Mokume Gane & Beads

Every once in a while, I like to blend beading and polymer.  They are two of my favorite art forms, and I think they go well together in jewelry.  Recently,  I made a mokume gane stack and then worked some beading into a few pendants.  I forgot to take photos before I put the pendants for sale in the Westerly gallery.  The result is I only have one piece left - which must mean the combination of polymer and beads appealed to others.  To the right is the remaining piece.  I used seedbeads to weave a bail for the top and strung strands of seedbeads and pearls to hang below the pendant.  I also made a few pairs of earrings, and enhanced the polymer pieces with crystals, glass beads and metal components.
The third photo shows a grouping of earrings and a pendant from the same mokume gane stack. One of the things I love about the mokume gane process is the way in which colors blend and sometimes hide. I haven't decided yet what to do with this particular pendant.  A beadweaving idea is in the back of my mind.....

Odds & Ends....

Today's post doesn't have a set theme.  It's just a collection of some things I've done recently that don't really belong to any particular category.  So - here goes!

 This bright and perky set was made from a scrambled cane. The individual pieces are folded in the middle over the buna cord and the whole pendant moves as one piece.

   

 I made these leaves from a series of what I call "wedge" canes.  I love the way these canes meld colors while keeping them separate enough to create a wispy striped look.

 Here is a first-time experiment.  I found the white finished metal filigree bracelet cuff, and decided to try decorating with polymer.  The cane is a compound petal cane, and each petal was placed individually as it was secured to the adjoining petal.  On the inside, there is a strip of teal polymer that is pushed up against the filigree and meets the polymer petals from the top.

This last pendant is convex, with just enough bend to allow the bead strand cluster to swing freely in front. This creates a simple, yet nice bit of motion.

Polymer & Beads - New Pendants

If you've read some of my past posts, you know my first adventures with creating jewelry were with seed beads. I still love beadweaving, and have been playing with different applications, mixing polymer and beads. I'd like to share a few of the most recent pieces.
The turquoise/pink piece to the left was my first one of this design. It sold the first day it was in the gallery, so I guess someone else liked it, too.
For the purple piece, I used a large cane I had made and decorated it with seed beads and glass magatama drops.
The last piece in this posting developed from the edges of a cane I was cutting for a different purpose. It just looked like a flower opening and needed pearls added - so I did.

Shells as Cabochons

Just finished a sample of the project I'm teaching at Nature's Art in May. Beaded cabochons typically use a specially prepared and cut stone as the centerpiece. For this project, participants may choose items which have thicker sides than usual - items such as shells, uncut stones, or agate slices. The stitch even creates a piece which is reversible! Here's a preview of both sides of a small cream abalone shell. More info on the class page.