Short Cut for Bezeled Stones

Bezeling stone cabochons takes a bit of trial and error for each stone because:
1) The stones are not all the same size
2) A single strand of beads does not sit well on the stone, especially round stones, making measurements difficult.

Double sided tape would hold the strand in place, however, I am just not sure what the effect will be over the years so that is an option I choose not to use.

My shortcut?  Painter's tape.

Get a rough estimate of the circumference of your stone.
Cut a straight edge on the leading edge of your painter's tape.
Cut a straight edge on the trailing edge of your painter's tape just a bit larger than the stone you want to set.
Wrap the tape around the stone.
Mark the overlap with a marker.
Remove the tape.
Cut a straight edge through the mark on the long end of the painter's tape.
String your beads to the length between the two points.

Short cut to measure a stone for a bezel

This just makes it easier, you are still going to need to add just a bead or two extra to make up for the width of the beads. 

As you can see, I am now working on getting the bezel done.  I will have finished pictures next week; until then, here is are pictures of the first 3 rows, using Galvanized Bright Silver 10/0 delicas.

Turquoise slab bezel in progress

Another view of the turquoise slab bezel in progress

More Sample Pieces

Have I ever mentioned that I am a slow beader?

Have I ever mentioned that I only bead on Sundays?

During the week between working and commuting I have about 1 spare hour at the end of the day which I spend reading instead of making jewelry.

On Saturdays I shop.  I begin with a run to the West Side Market (think spectacular inside farmer's market) the grocery store (they do not sell chips or Lean Cuisine at the West Side Market) Target, where paper products are cheap, Einstein Bagels- for my daily breakfast fix.  I do laundry.  I clean.  I cook dinner for the rest of the week.  I clean again.  Sometimes I can even squeeze in a short nap in the afternoon.

Sundays I read, bead, and write a blog post.  Thus, my progress is slow, but it continues.

Today I stitched test pieces for one of the chains for my turquoise slab necklace. 

My first test piece used silver beads to join the woven piece.

Chain joined with silver Delicas

My second test piece used this great shaped and carved coral bead.

Test chain, made with size 10 and 11 Delicas and a size 8 Czech seed beads, with carved coral bead.

Here they are side by side.

Test chains for slab necklace side by side.

I am going to go with the coral bead between the woven pieces.

This test piece is the right lay-out but is not what I want in my finished necklace.  I was not successful at was making this one long chain.  I tried a several methods of weaving the pieces together with a single thread and did not like the results.  There is too much thread showing on the silver beads butting against the coral bead and they do not lie correctly.  I am going to have to weave each individual clover piece and then join the pieces together.  I am hoping the top and bottom beads are stabilized by being a part of an individual piece with a knot in each.  I am not happy that the finished piece is going to have that many knots- or to my mind that many points of potential failure. 

Yesterday was not spent shopping, cleaning, and cooking.  Yesterday I went to the Intergalactic Bead Show and picked up some new 8 mm turquoise rounds for the necklace.

8 mm turquoise rounds and slab turquoise

The turquoise slabs are somewhere in between blue and green turquoise.  I think the beads I picked up yesterday are a good color match.

One more picture of the turquoise rounds; it is a bit off center but for some reason I liked this picture.  I think it is because I really like the detail on the piece of slab turquoise.

Slab turquoise again and 8 mm round turquoise beads

Hmm... I wonder how many of those little clovers I am going to need for this necklace?

Turquoise

More than a year ago I attended the Intergalactic Bead Show and made a thoughtful, but nonetheless impulse, purchase of five pieces stunning slab turquoise.  Okay I was in love.  Each slab measures about 1.18 (30 mm) wide by 1.5 inches (40 mm) long by .25 inches (6 mm) thick. 

Strand of turquoise slabs

I have had a necklace design in mind since the purchase.  This necklace is going to be for me.  Thus, the cost of contents and time is irrelevant.  I will, however, keep track just in case I have the opportunity to sell it.

Close up of slab turquoise- click for larger view

Another close up of slab turquoise

A few weeks ago on A Beader’s Blog the writer posted an old draft about why she blogs and why blog readers do and do not read blogs.  I posted a rather lengthy reply.  I started this blog to drive me to get my Etsy shop up and running and to start doing more shows.  In my reply, however, I admitted that I am really blogging to drive myself to produce.  Everything else follows from production.  I am really good at being accountable to myself; even so, broadcasting my goals is an added prod.  Keep an eye on this space for continuing developments in 2012.