Rivoli and Wine Collar

I recently returned to a favorite technique to tackle one of the remaining two rivolis in my destash tray. With only a few weeks left in this year’s challenge, I didn’t want to waste any time fiddling with experimental techniques. After all, I can only do so many ugly necklaces in a row.

I started with a crystal purple haze rivoli, and some of my leftover purple E beads. The colors go together quite well, but what to pair them with? To save time, I went to the 15/o beads first, and chose a color that would also look good with the multicolor crystal. After picking some transparent lemon lime, I had a long debate over a base color.

Finally, I chose matte purple - a very grape-y shade that I hoped would work well with the other colors. I was surprised by how much the lime green altered the overall look of the purple. It was transformed from an almost juicy color to a more velvet burgundy. Looking back, I don’t think it would have hurt to add a few brown branches and beaded leaves. This piece has a relaxing vineyard mood.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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The Last Medallion

I am quickly running out of focal beads from my destash supplies, with the exception of a few pieces that just haven’t called out yet. I was really pleased to be able to tackle nearly half of my rivolis at once in a pair of collars, but that still leaves three more pieces to go. I decided to tackle the jet black rivoli first, and revive an old design that I haven’t worked with in awhile. My fondness for bezels is only slightly less diminished than my love for circular peyote stitch, so I wasn’t eager to start this piece until I had decided on a palette.

Turquoise blue was my first choice for a contrasting color, but I had only enough to do the pendant, and not much left over. I eventually settled on silver lined topaz for the necklace, and added some of my tortoiseshell druks to coordinate. I also grabbed the last of my turquoise blue pinch bicones from the destash tray, even though they don’t quite match - I was up for the risk and the challenge of mixing many similar hues.

The necklace turned out pretty well, and I love the double layer of fringe at the base of the pendant. It’s short, but still has lots of movement. Now I have only two rivolis to work on. Hopefully some inspiration will come along!

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Two Rivoli Collars

Last week I worked on destashing some Swarovski rivolis, and ended up with two necklaces that are made exactly the same way, but look completely different. I had five rivolis in my stash - two Crystal Purple Haze, two jet black, and one tiny aquamarine. I’ve been holding on to them for awhile because I simply got bored with peyote bezels, and I just couldn’t find enough inspiration or motivation to make anything with them.

When I decided to try and use up at least a few of these rivolis, I wanted to try something new - no rings or pendants. The colors were too different to stitch them all together in a bracelet, so I decided to tackle them one at a time, and use each rivoli in a collar. I’ve had some success with big focals on netted collars before, and I thought these crystals would do nicely for the same job.

I started with a Crystal Purple Haze, and chose a palette of tangerine, rootbeer and purple lined Rosaline to complement the unique array of colors in the crystal. Jonquil lined aqua 15/o’s in the bezel pick up on the hints of blue and green and give everything a fun contrast.

With the jet rivoli, I saw an opportunity to use some of my new white-hearts in bright red, so I created a palette of tribal inspired opaques. Although the only opaque 15/o’s I have are orange, I decided not to complement them with the rest of the palette, and stuck with blue, black and yellow in the collar. I love the way the white hearts look as accents in the beadwork - their unique beauty isn’t lost in among the rest of the beads.

Predictably, I got bored after two bezels, so the remaining three rivolis will have to wait their turn. If another inspiration doesn’t come along, I may end up making another collar or two, since these ones turned out so nicely!

What’s your favorite way to use rivolis?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Bead Spotlight: Crystal Components

Swarovski crystals are renowned for their unmatched sparkle, quality design, and amazing colors. They are a definite favorite among beaders, crafters, and even fashion designers. But when it comes to CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski components - the un-beads like rivolis and dentelles - there is an entirely different appeal.

What is it about these hole-less beads that we love so much? My theory is that they are grown up versions of those big, gaudy plastic jewels that little girls wear when playing dress up. They have the sophistication of Liz Taylor’s emeralds, and the playfulness of costume jewelry. And even though they aren’t quite as versatile as bicones or rondelles, there are many fun and beautiful ways to use them - from metallic settings and bails, to beadweaving and even crochet.

