My little sister is getting married in just a few weeks!

Ever since she told me, I had selfish dreams about making her fun wedding jewelry and even told her I’d do it all for free! But when we got to looking into what she wanted to do, it was something kinda simple yet very purty and the prices we were seeing were good enough that it would probably end up a bit cheaper that way (as I’d have to buy whole strands of things instead of just a few beads) so she ended up buying pieces……..or at least those are the reasons I give my self when I feel sad about not getting to make ultra fancy wedding jewelry again like I did for my friend Faedra’s wedding a few years ago.

She and her mother were so awesome. She had an idea of something she wanted me to go off of and the three of us went to the bead store and picked out the components and they paid for everything, plus extra because they were really worried that I wouldn’t have enough. Some of the things were like packages of earrings, etc. which we only needed 3 pair or we ended up with an extra strand or two of some kinds of beads because we changed up the pattern after purchasing. I offered to pay for any materials not used in the wedding jewelry, but her mother turned me down flat. She said any extra was a thank you. I’m still getting to stare at those thank you beads as I haven’t had many requests for that type of jewelry and plus because I always hate to use them, I always like having some kinds of beads just to have them. (I know, I’m crazy) I’ve been drooling at the hopes of having more wedding jewelry to design so I can incorporate some of it or get to buy more and have additional leftover pretties to add to my collection!

Here is the set I did for Faedra. Swarovski Crystal and Swarovski Glass Pearls with Sterling Silver beads and bead caps. The set is made up of: A Two Strand Necklace, Bracelet, Earrings, and veil clip. This was a lot of fun!!! She had seen a piece done leaving open bead wire as a stringing technique and showed it to me and I made up my own design. I have to admit that at first I really had a hard time with it being “ok” to show the stringing material as usually the object is to hide it, but I really love the idea now. I ended up making a similar more simple jewelry set for myself using some of the leftover White Swarovski Glass Pearls, along with some Swarovski Crystals I already had and Man Made Black Onyx. That is now one of my favorite sets of jewelry…..plus, it’s black and white so it goes with almost anything.

This is the set I made for her Bride’s Maids. The earrings on the left were a test run of something more unique, but I decided the simpler ones on the right would be better for the occasion. The Bride’s Maids had a 1 Strand Necklace, Bracelet, and Earrings using the Swarovski Crystal Pearls, Swarovski Crystal, and Gold Filled beads and bead caps along with a very pretty pendant Faedra wanted them to have that they could remove and wear on a simple chain if they wanted after the wedding.

So, know anyone planning a wedding?