Over the last 20 years, I’ve done a whole lot of experimentation with jewelry designs. These are some of my earlier designs. I tinkered with lots of materials and findings, including these filigree pendants. Over time, I found myself shifting away from metal materials. They often times lost their shine over the years, and sometimes got brittle. Ultimately, they didn't spark joy.
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This pair of earrings features some diamond-shaped pendants. I put some wire glass bead dangles at the center, and framed them with some simple beadwork with teardrop beads on the outside. Fun, but over time, the metal got tarnished and I found that I wasn't crazy about metal findings.
I've always loved chandelier earrings. I took a crack at making an interesting pair in high school. These feature a coiled wire, connected to a filigree pendant. A whorled pattern of beaded fringes hangs off the filigree pendant. While they were fun, they were a little unpredictable with how the different components sat, and that design went by the wayside. I came up with other 3D designs that were a little more predictable and cohesive.
I found that thread and beads worked best for the detailed work I’ve always enjoyed. However, it takes experimentation to figure out which thread will work best for the stitch at hand. Sometimes I need a more rigid thread, and other times, I need a thread that will allow beadwork to lay flat. Other times, I need a forgiving fit and opt for polymer stretch cord.
In recent years, I have learned that a lot of folks try to avoid metal jewelry, often due to allergies. My jewelry uses pretty minimal metal findings. My bracelets and hand chains are entirely metal-free! I am switching earrings from an iron-based alloy to sterling silver, which is less likely to cause reactions. So if you order earrings, if they aren’t already on sterling silver hooks, I will swap them onto sterling silver before I send them to you!
So what do I use instead of metal for necklace chains? I use glass beads on nylon thread, secured with a metal clasp. My necklaces are size-inclusive; I can adjust the length of a necklace to suit your preferences easily, at no charge! Here are two ways to measure a necklace.
- Find one of your necklaces that fits you comfortably and measure clasp to clasp with a tape measurer
- Use a cloth tape measurer- put it around your neck similar to how you would fit a necklace and measure that length.
I use a mix of glass and gemstone beads in my jewelry. I’ve amassed a TON of glass beads over the last 20-odd years. When I first started beading, I was a regular at Michaels, and that was where I got stuff at the beginning. They have always had an amazing array of glass statement beads. As I got older, friends and family who’d dabbled in beading and had a stash passed unused beads onto me.
In high school, my absolute favorite bead store was Bodacious Beads, near O’Hare Airport, which has since closed. I went there a lot once I got a job and my driver’s license! Judy had an incredible array of beads with different finishes and colors. I also liked Midwest Beads, outside of Milwaukee and went there a couple times. When I moved around in adulthood, I found that when I traveled, I was a connoisseur of locally owned bead shops. No two bead shops are alike. Some have a striking array of glass and gemstone statement beads. Others have the latest and greatest designs in every color. Others have an impressive array of beads with every color and finish under the sun.
I love intricate designs with detailed stitches. This was one of my early forays into more intricate beadwork, the crystal lattice bracelet.
I was in my mid 20s when multi-hole beads started to take off. I started experimenting with those- what a game changer! With my intricate work, multi-hole beads of all sizes and shapes add some really interesting details.
This is the Boho mosaic bracelet. I like to think that this is the grandchild of the previous design.
I have always liked gemstone beads, and when I learned that double-drilled gemstone beads were a thing, I HAD to try them. Those have given rise to some of my favorite designs, like this Lapis Sunset Providence Bracelet.
Over the years, my designs have evolved a lot, as we get new beads, and I continue to spend time at the drawing (well, beading) board coming up with new designs.
Which one of these speaks to you?
Have a wonderful week!
All the best,
Grace