beadedheron.com is now open for your shopping ease. be sure to check the store often as I will be adding new items regularly!
Welcome to Beaded Heron. My love affair with beads goes back a couple of decades when I played around a little bit making porcupine earrings and did some minor loom work; but life got busy and it wasn't until the nineties while making a beautiful leather hat and decided I needed to decorate it with beads, that the real addiction was born
Since that fateful time, you would most likely see me with a bead project on a tray on my lap if you were to catch me sitting, and most recently, you will find me at my torch making beads to go with my seed beading if you were to come for a visit. I hope that as you browse Beaded Heron some of my work will bring a smile to your face. If any of my work strikes you as something you can't live without, feel free to contact me.
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 12:18PM This is what I'm working on today. A combination of my own lampwork beads and my spiral beaded bead in stunning bright colors! This is the first n a series of jewelry I have planned using these and similar colors. I've been waiting for the color inspiration to hit, which usually takes place this time of year!
Calypso preview...
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 09:42AM A starfish is washed to shore during the tide and clings to this lovely strand of sand cast trade beads, blue quartz, bronzite, and African brass. A sterling toggle closure completes this piece.
The necklace is 21 1/2 inches long, with a 2 inch beaded starfish pendant. Strung on flexible beading wire, wire guardians to protect from abrasion against the clasp were used as well as sterling crimps and crimp covers for a pleasing finished look.
Beaded starfish
Beautiful sand cast trade beads
Blue quartz, bronzite, and African brass
Sterling closure, wire guardian protectors..
Have a wonderful Monday and happy beading!
Stephanie
Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 01:29PM This is the stunning necklace I made with the bead mix I put together and posted below last week. It turned out every bit as wonderful as I imagined and I'm very pleased. Seed beads in sizes 15, 11 and 8 in several colors and shadesas well as swarovski crystals in pale green and light amber were used in my mix
The necklace total length is 25 inches at present, making it easy to re-size to smaller should the buyer want it a bit shorter. I would want it shorter for myself, and it is easier to size down than up, hence the added length. The spiral is 7 inches long and is set off with two large egg shaped vintage yellow crystals. The viking knit chain is made of permanently colored artistic wire.
Sunlight in the Jungle
The beautiful spiral beaded bead, loaded with swarovski crystals
Vintage crystals
Sterling clasp, accented by matchng vintage crystals.
I have twomore pieces in different stages of done-ness. Will I finish them today and still get a change to photograph? Time will tell!
Happy beading!
Stephanie
Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 03:29PM I started a very fun necklace today. First thing was to make a beautiful mixture of seed beads before I could do anything. I used several colors of size 15, 11's and 8 Japanese Miyuki seeds for this beautiful mixture...
Next, I started to build my spiral beaded bead, which will probably end up somewhere around 8 inches long...
I used indoor lighting for the photograph and it's not the best rendition but it will do for now.
I have already started on the supporting necklace part as well, but you'll just have to be patient and wait a little while before you see it!
This necklace is going to be a real show stopper! Guaranteed!
soon come...
Until then, happy beading!
Stephanie
Friday, January 1, 2010 at 12:35PM These sterling silver earrings support 5 sapphire color swarovski crystals each. They are 1 3/4inched long from the top of the ear wire.
Friday, January 1, 2010 at 11:14AM Happy New year!
I thought the perfect way to start this new year would be to make something of Jade, which is a stone that means love, luck, and prosperity.
This necklace is a 19 1/2 inches long strand of Chinese Jade, freshwater pearls, shell, and Czech glass crystal cut beads. Four leaf shaped cut stones are framed by shell daggers to add a dramatic effect and a tribal look.
C Flex 49 strand coated beading wire was used to string this necklace, as well as sterling crimp tubes and sterling wire gaurdian protectors to ensure protection from abrasion leading to breakage from a clasp rubbing on the beading wire. The finishing touch of a beautiful sterling silver toggle and sterling crimp covers lend to over all beautiy and a pleasing finale.
Jade Luck Tribal Necklace
Leaf shaped cut Jade and shell daggers
Jade, pearls, and cut Czech glass
Sterling toggle closure
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 10:34AM Since I started out earlier this week with a pretty blue crazy lace agate bracelet, I decided I like working with that color these days! Maybe it is something to do with the dead of winter, and the splash of color seems so irresistable!
Blue crazy lace agates are wire wrapped using sterling silver wire to a beautiful strong but elegant sterling oval link chain. The focal centerpiece strand of oval and round agates are strung on C Flex 49 strand coated beading wire and attached with sterling wire guardians and crips/covers for strength, durability, and appeal. The necklace is brought to a close with a sterling toggle.
20 1/2 inches in length, this necklace can be resized for the buyer upon request.
Blues Necklace
Sterling oval chain
sterling toggle
As long as I was in to wire wrapping, I made a couple of pairs of blue crazy lace agate earrings...
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 11:28AM This bracelet perfectly compliments the Austrialian Rainforest Jasper necklace I made a month or so ago. I finally got around to making a matching bracelet!
Australian Rainforest Jasper is set among Swarovski crystal cubes and copper accent spacers. An earth tone artistic wire viking knit bracelet with copper end caps is finished off by a copper and sterling silver toggle.
Australian Rainforest bracelet:
Earth tone artistic wire viking knitting
Copper and sterling toggle closure
Monday, December 28, 2009 at 11:13AM If you love blues, then this bracelet would shout it to the world! Blue crazy lace agate is set amongst Swarovski crystals and argentium non tarnish sterling silver viking knit. The bracelet if is finished with sterling end caps, and a sterling toggle.
Blue crazy lace agate & Swarovski crystals..
