My favourite necklace

Although one thing which I would say most defines my jewellery is colour, probably my favourite ever necklace I made is this monochromatic beadwoven, freeform, brickstitch creation, which is the one which received the most compliments and comments. It was a bit of a challenge for me to work mainly in neutrals rather than the bright shades I'm used to but I managed to cram in as many shades and textures of black, white, grey, ivory, pearl, gold and bronze that I could find.

It has now gone to a loving new home to an owner who loved it so much she nearly made me cry with her generous praise and I must admit it looked sensational around her neck! It took me ages (and a few pricked fingers) to complete, but I think the end result justified the effort.

To make it, I began by making the first 5 (top row) full circle medallions, by brick stitching around a bead, then I stitched the 5 together, then began to work freeform brick stitch around them until it was the right size and made smaller brick stitch circles each one formed off the one before as the neck chain part. Its a really big bib style collar and a complete conversation piece - a real statement necklace. I am going to make another soon - just trying to decide what colours to use this time - any suggestions welcome.

Teal temptation freeform circular brick stitch bracelet

As I haven't been keeping up to date with my blog much lately I intend to blog about items I've made over the past year or so which got missed out, most of the ones I'll be featuring are still available for purchase if you like anything and want to buy it and its not currently in my Folksy shop leave a comment or email me.

First to be featured is this lovely freeform bracelet in shades of teal, turquoise, aqua, bronze and gold, stitched in circular brickstitch around larger beads it is perfect for anyone who doesn't like to wear any metal next to their delicate skin as it is created entirely from glass and acrylic beads and even the easy to fasten clasp is handwoven from beads.

Please leave me some feedback by adding a comment - I love to feel I'm not talking to myself!!

Fantasia necklace

I've finished my latest creation - the Fantasia necklace. I really enjoyed making it and I think some of that joy shines through.

I collected a whole medley of toning and complementary beads and cabochons in a froth of citrus green and sherbert pink, luscious lavender and foamy lilac. the centrepieces are shell, collectable vintage buttons and a pretty gemstone.

I then mounted each large cabochon onto stiffener and hand embroidered around it in peyote stitch, bead by tiny bead, each one surrounded by a slightly different but matching selection of glass seed beads and pearls.

Once all the components were completed to my satisfaction I backed them with soft coffee colour faux suede, then joined them together to create this stunning neckpiece.

Suspended from a chain of matching beads and fastening at the back of your neck with a silver plated push in flower clasp decorated with a tiny sparkling crystal.
It looks amazing worn over a simple black high necked sweater.

You can buy this necklace now in my Etsy shop 

Coriandr / Beadyjan / Nebula earrings

Coriandr / Beadyjan / Nebula earrings

I've just listed some new earrings to my Coriandr shop.

The Nebula Earrings are a little more elaborate than my usual simple earrings and take a little more time to create.

They are made by taking a facetted crystal bead and brickstitching around it with toning and contrasting beads, then adding a pretty dangling fringe.

They are suspended from 100% surgical steel ear wires as are all my handmade earrings as these are really the ONLY wires I can wear in my own sensitive ears apart from gold and whats good enough for me is good enough for my customers.

At a recession busting price of just £5.00 a pair they are available in a wide choice of different colours just email your preference and I'll make a pair just for you.

Oh and as someone so nicely asked me the other day if I will ship items abroad - yes I'll send them to USA, Canada, Australia and anywhere in the EU - in fact if you'd like to buy any item I've made I'll be happy to quote you shipping costs to your country, wherever you live as long as you pay by Paypal, just contact me by email Beadyjan@yahoo.co.uk

Wired pink floral heart pendant on ribbon thong

Wired pink floral heart pendant on ribbon thong
Originally uploaded by Beadyjan

Just finished this pretty pink heart pendant on wire with a little coil at the bottom. I've added it to a silvery grey ribbon and cord thong.

Buy this for just £5 now at my Coriandr shop

http://beadyjan.coriandr.com/

Happy Weekend everyone

What are you doing this weekend? I hope you have a good one whatever you're up to and the weathers a bit kinder than it was here last weekend.

I've been making some new earrings - I decided to name every pair I make even though they sell for as little as £3.50 a pair because each pair is one of a kind and individually handcrafted so I thought they deserve names rather than just reference numbers.

This pairs called Tenderness.

This pair is Tranquille

These are Serenity

This pair is called Enchantment - you can't see terribly well in the photo the absolutely stunning Czech crystal cluster beads at the top but they are gorgeous.

I bet these would be about £20 if you got them in a shop!

And this pair is Cherish because they are so precious looking

If you're a Facebook user I've started a new page for my jewellery, you can become a fan of my page on Facebook with a chance to WIN FREE EARRINGS by visiting it HERE as once I have 100 facebook fans I will be giving away a pair of unique bespoke Earrings absolutely free - please pass it on!

Earlier this week I went to the doctor and found I've trapped a nerve in my neck, probably with all the sneezing. At least I have some strong painkillers and some new arthritis medication, which seem to be helping.

