stitch, edging brick stitch, stack stitch, and/or would like additional information on choosing fabrics, threads, etc, please download a free copy of the first chapter of my e-book, Every Bead Has a Story.  Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.

1. I used some double-sided tape (or you can use glue) to lightly adhere my cabochon to a piece of foundation fabric.

2. Add a back stitched row of size 11/0 seed beads around the base of the stone, making sure you end with an even number.

3. Working off the back stitched row, add rows of peyote stitch with 11s until you reach the very top of the stone.  At that point, switch to a smaller size of beads (size 15/0 is what I use), and add one or two rows to cinch in the top over the edge of the stone.  With a stone as flat in profile as this one, it only took one row of 11s and one row of 15s.  This is unusual!

4. Add more rows of back stitched beads outside the foundation row of size 11/0 beads.  I only added one row for this piece.  Then cut away the foundation fabric to within 1/8 inch of the outer row, being careful not to clip any threads.

5. Lightly tape or glue the top to a piece of backing fabric in order to cover all the stitching.  Apply edging brick stitch through the two pieces of fabric all the way around, and then add short stacks of smaller (size 15/0) seed beads to each edging bead.

6. Add a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant.  I usually add 11 rows of size 11/0 seed beads.


This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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Bead embroidered ammonite pendant - part two

Last week, we left off with a bead embroidered ammonite pendant halfway finished!  This week, I want to show you how I edged and finished this particular piece.  It is different from the usual pendant, because the ammonite fossil is nestled down into a thick piece of wool felt.

5.  Here what I've done is to cut a piece of foundation fabric larger than the size of the felt.  I added one row of size 11/0 seed beads in back stitch around the whole piece, stitching through both the felt and the new foundation fabric (the dark fabric above).  It was a pain in the neck to do because of how thick the felt was, but it's only one row!

The next outline row was added in brick stitch, still with size 11/0 beads, anchoring the threads in between the beads in the previous back stitched row.  Follow that with a brick stitched row of size 8/0 seed beads, again anchoring around the threads of the previous row.

Clip the foundation fabric just a tiny bit beyond the outer edge of the last row of brick stitch.

6. Here's another shot just so you can see how the felt is sandwiched between the brick stitched seed beads on top and the foundation fabric underneath.

 

7. To do the edging, cut a piece of backing fabric exactly even with the top foundation fabric and stick them together with a piece of double-sided tape or a dab of glue.  Using size 8/0 seed beads, add edging brick stitch all around the edges, stitching through both pieces of fabric, and -- this is important! -- catching the threads running between the last row of brick stitch added in step 5.

I used size 11/0 seed beads to add a short stack stitch to each edging bead.

8. Add a square stitch bail to the back of your pendant, and you're all set to go!  I usually add 9 rows of size 11/0 seed beads.

This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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The project are divided by method of construction, design features, and materials.  The simplest are individual beaded motifs that are stitched separately and then joined into beautiful jewelry, moving through more complex designs until you are adding layers and texture!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! 

Would you like a great book full of new projects?  Here's what you need to do...please read this carefully. Leave me a comment here and include your email address. If I don't see your email address, I will not contact you. No contact, no win, and I simply have to go on to the next person. You are welcome to spell it out if you'd prefer, for example, beadingarts at gmail dot com. If you tweet or post on Facebook or other social spots about the contest, you can leave a second comment and be entered twice! Deadline: October 26, 2016

Bead embroidered ammonite pendant - part one

Ancient Waves

I've been a huge fan of ammonites (an extinct class of marine mollusc) practically forever. I have a small stash of cut and polished ammonite slabs that have made their way into many of my pieces over the years.  Most of those pieces are pretty elaborate, so I thought it might be nice to have a smaller pendant to wear for casual occasions.   

I'm going outline the basic steps for this pendant, but you will find much more detailed step-by-step instructions for putting together a bead embroidered piece, including back stitch, edging brick stitch, and stack stitch can be found in the free first chapter of Every Bead Has a Story.  Chapter two has instructions for stitching a peyote stitch bezel, and Chapter three teaches the square stitch bail.

1. The back of most ammonites is irregular, rough, and thick.  I took a piece of extra-thick wool felt and cut a small hole that would accommodate the parts of the back that stick out the most.

2. A little bit of brown acrylic paint will make it less likely that the backing will show through the beading, plus it helps a bit to stick down the fuzzies from the wool!

3. I stitched around the outline of the ammonite with size 11/0 seed beads, making sure to have an even number.  From that base, I stitched a peyote stitch bezel, ending with a final row of size 15/0 seed beads to cinch it in over the top of the fossil.  You can barely see it, but on the left corner, I stitched a herringbone corner instead so that it would wrap nicely around that sharp turn.  The instructions are at the link.

 

4. To give it a little added security, I stitched across the piece twice, intersecting in the middle.  I'm pretty sure the bezel would have held the fossil in on its own, but I am happy to make sure!  Plus, I think the extra Czech bead embellishment looks pretty.  You can see that I've also clipped the thick felt (carefully!) around the outline, leaving enough room for one more row of seed beads.

Next week I'll show you how to finish off this pendant.  It's a little trickier than usual because of that thick felt!

This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

Copyright 2016 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.

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