Custom beaded 3 piece set

For a little while now, I've been working on a custom jewelry set for my sister. These pieces gave me a bit of trouble, because I ran out of the primary seed beads three-quarters of the way through making the frame of the necklace. My local bead store didn't have them and couldn't seem to get them from their suppliers so I had to go back to the lady I bought them from in the first place. Luckily, she had them and I could finish the set on time.

I started with the bracelet then made earrings and the necklace to complete the set. The bracelet design is from Rachel Nelson-Smith's excellent book, Seed Bead Fusion. I took that design and modified it to make a necklace with a few added twists of my own. The earrings were inspired by another of Rachel's designs. They are peyote tubes stitched in an ombre pattern with the colors of the necklace and bracelet.

These pieces are custom order only because they are so time intensive. You can order them in any combination and in any color scheme at my Etsy shop. Just click the 'Request Custom Order' button. The prices will vary from $30 to $200, depending on how many pieces are ordered.
OK guys, keep having fun and get creative!

So, hey everyone! Its been a little while since I last posted, sorry!

Blue and green set. $50.00

 I decided to share a great bracelet and earrings set. It's a bead woven set with size 11 seed beads and swarovski glass pearls. I used aqua and periwinkle seed beads in both pieces as well as permanent gold seed beads and white swarovski pearls in the bracelet. I stitched each of the green and blue tubes individually and then added ear wires for the earrings. For the bracelet I strung them on beading wire along withe swarovski pearls and gold seed beads. The clasp of the bracelet and the ear wires are silver plated.

Close-up details, 104 beads in each tube!

I had a lot of fun making these, I just love the ocean colors! The earrings, which I made first, are so cute and tiny, just adorable. I love the box shape of these peyote tubes and plan to try it out in different colors and sizes.
As always this set and many other fabulous pieces are available at my Etsy shop. Cheers everyone and see you soon!

Flexible Bangles

I'm going to start this off with these bangles.

Flexible beaded bangles - $12 each

This design for them was really started when I bought the 'wrong' size of satin cord, about 400 yds of it! It was just too big for the beads I wanted to string. Well I couldn't just throw it out, so I started experimenting with it. I braided it, I wove it, I added beads to it in many different ways until I hit on an interesting idea. Make the cord a bead frame.
I stitched each bead between a doubled length of cord with strong nylon thread. I joined the ends of the cord and then embellished the whole thing with more beads. The soft satin is flexible and easy to get over your hand and the weight of the beads pull it back to the proper shape once it's on your wrist. They are lightweight enough to wear several at once or stack with other bracelets.

I'm going to keep playing with it, see what I come up with next!
Of course, these beaded bangles are available at my Etsy shop.

Hello!

Hi everyone! Its the start of a new year and I have decided to take the plunge and start a new blog. (insert crazed cheering)! My name is Ijeoma Akosionu and I am a jewelry artist. I design and handcraft beaded and ceramic jewelry. This blog is going to have my jewelry (natch!), progress notes and anything I find interesting or inspirational.
Check me out at my Etsy shop, y'all! I'm adding cool new pieces all the time!
Alright, that's enough for a first post (I did it!). Catch y'all soon.