1. Montanta Sapphire Fancy Pear from SoniaZ Bijoux

2. Bermuda Blue Cosmic Square Ring from Artbeads.com

3. Crystal Antique Pink Organic Cosmic Triangle from Beadaholique.com

4. Tanzanite Crystal Baguette Stone from Fusionbeads.com

Whether it’s a big fancy oval in a bezel, or a cosmic triangle on a chain, the chunky sparkle of these fancy crystals give the impression of precious jewels, with an added flair. They have a fantastic quality to them - like dragon’s treasure or mermaid’s baubles.

Here are a few simple projects you can try using Swarovski fancy stones:

Swarovski Modular Necklace with Ribbon
How to Use DeCoRe Clay with Fancy Stones
I've Got Sunshine Necklace
Peyote Stitch Bezel Tutorial

Do you like to use crystal components in your work? What’s your favorite shape?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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Bead Wishlist: Swarovski Rhinestones

The word rhinestone technically refers to rock crystals from the river Rhine, though over the years it has become the term for imitation gemstones made from glass, paste or crystal, particularly those with metallic foil backings or metal settings.

Most beaders are familiar with the family of crystal rhinestones by CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements, which come in an amazing variety of shapes and colors. Made from lead crystal and usually backed with foil, Swarovski flatbacks and pointed back rhinestones or rivolis make beautiful additions to beadwork, embroidery and mixed media projects.

Crystal Sahara Cosmic Flatback
from Artbeads.com



Vintage Emerald Swarovski Rhinestones in Brass
from MKSupplies



Light Colorado Topaz Round Flatback
from Auntie's Beads



Aquamarine Classic Baguette
from FusionBeads



Vintage Rose Pointedback Baguettes
from Driving Miss Moppet



Orchid 18mm Rivoli
from Whimbeads



Sterling Silver Plate Flowers
from Too Cute Beads



Vintage Blue Zircon Fancy Stones
from Beading in the Rain



Crystal AB Flatback Rivoli Triangle
from Beadaholique



Vintage Rose Round Rhinstones in Brass
from Katofmanycolors

Which rhinestone shape is your favorite?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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How to Bezel a Rivoli Rhinestone

Way back in 2009, I shared a tutorial for a peyote stitch bezel, using a circular peyote start. While the method certainly works, it’s not the best way to approach these little beauties.

A tubular peyote bezel is not only easier to stitch, but also adapts well to all kinds of rhinestone and cabochon shapes or sizes. Once you’ve made your first bezel, the technique is easy!

To Bezel a 14mm Rivoli Crystal:

Cut a comfortable length of thread - at least one yard - and thread a needle on one end. I like to attach a stop bead, even though the technique doesn’t require one. This helps to make sure you have a tail of the desired length. Unless you plan on some fancy embellishments or treatments for your finished bezel, a six inch tail is sufficient for securing the thread.

Pick up 34 11/o seed beads. When adapting this stitch for larger rivolis or cabs, remember that you need an even number of beads for your tube. If you are going to embellish the finished rivoli, multiples of four can be helpful for alternating patterns, but fit should come first. When in doubt, add beads (in pairs).

Stitch through all of the beads again to form a ring, and pass through the first ten or so to secure it.

Some beaders like to tie the ring together with a square knot, but I prefer to keep a little wiggle room to help the tube form a smooth shape. Plus if you make a mistake, it’s a lot easier to go back without the knot.

Hold the seed bead ring with your thumb and forefinger to rotate it while you stitch. Try to keep the ring from twisting as you work by pressing the new beads as you rotate, and help form the tube shape.

Pick up one bead. Skipping the next bead from where your thread is exiting, stitch through the next bead in the ring, and gently pull snug. Continue adding one bead at a time with peyote stitch, all the way around the ring.

When you have added the last bead in this round, you will need to step up. Pass through the first bead added in the round, so that your thread is exiting from an ‘up’ bead.

If you are comfortable with tubular peyote, you can stitch through both beads at once. When you’re just starting out, going one bead a time can help prevent twists and thread tangles.

