Charge your seed beads and gemstone/semi-precious beads in your normal way (although I would be wary of anointing seed beads with oil; they'll stick together). Tie the thread to the end of the clasp, leaving a tail of about 4" of thread. Cut the working end of the thread to about a foot longer than you want the finished piece to be (so, for an 8" bracelet, you'd cut a 20" thread).
Thread the needle onto the working end and begin threading seed beads in an appropriate pattern (see below). When you reach the middle of the intended length of the piece, thread on your gemstone beads in the desired pattern; you can use a few seed beads as 'spacers' between the gems or not, as you choose. Continue with the seed beads in the same pattern as before until you reach your desired length. Tie the end of the thread to the other end of the clasp, with the knot as close as possible to the last bead; leave the needle on the end of the thread.
Run the needle back down through the centers of the last inch of seed beads, if there is room, and snip the thread just where the thread leaves the beads; you should be able to adjust the beads slightly so the end of the thread is covered by the beads. Go back the beginning, thread the needle onto the 4" tail, and repeat the hiding-the-end process. (If the needle won't fit back through, don't worry about it; just snip the thread close to the knot and live with visible ends.) Put a drop of glue on your knots to seal them, if you like. Lay the finished piece on your altar and charge it in your normal fashion as a finished piece. Wear with pride!
A few suggestions of bead charms or talisman's:
Air energy charm: clear, light yellow, and light blue seed beads with any transparent blue or yellow stone, or with clear quartz.
Earth energy charm: green, brown, and black seed beads with any green or brown stone
Fire energy charm: red, orange, and yellow seed beads with any red or orange stone (red tiger-eye works really well!)
Healing charm: green, red, and light blue seed beads with aventurine, clear quartz, malachite, and/or bloodstone
Love attraction charm: gold, silver, and pink seed beads with rose quartz
Lunar energy charm: white, clear, silver, and/or pale blue seed beads with moonstone and/or mother-of-pearl (use a silver or stainless steel clasp)
Prosperity attraction charm: gold, silver, and green seed beads with aventurine and jasper
Protection charm: red, black, and purple seed beads with garnet and hematite
Solar energy charm: gold, yellow, and clear seed beads with carnelian or tiger-eye (use a gold or brass clasp)
Water energy charm: blue, green, and grey or pearlized
seed beads with any opaque blue stone, shell beads, or mother-of-pearl
Craft tip courtesy of the Lady Sunflower
(Thanks, Sunny)
© 2001 Mother (page layout only)
