Accessorizing with Beads

Peyote is a stitch commonly attributed to the Native American culture, but in truth, items made with peyote stitch have been found in archaeological digs around the world.
With this stitch it is possible to make a solid piece of beadwork that can contain symbols used by Native Americans such as this SW Bears Bracelet
by Rhonda Cook
This pattern is available at The Bead Coop

It's also used to form a bezel around stones, cabochons, or odd shaped pieces of glass. These pieces are then incorporated into beaded necklaces and may be embellished, making a truly striking bit of wearable art.
This is a nickel with a peyote bezel, embellished with fire polished crystals on a basket weave design flat peyote bracelet. The bezel is adapted from a pattern by Beki at Whimbeads




The necklace is a rose quartz cabochon with a peyote bezel and offset fringe. The strap is diagonal peyote which is generally associated with Russian beading.








Peyote can be done with all one size and type of beads as seen in the bracelet above, or mixed types of beads of the same size can be used such as this pink and purple basket weave, which is the same pattern of the "nickel" bracelet, but done with a mixture of checz seed beads and delicas.

. . .Or with a variety of sizes of beads as shown in these bracelets designed and beaded by The Beaddoodler

These are five variations of only one stitch.
Keep checking back as I add other stitches.

Clasps on hand beaded jewelery are often very unique. They can be anything from a pretty button and loop, to beaded balls, or beaded toggles. The beaded balls and toggles are a real boon to people with metal allergies. They can still wear pretty jewelery without worrying about the metal causing a break-out.

Right Angle Weave or RAW is one of the most versatile stitches I've found. Most of the time I prefer to use the two needle method. In it's simplest form, pick up one bead on each needle and cross threads in a third bead, it can form either a simple or an elegant strap for a necklace depending on the beads used. In more complex designs one thread can "take a side trip" before it comes back to main body, forming beautiful designs. Or both threads can double back on the pattern giving the design more weight




My youngest daughter, Crissy, and her husband, Mike. Crissy is wearing a RAW necklace and earring set made by my oldest daughter, Wendy, owner of The Bohemian Heart.
Photograph by Tim Giraudier




This is a close-up of the necklace.

These pictures show necklace straps made with simple right angle weave using various size and shapes of beads.









This "Copper Regal" necklace by The Bohemian Heart is made entirely of various RAW techniques.










As is this Unique Simplicity necklace, also by The Bohemian Heart.

You can see more of The Bohemian Heart's jewelry in her gallery