Work one round of tubular peyote, using all 15/o seed beads. Pull snug with each stitch, and the tube will start to curve inward. Step up at the end of the round.

Add two more rows of peyote using 15/o beads. As you cinch up the final row, the bezel will take on the signature cupped shaped.

Weave across the beadwork, following the natural thread path, and exit from an 11/o ‘up’ bead on the opposite site of the tube. The direction that your thread is pointing will mean working the next rows in the other direction. This seems awkward at first, but I find that it is easier to seal up the rivoli by working in this direction. If you are more comfortable stitching the other way, you can turn your thread in the 11/o rows before exiting from a new up bead.

Using just 15/o seed beads, work one row of tubular peyote. Place your rivoli foil-side down into the open bezel - the first half of the bezel is usually tighter, allowing less of the crystal to show through. Hold the rivoli in place with your thumb as you work, rotating the beadwork in a circle to add new beads.

Add two more rounds of 15/o seed beads. Pull snug after each stitch to seal up the rivoli in the beadwork. Once the last rows is complete, weave through the rounds again to tighten the beadwork and give the top of the bezel a smooth finish. With the exception of some lined finishes, most 15/o seed beads work well with a size 10 beading needle. At this point, I like to switch to a size 13 needle. I find that it helps give tighter stitches when finishing the bezel.

You can use any remaining thread to add circular peyote or other embellishments to the 11/o rows, or stitch the bezel into a larger piece of beadwork. First, thread a needle on the tail, and weave through the 15/o rows at the back of the bezel. There is no need to knot the thread. Once the tail is thoroughly secured, trim as close to the beadwork as possible.

Happy beading!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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A Necklace a Day - Eleven

Yesterday we saw some amazing jewelry designs using semi-precious stones, from the studio of Joan Hunter Handmade. Though every beader has their own favorite beads, we can all agree that elements such as color and sparkle are important when we choose our materials.

For today’s necklace, I started with one of my favorite things - pointed-back rivoli rhinestones. Of all the glass or crystal beads out there, they remind me the most of cut gemstones. This may or may not be because most of the fantastic jewels we see in movies about treasure are actually made of crystal - often Swarovski crystal, no less. You can look for Swarovski in the credits of films like The Illusionist, Ocean’s Thirteen and The Phantom of the Opera.

The shape and sparkle of rivolis give them an incredibly precious appeal. They would look right at home in a chest full of coins and bejeweled goblets. And since they come in a variety of jewel-imitating colors, they make great birthstone alternatives.

This “Rainy Day” necklace combines a peridot rivoli with sapphire triangles and gray seed beads. The finished piece doesn’t look anything like I had imagined, and I’m not really happy with how it turned out. If I were to do it over again, I would choose beads by their shapes instead of their colors.

This necklace is going to be a keeper. I’ll make a little room on the jewelry rack!

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading

Also, some recommended Remembrance Day / Veteran’s Day reading:

Canadian Women in the Military
Why the Poppy?
Terry Kelly: A Pittance of Time

Bead Spotlight: Rivoli Rhinestones

What is it about rivolis that makes a beader’s heart stop? These beautiful, holeless beads are so captivating and irresistible. Perhaps it is their jewel-like quality. When many rivolis are seen together, they look like a handful of cut gems from the set of a pirate movie. It could also be the challenge that they pose - they dare us to find new ways of using a bead that is not really a bead by definition.

Whatever the attraction is, there’s no denying that pointed-back rhinestones are wonderful little treasures. Whenever one or more is added to a piece of beadwork, the wow-factor increases by leaps and bounds. They have a sparkle all their own. They come in gorgeous colors. They are just plain beautiful. It’s no wonder that they, and other solid crystal shapes, are always a favorite material for renowned beaders like Laura McCabe.

The most common technique for making a rivoli useful is the peyote bezel. Worked in two seed bead sizes, these little jackets are simple to do, and easy to embellish. Once the bezel has been secured, that’s when the real fun begins. The curve of the peyote shell makes the perfect base for all kinds of fringe. You can add extra layers of peyote stitch, and even go freeform!

