Ring Binge

 I went on a ring binge. I haven't made any beaded rings in a long time, but I decided I would make a few to sell at the Red Tulip Gallery in New Hope, PA. I had a lot of fun making the rings, trying several different techniques in the process. 

First up, a Lapis Lazuli solitaire bead surrounded by turquoise Swarovski crystals and silver seed beads. To make this ring, I used bead weaving. First, I bezeled the lapis lazuli bead. Then, the band was made using right-angle-weave and a second pass through the band to fill in the "gaps" along the top and bottom edge with more silver seed beads. Passing through the band several times stiffened the beadwork enough so that I was happy with the results. I want all of the bands to be firm. Notice that I used large silver seed beads instead of crystals at the center back--for comfort when wearing the ring.

Continuing with Swarovski crystals, I made a band with a dozen tanzanite AB2X crystals across the top. The band uses Czech fire polished beads and more silver seed beads. It is also right-angle-weave, but stitched lengthwise instead of across the width as in the Lapis ring. This also makes a very comfortable and almost rigid band. This ring is so sparkly, it was hard to photograph!

A peyote band simply embellished with 7 scarlet red Swarovski crystals is next. Matte silver Delica beads were used for the band. I wanted the peyote-stitched band to be narrow at the back, for comfort when wearing, so I stepped down the width of the band twice.

While I was on my ring binge, I dug through my UFOs (UnFinished Objects) to find a "Flying 5 Wing Cocktail Ring" that I had almost finished a few years ago when I was trying out the techniques of the Contemporary Geometric Beadwork project. Kim Van Antwerp's instructions for this fabulous ring are available in the CGB free pattern library here. I finished the ring and I really love it. It is surprisingly comfortable to wear, as are all of the beaded rings I've made--probably because of the flexibility of the beadwork. This ring isn't for sale, as I plan to always wear it when I'm staffing at the Red Tulip Gallery, in the hopes of starting conversations about my beadwork!

I thought a ring made with a warped square would be interesting and I wanted to use Swarovski crystals at the center of the warped square. So I did a little experiment with a raised center and it worked! I started at the center of the warped square with 4 Swarovski crystals. After a few rounds, I made a "point edge" and then 3 more rounds of peyote for the "sides." Then I continued with the increases for the warped square. This is also surprisingly comfortable and easy to wear, even though it is a large ring.

Finally, a ring made using Artistic Wire, a coin-shaped freshwater pearl in a beautiful burgundy color, and gold seed beads. The violet Artistic Wire (28 gauge) peeks through the gold seed beads and the effect is very nice! Because I wove the band with wire passed through the beads, it is completely rigid. I like the simplicity of the single coin pearl.

The rings are currently for sale in the Red Tulip Gallery and through my section of the gallery's online store. 

Black Spinel Collection

At Bead Fest Philly this year, I bought several strands of tiny faceted black spinel gemstone beads. I love black spinel--it is a pure black and has a lot of sparkle! My intention was to use these beads to make a crocheted rope necklace to sell at the Red Tulip Gallery. But I wasn't happy with the little samples I made, so I needed to try something else. I found that I could knot these tiny faceted beads onto silk cord and I could do some bead weaving with them as well (if I used a size 13 needle and the finest bead thread). The results: my black spinel collection of necklaces and earrings, available at Red Tulip Gallery. 

Using silk bead cord with a tiny wire needle attached (because the holes in these 2mm spinel beads are really tiny), I knotted the spinel beads onto the silk, one at a time, with a top-drilled freshwater pearl in  between groups of 10 spinel beads, and then, to increase the rhythm at the center of the necklace, between groups of 5 spinel beads. This necklace sold a few days after I put it in the gallery.

Using brick stitch, I created a circle motif that I used in a pair of earrings and as the pendant for a necklace. The circle motif pieces use tiny faceted silver Czech charlotte seed beads in addition to the spinel.

Using gold Czech charlotte seed beads, spinel, and rice-shaped freshwater pearls, I created this square motif with a triple fringe at the bottom. It made an elegant pair of earrings and worked well as the pendant for a necklace, too.

Little pearl and spinel flower motifs form the center of this necklace, while pearls surrounded only by the gold Czech charlotte beads carry the rhythm through the rest of the necklace.  Of course I had to make pearl flower earrings to match.

