Then and Now

 Welcome!
As I hinted in my first post, I would like to share with you my progression of how my peyote stitch has advanced to the next level!

This is a photo of a choker I made for myself, if I think back, it has to be at least 15 years ago....

 I remember it took me somewhere in the vicinity of 20 hours to stitch!  It used to be much shinier and more metallic looking but not bad for an old girl!

Of course it was my favorite thing ever,  so I decided to make a re-vamped version or two a few years later.

 

Then this past year I discovered free download-able graph paper specifically for peyote stitch and I couldn't wait to get started!  As these beads are very tiny and stitched together one by one, I thought I would try two by two-still very time consuming but a bit faster!

This is one of my first attempts at sketching out a more fluid looking design and the results...

They were so cool looking to me! Like nothing I had ever made before!  "Like little paintings" a few people that I showed them to said, what a wonderful compliment! After that I gave my bracelets the title of  My Peyote Masterpieces!

So.......then I wanted to try to make them wider, these are 1.25 inches wide, more of a cuff feeling and my sister was one of my first custom orders, on the left, the chevron pattern on the right was the idea of my brilliant Danavee

Well that just wasn't wide enough! I wanted to try something different, more of a leaf like pattern, it took me 9 1/2 hours to sketch this one out and about 7 hours to stitch, this one is 1.5 inches wide, again advancing to three by three at a time. The result was breathtaking...

I absolutely love making these peyote cuffs and sketching out new designs, maybe because it is one of my oldest techniques, even more so I have fallen in love with the beautiful results....My Peyote Masterpieces!

*Something  I would like to add - these bracelets are hypoallergenic, there is no metal used whatsoever, only tiny Delica Beads and Fireline 6lbs test thread. Perfect for those who are sensitive but still enjoy wearing jewelry!*

Which width and design is your favorite?

                                           

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A New Beginning

Welcome to my blog!  I am so excited that you have joined me for my jewelry making journeys!  I have so much to share with you that I'm not quite sure where to begin!
How about a few photos....

These silver plated Chandelier Earrings with Czech glass beads began a whole stream of ideas for many many more pairs! 

                                                                                                                                                            

   

A few of my Knitted Wire & Freshwater Pearl Cuff bracelets (still getting the hang of how to get the pics all organized on here...so please be patient with me!)

This is one of my favorite designs; Hand Knotted Silk with Turquoise & Lapis Lazuli Gemstones chips.  I have TONS of Gemstone chips, so look for more of these to come!

The beginning...I have been making jewelry since I was a little girl, I'm sure some of you remember those knotted friendship bracelets...but I guess if I think about it I've always been drawn to the best products...I would only use the beautiful smooth embroidery thread which was of course the most expensive thread I could find then!  I still remember the excitement of walking down the isles, looking at all of the beautiful colors, trying to decide which ones to add to my ever growing collection at home!

Funny how I can't seem to remember the beginning of my beading, how did I discover them? Ah yes! It was very popular to have beaded safety pins on the shoelaces of  your runners in elementary school, so of course I just had to start making them for myself and everyone else who wanted them!  (For my American friends - "runners" are sneakers)

Then the next step was to make necklaces; simple stringing with fishing line, then progressing to a stronger beading thread..... until my sister bought me a book; "Complete Beading For Beginners" by Karen Rempel.  That was it! It was all over! I searched for local bead shops and found a Native American bead & supply shop, it was on Redwood Ave I think, I purchased a bead loom, thread and of course a "few" seed beads.  I was so excited to get home and start beading!

That book was the beginning of many design ideas, including some I still use today such as peyote stitch.  I will do a blog showing some pieces I made 10 years ago and some from this year when I decided to delve back into one of my oldest and favorite techniques...so stay tuned!

My creativity really flourished when I moved to the U.S. with a few amazing local bead stores and the Internet bead supply companies.  Suddenly my brain was going crazy with endless possibilities! 

I feel like that was a new beginning for me, as is today with my first blog post!  I am slowly catching on to all this tech stuff, but wouldn't have even known how to start if not for the help of a wonderful friend and client of mine, Danavee. 

I really enjoyed remembering these moments and sharing them with you!  What was the first piece of jewelry that you remember being drawn to? Was it Grandma's pearl earrings? A sparkly ring your mother wore? A bracelet a friend of yours had?

Share your memories with me I would love to hear them!
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