Sterling viking knit chain and sterling end caps
Sterling toggle closure
Sunday, December 6, 2009 at 07:55AM This is Toby. He's a 10 year old Miniature Schnauzer that I am fostering until he finds a forever home. Toby's owner is in her 90's and could no longer care for him so he is with me for awhile...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 07:44AM When I'm not making jewelry these days, I've been basking in the wonderful Indian Summer we've had bestowed on us. It's very late as October was a washout but we'll take it better late than never!
I've been posting a lot of photos in the 'here and there' section lately, so you might want to check it out from time to time.
Ship watching is one of my favorite things to do and yesterday it was like hitting the jackpot! There wasn't a cloud in the sky or a ripple on the lake. To top it off a Saltie from Monrovia came floating by...
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 08:33AM This necklace takes the wearer through a walk in an Australian Rainforest. Rainforest Jasper, which is found in Australia, is combined with Chinese jade, Bronzite, swarovski Crystals, copper, and sterling silver, and hangs from a rich earth toned viking knit chain.
Australian Rainforest
Beautiful Rainforest Jasper center focal
Oval side focals
Swarovski crystals, copper and sterling accents
Viking knit chain, copper and sterling toggle closure
This is one of my favorite pieces right now and is headed to my website and etsy today!
Thank you for stopping by and looking and have a great day!
Stephanie
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 09:13AM I've been playing around with making large hole bigger beads to use as a focal bead with a coin and hang on leather. They can either be tied in a knot or I can add a sterling cord clasp. Here is one example...
The coin is a Chinese coin and has a dragon on each side of the front. I used a brass spacer for added interest.
This fun little pair of Swarovski crystal earrings is very festive in cranberry.
Cranberry Swarovski Motion Earrings
I have a big pile of new beads to play with so I'll be back regularly for awhile with jewelry updates!
Thank you for looking!
Stephanie
Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 10:08AM I think I may have been a crow in my former life, as I am attracted to beautiful shiny things. A beautiful saltwater pearl necklace just isn't complete without swimming in some sparkle. The crystal rondelles that I used in this necklace add a lot of interest and movement. It will dress up any outfit and is perfect for a wedding heirloom necklace. I call it Pearl Dance.
Pearl Dance
I've also been making some very fun Swarovski crystal snowmen and tree earrings. There is no shortage of sparkle in these darling dangles!
I have another pair of snowmen with multi colored Sworovski rondelles but I have to re-shoot them so I'll be back later.
Burrrr....yes, I am having to go outside and shoot. I need to build a light box before ti gets too cold out there!
Happy Sunday!
Stephanie
Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 07:40AM The other day I got a fun new piece of equipment. Ok, it's a toy...but it's needed equipemnt as well. I brought hom a beautiful Nikon D3000 dslr camera. Learning how to use it is not going to be simple but I think I'll manage OK.
What's awesome is now I can start taking jewelry pics again. Today, hopefully! I haven't been able to take my new camera out shooting as the weather has been horrific. This has been the fall of the daily deluge. Anyway, this is not a photo from my new camera but I think it's nice. Hopefully I'll be back this afternoon with new jewelry photos!
Happy Sunday!
Monday, October 26, 2009 at 07:32AM So far we have had the october from hell. My favorite month has been cold wet and snowy with no end in sight. it's hardly inspiring but I've been working on some new beads and jewelry. Unfortunatly, my camera is not cooperating for bead and jewelry pics but I hope to remedy that soon!
I was out trying to shoot Tamarack trees last week before they drop their needles and while they were bright yellow but it's pretty hard to take pics when it's pouring rain! Maybe tomorrow...
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 07:29AM I cannot recall seeing so much snow in October before. I guess that means that beading season is here sooner rather than later!
I'm looking forward to long days cozied up to my little fireplace and beading and doing nothing else. When these days come I usually have a pot of soup or stew in the fridge for when I get hungry because stopping to cook is the last thing I'll do!
I have these new color combinations of seed beads...
With these beads I plan to make a couple of this silky rich feeling bracelet...
I just love the rich feeling of this style bracelet and the look of the herringbone weave.
This is how you will find me spending my days for the duration. Playing with itty bitty bits of glass with holes in them, listening to the blues...
Happy beading!
Stephanie
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 07:30AM Last night I had the pleasure of seeing BB King in concert at Black Bear Casino. I was sitting in the second row so I had a great view and since it was my first time seeing him I was one happy camper. I've always loved BB King but had never seen him live before...
Thank you and God bless you BB!
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 01:03PM Every day is Earth day when you're wearing this scrumptious necklace! Photos will never do it justice but I've tried...
I made the lampwork focal bead specifically to go with the bronzite stones, crystal cut black onyx, petrified wood beads and african brass I used in this necklace and the result is a stunning piece that gets a lot of praise over it's beauty.
The lampwork glass focal bead is 1 1/2 inches (3 1/2cm) long by about 1 1/4 (3cm) inches wide. My lampwork beads are made by me in my studio in northern Wisconsin, near the shores of Lake Superior. Each bead is lovingly hand made by me, one at a time, using rods of Italian glass that I melt in the flame of a torch. My beads go directly from the torch into a hot kiln where they are properly annealed to reduce stress in the glass, helping to insure that the beads are durable and will last many lifetimes. They are glass, however, and must be treated as such for this to happen.
This necklace is strung on C Flex 49 strand coated beading wire and brought to a close using sterling wire protector guardians, and sterling crimp beads and crimp covers to ensure durability and pleasing aesthetics. A sterling toggle completes the piece.
Earth Day
This necklace as well as some others are listed in my shop at ETSY and are headed to my website as well.
http://beadedheron1.etsy.com
Happy beading!
Stephanie
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 06:59AM It's a measureable amount but I'm not going to rush out and start shoveling. It's supposed to warm up next week so it will melt!
