Cabochons

This was just completed - a custom-made piece in black and light lavender-blue. The cabochons are always unique and designed for a specific stone or shell. However, often they are also designed in a particular style or color depending on the preference of the buyer.
See below for a description of cabochon designing.


Cabochons
Cabochons are the most time-intensive, expensive and complicated jewelry that I create. They are also extremely satisfying and rewarding. This is a way to highlight the subtle hues of color and design in the original stone or shell by bead weaving beautiful beads, Swarovski crystals and silver or gold around it, transforming a rather plain piece of natural beauty into a sparkling, vibrant creation of art.
The initial stone or shell can be very inexpensive ($10-15) such as many agates or abalone shells, or expensive ($100-150) such as some types of jasper. The style, type of beads, and enhancement with silver, gold and Swarovski crystals will affect the cost of the finished piece.
The first step is to select a particular central piece, which is usually a stone or shell.


Beads are woven in a pattern around this, both front and back.


The completed bead weaving around the stone holds the stone in place.

















A rope chain is added at the top -


Fringe is added at the bottom:



And here is the finished piece:




Here are some other types of chains I use:






Some additional types of fringe are:
Feather pattern


Diagonal


Soft fringe with Swarovski crystals



Soft fringe with dagger beads

Jewelry showcase Nov 2008

I love to design, create and handcraft jewelry. Since I am an expressive artist, this is one of the ways I enjoy creating a personal piece of art that someone can wear. This "jewelry as art" can take many forms, from bead stringing to intricate bead weaving, incorporating crystals and metallic balls in the design. I hope you enjoy browsing through this portfolio, which contains some examples of jewelry that I have designed. Some of the pieces are still for sale. If you see one you like that has been sold, I may be able to create another similar piece, although generally these pieces are one of a kind.

Categories of jewelry:
Rivolis
Cabochons
Shell jewelry
Bead strung necklaces
Pendants
Freshwater pearls
Bracelets

Here are some examples:

Rivolis
Sometimes called "rhinestone rivolis", the central crystal is a Swarovski crystal with a metallic cone shaped backing, giving it an even greater sparkle than the regular Swarovskis. Bead weaving is used around the crystal to hold it in place, and to these beads are added 36 smaller Swarovskis. The result is a breathtakingly beautiful creation with vibrant colors and undiminished sparkle. These pendants can be worn simply with a gold or silver chain, or a beaded chain to match can be used.

This rivoli is made from a crystal with orange and fuchsia highlights, with matching smaller Swarovski bicones forming the beaded chain.


This rivoli uses the same central Swarovsky crystal as the one above, but the colors of orange and fuchsia are reversed. The chain was made in a DNA pattern with delica beads of the same colors, instead of the Swarovsky crystals used above. Note how different the overall images are with just these changes.






Rivoli prices
Pendants - $60
Beaded rope chains - $30 With fringe - $45
Swarovsky crystal chains - $75


Cabochons
Cabochons are sophisticated, complicated necklaces made with a central stone, shell or glass around which is a bead woven netting. Fringe is added at the bottom and a beaded chain is attached. The back of the piece is nearly as beautiful as the front!
The variation in stones or shells allows these pieces of jewelry to truly be one of a kind.
The colors and styles of beads are adapted to the particular stone and to the preferences of the purchaser.
This stone is an amethyst sage. Swarovski crystals are used in the beaded chain and the fringe, and the beads used are called "satin delicas" because of their sparkling sheen.



And another example of amethyst sage. The stones vary in the amount of grey-blue-black they contain and the specific hues, requiring an adjustment in the beads used.


This is one of the many types of ocean jasper, which is a great stone because of its beauty and variability in colors and markings. The hues of the delica beads were chosen to enhance the colors of the stone itself. The name of this piece is "Sedona".


This is another ocean jasper, with muted hues of gold, silver grey and white. Note the different effect from the one above. The name of this piece is "Angel Dust".


This is an example of the use of a central shell in a cabochon. The shells are great to use because of their variability of colors and sheens, light weight and low cost. Many Swarovski crystals and sterling silver balls were added for a dramatic effect. Spearhead beads were used at the ends of the fringe, and the fringe pattern suggests a feather headdress. This piece is "Raindance".


This is a beautiful jasper stone called Spider Web Jasper, with thin tendrils of light moss green in a web pattern and a shiny black background. Moss green crystals and green and black Swarovski beads were used to enhance the fringe. This piece is "Black Beauty".



This is an example of a labradorite cabochon. Labradorite stones can vary from vibrant dark sapphire to light grey-green with tan undertones. This one radiated a beautiful sea green from under its surface, therefore leading to the name of "Sea Foam".

