Reader Photos : beads, handmade, vintage

Vintage Necklace: Smoky Quartz and Chinese Enamel

Antiquity Travelers — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:24:19 GMT

My recent blog post covers several vintage pieces I designed including this one with smoky quartz rounds, tiny pearl spacers, large Chinese enamel focal bead and a vermeil toggle.

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

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!

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.