Necklace set | Artisan glass lampwork bunny beads, 1940s jet black puzzle beads, mid-century white glass beads

Notes on this piece: I discovered a maker who creates tiny whimsical plants and animals while searching for pumpkin beads last Fall. Inspired by goimagine's "Year of the Rabbit" Maker Challenge, I revisited and found the napping floppy eared bunny focal bead, the chatting/gossiping bunny pair — perfect for earrings, and two others (used in other designs). The jet black 1940s end-cap/puzzle beads were some I was considering keeping for myself. They're an interesting design that seems almost Victorian. There are decisions to be made with puzzle beads — whenever to string them closed and fitting together, or to string them loosely so they can be slid back and forth between open and closed, or to place one or more small beads between the two halves. I tend to choose the latter. It's challenging to find beads of the right size, shape, and style to fit. I enjoyed working in a black and white palette, and creating a design that's both striking and kind of sweet.

My designs are inspired by the beads, by their color, shape, size and origin.

I’ve been buying/collecting beads for over 20 years, focusing on early and mid-century glass beads, but including semi-precious and other stones, freshwater pearls, contemporary artisan lampwork and ceramic beads. I work with sterling silver, bronze, or copper clasps and use sterling or gold-filled findings. 

In my first years of bead jewelry design, I had to see and/or touch the beads to know what I wanted. After years of experience, I can confidently shop online (fortunately, during these times) and have a growing list of “go-to” artisans, vendors, and brands for my supplies. 

My design descriptions include a list of “ingredients” used in each design.

Some designs come together quickly and organically. Others are re-worked several times, even if I’ve already attached the clasp with crimp beads and crimp covers and need to completely re-string.

Designs are often “retro-classic” as my OOAK designs are bead-centric with a nod to mid-century costume jewelry, rather than inspired by current fashions in jewelry designs or color trends. Add a pinch of whimsy and my personal take on color palettes.

I work on felted bead boards to calculate the length of each necklace (usually “matinée” length 20-24”) and to hold the beads I’ve selected for my design. Sometimes I change my mind mid-design and put away many of the beads I’ve been working with, then search for or order others. I usually work with 49-strand .018 or .019 gauge bead wire, which allows stringing back under a half-inch or so of beads after the crimp bead and clasp are attached. I work by creating my design on the wire, rather than try to lay out the complete pattern, as it’s important to see how the beads will hang and to pick compatible spacer beads.

I use sterling or gold-filled ear wires and headpins, and often create “mis-matched” earring pairs.

The weight and length of each necklace are listed in case you have a preference for lighter or more substantial pieces. (I enjoy both.)