The Projects

Kim Stathis

Aria

Create an elegant, dimensional necklace with the focal point being an ornate pendant. The pendant features a filigree overlay covering a crystal stone framed by a multi-tiered bezel, with three teardrop pearls suspended below for graceful movement and balance.

The necklace strap begins with three chained loops, followed by peyote-stitched chicklets capped with pearls and connected by beaded pearl rounds. Two joined chicklets form the closure, slipping through loops at the opposite end to secure the necklace around the neck.

Beading stitches used for the project are, ladder stitch, peyote stitch and netting stitches.

Skill Level - Intermediate

Melissa Grakowsky-Shippee

Crystal Pen Palace

Create an elegant, jewel-like home for your favorite pens in the Crystal Pen Palace, a richly embellished beaded vessel that combines sparkling chandelier components with intricate beadwork. Designed to look like a tiny architectural treasure, this project uses faceted crystal elements to create the structure of the vase, while detailed bands of beadwork transform it into an ornate little palace for your desk.

The project features size 10 Delica beads and size 11/0 seed beads, allowing you to create both the precise, architectural patterns and the delicate decorative details that surround the crystal components. Sparkling chandelier parts provide the dramatic structural elements, adding facets, dimension, and plenty of shimmer to the finished piece. The combination of metallic beads and crystal components gives the Pen Palace an opulent, jewel-box quality while still allowing the intricate beadwork to remain the star of the design.

In this workshop, you will learn and practice peyote stitch and bead-weaving techniques to construct the various sections of the vessel and join them together into a three-dimensional form. We’ll explore how beadwork can be fitted around components, and used to create both structural and ornamental elements. You’ll learn how individual beaded sections work together with the chandelier pieces to create the distinctive architectural shape of the finished vase.

The Crystal Pen Palace is a wonderful project for students who enjoy detailed beadwork and want to explore how traditional bead-weaving techniques can be used to create something sculptural rather than simply flat. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a sparkling, functional piece of beadwork that is part pen holder, part tiny work of art—and a beautiful showcase for your favorite pens.

Barb Talijan

Masquerade

Who’s hiding behind the crystal mask?  Masquerade is reminiscent of the fancy masks worn to ornate galas.

Bezel Swarovski crystals with diagonal peyote stitch and right angle weave.  Then embellish the bezel using netting techniques with fire polished crystals creating a dramatic border on one edge.  The strap is done in double right angle weave with tiny drops for some more sparkle. 

Masquerade is an intermediate project.  There are parts where you can choose between different looks including making it hang vertically instead of horizontally.

Uncover the mystery of making the Masquerade.

Beads used – Miyuki seed beads, Swarovski crystals, firs polished crystals and drop beads.

Techniques used – diagonal peyote stitch, right angle weave, peyote stitch, netting, double right angle weave, and a variation of brick stitch.