Tutorials

A pagoda is a tapering tiered tower, built in the traditions originating in historic East Asia. These pagodas are usually built for religious reasons for the devout of Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Burma. They are sometimes Taoist houses of worship or can be structures where sacred relics are kept safe and venerated. Depending on the culture, pagodas can come in many forms from the easily recognisable tiered structure to dome-like stupas.

Traditionally pagodas have odd number of tiers. This is to relate to the Yin Yang concept, where the odd symbolises the Yang and even symbolises the Yin. Since the majority of pagodas were religious, the number of tiers is odd to symbolise the Yang, and to the effect of ridding of evil spirits, and of the positive and auspicious.

Precisely placed cylindrical Delica beads in increasing or decreasing counts allow the various tiers of the ring to enlarge or shrink symmetrically giving the appearance of a pagoda. A completely self-supporting structure, the ring is a statement piece that is strong, sturdy and yet comfortable and light to wear.

The main color that is visible from the top of the pagoda hides a little secret. Turn the ring over and the soffit is a different color. Swap the colors round if you like for a completely different look.

These rings are guaranteed to give you endless hours of beading fun and will have your friends and family clamouring for you to make them one.

More than three thousand years ago, the Chinese started using wooden lattice grilles in their windows. The wooden lattice is painted either in black, red or decorated with gilt then covered with translucent rice paper. Just before Chinese New Year every year, the paper is replaced with fresh paper; any damaged lattice repaired – all to welcome the New Year.

From an artistic standpoint, Chinese lattice is visually appealing and for the mathematician, intellectually intriguing. Each lattice is laid out with precision and absolute accuracy; often a series of octagon, hexagon, parallelograms form a maze that is perfectly ordered.

This lattice work is the inspiration behind this cuff. A series of precisely placed right angle woven units laid out in a mesmerizing pattern. A seemingly intricate grid using colors, finishes and embellishments resulting in a lace-like cuff. The same lattice precision is reinforced through the use of the intriguing right angle weave.

The clasp and bracelet endings are woven from cubic right angle weave in an open-work lace style. This creates an intricate, delicate filigree style clasp that is as much a focal point as the bracelet itself.

A great way to get familiar with the often frustrating right angle weave. The use of different colors and finishes will help you “see” the different units with ease. An impressive addition to any wardrobe.

This tutorial is in two parts. The first part details the construction of the bracelet and the clasp. The second part “One Pattern, Three Variations” is a suggestion of color types, finishes and embellishments that create three separate looks for the same bracelet.

A simple elegant cuff made interesting by the use of different coloured beads placed on a diagonal. High quality Japanese cylinder beads tile beautifully to give a perfectly flat yet pliable strip of glass beads wrist adornment.

A wonderful piece of jewelry for both the novice beader as well as the expert. Definitely a piece that will wow your friends whenever you wear it. Designed to either enhance a formal outfit or to jazz up casual weekend fun gear.

NOTE

The tutorial does NOT come with word charts.

Easter is the most important and celebrated holiday for the Russian Orthodox faith. It is a time of hope and renewed life. In Easter 1885, Czar Alexander III wanted to present a very special gift to his wife, Maria Fedorovna, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their love and union.

He commissioned his wife’s favorite jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé, to create a special gift that would symbolise both their love and this special day. On Easter morning, Faberge delivered an enameled egg with a golden yolk. Inside the yolk was a golden hen, and inside the hen, a miniature royal crown of diamonds and a ruby egg.

The Czarina was so enamoured by the present that from that day on, every Easter, she was presented with a unique Fabergé egg containing a surprise fit for an Empress. In all, 56 Russian Imperial Fabergé eggs were made.

A delightful ornament for yourself – glittering with high quality Swarovski crystals. Or give it as a present for Easter, for baby showers – well just as a present for anything.

Herringbone with a difference. Delicious little O-beads® are combined with regular seed beads to give an interesting cross-hatch weave.