This is a beautiful example of enhancing a central agate stone that has very muted colors. Grey-green, white and rose delica beads are used to bring out the soft colors of the stone, and green and rose Swarovsky bicones were added for enhancements.


A glass piece with shades of green, gold and copper was used for this necklace and bracelet. This is another example of using the colors of the beads and crystals to enhance the beauty of the central piece. The bracelet is called a "caterpillar bracelet" because of its soft full fringe.



For someone who likes dramatic jewelry, these next two cabochons definitely do the job. The first one is an amethyst sage stone. Shiny hematite delica beads and sparkling beads and crystals complete the color scheme. The diagonal pattern for the fringe is unique as well, with special beads called "dagger beads" or "spearheads" used at the tips. The name of this piece is "The Sophisticate".


This is also an eye-catching sparkling cabochon using a malachite stone with gold, emerald and clear Swarovsky crystals. Gold balls, beads and spearheads complete the dramatic tone.
The name of this piece is "Regal Lady".


Cabochon prices vary according to the cost of the stone and the type and amount of crystals and beads used. General range is $175-225. Please ask for price on a specific design.


Shell necklaces with Russian spiral chains
Shell necklaces are fun to work with and great to wear. The shells lend wonderful variability in size and shape, are very versatile to wear and are light weight. The first necklace uses a rectangular shell with a mosaic pattern, which hangs from a beaded gold and ivory Russian spiral rope chain. A small ring of beads and crystals is used to attach the shell to the chain. Hand-fashioned bead caps, a beaded loop and shell button through which Swarovski bicones are threaded are used to fasten the necklace.


This aqua green flower shell necklace is a great example of using a simple inexpensive shell, adding crystal and bead enhancements, and aRussian spiral green and ivory rope chain. Hand-fashioned bead caps and shell button and loop closure are used. The result is delicate, beautiful and uncomplicated.


These two shell necklaces are made with oval shells into which are embedded pearls on their surfaces. The first necklace uses beads in gold and ivory, and the second one beads with silver and black.



This piece was made with a mocha shell with green highlights. The mocha and ivory beads of the rope chain coordinate with the shell and the moss green fringe with a vine pattern highlights the subtle green hues of the shell.


Shell necklace prices are $129 for the smaller ones, $145 for larger shells.


Bead strung necklaces




This is a bead strung necklace from which a cobalt blue pendant is hung. The beads ranging from turquoise to cobalt and the bright copper of beads and spacers create a dramatic look.



Bead strung and freshwater pearls necklaces vary according to the type and number of crystals, beads and silver/gold used. Please ask for details.


Pendants
This pendant necklace is made with a carnelian stone. Carnelians are healing stones that uplift the spirit and calm fears. In fact some people wear them as a good luck charm. Warm, vibrant and supportive.


This is another example of a labradorite stone, but this one is deep sapphire and lends itself very well to the dark sapphire and silver beading used.


This piece is "Moonglow", using a beautiful reversible moonstone piece with beige opal and light yellow seed beads. It is highlighted with small green and yellow picots just above the stone at the center of the chain. Handfashioned bead caps are attached at the ends of the chain, and a shell button used for closure.




This is an example of using a pendant and beads of various sizes, shapes and colors in the color scheme. Copper delica beads, spacers and clasp create the dramatic effect. This is also shown in the Bead Strung Jewelry category.



Price range for pendants - $75 - $99.


Freshwater pearls

Two types of freshwater pearls were used in this necklace, along with Swarovski bicone crystals. This allows for a more dramatic focus on each type of pearl. The bracelet below is part of the matching set.



This necklace was made with freshwater pearls and beautiful green Amazonite crystals and stones. Crystal Swarovsky bicones are interspersed to add more sparkle. The necklace is made to wear as one long strand or can be doubled up for a shorter two-strand look.



Bracelets

This is a chakra bracelet, using sparkling Swarovsky bicone crystals in a repeating pattern of the chakra colors. These bracelets come in either silver or gold, and the magnetic clasp allows them to be easily and quickly added to one's ensemble.



This bracelet is named "Rain" because of its light, cool and airy appearance. It is made with aquamarine, crystal and silver Swarovsky bicone crystals and silver balls and spacers.


This bracelet looks very rich due to the copper and gold Swarovsky crystals and gold balls and spacers used. Therefore, it is named "Champagne".




This is a gorgeous bracelet made with seed beads in a Russian spiral pattern. The beads are multihued violet and the Swarovsky crystals are called "vitral", a clear bead that is coated to give it green and violet sparkle. Gold bead caps and closure are added.