Workshops

Peter Carl Fabergé was a Russian jeweller best known for the creation of the famous Fabergé eggs. Made using precious metals and gemstones, the eggs are an infinitely more luxurious evolution of the Easter eggs.

Between 1885 and 1917, he is believed to have created as many as 69 eggs but to-date only 57 of them are known to survive. The first Fabergé egg was created for Tsar Alexander III who wanted to give his wife the Empress Maria Feodorovna an Easter egg possibly to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their betrothal.

The Fabergé Vessel is inspired by these exquisite Easter eggs. It is an egg-shaped self-supporting vessel made entirely out of seed beads. Embellished with sparkling crystal, Czech fire polished and cabochons, the Vessel is topped with a dome shaped lid that opens to a cavity for all your precious keepsakes.

DIMENSIONS

Height : 10cm (4")

Width : 8.25cm (3.25")

Few flowers are as important to Eastern cultures as the Lotus, and each culture ascribes a slightly different meaning to the flower. It holds enormous symbolic weight, spanning various thousand-year-old Eastern cultures and is considered one of the most sacred flowers today. 

In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from the murky waters from which it grows in the morning and look perfectly clean. It fades in the late afternoon to re-emerge again in the morning as pristine as it was the day before. And according to Buddhist myth, Buddha appeared atop a floating lotus, and his first footsteps on Earth left lotus blossoms.

To Hindus the lotus flower is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality, and eternity. Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are linked to the flower. The goddess of prosperity, Laxmi, is usually depicted as being seated atop a fully opened lotus flower while Brahma, the god of creation is depicted as emerging from a lotus.

The Lotus Cuff is the companion piece to The Lotus Sautoir. The cuff is a series of inter-connected stylised petals. It glistens with the sparkle of beautiful crystals to encircle your wrist. A beautiful cubic zirconia clasp is matched to the cuff to further enhance its sophistication and beauty.

DIMENSIONS

Width : 3.6cm (1.4")
Length : Up to 20cm (7.75")

Few flowers are as important to Eastern cultures as the Lotus, and each culture ascribes a slightly different meaning to the flower. It holds enormous symbolic weight, spanning various thousand-year-old Eastern cultures and is considered one of the most sacred flowers today.

In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from the murky waters from which it grows in the morning and look perfectly clean. It fades in the late afternoon to re-emerge again in the morning as pristine as it was the day before. And according to Buddhist myth, Buddha appeared atop a floating lotus, and his first footsteps on Earth left lotus blossoms.

To Hindus the lotus flower is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality, and eternity. Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are linked to the flower. The goddess of prosperity, Laxmi, is usually depicted as being seated atop a fully opened lotus flower while Brahma, the god of creation is depicted as emerging from a lotus.

The Lotus is a stylished depiction of the beautiful lotus blossom. Our lotus, unlike the flower, never fades at night and is eternally pure in its lines. The sparkling crystals at the centre represent the seed of this beautiful blossom.

DIMENSIONS

Pendant Width : 7cm (2.75")
Pendant Height : 9cm (3.5")
Rope Length : Up to 88cm (34.5")

The padlock is woven using the peyote stitch, a technique that creates a strong, self-supporting structure without the need for an internal frame. The intricate beadwork is highlighted with a central gem-like focal point surrounded by decorative accents, while a small key charm at the top reinforces the lock-and-key motif.

More than just ornamental, this piece is also functional—the padlock can be opened to reveal a hidden compartment, perfectly sized for a small keepsake or personal treasure. A showcase of both artistry and engineering, it demonstrates the strength and elegance of peyote beadwork in a unique, sculptural form.

To view the video, click here

DIMENSIONS

Pendant Height : 6.4cm (2.5")
Pendant Width : 6cm (2.4")
Necklace Rope Length : 88cm (34.5")

Among the Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran is a unique diamond and emerald necklace that is noted for its perfect symmetry and mathematical precision combined with artistic beauty. It has become a living monument to the artistic skills of the jewelry designers of the distant past. The necklace undoubtedly belonged to the period of Fath Ali Shah who ruled Persia from the end of 18th century to the mid-19th century. It is this beautiful piece of Persian history that is the inspiration for The Shahbanu’s Jewel.

Shahbanu (in Persian: شهبانو‎ - Šahbānū) means "Lady of the Shah" in Persian. Often misunderstood to mean '"Empress" in translation into English, but the true Persian meaning does not have the “ruling” implication that the English word has.

The Shahbanu’s Jewel uses herringbone ropes that drapes magnificently on a woman’s décolletage. Beautiful sparkling crystals are encircled in tiny seed beads and further embellished with sparkling firepolished beads. More crystals form the joining points for the herringbone ropes giving the same symmetry and precision of the original jewel.

The Shahbanu’s Jewel – a necklace for an Empress.

A sea urchin is a small marine animal in the Echinodermata phylum family that is spherical in shape. They are typically but not exclusively, covered with spines. There are some 950 species of sea urchins and they live in all oceans around the world. The name "urchin" is an old word for hedgehog, which sea urchins resemble and have been called sea hedgehogs in the past.

