Tutorials

Pendulum - from the Neo-Latin word, pendulus meaning hanging.
A pendulum is a weight (or bob) suspended from a fixed point so that it can swing freely by the action of gravity and acquired momentum. From its discovery around 1602 by Galileo Galilei the regular motion of pendulums was used for timekeeping, and was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the 1930s.

The Pendulum mimics an actual pendulum. A series of three graduating sized crystal pearls are caged inside simple and elegant columns of tiny beads form the weight or bob. The caged bob swings freely from a simple herringbone rope. The bail of the pendulum bob is a simple square knot that shows off the beauty of the herringbone ropes.
Held at the clasp, Pendulum will swing to and fro, with a little assistance from you and gravity.

The Pendulum – an elegant and sophisticated necklace for the woman who loves beauty in simplicity.

What is a cascade? Any dictionary will tell you that a cascade is a waterfall descending over a steep, rocky surface. Just like a cascade in a waterfall, the Pearl Cascade has pearly components that move from one size to another seamlessly.

Beautiful Swarvoski crystal round and coin pearls are bezelled and attached to each as if it grows from each other. These cascades are then attached to pliable and sumptuous neck band. Honeycomb beads are suspended between two Prismatic Right Angle Weave ropes. Embellished with tiny seed beads, the neck band is elegant and substantial enough so it will not distort from the weight of the pearl cascade.

Art Déco (/ˌɑːrt ˈdɛkoʊ/), also known as Style Moderne, is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. It became popular in the 1920s and 1930s and influenced the design of buildings, iewelry, furniture, cars, movie theatres, trains, ocean liners. It takes its name, short for Arts Décoratifs, from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) held in Paris in 1925.

Art Deco jewelry is sought after in the highest realms. It features clean lines, geometrical forms, the use of colored gemstones, and vibrant motifs. Diamonds were used prolifically, and the metal of choice was platinum.

Le Bijou Art Déco takes its inspiration from this prolific “modern” era. Sparkling crystals are captured into a geometric pendant. Tiny seed beads form a precise grid. Straight links of beads are used to suspend the pendant gracefully. The clasp once again demonstrate the influence of geometry of the era. Rectangular tabs of crystals are attached to the clasp giving it an exquisite finish.

Art Déco (/ˌɑːrt ˈdɛkoʊ/), also known as Style Moderne, is a style of visual arts, architecture and design that first appeared in France just before World War I. It became popular in the 1920s and 1930s and influenced the design of buildings, iewelry, furniture, cars, movie theatres, trains, ocean liners. It takes its name, short for Arts Décoratifs, from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) held in Paris in 1925.

Art Deco jewelry is sought after in the highest realms. It features clean lines, geometrical forms, the use of colored gemstones, and vibrant motifs. Diamonds were used prolifically, and the metal of choice was platinum.

La Manchette Art Déco is the ultimate in sparkle. Crystal cup chain is bezelled with tiny seed beads. Multiple rows of bezelled cup chain gives the cuff its distinctive art deco look. Graceful, sparkly – the cuff wraps itself gently around your wrist.

Florence is known as the cradle of the Renaissance. Wonderfully preserved. A showcase of Renaissance beauty, elegance and grace.

The Florentines were the first embarked on a journey to relearn from the glorious past of two important lost ancient cultures, Greek and Roman. They strove to increase their knowledge of philoshophy, religion, politics, science, mathematics, literature and the arts. This incredible cultural movement of the Renaissance transformed not only Florence but eventually the rest of Europe, influencing all aspects of life.

La Collana Fiorentina (The Florentine Necklace) is a tribute to this beautiful and graceful city that has given the world so much. A small chaton is bezelled using Hubble stitch and embellished with crystals. A sumptuous rope with crystal quartets is used to hang the bezelled crystals. Sparkly Czech firepolished beads are strung gracefully between each bezelled crystal.

Noble, powerful and very important to the crown. The Marchesa defends the borders of her country from incursions from hostile enemies. A hereditary rank that follows one’s blood lines through the ages. And for this service to the crown and country, the Marchesa is often rewarded with jewels and riches.

La Collana della Marchesa, the Marchioness’ Collar, is strong, noble and rich, just like the Marchesa herself.

Sparkling Swarovski chatons are embellished with tiny seed beads and sparkling, delicious Czech fire polished beads. A beautiful glittering Swarovski cushion cut crystal is showcased in a frame of more sparkling Czech fire polished beads. Suspended from the central pendant is another smaller cushion cut crystal lending more fire to the collar.

