Pearl and Pelican Necklace

The beading bug has obviously bitten me, because this week I did another beading project.

I got some lovely pearls and a pewter pendant from Mistress Kiriel, and this week strung them up on tiger tail wire with some glass rainbow beads. I used a simple ring and bar closure, which is really helpful if you have issues with your hands and wrists.

A very simple, fast and satisfying project!

Beaded Challenge Mementoes

Being a keen embroiderer, I try to run a local embroidery challenge every year or so. The themes vary, but the idea is to provide some motivation to create a new embroidery piece and arrange a forum to display the pieces created. Any skill level is welcomed, and the Challenge hopefully encourages people to participate without any of the pressures of a formal competition.

A lot happened in my local SCA group last year, including one of our members winning Crown, and so people were very busy with other things. The Embroidery Challenge extended into 2023 as a result, and people will finally have a chance to display their work this month. 

I made some small beaded tokens to give to participants as a memento of this year's Challenge. (2022 because the Challenge started last year.)

They are just small beads and a date pendant threaded onto tiger tail wire and secured with a metal crimp. Sounds like an easy make, but cold, shaky hands and beading do not mix well. Needless to say, the task took longer than expected, and I spent almost as much time trying to find and pick up all the beads I dropped before the puppy found and ate them!

Beading a Necklace

I have had a few health issues over the holiday break and have not been as productive as I would have liked. I have been working on very small and unexciting projects like mending.

One thing that I did get finished was the stringing of a pearl necklace. A dear friend made me a lovely pendant for my birthday, and I was very keen to wear it so I strung it up on tigertail wire straight away. Only to realise that I didn't have any silver crimps and needed to order more. Well, they finally arrived and so I could finish the necklace. 

Jasper and Glass Bead Necklace

Here is a necklace I strung recently as a gift for our local Baroness on the occasional of her step down.
The pendant is jasper set in silver and the beads are glass. They are strung on tiger tail wire.

Necklaces of Glass Beads

I recently made these glass bead necklaces in heraldic colours as a gift for a friend. They are strung on tiger tail and have easy-to-use clasps.

Bead Stringing and Flu Recovery

I haven't posted for a while because I have been suffering from a very bad case of the 'flu. I have been bedridden for a couple of weeks and even had to spend a night in hospital. It has been very debilitating, and for a lot of the time I didn't even have the energy or cognitive function to read! So I am back to the beginning of my A&S Century Challenge, and just starting to ease back into normal activities.

Naturally, there is a lot of sewing and SCA projects to be done. My Unfinished Object (UFO) pile is - as always- HUGE. I have several unfinished gowns hanging about from the last few years which I really would like to finish off. Masses of unfinished embroidery. Scribal work to complete. Officer paperwork. Plans, and plans, and plans. You all know how it is!

Yesterday I eased back into it by doing some simple beading. I went to a heraldic tournament this year which had a theme of Sun vs. Moon and the participants were given beads as tokens to hand out to people they felt were worthy of note in various areas. It was a fantastic event and I was really very chuffed with my beads and decided to string them onto tiger tail to make a little memento of a great event. Stringing them was a simple task - that seemed to take forever! It is going to take me a while to get back to normal, I think. I'm pleased with how the project turned out though.

Gift Box Largesse Necklace (White and Purple)

I am still working on jewellery for the Gift Box. This late period necklace has white and purple 4mm glass seed beads strung on tiger tail.

This style of necklace can be worn doubled over- under the gown for Tudor and over the top for sixteenth century Italian.




Anne Boleyn by an Artist of the English School
Image Source: http://www.arthistorynews.com/articles/894_Anne_Boleyn_regains_her_head

Seed bead necklace for Largesse (Blue and White)

Another necklace for the Gift Box. This one has pale blue and frosted white glass seed beads strung on tiger tail.

Pink Pearl Earrings

I got an amazing bead bargain recently, and picked up some beads and findings for ten for $1. I made a pair of pearl earrings with my bargain buys. I used a different type of head pin than I usually do, and they are made of quite a soft metal. It will be interesting to see how the new headpins stand up to wear and tear.

The pearl beads were threaded on to a headpin and topped with a bell cap. Then an earring hook was added and the top of the headpin was bent over.

These earrings will be useful for sixteenth century garb, especially English and Italian clothing.