Rachel Nelson-Smith’s
Bead Riffs Jewelry Projects in Peyote & Right Angle Weave
“Rachel Nelson-Smith has one of the most unique creative voices in beading.”
—Marcia DeCoster
Billie’s Bounce
Supplies Size 11° round seed beads: A, burnt sienna opaque, 4 g
Lengths of peyote stitch connect components together—the beaded rings bob and they wiggle, evoking the melody line of Charlie Parker’s tune “Billie’s Bounce.” Throw in lyrics by Eddie Jefferson for a riotously good time.
B, olive metallic, 4 g C, lavender opaque AB, 4 g D, blue metallic iris, 4 g
A series of right angle weave and peyote wheels are embellished with two different techniques, then connected together with tubular peyote stitch. ▶ Wheel Base Following the instructions below, make two right angle weave wheels each in colors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, for a total of 16 wheels. Steps 1 through 4 are shown in figure 1. Work with a single thread and reinforce each base for strength and stiffness.
1 To make the first unit, string seven beads, tie a simple double knot, leaving a 6-inch (15.2 cm) tail to be worked in later, and pass through the first two beads again.
E, maroon metallic iris, 4 g
2 For subsequent units, *string five beads and pass through the last two beads exited and the first four just added. String five beads and pass through the last two beads exited and the first three just added. Repeat from * six times. String two beads, pass through the two end beads of the first unit, string one bead, and pass through the two end beads of the last unit added and the two beads just added (red line).
H, olive silver-lined, 4 g
F, olive opaque, 4 g G, dark blue metallic, 4 g
I, light topaz matte silver-lined, 1 g J, charcoal matte metallic, 12 g 512 topaz bicone crystals, 4 mm Size 12 beading needles Red thread Sharp snips Suede or velvet work surface
Techniques Right Angle Weave 1-Drop Bump 2-Drop Bump Finish with Finial Beads Right Angle Weave Base Embellishment
figure 1 Made in High Times colorway
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Finished Size 58 inches (1.5 m) long
Rachel Nelson-Smith’s Bead Riffs
▶ Overview
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a second base in the same color. 4 Weave through beads to exit any set of two beads on the outside edge of the first base. String two beads and pass through a set of two beads on the edge of the second base. String two beads, pass through the last two beads exited of the first base, the first two beads added, and the two beads of the next unit of the second base (blue line). Continue to connect the bases with two beads at a time.
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5 Weave through the beads to exit a bead on the inside edge of the first base. String one bead and pass through a bead on the edge of the second base. String one bead and pass through the last bead exited on the first base, the first bead added, and the next bead of the second base. Continue to connect the bases with one bead at a time (figure 2).
figure 2
▶ Wheel Embellishment
RIFF IT
1 Weave through the beadwork to any 2-drop opening on the wheel edge. Embellish the opening of the base edge with one round of the 2-drop bump pattern in the same color as the base. Cinch the round and add a finial bead of color I. Repeat to add a 2-drop bump to every other opening, and make the seventh and fifteenth bumps without finial beads.
• Make a shorter necklace by using fewer components or shorter lengths of 1-drop bump connections.
2 Weave through the beadwork to exit any set of two beads on the outer edge of the face on one side of the wheel. Add a 4-mm crystal to all 16 openings. Repeat on the other side of the wheel.
• Add soldered jump rings to the ends of the 1-drop bump lengths and attach the clasp ends with open jump rings. • Use thread of different colors for each component. • Make a beaded belt with several components forming fringe at the ends.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 to embellish all 16 wheels.
• Make an open-ended lariat necklace.
▶ Finish
• Stitch one big bead into the component center.
Working with a wheel in color A, weave through the beadwork to exit any of the four beads in the cinch of a 2-drop bump where a finial bead was not added. Work the bump into 50 rows of a 1-drop bump, adding two Js in each row, one at a time. Stitch the final row to a finial-free bump on the next wheel, color B. Repeat to attach all wheels in this order: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, D, A, B, C, H, E, F, G—or improvise your own arrangement.
• Make multiple strands for an opulent beaded curtain. • Stitch a montée where the finial bead goes.
