Beery Berry Necklace

Princess length necklage - 18 inches long not counting the toggle clasps. Toggle clasps generally add about an inch to the product. Princess length necklaces are well suited for crew necks and high necklines, falling just below the throat. It can also be worn as a contrast to low punging necklines!

I fell in love the focal beery. For some reason it reminded me of watermelon even though the color if not right.

It is an original piece, as all my jewelry is.

 If you are interested in buying same, please go to my online store at etsy.com , Mary Janes Just Jewelry

Vintage fun long necklace

This is a beautiful necklace. I chose the vintage oval shaped bead because I love the colors and I love vintage. The rest of the necklace fell into place. I used beads of varying colors that are in the focal bead.  The diamond tangerine beads are crazy lace agate (dyed). The clasp is a toggle.

The necklace is  approximately 24.5 inches long, not including the clasp. This length falls between matinee length and opera length.  Being said, this length is perfect for casual and business dress so you can wear it from work to a nice evening out.  It works well with high or crew neckline.

This necklace can also be found for sale on my online etsy shop.  Just go to etsy.com and look for Mary Janes Just Jewelry store! 

Sea Shell Necklace

Princess length, 17.5 inches long not including the toggle clasps. Toggle clasps, on average, add on another inch. This length works well with crew and high neck lines. It can also be a contrast when wearing a low, plunging neckline.

The shell is made out of Amazonite. Amazonite got its name from the Amazon river. It is most commonly found in Brazil, india, as well as the United States and other places.

The brass spacer beads are vintage Ethiopian 8 mm brass.

As usual with my creations, the clasp is toggle.

If interested in purchasing this beautiful necklace, please go to my etsy.com online store Mary Janes Just Jewelry!

Simplicity at it's best bracelet

I made this bracelet from a pattern in one of my bead books. I have made a total of four of them. The first one took me about 3 hours (I had to learn a new stitch) and then I had to take it apart because the clasp was not right.  By the time I got to the fourth one, I could make it without looking at the directions and it took me less than an hour!

The bracelet is made out of bugle beads and cubes.  The clasp is made out of a button and peyote stitching.  When I think about how simple this was, I realize that this bracelet could be made using all types and sizes of seed beads!  I think I am going to have some fun experimenting with this one!

Pink wirewrapped pendant and pearl necklace

Last week was an eventful week for me as far as beading is concerned.  I made a total of three necklaces and a pair of earrings.  I just this day posted pics of the purple and green necklace and earrings. All three projects were made with pearls of various colors!  I love pearls!

I took several classes in wirewrapping a while back but had not tried it since the class.  I was hoping that I would be able to wirewrap on my own and I DID!  I wirewrapped this lovely pink pendant.  The necklace is made with simple stringing of pink potato shaped pearls and silver spacers.  I love the end result. 

Green/Purple necklace

You could say I like purple because I seem to have alot of purple jewelry.  I don't know what it is about purple beads but I just love them. These beads are a green/purple mix, with no two alike, and are just beautiful.  Between each large bead is a silver spacer, purple pearl (yes purple) and anothter silver spacer.  The look is beautiful.  I made earrings to match.  I am not sure what I will wear it with yet but I am sure I will find something!

Nona Collar

I made this collar twice.  The first time I accidently cut threads that should not have been cut which would, ultimately, result in the necklace falling apart.

The pattern for this came from one of my beading books.  I fell in love with it immediately and knew I wanted to make it!

The colors are green, blue, black and purple.  The clasp was made from a button that belonged to my grandmother.  In her day, people would cut the buttons off clothes before they discarded them.  I feel very lucky to have inherited her buttons, and, in fact, I have used them in a number of jewelry and other projects.

There are three different type and size beads.  I used size 11 seeds beads, size 8 triangle beads and hex cut beads. 

Soddering 101

Several weeks back, I took a soddering jewelry class.  I made three pendants, charms, or whatever you want to title them.  I had so much fun doing this!  I want to do it more. 

For my first pendant, I used a picture of myself and Lou from our wedding pictures.  I cut out our faces and glued them together, back to back.  Using two pieces of pre-cut glass, I cut the pictures to size.  Using cooper tape and soddering, I framed the pictures, one side is my picture and the other side is Lou's picture. 

For the second piece I used some little pictures that Tammy had in the store. Both pictures represent friendship and friends for life.  I have made it for a special friend of mine, only she doesn't know it yet.

