Turquoise love

Turquoise is one of my favourite colours. I don’t think there is a shade or hue of it that I don’t love. Deep, bright turquoise, soft, gentle aquamarine, deep, smoky teal.

I use a lot of turquoise coloured beads in the jewellery I make but none of it is actually turquoise in the true sense of the gemstone. I love the blemish free stones found in some of the last mines left in the south of the USA, but buying good quality real turquoise is expensive.

Plenty of other gemstones are available that either copy the style of turquoise or offer alternatives in all the possible shades. Amazonite is one that I have bought quite often as I love the vintage aqua shades and the milky quality, almost creaminess of the stones.

Three necklaces on a theme

This week I have been looking through my bead stash to get back into making some beaded necklaces. Eventually I will make some with my own sterling silver clasps, but for now, I am using the ready made ones that I already have.

This first necklace was a bit of fun and used up some very inexpensive beads that I have and that I actually love. I don’t need diamonds to be happy! I used a mixture of faux glass pearls, crystals and acrylic beads in lovely shades of aqua. I use standard beading wire, crimped at either end onto a magnetic clasp. The star drop, which I had worn on a chain, was added in. If I decide I want to wear it singly again, I can just remove it by opening the jump ring that its attached to, replacing it with another drop as I feel like it.

The second necklace incorporates a mother-of-pearl shell bead that has been dyed, so its not natural, but it is interesting. I like the combination of white pearls, some freshwater ones, turquoise jade and some crystals with some barrel tibetan silver beads at the front. A plain toggle finishes it all off. Cheap, fun and my favourite colour!

The third necklace is simpler in its design with three colours of beads, exactly 6mm in diameter. I chose a turquoise jade, glass pearls and shiny black onyx, putting them on the beading wire in triplets. I love this, its so classic but it adds a great pop of turquoise that makes it quite unusual. Its set on a patterned toggle clasp and fits neatly just at the base of my neck. Perfect. One of the best necklaces I’ve made to date!