The Urchin is inspired by these beautiful marine animals. Cubic right angle weave is artfully combined with peyote to form a free standing self supporting box. Twinkling embellished ribbons of prismatic right angle weave radiate from the center to form the symmetrical folds of the urchin. The sparkling rhinestone at the center forms the centerpiece of the lid.

The Urchin can easily be made into a taller vessel by adding tiers.

DIMENSIONS

Diameter : 6.5cm (2.5")
Height : 8.5cm (3.5")
Height Of Additional Tier : 2.75cm (1”)

The Worry Vessel is a self-supporting container built entirely of seed beads. It is designed to be a modular project which can incorporate some or all of the various modules of the design. It is entirely up to the beader to decide which, how many and what order the modules are added. Two of the modules are designed to rotate around a central core. A lid topped with a crystal rivoli closes The Worry Vessel.

Learn to use thread tension to control the rigidity of the structure. Learn to increase and decrease peyote to give the structure contours. Learn to use colour placements and embellishments to create interesting variations to an otherwise plain background. Use Cubic Right Angle Weave incorporating sparkling fire polished beads to weave one of the two rotating modules. Use netting techniques to add pearls to the second of the rotating modules.

The Worry Vessel is designed not only be functional as a container for all that is precious. The rotating modules are also designed to be somewhat of a worry vessel, not unlike worry beads, allowing you to rotate them as you contemplate what your next beading project should be.

DIMENSIONS

Height : 13.5cm (5.3")

Width : 10cm (3.9")

A medallion, is, strictly speaking, a small, flat, and round piece of metal that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way marked with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for sporting, military, scientific, academic, or various other achievements.

Medals or medallions may also be created to commemorate particular individuals or events, or as works of artistic expression in their own right. For their contribution to the kingdom of Beads, I have created this medallion in celebration of the 90^th anniversary of York Beads and the York men. Happy Anniversary York Beads!

The York Medallion is a cubic right angle weave pendant of flowing curves surrounding a square framework. Within the square framework are 4 sparkling crystal chatons embellishing with sparkling firepolished beads.

Elaborate, luxurious and flamboyant, The York Medallion is a tribute to those who have given their whole lifes for our bead obsession. Thank you for your contribution..

Greek mythology has given birth to many legends of gods and goddesses. No other goddess personifies jewellery in all its glory than Theia. Theia was the Titan goddess of sight and the shining ether of the bright, blue sky. She also has dominion over precious metals and gems. She endows gold, silver and gems with their brilliance and value. Aptly she is also the mother of the three “bright” children: Helios (the Sun), Eos (the Dawn), and Selene (the Moon).

Given her powers over all things bright and brilliant, it is only apropos that I pay homage to her with an equally bright and brilliant necklace. Theia’s Folly features 2 beautiful German glass doublets beautifully faceted to show off its beauty and brilliance. The bold centerpiece is suspended from 2 elegant herringbone ribbons.

Designed exclusively for Beadventures Greece & Ancient Kingdom Cruise 2023

DIMENSIONS

Necklace Internal Circumference : 49cm (19.5")

Pendant Height : 11.5cm (4.5")

Tsarina’s Treasure Jar is a handcrafted jewel of beads and light, born from the grandeur and mystery of Russia’s imperial courts. It whispers of Catherine the Great’s regal halls, of Alexandra Romanov’s quiet grace - an era when the air shimmered with candlelight, and secrets slept within boxes encrusted with gems.

Every rhinestone catches the glow as if it holds a story; every bead, stitched with care, is a heartbeat of the past. The delicate floral patterns bloom like winter gardens beneath palace windows, their symmetry echoing the elegance of Fabergé’s treasures and the majesty of the Winter Palace itself.

It is more than a vessel. It is a keeper of dreams, a guardian of secrets, and a bridge to a world where elegance ruled and beauty was a way of life. The Tsarina’s Treasure Jar does not simply hold what you place inside—it holds a story, waiting for you to add your own chapter.

To view the video, please click here

DIMENSIONS

Jar Height : 7.5cm (3")
Jar Diameter : 6.5cm (2.5")

The vajra holds deep significance in Bhutanese society, symbolizing both spiritual and cultural elements. Traditionally, it represents the union of wisdom and compassion, embodying the indestructible nature of reality and the power of enlightenment. Culturally, the vajra also symbolizes strength and resilience, reflecting the Bhutanese people's connection to their history and values. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining harmony between the material and spiritual worlds. The overall design of the vajra embodies the concept of impermanence and the indestructible nature of ultimate truth.

The handle is the central part of the vajra, representing stability and commitment to enlightenment. There are typically two sets of prongs on either end. These prongs represent dualities, such as wisdom and compassion, or the union of opposites. The bulbs or globes, in the case of our vajra, the wings, are located between the prongs, and these elements represent the purity and clarity of mind. The tips or pointed ends of the prongs are seen as piercing through ignorance and illusion, embodying the transformative power of wisdom.

After a visit to the beautiful Land of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan, I was inspired to create my very own vajra as a tribute and memento of my visit to this magical land. Woven from a combination of Cubic and Double Cubic Right Angle Weave, it is completely self-supporting. It hangs on a rope using the same 2 stitches and closed with a double toggle.

DIMENSIONS

Necklace Length : 64cm (25")
Pendant Height : 10.25cm (4")