Adornment

TO THE RIVER CUFF BRACELET

To the River Cuff Bracelet (top view)

Glass beads, freshwater pearls, semiprecious stone
cabochons on Ultrasuede, over nickel silver

Best of Show, 2012 New Mexico State Fair, Jewelry

To the River Cuff Bracelet (bottom view)

Notes: Bead embroidery with Czech charlottes (size 13-0), true cuts (size 11-0), 14K gold plated true cuts and cabochons made by a local silversmith many years ago. We're not sure if the stones are gaspeite or chrysoprase.

❧ Here's a downloadable tutorial from an old Beadwork magazine article I wrote that explains how I construct my cuff bracelets over a sturdy, hand-formed nickel silver core. The project includes a free peyote stitch pattern rather, than bead embroidery as shown above, but the construction of the cuff is the same: Hummingbirds and Trumpet Vine Cuff Bracelet

BEAR/MOONLIGHT BROOCH

Bear/Moonlight Brooch

 Glass beads, semiprecious stone cabochons on ultrasuede

❧ Bead embroidery with charlottes and other sizes using applique and spot stitch with glass leaf beads. I covered the edges with a solid bead edging of parallel lines.

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SHEPHERDESS ANGEL

Shepherdess Angel Necklace (full view)

6" x 18", including strap

Glass beads, sequins, gemstones and trade beads

over trapunto quilting, brass bells, red brass wire

Featured in 500 Beaded Objects, Lark Books

Third Place, Gleaming Treasures (Bead and Button Show), 2000

Notes: Trapunto quilting on raw silk, bead embroidered with sequins, charlottes and vintage bugle beads. The interlaced fringe is a vintage techniques from the 1920s and earlier, with rubies and brass bells. Her cane is raw brass wire. The angel's sleeves were stitched separately in right angle weave and sewn over the embroidery. I attached the hanging loops for the necklace strands before attaching the Ultrasuede backing. The three-strand necklace is completely asymmetrical so I added a heavy counterweight of gemstones and sterling silver, for balance

❧ I talk a lot about how I constructed this piece in my webinar for Interweave Press, Bead Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration.

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WILDER HEART

Wilder Heart Necklace (full view)

Mixed media embroidery and other off-loom stitches with beads,

vintage findings, gemstones, trade beads, faux amber polymer clay, shells,

acrylic paint, sterling silver wire

First Prize, Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta, 2003

Photos by Pat Berrett

Wilder Heart Necklace (detail)

Notes: I started by gluing the turquoise cabochon onto some bright red Ultrasuede. Then I embroidered various gemstones (most of the round red beads are coral for example) and couched a variety of objects to the surface. Instead of using a beaded edging, I couched silver metallic cord from India all around the edges.

Wilder Heart Necklace (back view)

More Notes: I beaded the lettering separately in flat peyote stitch, then sewed the swatch onto the brown Ultrasuede backing, which I faux-aged with brown acrylic paint. The fringe and necklace strands are attached with rivets.

❧ I talk a lot about durability with mixed media and found objects in my webinar for Interweave Press, Bead Embroidery: Techniques and Inspiration.

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