Bead Embroidery Necklace with Sea Urchin Fringe
     I started this necklace on my trip to the Bead & Button Show in June. I wound up buying additional semi-precious cabs at the show that worked better with the design. I already had the sea urchin beads from a local show several years ago. It took forever to finish the fringe.

Design Process
I've had people ask me about my design process when creating jewelry. It is usually a matter of having the focal or basic beads and building from there. I'll place those beads in a box and as I run into other beads that I think will go with them, I'll toss them in the box as well. When I'm ready to begin, I spread the beads out on my surface and see what works. Sometimes beads won't go with some of the other beads or they turn out to be the wrong shade, size or shape and they are eliminated. Once I have it narrowed down, I start working the actual design. This portion is always very fluid for me with nothing rigid, just what works best. The beads used on the brown and aqua set were dictated by the main focal beads. The beads for the necklace for Vicki were a match for a shirt she bought.

Bead choice process

Finished Necklace



Finished Necklace & Bracelet



Beads for Vicki's Necklace



Vicki's Necklace Finished

Latest Jewelry Pieces

Seems like if I'm not remodeling the studio or working on stuff for ADAA (or working), then I'm creating beading and making jewelry.  I've been concentrating on bead embroidery (thanks to inspiration from Sherry Serafini's books). Vicki & I are going to Bead & Button this year and maybe I can get to meet her!  Here is the turquoise one in progress and finished. I had beads left over from the white one, so I made a pendant necklace as well.