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I was attracted to these beautiful lampwork beads the moment I saw them and couldn't wait to get them home and work with them! Made of lampwork glass, these beads are created from turquoise and aqua colors with an inky swirl beneath the surface that is reminiscent of an ocean wave.
I've used these beads to create a handmade eyeglass chain titled "Caribbean Surf", because the colors remind me of the blue skies and colorful sea of the Caribbean. The lampwork beads have been combined with other glass bead accents in matching colors all strung together on a strand of white. This eyeglass chain is perfect for leashing in those runaway reading glasses that always seem to get lost when not perched on one's nose.
When I started making rosaries, my first one was made in glass. And, although it was beautiful and shimmered and was a favorite of many, my mother's first question when she saw it was... "have you made any in natural beads yet?"
This question was what inspired the Sacred Vow rosary bracelet seen here. Made from beads of bone, this bracelet is simplistic and beautiful in gold tones with black bone beads for the aves and a larger white bone bead for the pater near the clasp. The handmade chaplet bracelet comes with a full-color saint charm attached near the pater bead and a delicate brass cross as well as handmade infinity links between each bead.
I've also designed a full sized rosary and a smaller christian charm with this same theme.
Although it doesn't happen often, sometimes combining metals and textures can create some interesting results. In this bookmark I've combined the shimmer of silver with a touch of copper for a handmade beaded bookmark that's sure to become a well-loved classic.
Many people fold the pages in a book to mark their place when they're reading, but it's not really an ideal method because it permanently damages the pages that are folded. A beaded book thong bookmark is a terrific way to avoid that damage whether marking your place in a book, journal, date book or bible.
When I first saw these gemstones, I was at a gem show. I fell in love with them immediately, but it took me a long time to find them again! These stones are a form of amethyst called "lace amethyst" and they're a bit harder to come by than the normal darker colored amethyst most are used to seeing used in jewelry.
In this bracelet, these beautiful lace amethyst stones have been combined with silver plated charms and the soft glow of pearls to create a gemstone bracelet that's a perfect accent to the winter season. Named "Lilac Lace" this handmade amethyst bracelet measures at 8.85-inches (22.5 cm) in length and has a style to it that is versatile enough to be worn both casually or as an elegant accent.
I don't think that there's any other time that it's more important and significant to have a piece that's handmade than when considering a rosary or cherished religious piece of jewelry. Whether purchasing such a piece for yourself or for someone else, there's a certain amount of special significance that comes in knowing the piece you're buying is hand crafted instead of a commercial reproduction.
This mother of pearl rosary bracelet is one of those pieces. Each and every one of the links in this bracelet has been made by hand and every bead picked out and set in place with care. The entire piece is then brought together with a matching toggle clasp.
To add a touch of color to this rosary bracelet, the Pater bead and Saint's charm are both a rich spring green in color and the small cross charm that is included is designed in a combination of silver tones and white.