For a fun project, try using your favorite rivoli with Royal Ring by Elizabeth Pullan and Bead & Button. You can also try creating bezels with netting and right angle weave!

Ring # 9 - Heartache

For today’s ring, I started with a rivoli in my absolute favorite crystal color - Montana sapphire. I love the deep, almost melancholy shade of blue. After adding a bezel in plum, I added two rows of plain fringe between the stitches, and secured it to a plain peyote band. I kept the overall design as simple as possible, so as not to overpower the color of the rivoli. I like the purple and blue combination. It has a sort of sadness to it, that might very shortly spill over into anger. It’s like a broken heart.

Copyright 2010 Inspirational Beading and The Sage's Cupboard

Fantasy Olympic Medal

Every two years, people all over the world become equals as they gather together to cheer on their county’s athletes during the Olympic Games. No matter what our different backgrounds are, when we embrace the spirit of friendly competition, we are one and the same.

The Inspiration:

I recently joined the Etsy BeadWeavers Team, and as soon as I had sent my application, I got to work planning my entry for the December team challenge. This month’s focus was chosen by two team members, who came up with a dual theme of “Peace and the Winter Olympics”.

At first I was at a loss for what to create. An Olympic rings bib necklace? Too obvious. A flag charm bracelet? Too garish. Then inspiration struck.

The very next day, I was jolted out of bed at 6 am by a commotion just outside my window. It was the Olympic Torch relay, on it’s way to Vancouver. Seeing this historic icon in person was just the inspiration I needed to create my “Peace Piece”. Thanks to the incredibly loud Coca-cola trucks that had announced the arrival of the torch, I had several extra hours that day to work on a design.

The Beads:

To symbolize peace, I chose a cool, calm palette of blue, green and purple 11/0 seed beads. From my stash I was able to collect different shades with lustered finishes, which flowed from one to the other quite nicely. I started with transparent aqua blue, then added transparent lustered blue, transparent lavender iris, and gilt-lined violet. In the other direction, I chose Ceylon light aqua, shamrock lined crystal AB, and transparent peridot AB.

For accent beads, I selected an assortment of green, blue and purple 8/0 seed beads and hex-cuts. Some of the shades, like chartreuse and raspberry, stretch the palette a little closer to the red and yellow areas of the color wheel. I also selected fuchsia lined blue, root beer lined topaz, emerald green and many other fun shades.

The Beadwork:

My original idea was to create a large cabochon in salt dough, with a 3-D olive branch at the center. Everything was going well until I tried to add antique effects on the background, and it turned out awful. I could have started over and repainted the entire cab, but I felt a little defeated by the mishap, and started looking at other options. I remembered having a 16mm vitrail rivoli in my stash, and decided it would make a perfect focal. The prismatic effect of the crystal is a great way to symbolize the diversity of the global village.

It hadn’t been my intention to do anything as literal as a medallion, but I was stuck with the image of a large round focal for my necklace, and decided to just go with it. I added a purple and blue bezel to the rivoli, then continued adding rounds of circular peyote stitch in blue, green and purple. The medal is suspended from a V-shaped St. Petersburg chain, with the aqua blue at the centre. Each side of the necklace gradually changes to green or purple. In the middle of the double chain is the 8/0 mixture.

Voting for the December 2009 EBW Challenge runs from the 9th to the 15th on the Etsy BeadWeavers Team Blog. You can also search for EBWC on Etsy.com to see all of the wonderful “Peace Piece” creations.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading

Beading Tutorial: Peyote Stitch Bezel

The Encarta English Dictionary defines a bead as “a small ball, pierced for stringing on a cord or sewing onto fabric”. This is a pretty accurate description of the average bead, but adventurous crafters know that there are so many other forms of beads to choose from that they could never be named in one place.

Aside from the many types of “pierced” or drilled objects, there are also many different materials that can be used as embellishments in beadwork that have no holes at all. Most beaders are familiar with cabochons, which can be flat or domed, and of course there are rhinestones as well. Some of the most wonderful un-beads are the things that don’t normally appear in beadwork, but which are so pretty or interesting that we can’t help but use them.

