Introducing New Healing Necklaces

I’m excited to introduce my new line of bead jewelry, Healing Necklaces. I love to design several pieces together, side by side on the bead board, because I love wearing several strands together that harmonize with each other, included here are several examples of ones made simultaneously.

Healing Necklace 2 and 3 have many awesome antique and handmade beads, including my favorite vintage coral. The necklaces will include the unique I.D. tags which bring the beads to life. I am making them now, but it takes patience,  I am committed to sharing bead information, as it adds so much to the appreciation of their mystery, wonder, beauty and direct link to the past.

Healing Necklaces 2 and 3 by Kathleen O’Brien

With Healing Necklaces 4 and 5 I am using a new design with braided torn strips of cotton for the cordage. In Healing Necklace 4 large holed beads slide over the braid, while smaller holed beads are sewn on.  I love the results.

Healing Necklaces 4, 5 and 6 by Kathleen O’Brien

Healing Necklace 7 also has  braided cotton to hold the carved Moonstone pendant, which has such a large loop. The other stones I  incorporated, moonstone and peridot, have such tiny holes, perfect for sewing. Healing Necklace 8 is unusually symmetrical. There are some antique beads, but it is mostly made of semi-precious stone beads. I wanted something to match my beloved ancient green Roman glass beads.

Healing Necklaces 7 and 8 with ancient green Roman bead necklace by Kathleen O’Brien

I love a large variety of beads, but it often presents a dilemma when choosing the best cord to use. Here are some examples of small holed beads passing through the large holed bead. The white beads are pony-size antique Venetian. The Roman bead’s hole is so large that it can slide the whole length of the pony beads – I love that!

Antique Beads inside a large holed ancient Roman mosaic bead, 200 AD in “Healing Necklace 9”

In this next example the seed beads just fit inside the feather bead. They are knotted and unmovable to support this amazing old bead.

Seed Beads inside a large holed antique bead

Talisman for Transitions, detail of necklace by Kathleen O’Brien