Reader Photos : beading, silver

Cosmo Cuff Kit

jayparam — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:31:47 GMT

Please visit http://www.nchantme.com/ to buy. Inspired by the architecture and geometry of the buildings in the city skyline, I designed the Cosmo Cuff. This design has been featured on the cover of Beadwork April/May 2013 issue. May I recommend you get a copy of Beadwork and try beading Cosmo Cuff? At this time, only kits are available in Pink Shimmer, Blue Silver and Siam Royal.

My Blue Peyote

Antiquity Travelers — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:35:58 GMT

A simple, fun bracelet for summer with Miyuki seed beads, silver rustic toggle with peyote stitch

Vintage Necklace: Jade and Emerald Quartz

Antiquity Travelers — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:05:41 GMT

My recent blog post covers several vintage pieces I designed including this one with jade rounds, hematite spacers, a marcasite square bead and a large emeral quartz focal bead. I finished the piece with a large vintage toggle.

http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/2012/01/lost-in-translation-what-is-vintage.html

Pearl Necklace

Antiquity Travelers — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:10:10 GMT

Another installment from my Turkish friend. Along with the coral beads she inherited from her mother, she also received this beautiful old strand of pearls. I restrung them using lapis lazuli as a highlight throughout the setting. She also decided she wanted a focal bead so I brought in several for her to choose from and she decided that the Chinese enamel was the style she wanted. They look amazing on her!

Turquoise Necklace: Flash in Blue

Antiquity Travelers — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:42:35 GMT

So if you've been following some of my other uploads, I have a Turkish friend that has put me to work! There is a series of coral pieces I've done for her. This one is a bit of a funny story. She saw a necklace at a kiosk vendor in Grand Central Station - NYC and asked the shop keeper if he had a simplier version. He suggested that he alter the version she was admiring, and her comment back was 'no thanks I have a friend that will do that for me.' She described it to me, but well, it was hard to follow. I asked her to take a picture with her phone and she came back with a blurred flash of blue and asked me 'so can you make it?' I finally had to hunt down the vendor to see the pattern first hand. I of course made my own tweaks to the pattern such as the red focal beads (he had one tiny one), a delicate filigree clasp and the silver spacers to give it more texture ...

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.

Turquoise Bracelet: St Tropez Set

Antiquity Travelers — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:01:41 GMT

This is a continuing series of pieces I've made for a friend who has a seemingly endless love of turquoise and silver. See Turquoise Necklace: St Tropez, Turquoise Bracelet: St Tropez Set, Hammered Earrings: St Tropez Set.

This piece is made with multiple turquoise bead sizes and shapes. Included is hill tribe silver, silver beads in many sizes, shell heshi beads and indian amethyst rounds that I picked up at the Taj Mahal on my last trip there.

Caution ... don't try wearing the whole set together! It could result in a carni-inspired, turquoise studded get up.

Bracelet: Jasper Rose

Antiquity Travelers — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:04:19 GMT

A hand-made chain of jasper and rose quartz beads with alternating shell hoops. It's set with silver wire and a sterling silver clasp

Neapolitan

Antiquity Travelers — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:03:52 GMT

A contemporary hoop with shades of Neapolitan icecream. These are rich, gorgeous browns that cascade beautifully on a hot summer night.

This pattern is exclusively Swarovski crystal beads, that sparkle with a technique called the "Aurora Borealis crystal effect." Swarovski was inspired by northern lights, and worked in collaboration with French designer Christian Dior (1950s) to create this type of bead. The success on the catwalk was overwhelming, and this technique is what distinguishes these beads today.

These earrings are one of my personal favorites. I simply love the way they look on!

India Blue

Antiquity Travelers — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:45:54 GMT

This deep blue bracelet is mixed with lapis, bali beads, silver and blue indian plate beads and over 130 tiny Swarovski beads. The clasp is a beautiful sterling silver that you might just want to wear as the center piece!

Ruby Adventure

Bonny1028 — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:13:20 GMT

Green Adventurine, with rubies and a striking Sterling Silver Oak Leaf. A fun casual or work necklace that makes a bold statement.

Dreaming in Lavender

Bonny1028 — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:30:39 GMT

A full set made of White Turquoise, Ruby, Lavender jade and Sterling Silver. I had so much fun making this set and it is so beautiful when worn.