Can't get enough of those fall colors!

This was a really fun project. Carnelian beads in rounds and ovals accented with tiny Citrine rondelles and bronze seed beads. The frame is anti-tarnish brass, and the beads are wired on with anti-tarnish copper. With a warm metal palette and fiery orange palette, you can tel what's on my mind -- that's right, autumn!! Boy it's soooo good to have a cooling off here in Florida. It's been a scorching hot summer. This "Tree of Life" pendant, though it's done in Fall colors, and, yeah, I know the tree of life is always alive, never loses it's leaves, etc., but I just had to render this one in the beautiful fall colors that the mountains are bathed in this time of year.


When I lived in South Carolina, we would see the glorious changing of the leaves, and go for day trips into the mountains. I haven't done that in years! Sadly, my oldest has never seen the mountains. I'm going to remedy that, and hopefully soon. Meanwhile, I can make pretty "joolry" to make up for this loss.



This necklace set is gone....picked up first thing at the Mandarin United Methodist Church Fall Festival last weekend. I'll be re-visiting this topic again, as soon as I catch up on my custom work, and finish some sets for a model shoot this weekend here in Jacksonville. It's too hot a combo to let go, at least while I still have the beads!!

On my Beading Table Today....

Continuing on the theme of fall colors, I hit my local bead show really hard yesterday, and came home with this juicy combination, among other treasures. Yellow jaspers and red and orange aventurine reflect the glorious fall colors reminiscent of the Blue Ridge mountains in the fall. Paired with copper spacers and the extraordinary copper-dipped Maple leaf I'd already purchased from Etsy sellers, my next project will be a 3 strand collar, similar to the previous carnelian one I posted. I think I will also add some brown goldstone, which should pick up and carry the sparkle from the leaf all the way around the necklace. Time to get the Round Tuit out again, and get this thing assembled!!


My favorite bead show sellers were these, with their fabulous selection, as usual, and I picked up some lava rock rounds and barrels, some blister pearls, pink and red coral buttons and rounds, and some larger red coral nuggets. I also found some carnelian rondelles and barrels. I could have broken the bank with all of the beautiful beads I found yesterday! This time, though, I was able to control myself. Maybe having my three-year-old there with me was a good thing, because by the time I got my treasures purchased I'd only hit two tables and he was ready to go. Next time he'll stay home!!

Autumnal Equinox Carnelian and copper necklace with real copper-dipped Maple Leaf

I like to sit back and admire this necklace. Three strands of carnelian and copper alternate and join at a glorious copper-dipped Maple leaf. Handmade wire clasp is hidden under Maple leaf. The detail and color of this leaf is mesmerizing. Delicate and bold at the same time, a rainbow of irridescence glistens. When you look at it really close, you can see the fibrous detail of the veins and structures in the leaf. Breathtaking! Expect many compliments when you show off this beautiful fall ornament.

The necklace measures 16 inches (40.64 cm); I'm making earrings to match. I'll use a copper leaf charm on each, and more of these lovely carnelian beads.These are available for purchase in quantities, as I can acquire more of these gorgeous leaves. Chunkier beads would produce an equally glorious but different look.

****UPDATE!! Mary, on her blog "Living with Walls: Flourishing behind the Walls of Multiple Sclerosis" has featured my Maple leaf necklace as the illustration for a beautiful poem "What is it About Leaves?" I was moved by her poem, and by the recognition. If you're a fan of autumn, like I am, you might want to go take a look, and contemplate her poem. She has incredible talent!!