Sometimes when I tell people I make jewellery I get this response:
“Oh, so you like bead and whatever?”
It’s a strange attitude I come across every once and awhile that beaded jewellery is somehow…unimpressive. Typically no, that’s not what I do. Even though it’s how I started out making jewellery (that and embroidery floss knotted friendship bracelets) I actually find it more difficult to incorporate beads into the current style of jewellery that I make than ever before. I personally think it takes talent to find a way to include beads in finer and contemporary jewellery not to mention the skills required to make intricate beaded jewellery.
I walk into a jeweller’s supply store and stare at the walls of gems and beautiful glass on strings and I can feel my pupils dilate. PREETTYYYY!!!! But I can rarely figure out what to do with them. On my latest trip to one of these stores I came across these beautiful agate beads. Their pattern and texture was so unique I wanted to buy them just to put in a glass jar. I thought to myself, no, make something! Conquer this stigma you’ve made up in your brain that you can’t use beads and just make something cool. So, I made this neck piece using pieces from my Bed of Bones collection.
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Lauren Hanham |
Here are a few more images of some awesome pieces that incorporate beading.
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Ulli Kaiser |
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Myung Urso |
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Unknown |
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Alexis Kostuk |
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Gillian Batcher |
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Loretta Lam |
Maybe now that I’ve broken the ice between myself and beads I’ll be able to actually use the reserves I’ve got stashed away. Here goes nothing!
-L