Beachcomber Bracelet

Several weeks ago I took a class for this bracelet.  As you look at it, you will see how the name Beachcomber originated.  I used shells, shell pieces, gold mermaid and dolphin, fishes of different colors and other various beads, to include seed beeds.  It requires the use of both wire and thread and needle.   There was a wide selection of beachy things that I was able to choose from for the beachy embellishments.  It only took me about two hours to make the bracelet.  Of course, this was the second time I made it because originally it was too big for my arm.  I have a hard time getting bracelet sizes just right!  I plan on making another one this weekend using diifferent colors and beads. No two would ever be alike.    

Fun with Freeform Peyote!

Peyote is a wonderful old Indian stitch that you can do lots of things (variations) with.  I took a class this weekend on freeform peyote.  Unlike even count or diaganol peyote, you can do anything with freeform and there is no rights and no wrongs.

I made this bracelet in class.  I used a focal bead with colors of aquamarine, green, goldish, brownish colors.  That opened the door to choosing the colors I wanted the rest of the bracelet to be. One really good thing about freeform peyote is that it gives you an opportunity to use up beads left over from other projects. This one is for my daughter, Wendy.  I hope all of you like it!  I know that I plan to start another one when I get home tonight for myself using different colors!

Fun with metal

I recently took a class in introduction to metal work.  I got to play with FIRE!  It was an awesome experience and I had such great fun.  I made this pendant from a piece of metal.  Using a propane tank (since map gas is being recalled), I heated the piece until it was super red and then was able to manipulate moving it.  I more or less crimped it in the middle.  I then punched various holes into it for deco and other purposes. After that I added a liquid base to the piece and used special dry paint to give it so some colors. After each color was added, the piece was heated again. I used three different colors.  The ending piece has the same texture and quality of glass. I love the piece.  It is just so fun to wear and was fun, fun, fun to make!

Tila Beads Bracelet

Japanese Tila beads are very new to the market.  I took a class last weekend on how to make a bracelet with these two hole beads.  The bracelet was rather easy to put together although I will have to admit that I took it apart and remade it!  The colors I used are black and gold.  Very pretty!

Amber Remake

I made a necklace using these amber stones (fakes) with a pendant.  I never wore it after I made it because I really did not like the stones with the pendant so I took it all apart and remade the necklace using the stones and gold spacers of different shapes and sizes.  The stones are various shades of yellow, gold, white and bronze.  I like it much better now.  I tend to have a liking for things that are bigger and simple these days. And yes, that is a picture of my wonderful husband sitting on the desk behind the necklace! 

Busy Weekend

This was a busy weekend for me with my jewelry making.  I made three very beautiful necklaces using simple stringing with matching earrings.  I also learned a new stitch, the diaganol right angle weave, and am almost through with a bracelet.  I also learned how to make a bracelet using the new Tala beads.  I am not quite finished with the two bracelets and am not posting any pictures at this time.

The first necklace is baby blue.  I used three different beads to make the necklace. The second necklace is a creamy off white with topaz/brownish marking through the beads. I used two types of beads and topaz size 6 seed beads.  This necklace is longer than the ones I normally make and I just love the way it hangs.  The third necklace is made out of white twisted square beads with silver/blackish marking throughout.  I used silver round beads in between the big beads. 

Brick Stitch - Easy

I taught myself how to brick stitch this past week. I have an awesome book on seed beads and the instructions in the book are easy enough for even me to figure out.  I made two necklaces.  One necklace I made is a simple brick stitch.  I made a matching bracelet and used a cute little button as the clasp.  I even learned how to make my own peyote clasp.

The second necklace is what is referred to as twisted brick stitch and you will be able to distingquish the different look of the two. Again I used a button for the clasp. In this one I used different colors throughout.  It makes it very versatile! 

As usual, I love them all!

Brick stitch

I taught myself how to brick stitch this past week. I have an awesome book on seed beads and the instructions in the book are easy enough for even me to figure out.  I mave two necklaces.  One necklace I made is a simple brick stitch.  I made a matching bracelet and used a cute little button as the clasp.  I even learned how to make my own peyote clasp.

The second necklace is what is referred to as twisted brick stitch and you will be able to distingquish the different look of the two.  I also, in this one, used different colors throughout.  It makes it very versatile! 

As usual, I love them all!