Mother Nature Necklace

The use of gemstones as beads is one of humanity’s oldest art forms. Colored stones have been used for adornment for as long as we have had the tools to work them. Many cultures throughout history have used the unique stones of their region not only for their beauty, but to symbolize deities, ward off spirits, and bring good luck. It is ironic that, to enjoy the gorgeous gemstones that nature has created, we have to extract them from the earth, leaving scars on Mother Nature that cannot, or will not, be erased.

The Inspiration:

I wanted to create an amulet that not only represented the power and beauty of the earth, but included a piece of her as well. Rather than use a traditional ‘natural’ bead, I chose a simple stone as the focal point.

An ordinary rock, polished by erosion, can be just as awe inspiring as the bluest turquoise, or shiniest diamond.

The Beads:

In addition to a dark gray stone, I selected a few earthy beads. To represent nature as vegetation, I picked lively green apple 11/0 seed beads. To compliment the stone, I grabbed some copper-lined gray 6/0’s, and white and brown flecked 4/0 seed beads.

The Beadwork:

To make the amulet portion of the necklace, I encased the stone in seed bead netting. I was pleased to discover that, under the thick jacket of beadwork, the stone has a very ova-like shape. This adds one more element of “Earth Mother” that I hadn‘t counted on. The straps of the necklace were made with right angle weave, and I added looped fringe with some turquoise Picasso teardrops and leaves. Although the pendant isn’t the lightest of materials, the necklace does not feel heavy at all.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading