Beaded Jewelry Necklaces by Carolyn

Amazonite beads with pyrite are some of my favorite beads – there is an amazing variety of colors and patterns within a strand. These 13mm rondelle beads range from soft aqua to tan and cream and dark grey marbled with white. Several have a wonderful metallic sheen from an especially large area of pyrite. This necklace is 26” long, including the vintage metal button and loop closure. An 8 mm Swarovski crystal cube provides a central focal accent, and Swarovski crystal bicone beads in “Pacific Opal” and silver spacer beads complete this unique and colorful necklace.

The cabochon in this necklace is made of a stone called Apache Gold – a combination of gold Chalcopyrite (also known as Fool’s Gold) and black Schist. Much of this material is known to have come from the area of the copper mines once worked in Jerome, Arizona. This stone is 40mm long and 30 mm wide at the widest point. It has a very shiny, metallic appearance overall and makes a striking and elegant necklace. It is completed with flowing fringe, measuring 4” long at the longest point, with accents of freshwater pearls and faceted black and gold glass beads. The necklace is also made of Apache Gold beads in a 4mm by 13mm round cylinder shape, accented with freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals. It measures approximately 23 ½” long, including the ornate black vintage button and loop closure.

Cool, green Aventurine beads, faceted and cut in a 14mm x 20 mm size, alternating with Rainbow Fluorite melon (fluted round) beads in colors ranging from lavender to deep blue-green make up this bold and substantial necklace. Rainbow Fluorite chips in varied colors and silver accent beads finish this piece, which is 24” long, including its spring ring clasp. Aventurine is a microcrystalline quartz and has a fascinating depth with tiny sparkles of silvery green, dark green and some banded patterning.

Banded Agate tube beads, approximately 8mm by 12mm in size, are highlighted with turquoise beads and chips and faceted bronze glass rondelles in this necklace, which is 19 ½” in length, including the metal button and loop closure. As their name suggests, these beads have random striped patterns in browns, tans and off-white and no two are alike. This is a necklace that looks good with a t-shirt or peeking out of the open collar of a buttoned-front shirt.

This necklace is my attempt to capture some of the beauty of a Navajo woven rug in beads. It is done in traditional colors of black, red, gray and white in a geometric rug pattern. The fringe is finished with mother-of-pearl chips and the necklace has several other sections of loom beading in the same color of the rug design, also in geometric patterns. The ends of the beading are joined at the back of the neck and backed in leather for comfort and strength.

Smooth, faceted black jasper freeform beads, about 30mm in length and 15mm at the widest point, alternate with turquoise nuggets and silver accent beads in this dramatic necklace. Measuring 27 ½” long including the Southwest-style silver button and loop closure, the sleek black beads are the perfect counterpoint to the tumbled turquoise and they combine beautifully in this bold and unique piece.