One of the most useful methods for incorporating a found object into a beading design is to surround it with a jacket of seed beads called a bezel. There are a few different ways to approach this task, but if an object is fairly uniform in shape, a circular peyote bezel is an easy technique to use. Once you have mastered it, you can turn many unique objects into beautiful un-beads.

How To Bezel a Rivoli with Peyote Stitch:

A great way to practice making peyote bezels is with Swarovski rivolis. The 14mm size is easy to work with, and comes in a variety of inspiring colors. To bezel a 14mm rivoli with circular peyote, you will need seed beads in size 15/0 and 11/0.

Start by stringing 32 size 15/0 seed beads onto a comfortable length of beading thread. When working with circular peyote, it’s a good idea to start with a number of beads divisible by 4. This will ensure that each row is even if you need to alternate bead sizes later on.

Slide the beads down until there is about a 6 inch tail, and stitch up through 16 of the beads again. Pull the thread snug so that the beads form a ring. If you’re working with a soft thread like Nymo, you may want to tie a square not to secure the ring. If you’re working with a braided thread like Fireline, you can simply bend the tail thread a little to form a kink where it meets the ring. This will keep it secure, but leave a little slack to prevent the first two rows from rippling. To stop the thread from slipping, hold the tail against your hand with your pinkie finger as you stitch.

Pick up one 15/0 seed bead. Skipping the next bead in the ring, and moving in the direction that the working thread is facing, stitch through the next bead in the ring. Pull the thread snug to lock the bead in place. Pick up one 15/0 seed bead and repeat, skipping the next bead and stitching through the following bead in the ring. Continue adding beads with peyote stitch all the way around the ring.

When you reach the first stitch again, you will need to step up to start the next row. Add the final bead, and stitch through the next bead, and the first raised bead following it. Pull the thread snug and check your work for loose beads.

Pick up one 11/0 seed bead, and stitch through the next raised bead in the ring. Continue adding 11/0’s with peyote stitch, and step up at the end of the row.

Add two more rounds of 11/0 seed beads, so that the pattern of 11/0’s is the same as the 15/0 rows.

For the next row, switch back to 15/0 seed beads. Be sure to pull the thread snug after each stitch so that there are no openings in the beadwork. Once this row is complete, place the rivoli in the centre of the beadwork and hold it in place with your thumb and forefinger as you stitch.

Add two more rows of 15/0 seed beads. As you work, the beadwork will tighten up around the rivoli, trapping it within the two rings of smaller beads. Once the last row has been added, weave through the last two rows again, pulling snugly to strengthen the beadwork. Repeat with the tail thread, and trim the excess.

If you still have plenty of working thread left, you can add embellishments around the 11/0 section, stitch on a bail, or connect this rivoli to other beadwork. Have fun!

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading

Blue Rivoli Pendant

After creating my entry for the USE THE MUSE II contest, I still had quite a few beads left over. With a great starting palette of deep blues to work with, I’ve been looking for ways to put the beads to good use.

The Inspiration:

I wanted to do something with Swarovskis, but since I had used up most of the crystals in the kit, I had to start from scratch. The pointed back rivoli rhinestone has made quite a few appearances in beading magazines recently, so I thought it would be fun to try them out and see what I could create.

The Beads:

I started with four different rivolis in shades like sapphire, Montana blue, and jet. I absolutely adore the elegant sparkle of the crystals. To match the rivolis, I chose 15/o’s in transparent gray and navy iris, and 11/o’s in Dichroic-lined blue and denim blue.

The Beadwork:

I started by creating a peyote stitch bezel around each rivoli, then connected them together at different angles with seed beads and Swarovski faceted round beads. Once the body of the pendant was complete, I created a bail using square stitch.

I just happened to have a matching seed bead chain left over from another project, which was easily added with a simple lark’s head knot. I’m so pleased with the way this beading experiment turned out, that I’ve decided to keep it for myself. Next on my to do list is finding a fun way to use up my leftover silk ribbon.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading