Selling Beaded Earrings - Desert Evening - by Mava Seaman

Beaded Earrings - Desert Evening - by Mava Seaman

These earrings are one-of-a-kind. I don't repeat designs so each is unique!

These earrings are made with size 11 Miyuki Japanese Delicas using a peyote stitch to create the base of the earring. They are suspended from a 15 x 3.5mm sterling silver stardust bail with 19 gauge, sterling silver, 12mm French "fishhook" earring wires with a 1.5mm ball. The fringe is made using size 15 Miyuki Japanese seed beads. The rectangular earring base is trimmed in a picot stitch to give them a lacy-looking edge using size 15 Miyuki Japanese matte sterling silver plate seed beads.

Japanese beads are the most uniform in size and shape. Delica beads are tubular beads and work very well in weaving projects. Seed beads are generally donut-shaped or sometimes round. The sizing (11/0 or 15/0, etc) indicates approximately how many beads will fit in an inch end-to-end. So, an 11/0 is larger than a 15/0.

I began my art career in the early 1970s with embroidery using mostly satins, silks, velvet, and jean jackets to make quilts and embroidered clothing. I framed some of my embroidered art as well. I also dabbled in hand painting clothing. Eventually, I became interested in beads and what could be done with them. I started beading in the early 1990s and am self-taught. I used Bead & Button magazine to learn how to read graphs and make jewelry. I started with simple projects right out of the magazine and quickly progressed to building bead bezels for cabochons, both glass, and semi-precious stones, selling as well as using a number of different bead weaving techniques to design and create jewelry, wall hangings, hair ornaments, and handbags. I collaborated with my father to make several necklaces and bead embroidered pieces. With my father's encouragement, I also made my own cabochons from slabs of jade and aventurine. I would love to do that again sometime!

I have rarely sold my pieces and have only made a couple of designs more than once. I really prefer doing one-of-a-kind pieces. In the past, I have given my creations away to family and friends, keeping only what I've made for myself. I like doing one-of-a-kind pieces most of all. I started making these Southwest-style earrings in October 2021 and decided it would be fun to sell them. I would eventually like to do several more collections to add to what I am creating here.

I will consider doing bespoke pieces, as well. Just message me here!

I hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoy making them.