Totally Turquoise Treasury

My Fantasy Three Blues bracelet was included in this Totally Turquoise treasury created by Beads and Blooms on Etsy.

If you want to see more gorgeous turquoise pieces, check out her shop on Etsy. For example, here's her Open Squares Turquoise bracelet - one of my favorites.

There are many more lovely items in her shop. Be sure to check it out!

Remember the Buttons?

I previously blogged about some Czech glass buttons I had purchased from CrazyCakes on Etsy and how I planned on using them in some of my beadwoven jewelry. Remember these?


I finally finished my first piece. I called it "Inspiration" because I was so inspired by the button. Just looking at those buttons and holding them in my hand causes my heart to beat faster and my mind to begin dreaming!

Since "Inspiration" began life as a button and I wanted to transform it into a pendant, I had to deal with the metal button shank on the back. I weighed the pros and cons and finally decided to cut off the shank and file down the metal ends. It worked fine, but I still wasn't happy with the look, so I thought I should cover it somehow.

I began by using peyote stitch to create a bezel around the 1 1/2" button. I used Japanese size 11 seed beads reducing to size 15 rocailles to accomplish this. After I had finished the bezel, the idea came to create a circular peyote triangle to fit inside the bezel circle on the back. I used the same size 11 seed beads as in the bezel and voila! I attached the triangle to the bezel with some Czech fire polished 3mm glass faceted beads.


Next I had to create the bail. I used odd count peyote and the same beads I had used in the bail and the triangle and created a simple round bail to fit over the rope chain.

I created the rope using spiral herringbone and the tiniest of tiny size 15 rocaille seed beads in three different colors that matched the bezel and bail. To finish it off, I created a peyote stitched toggle clasp.

I'm pleased with the results and I hope this button brings inspiration to you as well.

Don't forget to visit CrazyCake's Etsy shop to see more of these amazing Czech glass buttons. And stay tuned for more inspiration!