Monday, October 11, 2010

Artbeads for Autumn ... Focus on Botswana Agate

If you remember from this post, I had a strand of Botswana Agate briolettes that I had not yet decided how to use.  Well, I've been busy matching them up into pairs for earrings.  The color and pattern differences proved difficult to work with, but I like a good bead-y challenge.  I managed to find several pairs of briolettes for this selection of earrings.  These Botswana Agates can be found on Artbeads website, in the Gemstone category.

This pair features a set of circles I fused from fine silver wire, then textured.  The earwires are handmade by me.  I kind of like the way the stripes in the beads are going different ways.


I found some large barrel shaped Botswana Agate beads in my stash that complemented the briolettes from Artbeads beautifully for this next pair.



For this pair, I suspended a short section of chain from the earwires and added a moonstone rondelle dangle from each link.  The peach and gray of the moonstone seemed to match this pair of agates perfectly.


This last pair is similar to the first pair, but the earwires, which I made, are a very different style.














Now I am left with a bunch of unmatched briolettes that will be part of necklaces such as this one, where the agate has been teamed with a peach moonstone briolette and a peachy coin pearl.


I really enjoyed working with these stones.  The holes were generous in size and I found enough pairs to make several pairs of earrings.  This is always more tricky than it looks when you first get a strand of any gemstone briolettes.  I actually enjoy the task of making pairs.  It allows me to fondle beads :)

Disclosure: Artbeads invited me to join their blogging community. I receive these products free of charge in return for honest reviews. I have not been paid for doing this.

6 comments:

MoonRae said...

Sweetie, they are all beautiful! I like that they aren't matchy,matchy(is that a word?? haha) I think as long as the stones are close in size their individual design gives 'em personality. Thnaks for sharing them
~Sharon~

MoonRae said...

I meant "Thanks" for sharing them
~Sharon~

Brenda. said...

Very pretty!!

brokenteepee said...

I like the differences in the stones. Makes the earrings all the more unique

diamond-rings said...

these jewelleries are very charming , try to put different varieties of stones togther

Regina said...

Found your blog via Artbeads FB, I love the Botswana Agate and your earrings are very nice...