Finally, a pair of silver "starflower" earrings and my personal favorite, the gold triangle earrings, in which 14k gold-filled hammered triangles support an inverted triangle made of brick-stitched spinel beads with a freshwater pearl drop.

Bead weaving is usually done with glass seed beads and crystals, but using gemstone beads is possible, if you find the right combination of gems, needle, and bead thread.

Janet's finished jewelry is now for sale at Red Tulip Gallery

 

Janet Palumbo and her jewelry for sale at Red Tulip Gallery

This month, I started a new chapter in my beading adventure: I am now a member artist of the Red Tulip Gallery in New Hope, PA and my hand-made jewelry is now for sale at the gallery and online. I had a wonderful time creating the first two dozen pieces to put in the gallery. My first collection includes earrings, necklaces, and bracelets made using bead weaving techniques as well as micro-macrame with beads and tatting with beads. I plan to include pieces made by crocheting with beads soon! Beads are the common element!

Micro-Macrame class offered online, Princeton Adult School, April 2021

We will be teaching a Micro-Macrame jewelry class for the Princeton Adult School in April 2021. The class will be taught online, via Zoom, on three Tuesday evenings in April (April 13, 20, and 27). Here is the link with class details and registration information for the class: PAS Macrame Register 

Scallop Necklace for April 2021 online class

Building on the success of our Fall 2020 online Bead Weaving class, we look forward to guiding students through this introduction to micro-macrame jewelry techniques using up-close video of each step. Watch, learn, and create along with us as we show you how to mount the cords, form the knots, and add beads to embellish the design!

Students will learn to combine 1mm nylon cord and beads to create a wide collar necklace. The necklace can be completed with your own unique charm or one included in the materials kit. The class is intended for macrame beginners or those who know some knots but want to learn more about this knotting technique.

Three color options will be offered for this class, as shown in the photos. Students will choose either the Gold, Silver, or Spring color option for the nylon cords. All kits will include a textured pewter focal ring and clasp. Seed beads and crystals in coordinating colors will also be included in the materials kit. 

The materials kit will be available for order in March from our Etsy store. Materials kits must be ordered by March 30 to allow time for delivery before the first class on April 13.

Bead Weaving class online, Princeton Adult School, March 2021

Diamond Lace Necklace 
in Topaz/Royal Purple

We will be offering a Bead Weaving class in March 2021 through the Princeton Adult School. 

For details about the class and registration information, go to:
PAS Bead Weaving class

For this class, Reem has designed an elegant necklace made with hundreds of Czech fire-polished crystals, Japanese seed beads, and a beautiful pear shape crystal. Janet designed the coordinating earrings. We will be demonstrating every step on Zoom so that you can bead along with us. The class is suitable for beginner and experienced beaders.

The materials kit, containing over 600 Czech fire-polished crystals as well as the other materials needed to complete the projects, is available for order from our Etsy Store. The materials kit is offered in two color options: Topaz & Royal Purple or Cobalt Blue & Fuchsia. Students who register for the class will need to order their materials kit by February 15, to allow time for delivery before the first class on March 2.

The three elements of the 
Diamond Lace Necklace
in Cobalt Blue/Fuchsia

We will be making three components for the necklace: 

1) a netted rope, filled with hundreds of Czech crystals (top of photo);

2) a shaped beaded component that gives you the opportunity to learn the Prismatic Right-Angle Weave (PRAW) stitch (middle of photo); and

3) a large pear shaped crystal pendant (bottom of photo) that will be beautifully bezeled using seed beads and crystals.

We will be combining all three of the elements into one fabulous necklace (photo at top). Students may also choose to assemble the elements in different ways, making jewelry to suit individual tastes. For example, the netted rope necklace can be worn on its own. The PRAW tube and bezeled pear shape crystal can be combined and strung on a chain, a ribbon, or other material supplied by the student. Or string the PRAW tube on a ribbon and keep the bezeled crystal as a separate pendant to wear on your favorite chain.

PRAW tube and crystal pendant
on a wire necklace

PRAW tube on a chain

Netted rope necklaces

Matching earrings are included in the class. Students will make a beaded ball that matches the netted rope. They will then have the option of finishing the earring by adding fringes to make a tassel earring, or embellishing the beaded ball with a single crystal dangle.

Please join us for this sparkling bead adventure!

Tassel Earrings in Cobalt

Optional version of earrings