Branch of the Bodhi Tree

A beader can never have enough stitches in their beading arsenal. St Petersburg stitch was added to my cache this week, and it became an instant favourite. It works up very quickly and is easy to learn. Give it a try! The double version of the stitch reminded me of leaves, and so 'Branch of the Bodhi Tree' was born.

The Bodhi Tree was a large sacred fig tree under which Buddha sat and achieved enlightenment. (Incidentally, the term 'bodhi' also means enlightenment.)

The 'leaves' hang from twisted tubular herringbone ropes, separated by brass spacers

The St Petersburg 'leaves' are tipped with wooden rondelles

Detail of the St Petersburg 'leaves'

Detail of the clasp with a small St Petersburg 'leaf' and a brass Buddha charm

Thanks for looking, and may your day be enlightening! :-)

Sea glass pendant

It has been a long, long three months without my precious beads. How happy my hands were to rediscover beadweaving after such an arduous absence! Life is once again returning to a steady, familiar rhythm, and so I am able to bead. Joy!

My latest humble offering is pendant of sea glass hanging from a simple twisted tubular herringbone necklace.

Have you ever wandered along a beach and collected a piece of tumbled glass which has been washed upon the shore? It has been a favourite ritual of mine since I was a child. There is something enchanting about these remnants of times and places unknown, offered up by the sea and carved by Mother Nature. Not knowing where they have come from, nor how long they have been tumbled by the ocean, is an enticing mystery.

This particular piece of green sea glass had a story to tell and so I had to give her a fitting home in which to tell it.

I added a simple fringe, reminiscent of coral or seaweed.

I purposefully left the back of the pendant open. When backlit, the glass gives off a beautiful green glow.

A simple toggle with three square-stitched rings makes the length of the necklace adjustable.

I encased the sea glass with right angle weave and peyote stitch. The openness of the RAW lets the glass receive light from all angles.

My sea glass necklace is making it's way to a lovely lady who has been a family friend since I was a child. She is one of the most vibrant and generous people I have ever known, and her heart is as big as her smile :) She spent countless hours making a gorgeous cot quilt for my daughter and so I wanted to repay her with a small token of my gratitude. This particular piece of sea glass was found on the beach very near to her home, and so I feel it needs to be with her. I hope she likes it :)