An intricate and complex looking weave that belies the simplicity of the humble herringbone weave.

What can I say? I love rings, the bigger the better. The more unusual the better.

My Rather Large Cocktail Ring answers my predilection for these rings. Using gumdrops, pearls and Twin or Superduo beads, the ring is built from a series of netting around the pearls. The gumdrops are incorporated into this netting and form a round of “points”. The ring is completely self-supporting. The inside is hollow and the structure is built from by netting over beads.

This ring is great for those who like to make a statement with their hands. It is big and depending on the color can be very in your face. Make one in elegant golds and silvers. Or make one with the latest neon beads for that fun occasion. However you make them, definitely one will not be enough.

A delightful polymer clay cabochon in the shape of a sleepy smiling moon is framed in colourful soutache. Little crystal “rays” radiate from the top of the face almost like moon beams framing the moon face.

A pretty cheerful cocktail ring that is bound to provide you with hours of delightful wear.
Definitely a little conversation starter as well.

Suitable for beginners learning the ancient art of soutache jewelry.
A fast and fun project for those who are already familiar with the technique.

Delicate and sweet. Sitting prettily around your neck.

Small chatons embellish a simple chevron stitch base to make this necklace a definite must for any occasion. A bezelled chaton also forms the clasp making the fastening completely invisible. To complete the picture, a pair of matching earrings to grace your delicate ear lobes.

The Chinese longevity symbol is the most revered among the five good fortune symbols -
Good Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness, Wealth

The “Shou” character has been stylized by many. One of the more recognizable images of this character is the narrow elongated “Shou” with elegant curving sides reflecting the strokes of the character. It is this version the “Shou” that the necklace uses as a design element.

Chinese legend also has it that the butterfly is a symbol of the undying bond between lovers.
Flitting happily from flower to flower, the butterflies signify the lovers celebrating their love with happiness and freedom.

What can be more perfect than the unity of two very special and auspicious symbol together.

Longevity & Love features a cubic right angle weave rope embellished with caged pearls. The caged pearls give the impression of traditional Chinese knots which are both ornamental as well as functional. Suspended from this rope is a beautiful howlite butterfly below which hangs a self-supporting “Shou” character in cubic right angle weave. The necklace is closed with a simple loop over an embellished pearl reminiscent of mysticism of the East.

To the Chinese, it is very auspicious to have both these symbol on one self.
Weave yourself a beautiful and elegant necklace using these age old symbols of longevity and love.
Wear it to benefit from the blessings of longevity and love.

Luxurious and elegant, Little Button Cuff is a pliable double layer cuff.
Little Czech Button Beads® are captured within a beaded lattice of prismatic right angle weave diamonds.

Comfortable around your wrist. Flexible in its design. A two row cuff works as a daily wear cuff. Add another row and the cuff becomes a luxurious dramatic piece around your wrist.

Urchins or sea urchins are globe-like sea creatures that live in all the oceans of the world. They are protected from predators by spines or spikes which can inflict a painful wound. Luckily our urchin, other than being spiky is absolutely human friendly.

Lil Urchin is a quirky pendant embellished with little Czech spikes and resembles its namesake - the sea urchin. Lil Urchin is further embellished with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Suspended from the end of the urchin is a simple, uber elegant long cubic zirconia pear shaped drop making Lil Urchin a very sophisticated pendant.

The pendant is hung from a simple twisted herringbone rope. The whole ensemble is closed with a spiky toggle clasp made from the same little Czech spikes.

A pyramid is a structure whose shape is roughly that of a pyramid in the geometric sense. That is, its outer surfaces are triangular and converge to a single point at the top.

Les Pyramides is a supple pliant cuff of two rows of little pyramid shaped beads. Embellished and connected in a series of picots that appear complex and intriguing, just like the mysteries of the great pyramids.

A cuff that is suitable for the beginning beader to the advanced.
Quick and fun to make but bold in statement.