This was something I promised I was going to post a long time ago. So before I forget, yet again, lemme show you guys the necklace I made with the beads and findings my cousin gave me. Come to think of it, I haven’t made anything beaded since then. Beads and findings are hella expensive on this side of the world, and being poor sucks.

Anyway, for my thirty something birthday, my cousin took me to Sew Beadazzled in Downtown Willow Glen. This is the necklace that I made with the stuff she bought for me.

It’s a princess necklace, about 18 inches in length. I used eight (8) 8mm and eight (8) 6mm Swarovski bicones in different colors, alternately attaching them to the jumprings. The heart pendant is a 10mm Swarovski in Siam. The chain and the findings are all in gunmetal finish. This necklace has a lobster claw clasp.

Thank you, cousin.

On another crafty note, I have been crocheting (yarns are cheaper than beads!) and I am enjoying it a lot. I made my first scarf and beanie using this pretty specialty yarn, which wasn’t really the smartest choice for my first project. It was a bitch crocheting with it, but I did it anyway! Right now I am working on this orange and yellow scarf using the shell stitch. It’s almost done, and I hope to finish it before the year ends. Pictures to follow, I promise! Meanwhile, here are some pictures of my first scarf. (And a photo op from Kam Kam!)

My beanie, though, was kind of a failure, so no pictures for that one. I made it too tight, even though the instructions said for snug beanie. I should have made it a bit loose, that way it doesn’t make me look bald or something. Blah blah blah. Anyway, it’s half past midnight, and I’m really tired. Goodnight, everyone!

I have been wanting to create a necklace with black and red beads. I thought nothing could be more perfect for this project than the combination of fiery red carnelian and onyx.

For this necklace, I used eighteen (18) 8mm round faceted onyx, nine (9) 12mm round fiery red carnelians, eight (8) tubular-shaped black agates, thirty five (35) eye pins, thirty six (36) jump rings, and a lobster claw clasp. I simply attached each bead unit to a jump ring alternately until I formed a 27 inch long necklace. Note that the eye pins, jump rings and lobster claw clasp are all gun metal plated, giving this necklace its dramatic look.





I am also including here this charm bracelet that I recently made. If you like antique looking stuff, you will definitely like this one. All components and findings I used for this bracelet have the look of brass.





Notice how there are assorted beads on this bracelet? I think variety is beauty when it comes to charm bracelets, and it’s also a brilliant way to make use of left-over beads! I used five (5) assorted charms, two (2) 6mm faceted chalcedony rondelles, a 12mm faux pearl, a nugget of citrine, a 12 mm round unakite, three (3) bead caps, two (2) 4mm flat spacers, and seventeen (17) jump rings. The chain is approximately seven (7) inches long. The charms, bead units and toggle clasp were all attached to the chain links using jump rings.

In one of my many bead-shopping trips, I found some really nice pink opals. Since I am partial to anything pink, yup, I didn’t waste any time buying them. I’m not really sure what the pink opals are called. I did my research, and it seems they’re called pink peruvian opals, but I could be wrong. If you happen to know what they’re called, please let me know.

The pink opals were the perfect match for the rhodonites I bought from my previous shopping trip. I resisted using the rhodonites, at least until I found the right stones to use them with. And I finally did!

I find rhodonite an easy stone to work with, because of its creamy pink color with black and brown vein-like characteristics. To bring the two stones together, I used some smoky quartz and rose quartz. I love the way the stones complement one another. Out of the many necklaces I’ve made, this one, by far, is my favorite.

In order to make this opera necklace (the necklace is roughly 28 inches), I used the following materials: three (3) 12mm rhodonites, three (3) puffed rectangle pink opals, six (6) puffed square smoky quartz, eleven (11) 6mm rose quartz, eleven (11) 6mm rhodonites, twelve (12) delica beads, six (6) bead caps, thirty four (34) head pins, and a twenty (20) inch chain. The 6mm rose quartz and 6mm rhodonite units were attached to the chain links using a wrapped loop technique.

If you have any questions about the necklace, feel free to ask!