Beading Arts

Andante The idea for this piece started to form in my mind when my husband became involved in restoring an antique player piano. The keys called to me in ways that I couldn't explain. I cried when I thought about the elephants that had been destroyed to make these objects of beauty. My tribute to those majestic animals is to prevent some of those keys from ending up in a landfill.  Note ~ The only ivory that it is currently legal to use in the United States is either ancient fossilized ivory, or old recycled ivory like these keys.  Copyright 2021 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. 

Back in the Spring, I showed you how I used some gorgeous Kazuri beads that my Sister-in-Law brought back for me from Kenya.  The interchangeable Kazuri bead necklace is shown above, and the tutorial is at the link.  I decided last week to make one more strand to suit some of the darker, richer Autumn colors, and this is what emerged:   Copyright 2018 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.

I love love love this bracelet that I made several years ago, and I still wear it a lot.  But with all the gorgeous summer colors that are available right now in suede cord , cup chain ,  and ribbons , I think it's worth revisiting and maybe making some more! Instructions for this unique take on the Shamballa bracelet are at the link! This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique

at thedecoratedcookie.com Rainbow beaded safety pin bracelet ...no tools required! DIY Hair ties , with beads and tassels! Popsicle stick bracelets , see above Using memory wire to make easy open ear hoops

Last week, I showed you how to make an optical lens pendant that matches the popular chandelier-style earrings you see everywhere this Spring and Summer.  This week we'll finish up the project by making a simple but elegant necklace to go with it! Materials for necklace:  Beads of your choice for the necklace strand.  I used: 52 - 8x4mm  fire-polished Czech crystal rondelles 6 - 4mm  fire-polished Czech crystal rounds 9 - 8mm  fire-polished Czech crystal rounds Size 8/0 seed beads 2 - 2mm  sterling silver rounds 8  sterling silver bead caps Pendant bail with loop 2  sterling silver cones 24 inches  beading wire, .019 inch diameter 2  crimp tubes 6 inches 18 gauge  sterling silver wire 3 inches  sterling silver chain 2  jump rings Lobster claw Head pin Tools: 2 alligator clips Wire cutters Chain nose pliers Round nose pliers File Measuring tape Small paint brush Hole punch, 1 ½ inch (opt...

With chandelier earrings being so popular right now, there are more interesting filigree findings available than ever before.  By cutting one of them in half with my trusty wire cutters, I now had the means to create a necklace that would match the style of many of my earrings. This week I'll show you how to make the pendant, and next week, we'll put it together into a necklace! Materials for pendant: Optical lens (email beadingarts at gmail dot com) Picture Plain white paper Clear fixative spray Polymer medium or jeweler's resin Silver filigree piece 3 – 2 inch head pins 5 - 4mm fire-polished Czech crystal rounds 1 - 8mm fire-polished Czech crystal rounds 6 - 2mm sterling silver rounds 3 sterling silver daisy spacers Materials for necklace: shown next week Beads of your choice for the necklace strand.  I used: 52 - 8x4mm fire-polished Czech crystal rondelles 6 - 4mm fire-polished Czech crystal rounds 9 - 8mm fire-polished Czech crystal rounds Size...

My sister-in-law brought me back a lovely bag full of Kazuri beads the last time she visited Kenya!  Since they were not matched sets, but rather just a large pile of random beauty, it took me some time to figure out what I wanted to do with them.  I was guided by my desire to string them, but in such a way that my final necklace would have interchangeable segments.  This is what I came up with! I used a thin black cord to string my beads, alternating the Kazuri beads with small black wooden rounds .  You can google "Kazuri beads" to find many sellers...I don't have a particular one to suggest, but please try to buy them from a legit fair trade company that actually benefits the makers. I finished each strand by threading it through a lobster claw clasp and adding a few smaller beads to the tail.  The transitional components that I used to link to the chain strand are two earring findings !    I used two twisted wire jump...

