Reader Photos : bead work, beaded wire, stringing

Coral Necklace: Version #1

Antiquity Travelers — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:46:37 GMT

A friend of mine who grew up in Turkey asked me to give new life to strings of coral she had inherited from her mother. The beads are stunning. You can still pick up bits and pieces within that show the natural coral patterns. This version was completely taken apart, so the only thing left is the picture. She decided that she wanted 3 simple long strands. See Coral Necklace: The Inheritance, for the final version she now wears.

In this version, I created a multi-strand necklace that starts at the collar and graduates the 5 strands. I used diamond-shaped, flat connectors to graduate the strands. The color tones I brought are from jewelry I saw all over India; including some coral tube beads I inherited from my mother-in-law who got them in India where she grew up. The neckalce is made from a combination of coral, orange agate, rust-colored jasper coins and carnelian (a very popular Indian stone seen throughout the inlays at the Taj Mahal), gold and gold vermeil.

Blue Lace Agate Necklace: The Classic Style

Antiquity Travelers — Tue, 24 May 2011 00:15:38 GMT

A friend from the office asked if I'd design some jewelry to match the color of her eyes. I went hunting for chalcendony, and came back with blue lace agate. I was expecting to make a simple pair of earrings, but she liked the stone so much she asked if I'd make a simple, elegant choker-length necklace for her. I also brought in a handful of possible focal pieces, and she wanted to use the striking blue tear-drop bead.

To string this piece I used tiny heshi style freshwater pearls to space the agate. I also added a very simple, yet elegant sterling silver box clasp with a slide closure. I finished the piece with the requested blue tear-drop bead and included a matching pair of earrings with the same blue glass.

Turquoise Necklace: St Tropez

Antiquity Travelers — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:11:47 GMT

While taking my usual train commute into NY City, one of my friends was flipping through a catalogue. She was eyeing a multi-strand turquoise necklace that she really liked, but could not believe what they were charging for the piece. I glanced at it and said, yes you're right that is outrageous .... it really shouldn't cost that much. Her reply "could you make it for me?"

I never make any piece exactly like the picture, which is exactly how I cook. I usually have 3 or 4 open cookbooks on the counter while I 'doctor-up' my own version of a recipe. I got to work on the necklace. Her request was 'please lots of silver' and could you add some suede. Suede? hmm, never tried that before, but ok.

This is the same friend who lost one of her favorite silver hoop earrings and her fiance texted me a picture of the remaining hoop and asked if I could make a new pair. I did the obligatory trip to the silver store and bought a straight up pair of hoops. But then I also grabbed some thick gauge silver (15g) and did my own version of hammered silver hoops. Those were the ones she chose.

This friend said that she wanted the necklace to wear in the summer with her long, simple tank dresses. Looking specifically for a style she would wear on the beach somewhere in St Tropez (her fantasy get-away). What resulted was a wild mix of multi-sized turquoise beads, types of silver (including hill tribe silver), hand-hammered silver connectors and knotted suede. She's been wearing this one with her summer dresses, not in St Tropez but regularly on the train to NYC

There is a matching bracelet: see Turquoise Bracelet: St Tropez Set, but caution ... don't try wearing the two together! It could result in a carni-inspired, turquoise studded get up. And yes, there are matching hoops.