Beaded Cross Necklace

I've spent this weekend designing and making new items for the I Heart...Collection, but I haven't had time to take any photos yet. Due to some chaotic happenings over the weekend, I'm not sure how regularly I'll be posting this week.
Today's item is a gothic necklace (my favourite theme!) based around a tutorial from Ruby's Beadwork for a beaded cross pendant.

Woven Diamond Earrings

My first post this week is this gorgeous pair of earrings I made for myself that I haven't been able to stop wearing.

The earrings feature black and bright pink fuchsia Delicas beaded in brick stitch to create this cool diamond within a diamond pattern.

 It's finished with a round gunmetal bead and silver fishhook earwires*.

My mom loved them so much that she she asked me to make her a pair.  Hers feature transparent grey Delicas with an AB finish.

The earrings will be available to buy soon in a range of colours.  I'll also be making ones with other designs which I'll post separately.

=:x

*They'll also be available in clip-on style!

Dragon Eye Ring

Rings are my favourite type of jewellery and lately I've got into beaded rings.  They're not as uncomfortable as they look, they're a lot easier to freeform than wire rings, they don't wear or tarnish as easily - depending on what beads you use - and you can make them from any old beads you have lying around - particularly useful when you have old beads that needs using up!
This is the first bezel ring I've made.  I had these really cool glass beads that reminded my of dragon's eyes - my favourite* mythological creatures, keep your damned unicorns!

Christmas Cluster Necklace

This is a necklace I designed for Christmas with a red and green glass bead mix.  I added some gold metal beads too and hung them from a gold plated cable chain.

Sherbet Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

I must warn you, that my mom has already reserved one of these sets!  The necklace is actually one of my own designs and I hope you like it too.

The "sherbets" are acrylic and hanging between them are firepolished crystals.  The colour of the crystals will alternate, the sherbets won't.

Sherbet Set

 Feel free to choose which colour sherbets you would like for your earrings. :)

Earwires are nickel free.

Sherbet Earrings

 The bracelet I would like your input on...

I only had enough crystal beads to put on the necklace - they were a free gift - but it's no problem getting them.  So do you think I should add them to the bracelet in the same manner as the necklace, or leave the bracelet as it is.  It's up to you! :)

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Sherbet Set" in the subject line.

Fairy Satins Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

I'm not actually a fan of Fairy Satins, to me they always looked prettier than they tasted!  So I bought some dyed shell nuggets to imitate them.  The necklace is then tied up in a pink satin ribbon.

Fairy Satins Set

 For the focal, I hung a fairy charm from a connector and then threaded AB (Aurora Borealis/Reflective) acrylic cubes with a few random shell nuggets.

Fairy charm

AB Acrylic Cubes and Shell nuggets

 The earrings are similar to the focal on the necklace, except I just hung shell nuggets from the bottom.  The earwires are nickel free.

Fairy Satins Earrings

 For the bracelet, I alternated shell nuggets and acrylic cubes, then added some chain for length.  I may need your wrist measurements to get it the right length.

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Fairy Satins Set" in the subject line.

Strawberries & Cream Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

Strawberries are my favourite fruit and there is something quite British about a bowl of strawberries and cream in summer.  This set is going to be like the Jelly Bean Set, each one will be different because it's a mixed bag of beads. :)

Strawberries and Cream Set

The necklace is a mixture of glass beads in shades of red, white and pink, with white pearlised seed beads spaced between them.  The seed beads are donated from a beaded bag belonging to my mom.  The "pendant" was a clip-on earring and the ribbon ties were from candles from my friend Maryann at the One Stop Pamper Shop.

Ribbons

The earrings are a mixture of shapes, diminishing in size.  The earwires are nickel free.

Strawberries and Cream Earrings

For the bracelet I decided to try a charm bracelet style.  I'll probably need wrist measurements, so it doesn't end up falling off your wrist! :)

Strawberries and Cream Bracelet

The ring is another bling ring style so it matches the charm bracelet.

Strawberries and Cream Ring

Strawberries and Cream Ring - worn

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Strawberries & Cream Set" in the subject line.

Turkish Delight Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

This is a one-of-a-kind set, because I've used a lot of recycled materials and I don't know where I get them again.

Turkish Delight Set

 The pendant on the necklace used to be a clip on earring that was donated to me.

Clip-on earring transformed into Turkish Delight Pendant

  I used glass cubes, coloured sparkling amber - for the chocolate - and transparent yellow - for the lemon Turkish Delight.  On either side of the glass beads are amethyst coloured glass rondelles and copper spacer beads.

Turkish Delight Necklace

The earrings are also no problem.  Please note the the earwires are copper plated and are not suitable for those with nickel allergies. (Tip: If you do have a nickel allergy and still want these earrings, try coating the earwires with clear nail varnish.)

Turkish Delight Earrings

Apart from the clasp, everything on the bracelet is recycled.  The focal is the other clip-on earring and two buttons that I've sewn onto organza ribbons.  I think we can agree that despite it being made from recycled bits and bobs (including the thread I used) it's a stunning bracelet:

Turkish Delight Bracelet

 The ring was a chipped glass stone, which I sanded and polished.  It has an AB (Aurora Borealis) coating, which reflects many different colours when held up to the light.  I think it also might have been a clip-on earring, but I'm not sure.  The ring is adjustable, so should fit most fingers.

Turkish Delight Ring - worn

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Turkish Delight Set" in the subject line.

Blackberries & Raspberries Set

Disclaimer:  No copyright infringement is intended.  These are my own interpretations of various sweets and candy using various beads.  Nothing in the Sweet Tooth collection is edible.  Please try to refrain from eating!

