I often get requests for instructions.  In response to the many requests, I am now offering instructions only for certain designs.
 
All instructions come on a CD in PDF format, ready to print. The CD contains photos of the piece, the history behind the design, a supply list and a suggestion sheet for colors and materials.

These instructions cover many of the techniques I use for bezeling focal beads such as seed bead caps, two techniques for bezeling 8-12 mm focal beads, spool beads using various stitches such as circular peyote, ladder stitch among others.  It is a great way to use your small amounts of beads left from other projects.

Inspired by ancient Roman gold jewelry, you will create a pair of ornate earrings with different styles of brick stitch and fringes. The instructions will also cover using this design as a necklace (as I realize that not everyone is like me and loves large earrings!).

The armille was worn in pairs by Roman woman during 79AD – the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.  They were worn around the upper arm.  Remains of these armilles were found throughout the area devastated by Vesuvius – Pompeii, Herculaneum, etc.  The armille found on the cover sheet was found in Pompeii and is in remarkably good condition.  You will learn to use circular brick stitch to make small domes and how to switch to peyote stitch from brick stitch to finish the components which are then joined to make an elegant bracelet with a closure inspired from antiquity.

I don’t often use crystals in my work as focal beads but I bought those wonderful square rivolis last year. While I designed my Byzantine Cross workshop, I discovered that a smaller “cross” would make a great bezel for the rivolis. Hence, I could justify my purchase!!!! 

Byzantine Collar

Inspired by the ancient Byzantine collars and gold work of old, this piece is the first in a series.  The original for this piece was found in Egypt but research has shown that it was probably made in Constantinople. Broad collars were very popular in the Byzantine Era.  They were made with gold and precious gems.  One of the most famous depictions of the collar is found of the famous mosaic found in Ravenna of the Empress Theodora.

Using peyote and right angle weave, you will create components incorporating Venetian gold foil beads, freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones (some of which are bezeled with seed beads).

Campania Morning Walk

I walked every morning in Southern Italy at the local NATO Base.  On the not-so-lovely dirt path there was a wire fence and on it grew the most beautiful Morning Glories with dew on them.  I designed this piece in my head while walking away the pounds of pasta and bread. 

The necklace is made of individual components which are then joined together and embellished with small crystals.  The stitches you are going to use are:  tubular herringbone (rope), tubular brick stitch, and flat peyote.

The Etruscans were the master goldsmiths during ancient times.  This bracelet was inspired by the ancient gold jewelry of the Etruscans.  Using peyote and brick stitch, you will combine components to forms a dramatic cuff and embellish with pearls and semi-precious stones. 

Hercules Knot

The Hercules Knot has a long history beginning in Egypt centuries ago.  It was Alexander the Great who adopted the design and brought it to ancient Greece and later was adopted by Rome.  It was originally worn over very high coiffures by the Greek women. The knot symbolized the union of Zeus and Rhea as snakes.  It also was believed to have functioned as an amulet for healing wounds.  This motif can be found in many cultures and is sometimes known as the Gordion Knot

This bracelet incorporates tubular right-angle weave, herringbone and brick stitch.  The components are then joined with a clasp embellished with semi-precious stones.  The clasp is made with seed beads and semi-precious stones. 

Isis Choker

Isis was an Egyptian goddess worshipped at the time of the destruction of Pompeii.  Among the ruins of Pompeii is evidence of a temple dedicated to her and frescoes depicting the worship of this goddess.  The Isis Choker was inspired by these findings.

Kantharos Necklace

The Kantharos is a style of urn which represents the giving of life in ancient Greek and Roman times.  The necklace was inspired by a mosaic pattern found in the Domus di Tappeti di Pietra (House of the Stone Carpet) in Ravenna, Italy.  The piece is made of components using circular brick stitch, peyote, diagonal brick and square stitch. 

Persephone's Necklace

Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Before she became Queen of the Underworld, she helped her mother plant seeds and flowers among the lands of Magna Grecia. When Hades fell in love with Persephone, he brought her to the underworld. Demeter was so distraught that she would allow nothing to grow (Winter) but Persephone was allowed to visit at a certain period of the year and Demeter allowed things to grow once again (Spring).

This necklace was inspired by the ancient necklaces of Greece. The original necklaces were made of gold rosettes and pods from various plants. You will use the peyote stitch and a variation of the Nepal stitch, to make various components to represent rosettes, pods and grapes to put together your own version of these wonderful necklaces.

Ribbon Mosaic Cuff

Inspired by the ancient “ribbon” mosaic patterns found throughout antiquity, this cuff is made of components of a combination of brick and square stitch.  The components are then joined to form the ribbons with bezeled freshwater pearls and a closure made with flat peyote and large stick pearl.

Sogno D'Oro Necklace

Sogno D’Oro was inspired by a necklace I saw in a rather large and expensive book at the National Museum in Naples, Italy.  Not wanting to carry such a large book or pay the amount of Euro that was wanted, I proceeded to sketch the necklace on the back of my checkbook.   When I returned home, I made the necklace based on my “so-called” sketch and my memory.  When I returned next year, the book was no longer available and I started to search for it.  I finally found a book from the 1940s that had the collection in black and white.  There was the necklace and it looked nothing like my sketch or what I remembered.  I reworked the necklace to what you see today and inspired by the picture below.
 
It was found in Metaponto which was a part of the Magna Grecia section of the Greek Empire in Southern Italy.  Some of the necklace is missing but it is made of gold with granulation and quite a bit of detail.  From what I can translate, it was found in a tomb in a century before Christ.  The piece is made using components made with tubular peyote, circular peyote, brick stitch and spiral rope chain.