beading: the Red and the Black Extravaganza

[jesse_the_k]

Another couple days, some more beaded jewelry. I am so lucky to be able to do this! I can't panic when I'm attempting to thread a teeny bead and keeping count on my patterns. This post has a red and black theme, and I've never read Stendhal.

I had so much fun making this red & black Fiddle Joy necklace. The pendant is a blackstone ring holding one matte black rondelle between matte red seed beads. Its chain is sturdy matte red white heart beads framed by matte Czech cones, alternate with black rings holding red seed beads. There’s a lot for nervous fingers to interact with!

Fiddle Joy sideways

Fiddle Joy head on

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Shiny black glass tab pendant on red crystal chain separated with silvery glass beads.

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This long strand can be a necklace or (tripled) a bracelet. Like all my jewelry, it closes with a finger-friendly button toggle. For this one, it’s a faceted black glass Czech button in ring of silvery seed beads

Czech wedding cake beads (large black rice with stepped white edges) alternate with opaque red crystals.

As necklace

Same strand shown as bracelet

Comments

[branchandroot]

Ooooo, those are lovely!

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[tozka]

They're so lovely!! The Fiddle Joy is my favorite, I love the pattern.

And you've inspired me to at least take my beads OFF of the storage string things and dump them into a bag for future use, instead of just stashing them unused for another three months. Yay!

OOOOOH!

[jesse_the_k]

I get a bead-enabler-merit badge!

DO IT DO IT DO IT.

I give you 100% permission to make something and then hate it and take it apart and make something else.

Most of the things I string I've experimented at least three times with.

And thanks for your kind words.

Re: OOOOOH!

[netmouse]

That's such a great form of encouragement. I was just thinking that half the reason I haven't done more sewing projects is because I am afraid of ruining/wasting the materials. I need to give myself permission to mess up.

I too love the fiddle joy.

Re: OOOOOH!

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[misbegotten]

What wonderful beadwork! I particularly like the Fiddle Joy.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks!

[sasha_feather]

Love all the red and black, very strong and powerful.

[jesse_the_k]

I'm a big fan of those colors!

[sqbr]

These are gorgeous!

[jesse_the_k]

Aw, thanks.

[kaberett]

I am very much enjoying these. <3

[jesse_the_k]

<3

[forestofglory]

Wow! These are all lovely!

[jesse_the_k]

Ah, thanks.

[wendelah1]

Beautiful!

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

[yourlibrarian]

I like the way you tagged it "joyful things." I put on a necklace today when I went out that I didn't even remember making so that was one of my joyful moments of the day ;)

[jesse_the_k]

Hee!

Picture?

[yourlibrarian]

Exquisite!

[jesse_the_k]

OOOOOOOOO! Shiny.

I have a huge soft spot for blue-and-white pottery (imprinted on Royal Copenhagen china). Did you make the beads? The whole piece holds together beautifully.

Re: Exquisite!

[yourlibrarian]

I did not, although last year a friend of mine who is an artist painted some kukui nut beads for me, and I made some necklaces with those. Some beads I've worked with have been handmade, but I haven't made any myself.

And thanks! I have a made a few blue and white ceramic bead necklaces, though a quick scan through my photo folders didn't turn any up. It would be really nice to have a visual ID program that could find things such as sorting photos by color content!

[runpunkrun]

I really like the design and shape of the red & black Fiddle Joy necklace! Especially those two seed beads inside the open circles. And the color and pattern of the last piece is also very appealing. I like to make my necklaces so they double as bracelets, too.

[jesse_the_k]

Multi-purpose ftw. Got any pictures?

[runpunkrun]

I don't! But maybe I'll finish this latest bracelet/necklace I've had sitting around unfinished for years and see if I can't get a good photo of it.

[jesse_the_k]

Sending you energy and uncorroded crimps!

[sulien]

Here via the stayinside com. I love your work, these are gorgeous! I do beading and wire work as well, or at least I have (not in the past couple of years though) and know how time consuming and fiddly this sort of thing is. Great work!

Aw shucks

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks for your kind words. Bitrot has devoured all your work pics from your journal -- are you still wire wrapping (a skill I admire from a distance)?

Re: Aw shucks

[sulien]

0.0 Wow, I think all of the links to the pics on my journal have been dead for years, I'm surprised anyone even knows about those. I haven't done any wire wrapping for the past couple of years, but I do plan to start again after I clear some of the stuff I've got pack-ratted away in my workspace (my yarn stash has taken over for the moment). I still have all of the tools, beads and wire. Wire work isn't really difficult, just fiddly. If you're interested, the book I learned the most from is Sharilyn Miller's "Bead on a Wire". Her Art Wire books are also good, with tons of new projects and a few new techniques. If you're familiar with Craftsy (which is now My Blueprint), there are also video tutorials available on wire working and all sorts of other fascinating things there, not to mention YouTube.

[minoanmiss]

Your necklaces are gorgeous!

[jesse_the_k]

Aw, thanks.