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Bead Embroidered Agate Pendant with Bead Woven Necklace

"Trinity"

Three dark grey, oblong agates are framed with dark grey metallic and black glass beads,set on a bead embroidered background of teal and green glass beads.

The beaded pendant has a black bead woven necklace edged with teal and green. The stitch used for the 19 inches (48cm) necklace is called herringbone. The handmade clasp is a toggle style made with gold filled wire and glass beads.

Because of the three agates, I named this piece "Trinity", which means three-fold. The Christian meaning of "Trinity" is a reference to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, all of whom are part of the single being, God. Although to me this is the most important meaning, "Trinity" was not only the name of the main female character in "The Matrix" films but was also the code name given the detonation of the first nuclear device implosion in 1945.

Green, Brown and Black Bead Embroidered Druzy Agate Pendant Necklace

Introducing "Uisce"

This round agate stone is set with black beading that is layered with dark bronze and steel colored dimensional embroidery. The dark bronze and steel colored seed beads are woven to intentionally to not follow a straight path, just as the color variations in the agate do not follow a straight line.

The beaded pendant comes on a black Greek leather cord that is 18 inches (45 cm)in length, including the sterling silver hook and eye clasp, however its bead woven bail will comfortably accommodate any necklace up to about .25 inch (6 mm).

The main color of this druzy agate is green. Silvery crystals embedded in the green makes it seem you are looking into a still, clear, cool pool of water. The name I have given this piece is “Uisce”, an Old Irish word meaning water and pronounced “Ish-ka” with emhasis on the “sh”.

Olive Green Bead Embroidered Pendant Necklace

Meet Sionainn

I have used bead embroidery to surround this olive green cracked agate, adding two strands of fringe and a bail that attaches to the 18 inch (46cm) necklace.

The cracked agate, Russian serpentine, black onyx and black crystals used in the necklace are repeated in the pendant’s fringe with the fringe agates and onyx beads slightly smaller.

I love using bead caps and have added antiqued brass filigree bead caps to the cracked agate in the necklace as well as the fringe.

I have always felt somewhat connected to Ireland because of my ancestral roots so many times I select Irish names that I associate with some aspect of the piece. For this piece, the braid stitching I used made me think of a river so I selected the name Sionainn, pounced "sh AH". It is an Irish name formed from "sion", meaning wise, and abhainn, meaning river, and is the name given to the longest river in the British Isles, the River Shannon.

Black Bead Embroidered Pyrite Cabochon Necklace

The pale gold and black veining of this shiny pyrite cabochon are enhanced by the black Miyuki seed beads and the tiny Swarovski crystals that form the cabochon's bezel.

The black glass bead bail, stitched into the top of the cabochon's bezel, is edged with black crystal and allows for any necklace that is slightly less than .25 inches (6 mm) in diameter.

The necklace, loosely woven with black seed beads using a tubular peyote stitch, has a crystal and glass bead toggle clasp.

The name of this piece is Niamh, pronounced “nee + iv” or “neev”, an Irish girls name meaning radiance, luster or brightness. Niamh was the daughter of the sea god Manannan and was known as “Niamh of the Golden Hair,” a beautiful princess. I chose this name because both Niamh and pyrite are known by the descriptive term of gold (pyrite being frequently called "fools gold") and both can be described as beautiful and lustrous.

St. Petersburg Stitch Necklace in Dark Bronze and Black

Off loom bead weaving opens the door to almost endless design options and can include not only glass beads but crystals and gemstones as well.


St. Petersburg is one of my favorite stitches. For this necklace, I used dark amber and cranberry gold, 4mm glass beads, accented with black crystals and metallic dark gold iris seed beads.

At the center of the necklace there is a black, faceted teardrop crystal.

Cube beads are perfect for the St. Petersburg stitch. They lay flat and even and show the intricate  pattern of the weave, creating an elegant piece of jewelry.


I call this necklace Lillian, the 15th most popular name from 1910 through 1919. It's vintage style is something perhaps a silent movie star might have worn.