Pet collection from Tierra Cast   (shown above) Honeycomb double wrap loom bracelet kit Ready-to-wear chain tassels Silk beading thread for stitching or for creating tassels Seasonal bead collections for designers and makers  (shown above) Spring Pantone collection (shown below) This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique and Jesse James Beads

Antique key and lampwork glass necklace I found another necklace that I made many years ago, and was thrilled to see how well it went with the Spring/Summer palette from Pantone.  What *really* thrills me about it, though, is that these are colors I already like and have in my wardrobe!  After several seasons of being kind of disappointed except by maybe one or two colors, I'm a very happy girl. The tutorial is in two parts.  The first part shows you how to make the lampwork glass rings that are actually torched using the key as a mandrel.  If you don't do lampwork, you could use metal rings instead, easily available online.  I'm sure you can find some that will fit over the teeth of your key, whether it's real or a reproduction key .  The wiring will keep it from slipping off even if it's a bit too big! This post contains affiliate links: Beadaholique Copyright 2018 Cyndi Lavin. All rights reserved. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistri...

Spring Crocus   Agate, glass, wire, and wood $45 Spring Crocus adjusts from 20 to 25 inches with a clasp and chain that has a floral pattern.  There are Swarovski crystals in a sparkling lime punch color.  Altogether, these are the perfect colors for Spring! Hit the button above, or leave me a comment if you are interested!

Turquoise, glass, sterling silver $40 This is an adjustable necklace which slips over your head and then tightens all the way down to 16 inches, if that's your style! The turquoise stone donut pendant is complimented by the glass beads, sterling silver wire and beads, and black cording. Hit the button above, or leave me a comment if you are interested.

Silver, copper, turquoise-colored beads, probably dyed howlite $55 I made Turquoise Seas back in 2010, and it has become another necklace that just sits on my shelf and mopes for a good home.  It is not real turquoise, but more likely dyed howlite, which is why the price is so fantastic.  The large central bead in this piece is made from bead-woven silver and copper beads, using a spiraling peyote stitch technique. It is approximately 2-1/2 inches long, and is surrounded by copper, silver, and turquoise-colored stones in the rest of the necklace strand. The rest is put together using simple stringing and wire work techniques.  Length adjusts from 18 to 21 inches.

Attic Treasure Vintage resin "MOP" bracelet links, glass beads, and sterling clasp $45 The next piece looking for a good home is Attic Treasure , shown above.  I wrote and shared a tutorial for a similar piece that I wear all the time back in 2008! Attic Treasure is a beautiful shimmering double-strand of luster glass beads, resin "mother-of-pearl," and silver. Salvaged from a broken vintage bracelet, the MOP-look links create a curve which causes the necklace to lie perfectly around your neck. This is a design that can never be duplicated! The total length is 19 inches, close to choker length. Hit the button above, or leave me a comment if you are interested.

  Coptic cross, Dogon beads, Bohemian beads $37 The Coptic cross on this necklace is hinged at the top, and it is surrounded by small Bohemian striped glass beads and larger glass Dogon beads (German, trade beads used in Africa).  The entire necklace is 17 1/2 inches long.   

  West African sandcast beads, Telsum bead, Venetian beads, Bohemian striped beads.  39" long, adjustable $65 I was inspired by the long Boho-style necklaces that are everywhere this Fall, and by the collection of fabulous African trade beads that I've built up over the years.  You may not be able to find the exact same beads that I've used if you want to make your own necklace, but you can no doubt find some wonderful beads in the season's colors either at Jesse James Beads or at Beadaholique .    1. I used an eyeglass cord that I bought years ago in Guatemala for the fiber strap of this necklace.  You'll find some really interesting and colorful cotton straps at Beadaholique , which will give you a similar look.  You can simply add a wrapped wire loop to the cut end of the flat strap (make sure to seal it with glue!).   2. Cut two cords, one about 15" and one about 18".  String on the beads for the shorter ...

   Sandcast bead necklace #1 $15 These cute little necklaces have a West African sandcast bead in the center, surrounded by some European Bohemian striped trade beads.  The thin leather cord is 27 inches long, which allows you plenty of room to pick your favorite length.  The cords are unfinished on the ends, and are meant to simply be tied.  The center beaded portion is approximately 1 1/2 inches long. There is only one of each available!   Sandcast bead necklace #2  $15 Sandcast bead necklace #3 $15   Sandcast bead necklace #4 $15