Revisiting the Sakura Charm
I first designed the Sakura Charm back in the Spring of 2011. This petite charm combines lentil beads with tiny seed beads for cute little cherry blossom flowers, and you can use them in several different kinds of jewelry projects.
When I was asked to teach this project, I thought about all the different kinds of beads that have been developed in the past few years since I first came up with this design. Many of these new beads can act as different kinds of sakura petals, just as there are many different kinds of sakura blossoms. Did you know that there are over 200 varieties in Japan alone? These are just a few of them from my trip to Japan a little over a year ago:
(though I think one of those may be plum blossoms... Sometimes it's hard to tell!)
A Bouquet of Cherry Blossoms
With this idea in mind, I came up with several new ways to weave a Sakura Charm from different kinds of beads! This piece expands the original design into four different varieties of the cherry blossom flower, and collects them together into a cascading necklace bouquet. These blossoms are woven from lentils, petal beads, teardrop beads, and rizos, and each one has a slightly different thread path to make the most stable, self-supporting version of each flower. A net of bugle beads ties them together into the completed necklace.
Beading Class at BABE!
I'll be teaching this class at the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza! show this November. Classes are held from November 15-17 (Fri-Sun), while the exhibition hall is open on November 16 and 17. Since this class is available in two sessions (Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th), you can kickstart a fabulous weekend of beading with this class on Friday afternoon, saving plenty of time for shopping over the weekend. Or you can take this class on Saturday morning, but please note that the Saturday session is almost sold out, so book now if you're interested in this session.
Interestingly, my complete class lineup at BABE! this year follows a decidedly floral theme; I'll also be teaching the Tila Garden Pendant, a slightly streamlined version of the Raindrop Flower Necklace, and a slightly expanded version of the Tropical Dahlia Set. Please visit the BABE! website for more information on how to register!
What's your favorite kind of beaded blossom? Drop me a line in the comments!
Cindy, this is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful work. I love your molecules a whole lot, but I think the flower necklace is one of my favorites of yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sarah! I'm really happy with how it turned out too :)
DeleteThis necklace is absolutely beautiful! I would wear it in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Flo! It is actually quite nice to wear!
DeleteOh, I absolutely adore that. I have been eyeing that pattern and, boy, I love how versatile you have made it. The necklace is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Tanya! I was also very pleased at how adaptable this idea is to different kinds of beads :)
DeleteBeautiful , gorgeous ! I love your molecules too !
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I'm having tons of fun with both (perhaps I need to bead a flower molecule next?)
DeleteThis is insanely beautiful!! I saw it and thought, *gasp* I MUST HAVE THAT!! LOL. ^.^ My mother sent me this link as an example of the kinds of beads one can find for projects. I am currently in the process of researching and gathering materials to hand string a pair of black beaded curtains for my closet and I wanted to intersperse them with cherry blossom beads to represent falling flowers, and now I just want this necklace. XD Hehe. Great work on that necklace Cindy. It is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words! I think cherry blossom beads would look beautiful on beaded curtains :)
DeleteOh, I'm just in love in this necklace! I love flowers, pink and Japan and sakura seems like the most perfect combination between them all :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the fact that petals are made from different beads. It gives it more dimension and is even closer to the nature. Love love love!