Handcrafted art beads add magic to jewelry that will last well beyond the holidays. When designing seasonal jewelry pick focal beads that celebrate the winter season along with more traditional festive picks. Think snowflakes and evergreens, deer and pine cones, doves and winter berries. Mix in stones like rutilated quartz, blue lace agate, rock crystal, smokey quartz, and garnets with your holiday art beads. I’d probably throw in some dark wood beads too along with chain in a gunmetal finish.
The design above is entitled Winter Solstice and can be found in my book, Jewelry Designs from Nature. I used a pewter pendant from Lynn Davis with a deer and woodland motif and paired them up with icy rutilated quartz. While it’s inspired by a walk in a winter forest, the necklace could be worn all year long.
Here are some of my picks for holiday inspired beads. With November breathing down our necks, it’s time to get those beads ordered and start on those holiday projects!
 let it snow – simple truths…
$15.00
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 Old Lace White – 16mm Patina…
$13.00
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 Medium 8 Petal Verdigris Pat…
$12.00
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 Snowflake Charm – Teal
$12.00
|
 Vanilla Birds- tiny ceramic …
$18.00
|
 Holiday Pendant, “Belie…
$8.00
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 Red Kirk Wood Button Hand Ca…
$18.99
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 Ember Red Beads – set of 8 -…
$8.00
|
 Verdigris – 10mm Patina Copp…
$10.00
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 Swirly Bird Leaf Pendant
$10.00
|
 Petal Headpins Mulberry – se…
$16.00
|
 Leaf and Hart Hand Cast Pewt…
$15.99
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 Jangles Ceramic Pendant
$12.00
|
 Snow Dove
$9.00
|
 Falling Snow / Ceramic Snowf…
$16.50
|
 Evergreen- Handmade ceramic …
$14.00
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Kylie Parry Studios
October 26, 2011 at 6:35 pmThat necklace is sooo pretty! Thanks for the feature 🙂
Kylie
Craft
October 26, 2011 at 9:58 pmJust a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [27 Oct 02:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
Alice
October 27, 2011 at 12:08 amI never make jewelry that screams a particular holiday because if it doesn't sell, I don't want it hanging around for an entire year.
I do make jewelry that fits the season but can be worn anytime–just like your Winter Solstice, which is gorgeous!!!
Thanks for sharing the bead lust.
coffeeaddict
October 27, 2011 at 12:29 pmI agree with Alice. It's nice to make season/holiday appropriate jewellery, but if your client base is small you can end up with a lot of unsold jewellery.
Heather Powers
October 27, 2011 at 12:59 pmGood points Alice and Vrhnika. I try to make my pieces that are more holiday related something timeless that could be sold the following year if they are still hanging around in January!
Eileen Goddard
October 27, 2011 at 2:27 pmbeautiful ideas, and a gorgeous necklace! thank you 🙂
Jewels By Ine
October 27, 2011 at 7:34 pmWAUW I love the necklace! really nice beads and beautiful design!
Fashion jewellery UK
November 1, 2011 at 11:53 amNecklace so beautiful. I love to wear…