Set: Cassiopeia

Yeh, I actually liked the palette and the theme I created for my previous post; the Cassiopeia cuff and ring and I decided to create a matching necklace for it. Nothing too complicated, but nothing too simple either, so I decided to create only a pendant that would hang from a delicate gold chain.

I used almost the same beads as I used on the other two creations for this set; the gemstone is the same, just with a different shape. 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads by Toho (gold ones here are also in a permanent finish), 11/0 seed beads and 3mm bugles by Miyuki, 2x 12mm Swarovski rivolis in two different green shades (the same as for the cuff), 2x freshwater pearls and one 4mm glass pearl by Gütermann. The only thing I didn't incorporate, which was in the previous two design was the 3mm Swarovski bicones.

For the finish of the pendant I was first planning on creating a fringe for it, but after observing the piece when I had cut it out from the Lacy's I though that a fringe might make it way too much for the piece itself to handle. Who knows? That is just how I felt at that point and that is still the was I feel today as well.
The bail I just decided to keep simple; ladder stitch, without any embellishing at all. I didn't want to take too much attention away from the pendant itself.

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Cuff & Ring: Cassiopeia

Yesterday I managed to do the last finishing touches on my bead embroidery cuff that I posted a preview picture on, in my last Bead Table Wednesday post.

I stuck to the promise I made myself and actually kept on going in free-form style to create it. First I finished up one side, until that one was completely covered, then I moved on to the opposite side to cover that.
The cuff is 28mm wide.

Two weeks ago I received my copy of "Sensational Bead Embroidery" by Sherry Serafini, and I was thrilled! She has a lot of nice tips on how to add certain elements into bead embroidery. And one section that really interested me was how she incorporates rivolies. I decided to test this technique out myself and added two 12mm Swarovski rivolies to one side of this cuff. The trick is to attach the rivoli to a separate piece of beading foundation (Lacy's Stiff Stuff in this case), and cut a circular hole in it which the rivoli will fit in, without falling out. Then you simply sew that beading foundation onto the part where you want the rivoli to sit. Sherry explains it much better then me, plus there're nice illustrations in the book to help you understand.

Next to the two rivolies I also decided to add a bit of a "fun" touch to the cuff; I added some leaves I made with beadweaving, and it looks sorta cute to be honest, heh.

Today I decided, just for fun, to create a matching ring to go with the cuff, since I have exactly the same type of gemstone cabochon as the one I used for the cuff - I actually have to rest my case in my thoughts of those being Zoisite gemstones since I'm not really sure anymore!
The ring is adjustable, so to add.

Besides the materials I've already mentioned, I also used: 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads by Toho (the gold ones are in permanent finish), 11/0 seed beads by Miyuki, 3mm bugles by Miyuki, 4mm round glass pearls by Gütermann, 3mm Swarovski bicones and 2x freshwater pearls.

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