Below are some beads from my second bead making season, 2008:
Category Archives: Jewelry
Lampwork Glass Beads: First Beads
Ah, a new craft to explore! Playing with fire and glass, what could be more fun than this?
I wondered, when I first started making beads, why the suppliers were all in the south or southwest, or even the northwest, but not in the north or northeast. When the temperature dropped with the change of seasons, I found out right away – making beads is a seasonal activity here in New England. Good ventilation is mandatory for a healthy work area. All the air exhausted to the outdoors from a warm house is replaced by outside air, so when it’s below freezing for the winter I just don’t make beads. The heating bill increase would be enormous, and it would still be cold indoors! It makes sense now that the suppliers are where folks can work year round. In cold weather I suffer withdrawal from the challenge and thrill of daily torch time.
Here are some pics of beads and finished items from my first bead making season.
These are my very first beads:
Here are some various beads from my second week of beadmaking:
This is an experiment with how certain colors react with each other. Here the turquoise over the dark ivory creates a black edge with interesting thready edges. Some have black added, most do not!
Now an exercise in making two beads the same, and hopefully round. Some successful, some not, but an interesting group anyway. I read the suggestion to use one color combination for different sizes and configurations of beads so they could be used together if they work out. That was a good idea! This group is the size of a bracelet, and may become one despite the flaws.
Beads from July-August 2007, third week of beadmaking and beyond:
First, some earrings and bead sets for earrings:
More bead sets, and individual beads. It is still difficult to make beads exactly the same! I may someday be able to do that, with LOTS more practice!
Earrings from 2007 beads
Bracelets
Zipper pulls from 2007 beads.
Some trays of beads, but not all of them by any means.
Gold and Silver Smithing
My introduction to metalsmithing came in the form of a class given by the League of NH Craftsmen in 1971/72. It was a non-stop trip to the present, and there’s no end in sight. Although I’ve officially retired from my 30-year career of designing and producing one of a kind pieces in sterling, gold and gemstones for consignment and on special commission, I still enjoy time in my workshop. Here, I will try to show a representative sample of the kinds of pieces I’ve made through the years. It ranges from baby bracelets to medals of office for college presidents, from boxes and bowls to intricate rings, pins and pendants.
These sterling silver “See Shells” contain magnifying lenses.
Earrings: 14K with pink and green tourmaline, Sterling with amethyst and Sterling with garnet.
Pendants:14K with Topaz, Amethyst and Beryl crystals; 14K with garnet and granulation; Sterling “Bauble.”
14k gold and peridot necklace, forged wire with cable chain, for Sarah and Phil’s wedding, 2.5″ wide
Wedding pic, forged wire scrolly earrings to go with necklace.
Left: 14K Gold ring, fabricated from wire and sheet gold. The understructure of the ring looks like a ladder turned round on itself. The leaves, flowers, scrolls and balls are made individually and soldered onto the framework. LOTS of solder joins! Right: Diamond set for Rona, married to my brother Tom.
Scrollwork sterling bracelet set with garnets
Some sterling pendants – lapis, mabe pearl, and garnet with tourmaline
14k pendant, boulder opal, diamond and tourmaline, center pendant may be worn without the surround.
Some sterling pins, lace agate and garnet.
Sterling covered boxes, 2.5″ tall with domed lid, 4″ tall with garnets, 3″incense burner with lace agate bead feet and knob, 2″ copper and sterling with agate.
Bead Necklace, 24″ long, with antique amber beads from Kenya. This necklace won the Stevens Metal Award in the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Foundation 1986 Annual Juried Exhibit at the Currier Gallery of Art. Each sterling silver bead is individually hand made, as is the clasp.
The Embroiderer’s Giuld of America comissioned this Medal of Office to commemorate past presidents of the organization and to be presented to each new presiddent. Their names and dates are engraved on both sides of the many plates making up the chain. The central badge, an emblem of the Guild, was provided and I mounted it. Sterling Silver and 14K Gold.
Chain of Office for the President of Rivier College, comissioned and presented in 1983.
Beaded Jewelry
After retiring from a career as a metalsmith/jeweler I’ve started a new hobby – you guessed it – making beadwork jewelry! The process is entirely different, though, and offers opportunities not found in metalsmithing. The work is clean, there is no noise, the projects are portable, and the colors are magnificent. It all started with the bead crochet bracelets I wrote about in my breast cancer section. You can see them there, and the other beady things I’ve been working on here.
PEYOTE WAVE BRACELETS
Using two different sizes and shapes of beads in this Peyote Stitch bracelet creates the wave pattern. These bracelets feel really nice, smooth and slinky! I had to touch it every time I saw it on display at “Glass Cat Beads” in Windham, NH, and finally asked where I could get the pattern for it. Cathy Lielausis, owner of the store, very graciously gave me a copy of the pattern, which is featured in one of the many beadwork classes offered at her shop.
ROPE CROCHET NECKLACE
A mix of red-family beads creates interest and texture in this rope necklace. The red faceted glass beads and silver findings make a center piece that doubles as a clasp.
CHOKER WITH A SECRET
This necklace hides its own clasp. The pattern, designed by Leslie Frazier, is from The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving by Carol Wilcox. It was my first project using tubular Ndebele, or herringbone, stitch. The central bead is woven in flat peyote stitch and forms a tube that fits snugly around the necklace. The beads are size 11 deep gray matte round seed beads and red glossy transparent delicas.
The central bead can be moved aside to reach the clasp, then repositioned to hide it. Because it’s a snug fit it doesn’t shift during wear.
Here is an iridescent blue one, longer than choker length.
BEAD CROCHET ROPES
These are bead crochet rope necklaces, one with a dichroic glass accent. The glass piece is removable so the ends of that rope can be connected with a decorative clasp instead.
CRISS-CROSS BRACELETS
Czech fire-polished glass beads give these bracelets lots of sparkle.
DNA BRACELETS
The helix of beads around a core gives this bracelet its name. I found the pattern on a web site.
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