Today I'm meeting up with an old friend Sue, we usually manage to have a good laugh so I'm looking forward to a catch up with her.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Chunky agate necklace and bracelet set

Another item I've been working on lately is this big, bold gemstone pendant necklace and matching bracelet, and I love it - I hope you do too.

In genuine natural agate gemstones the fabulous brown, gold and red shades make me think of South American desert landscapes so I've called it Atacama.

At £25 for the set its a snip of a price for a huge statement piece and as its a one off, if you like it buy it now.

Email me at Beadyjan@yahoo.co.uk to reserve it for yourself or to ask me any more questions about it and any of my creations.

New necklace

I haven't blogged anything for ages so just thought I'd share my latest creation. This necklace is a beadworked peyote spiral embellished with a myriad of lovely beads in shades of bronze, copper and turquoise.

Approximately 18" long it fastens with an ornate Tibetan silver flower t-bar clasp.

Its a one of a kind item and is available for sale at just £24.

If you're interested just let me know.

One world one heart giveaway

Bloggers - win this Beadyjan handmade pendant necklace absolutely free!

Find out how by reading on ....

Whilst blog hopping to find some new craft blogs to peruse I've come across the one world one heart blog. its a huge international blog giveaway event created to encourage arty crafty bloggers around the world to get together, give away a piece or more of their art and discover new people and find new blogs and possibly win something too!

It sounded right up my street so I thought I'd find out more about it and having read that its been happening for 3 consecutive years I decided to take part this year.

For my giveaway I've decided to offer this handmade donut pendant which I made from polymer clay with glittery inclusions and then I wove a spiral rope from seed beads and added a tibetan silver toggle clasp.

To be in with a chance of winning this one of a kind necklace all you need to do is add a comment to this post, you must have a blog of your own and I should be able to contact you through your blog so no anonymous comments.

All valid comments received up to and before midnight (uk time) on February 11th will be put into a hat and the winner will be drawn on February 12th 2009. At this point I will announce the winner on my blog and contact them via email asking them to contact me within 14 days with their snail mail address.

This is an international event and entries are welcome from all bloggers wherever in the world you are.

Good luck.

If you're an artist or creative crafter who'd like to join in please visit Lisa Swifkas blog for more details. We'd love to have more people aboard our "gypsy caravan" as its also called.

Couple of new necklaces I made

I've had a little break from beading as my arthritis has been so painful with the colder weather, however its a touch less cold now so I have made this black necklace for a friend in the USA.

I made her a black and grey wrap bracelet before Christmas and she asked me to make a necklace to match in black and grey. I hope she doesn't think its too dark or dull. She doesn't blog so I know she won't see this.

The second, freeform necklace is one I began making for myself before Christmas and didn't finish it, I picked it up yesterday and completed it and I must say I'm pretty pleased with the end result.

Pretty pendant

I realised I've not posted any beady stuff or jewellery I've made this month, which is unlike me.

I was sorting through some stuff I made a while ago. You know how you look at something you've made with a critical eye and think "Hmm, I'm not really too impressed with that" Then you take a fresh look at it months or even years later and think "Hey thats not bad after all"

Thats what happened with this Pendant. I was messing about with some Fimo ages ago and made this pendant by cutting a square shape and then making a big donut hole in it. I rubbed the surface of the Fimo with some Pearl-ex powders and then scraped a swirl with a pointy tool, Finally I sprinkled on some ultra thick embossing powder then baked the pendant to see what it came out like.

The utee make a raindrop effect which I thought spoilt it but looking at it with a fresh eye I think its kind of pretty.

I added several thin strands of seed beads to hang it from in toning colours.

What I made today

It was my morning at bead group today.

there are about 12 of us in it and we get together once a week to do some beading, share patterns and techniques.

I've made these 2 donut pendants which I've suspended from a ribbon and cord thong necklace.

I think they're really pretty - what do you think?

I'm going to sell them for just £6 each.

Earring things

Thought I'd show you a few of my easy to wear dangly earrings which are really popular.

You can buy these and see many more styles at

http://beadyjan.fotopic.net/

Christmas shopping anyone?

I've been busy making some more items for Christmas presents and got carried away as usual and made far too many, so if anyones looking for a few stocking fillers how about
Beaded bookmarks.

at just £4 each they are the perfect stocking filler for any book lover. Made from strong flexible Silver plated wire and pretty beads they keep your page marked in the prettiest way.

I have begun to make memory wire wrap bracelets again, after several people begged me to, they really are the thing to be seen wearing right now.

They fit most sized wrists snugly and are priced at £12 for multi coil with 4 coils .

or £7 for single coil wrapover as shown below.
(worn singly or several together these really are the easiset bracelet ever to wear) no clasp or fiddly fastener to mess with.

Email me with your requirements now.

I can make them up in different colourways of your choice ( subject to availability of beads which I have in my current stash.

I accept payment by Paypal or uncrossed postal order.

Eni style bangle number 2

I made this one a little simpler and less fussy - ideal I think to wear with casual spring fashions.

Its has 2 sepearte links at the back which I could remove and adjust to fit a smaller or larger wrist so it can be made to measure.

This ones for sale at £32.00 and features genuine carnelian gemstone beads.