Whether you prefer the jelly version (like I do) or the bobbly version (like my mom does), or just love the berries themselves, then this set is for you:

Blackberries and Raspberries Set

 The necklace follows a similar style to the Beelzebub Necklace, only I used glass pearls instead of acrylic beads.  Instead of creating bead point focals, I decided hanging "berries" was more appropriate.

Hanging Blackberries and Raspberries

 The earrings follow the same style, however the earwires are black plated so they're not suitable for nickel allergy sufferers (Tip: If you do have a nickel allergy and still want these earrings, try coating the earwires with clear nail varnish.  Or email me if you would prefer the silver nickel-free ones).

Blackberries and Raspberries Earrings

 I've tested out my new memory wire for rings.  I've tried to keep it adjustable, so it should fit any size finger.  I've made the stopper loops on either side as small as possible so they don't irritate your other fingers while wearing it.

Blackberries and Raspberries Ring

Blackberries and Raspberries Ring - worn

 The bracelets always seem to stump me, but I decided to go for another cuff style.  This will have to be custom fitted, so I'll ask you for your wrist measurements. :)

If you would be interested in this set or would like me to make you something similar, please feel free to contact me at: kymberligee@gmail.com with "Blackberries & Raspberries Set" in the subject line.

Irene's Present

In April, my Gran asked me if I could make her a necklace as a birthday present to give to her next door neighbour.  I then found out her birthday isn't until November!  I showed her the beads I had and we deliberated for a very long time.  Mainly because my Gran, unfortunately doesn't have much of a talent for visualising.  To make it easier for her I asked what Irene's favourite colours were and I could build around that.  My Gran replied that she didn't know, she'd lived next to the woman for over 50 years and still didn't know that much about her!  My head hit the desk.

Anyway, we eventually discovered her favourite colours were red, black and green and I got to work mid August.  When I took the finished necklace to my Gran for her thoughts, she was admiring my bracelet (the one in this post).  We agreed I'd make one as an addition to the necklace for Irene.  


Now I've got photos of the necklace, but I forgot to take photos of the bracelet before I gave it to my Gran.  When I next go over to my Gran's I'll try to remember to get a photo.

My Gran wanted something light and long enough to fit over Irene's head so she wouldn't have to fiddle with a clasp.  I used the rest of the red seed beads I had left from the Americana set and alternated with black fire polished beads.  On the right side I added a copper petal connector, which I manipulated into a flower.  On the second strand is a mix of emerald green seed beads and more of the black Czech glass beads.

As a focal, I peyote stitched black coral and green seed beads together and wrapped it around the strands to make it look knotted.  On the ends of the strands are red acrylic bicone beads and light green Czech glass beads.  I hope Irene likes it.  I'll let you know!


I posted this to give you a glimpse of the customisation process.  This design was loosely based on one I made my Gran for Mother's Day (Sorry I don't have a better photo):

Industrial Steampunk Set

I said I was going to do more steampunk styled jewellery and this is what I came up with:

While browsing some designer jewellery, I came upon a spectacular design by Paco Rabanne, featuring chains, metal loops and black pearls.  I loved the simple looking construction which on closer inspection, you realise how intricate it truly is.  I've just bought a load of steampunk cogs and vintage chains, so I decided to simulate the design.  It kind of reminds me of a ribcage, especially the way it hangs, which I think adds to the steampunk effect.

As I layed out the materials for the design, however, I realised I wouldn't have enough of some of the cogs to finish the earrings as well.  But such is the beauty of steampunk, I grabbed some other metal rings I had and mixed and matched with different chain and various shaped cogs until I had this gorgeous "inner workings" look.  The "black" beads are actually dyed coral, and I love the way the vintage hammered chain contrasts with the normal silver chain.

Finally, I used a metal push clasp with a black acrylic bead to match the coral beads.

The earrings were a little trickier.  I'm not sure if the metal pieces are that were used on the Paco Rabanne ones are smaller than the cogs that I have used, but if I had copied the design exactly, I think they would have been hanging past your underarms!  The earwires are nickel free.

But this wasn't about copying, it was more or less doing what I always do - Taking a piece that I like, and putting my own flair on it to make it into something that I love, and I hope you will too!

This is obviously a one-of-a-kind piece, as I'm not Paco Rabanne, and don't have access to all these materials again! ;)

SOLD!

3 Poppies Necklace

New for June!  I've finally got my alternate petal colours, so I decided to show off the red daggers in this design.

I created this pendant from three "flowers" that I made from Czech glass daggers wired around an opaque black glass bead.  The finished "flowers" are then tied together and hung from a length of leather cord.  The cord is connected by a gunmetal lobster clasp.

Other petal colours available: rose pink, red [pictured], clear, topaz, peridot/light green, black, green, amethyst, amber, royal blue, turquoise, gunmetal, pale pink, lilac, aqua, sky blue

SOLD!

Daisy Chain Necklace

I've been working on making more summery looking jewellery.  I hope you like my Daisy necklace!

I made the "daisy pendant" using little glass dagger beads around a round glass bead.  The idea is from one of my beading books, but I didn't like loop hanging from both ends of the daisy.

Interesting note: The glass yellow flower beads, have fleck in them which glow in the dark.  I don't know how many of you go to raves (do people still go to raves?), but I thought that was interesting to note.

As many of the beads I used came from mixed selections, not all necklaces will look the same.  I have just ordered some different "petal" and "pollen" colours, so I'll probably be making some other styles too.

Materials Used: Yellow glass bead selection, Czech glass crystal dagger beads, silver lined yellow and clear seed beads, Light blue fire polished Czech beads, yellow glass flower beads and silver findings.

If you would like me to make something similar to this necklace, please feel free to email me at: kymberligee@gmail.com, with "Daisy Chain Necklace" in the subject line.