Necklace for May 29th

497A
Originally uploaded by 3CatNite

Here is the piece I worked on over the weekend. Sometimes I can get into such a nice pace with the freeform stuff and crank out a few pieces in a couple days (Tina has the necklace I made before this one with similar colors, but with a simpler shape).

This features a Lilly Pilly engraved shell pendant I've had for over a year...it;s been waiting for the right project and I wanted to bring together the orange in the 2 carnelian nuggets. I was concerned when I strubg the initial strand because the 2 carnelian pieces were REALLY off-center and I am constantly struggling with things not being symmetrical. I worked on evening out the symmetry right up until the last beads added (the lilac pearls on the right side).

This has more actual peyote stitching than randomly added beads and such, but I like the heaviness of it.

Here is one of my favorite necklaces I made with a Lilly Pilly pendant (Karen from Worcester owns this one...such a nice lady - Hi Karen!)

May 19 necklace

I made this mostly last night - added a little more tonight as the left side was needing more.This piece starts with a rutilated quarts drop focal which has some great browns at the bottom. The bail is sterling wire - a simple wrap. The piece starts with the simple black ends and graduates to a funky mix of grey, brown, black and white beads. Also in the mix are quartz, moonstone, different pearls, labradorite and Swarovski crystals.

I am generally happy about how this came out, from the shape of the freeform to the finished look.

May 17 necklace

494D
Originally uploaded by 3CatNite.

Here is a piece I struggled through, but am pretty happy with the results. The starting point was the focal pewter branch coral by Green Girl Studios and I am a huge fan of all the things I have bought there (especially the silver mermaid pendant I bought last year).

So of course the theme was oceans and it was a real challenge to use greens, browns and white, instead of my comfortable green, blue and purply ocean colors.

I think I really struggled with the shape of the freeform piece before I even added any embellishments at all - it wasn't behaving so I decided to keep the beading piece small and added "hooks" on either end. My intention was to add some novelty yarns in addition to one beaded strand but when I added the one strand I felt that anything else would distract from the centerpiece.

Other elements used: coin, stick and potato freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, lots of Delicas and 11/o beads (my favorite are the clear robin's egg blue with beige lining...yummy!). Also, I bought some teardrop dangle glass beads in a kind of light green/amber AB matte finish - they were perfect for this!