A magnificent, richly embellished and luxurious collar sparkling and gleaming in the light.

Worthy of the Marchesa’s station at royal court.

Noble, powerful and very important to the crown. The Marchesa defends the borders of her country from incursions from hostile enemies. A hereditary rank that follows one’s blood lines through the ages. And for this service to the crown and country, the Marchesa is often rewarded with jewels and riches.

Il Braccialetto della Marchesa, the Marchioness’ Cuff, is strong, noble and rich, just like the Marchesa herself. Sparkling Swarovski chatons are embellished with tiny seed beads and sparkling, delicious Czech fire polished beads. Set in a frame of more sparkling Czech fire polished beads, the cuff is substantial while supple and pliant.

A richly embellished and luxurious cuff sparkling and gleaming in the light.
A cuff that befits the wrists of any Marchesa.

Jewellery was a big part of Elizabethan Tudor fashion, especially for those who were rich and important.

It showed both their wealth and status. Jewellery was also used to convey political messages, display religious beliefs and to remind people of friends and relatives who have died. Jewellery in Tudor times was not widespread and is essentially worn by the upper classes and those who could afford such finery.

Tudor bracelets tended to be made out of silver or gold and decorated with precious stones. Strands of pearls could also be wrapped around the wrist. The Elizabethan cuff is reminiscent of bracelets of the era. A super wide cuff - elaborate, luxurious and intricately woven. A central panel of bezelled large beads form a bold focal point to the cuff. Eminently suited to the delicate wrists of the Elizabethan Tudor lady of the upper classes.

Alexandrina Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, the second longest serving British monarch, is a woman so well-loved and regarded that she created a whole fashion movement all on her own. Many attribute the tradition of brides wearing white on their wedding day to this fashionable sovereign.

During her rule, a middle class began to emerge, sparking a demand for jewellery for the mass market. Jewels that paid homage to the ornate, decorated and rich style that the Queen herself worn, first in rich luxurious colourful jewels and later in life, after the death of her beloved Albert, in all black.

What however is little known is that the Queen was not called Victoria at all but the affectionate Drina. It was only upon her coronation that she became known as Victoria. And this necklace is a tribute to the girl princess who was never destined to be the ruler of the kingdom but ultimately became the Queen and Empress.

Drina Victoria is an über feminine necklace that curved gently below your collar bone. Little cabochons embellish the necklace while glittering Swarovski crystals are bezelled and hung gracefully to form little orbs of sparkle glittering gently on your décolletage.

A crux gemmata (Latin for : jewelled cross) is a form of cross typical of Early Christian and Early Medieval art. Versions are found as early as the third century in mosaics. The jewelled cross was common from Late Antiquity, both as a decoration in churches and also among wealthy Christians. The cross, or at least its front side, is principally decorated with rich jewels – rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds ... The number of jewels was initially not important but in later times, it has become customary for the cross to have thirteen stones, representing Christ and the 12 apostles.

Embellished sparkling Swarovski crystals and True Two firepolished beads are the jewels of the Crux Gemmata. Intricately woven and assembled with cubic and prismatic right angle weave, the Crux Gemmata is suspended from an uber long rope of luxurious Swarovski crystal pearls. The same crystal pearls are used as decorative pendilia or hanging ornaments from the arms of the cross complete the bejewelled cross.

Convex means curving out or extending outward.
Concave means curving in or hollowed inward.

So which one of these dangles have the crescents convex and which concave? I would say both. Depends on your perspective. But what is true is one dangle is convex and the other is concave.

A fun pseudo lariat with beaded bead balls using CzechMates Crescents. The lariat is in two parts and the rope may be used on its own. The rope and connector takes advantage of the lovely drape created by the Russian Spiral. The beaded dangles themselves are woven with different counts of embellished prismatic right angle weave

Our fascination with little beads of coloured glass do not end with just connecting these beads together to form jewellery, ornaments and other items of decoration and adornment. Our curious mind and sense of adventure makes us explore using these little beads of glass to encase and embellish bigger beads giving birth to beaded beads – beads that are made of other beads.

The Beaded Bead Lariat is one such necklace. Papier-mâché beads are encased and embellished with glass beads of different shapes and sizes for an elegant, sparkling beaded bead. Papier-mâché is French for "chewed paper", is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste. They are ideal as “core” beads for embellishing and encasing as they are light, can be coloured to any colour known to man and can be made in many shapes and sizes.

The beaded beads are woven using embellished Hubble stitch. The beaded beads are hung from long lengths of rope which are a study of the flexibility of herringbone stitch.