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That box of beads gave me the inspiration to make eight beaded cross necklaces. I just finished listing the last of them today. I think the jewelry I produced from this is quite nice. No matter what kind of materials I have, I try to make the best possible products from it. I actually really like the look of rosaries, so making some necklaces inspired by them was actually really nice for me.
Here are some photos of my process for making them. The way that I string them is really one of the things that makes them special.
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- Step 1: plan out the pattern, count the beads and string them all on quilting thread.
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- Step 2: start going back through all of the beads to form a loop.
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- Step 3: go back through the beads three more times and make sure the tension is just right so the beads will hang lightly without gaps.
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- Step 4: tying off and hiding the ends inside the work so they don’t come out later.
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- This is what the finished piece looks like. It takes patience, but it’s worth it!
A lot of people only string once then tie off and call it good. For me the multi-stringing is very important. It allows the piece to swing nicely without gaps between the beads but at the same time it’s really strong. I also worked very hard to learn ways to secure and hide the ends. I’ve seen both mass-produced and handcrafted necklaces where you could see the knots, see where someone melted the ends or even see the tails. That doesn’t happen with my work. I’ve had necklaces that I handled every day for a year and the ends never came loose or showed.
Now, here are the new items in the shop:
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UserR
I’d love a blue one, but I don’t have $25 to spare at the moment 🙁
Briana Blair
I have some blue beads, but no crosses that would go with it. You did remind me though that I actually have a gold-plated and hematite crucifix that needs to be turned into a necklace. I don’t even remember where I got it. I have a lot of materials that I got in trades or people just gave to me, plus stuff that I scavenged off purses, old jewelry and even lamp shades.
UserR
Ooh, you could probably sell that for some $$$ 🙂
Briana Blair
Yup. I have some small hematite beads somewhere I think that I’d like to use, and I think I even have some round hematite ones from when I made my Japa mala. That would be a fairly expensive finished piece. I bet it would be a beauty too. You know, sometimes I think it’s odd that I make stuff for religions that I don’t even believe in. It’s all crafting though, and there’s beauty in the elements of every faith.
Oh, and on that note I’m reminded that I had an idea for a Buddhist thing that I’ve never seen anyone else make. If I can figure out how to do what I see in my head, it would be something unique, and that’s hard to do when it comes to beaded jewelry.