Coral Garden bead embroidery – Inspirations for Preciosa Bezelchain

A new component in the Coral Garden Academy Theme box is Bezelchain, the latest innovation from Preciosa. This sleek, flexible crystal chain features Chatons Maxima in a bezel setting. It is smooth, strong and seamless.

Each Chaton Maxima crystal is securely set in a continuous bezel, creating a fluid silhouette that sparkles with effortless grace. Bezelchain offers the perfect fusion of flexibility and durability. Its sleek structure prevents snagging or pulling. The radiant crystal chain moves as beautifully as it shines.

Aniko has come up with some inspirational ideas for using the Preciosa Bezelchain in bead embroidery, bead weaving, and even a super-easy no-needle jewel. She beaded the jewels from the Academy box for this Theme, and she is here to share the main steps of the beading journey, experience, ideas, and inspiration in the following article, which you may take as a tutorial for your jewels, or a knowledge source.

Aniko says about her inspiration: “The ocean keeps countless treasures beneath the waves. Some shimmer among coral branches, some drift gently with the currents, and others lie waiting to be discovered in secret underwater gardens. Treasures of the Sea was inspired by these precious finds. At its heart, the gemstone cabochon recalls the crystal-clear turquoise waters of a sheltered bay, while the coral charm, the flower bud, and the delicate jellyfish capture the diversity of marine life. The sparkling bezelchain reflects the shimmer of sunlight on the sea.”

Material list for a pendant/necklace:

• 1x 22×32 mm Gemstone Pendant
• 20mm 3,2 mm Preciosa Bezelchain
• 1x 35×39 mm Sea Coral Charm
• 1x 5×23 mm Jellyfish Charm
• 1x 7×8 mm Flower Bud Coral bead
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica (1 or 2 colors)
• 15/0 Miyuki seed beads (1 or 2 colors)
• Ultrasuede
• Interfacing (optional)
• Findings to customize your jewel

OPTIONAL for the beaded chain:

• 11/0 Miyuki seed beads
• Various round glass beads and fire-polished beads (optional)
• 1x 10×20.5 mm Fishhook Toggle Clasp
• Findings to customize your jewel

The Bible of Bead Embroidery Knowledge: The Traveller

I recommend starting here if you are new or want to deepen your existing knowledge. If you would like to bead any of the more complicated jewels in the future, you will need to be 100% comfortable with the basics. The more advanced tutorials don’t repeat all the hints and tips every time, so before you dig deeper, please, give yourself some time, and bead a Traveller. The instructions are extremely detailed, everything is recorded on video, and you can watch them as many times as you need. There are also recorded Q&A sessions from the time when I was teaching The Traveller for the first time, that besides my insight, are also deemed with knowledge and experience shared by fellow, more experienced beaders.

After watching these videos and beading your first Traveller, you’ll be perfectly prepared to play with all the beads and components in this article!

TREASURES OF THE SEA – The Coral Garden bead embroidery

This pendant is built around the main focal gemstone cabochon. The lower part is made in the traditional manner, but the upper part is asymmetrical and gives you the freedom to attach a variety of components.

The asymmetrical composition is inspired by nature itself, organic and unexpected. Every element tells a small part of the story, coming together as a precious keepsake from the depths.

1. Cut out a piece of Ultrasuede (US) approximately 6 × 6 cm / 2.36 x 2.36 inches in size, along with a piece of Interfacing (optional). If you use Interfacing underneath the US, fuse them together first.

2. Draw the geometric guidelines that will help keep the design symmetrical (on the lower side) and balanced overall. I used a gel pen; the markings will gradually rub off during the beading process.

3. Place the main cabochon onto the US and all the components around it, and plan the arrangement. You can mark reference points on the US.

4. Do not glue or stitch the gemstone cabochon to the US yet. Instead, bezel it using peyote stitch. My initial round consisted of (70) C11. You may need 5–6 rows with C11, followed by 2 rows of R15 on both the front and back sides. I used a random mix of green and turquoise C11 from the box, trying to imitate the colours of the cabochon.

5. Place a drop of glue in the centre and at the bottom of the cabochon to secure it to the US, then stitch it in place, leaving the upper section open and unstitched so you can insert the coral charm between the cabochon and the US. Stitch the cabochon only up to the diagonal lines marked in red.

6. Stitch the bezelchain around the cabochon between the red diagonal lines. While stitching the bezelchain, make sure that after each stitch you move the next chaton closer as much as possible, so that the chatons cluster neatly together. You can cut the chain at the end of the row; however, you may also leave the unstitched section hanging loose on one side. This gives the piece an asymmetrical, free-form look.

7. Attach the coral flower bead to the coral charm using a head pin or glue, then place the charm beneath the cabochon. Stitch the charm to the US at several points.

8. Cut the shape to size, leaving a few centimetres of extra material around the edge.

9. To make the pendant sturdier and hide any bumps from the stitches, you can cut the shape from a piece of cardboard and glue it to the back. If you do so, cut it a few millimetres smaller than the beaded piece.

10. Cut out the motif again from a second piece of US or leather to create the backing and glue it to the back.

11. Make one final, careful cut around the entire motif.

12. Edging: I finished the pendant without beads because I wanted to preserve the clean line of the bezelchain along the edge, but you can also use beads for the edging. If you choose a beadless edge, simply use an ordinary blanket stitch.

13. As you reach the centre of the bottom section while making the edging, attach the jellyfish charm with (2–3) R15. Finish the edging all around.

14. The pendant is now finished. Attach a metal chain or a beaded rope. I made a two-bead herringbone spiral rope and also used some round and fire-polished beads. Attach the clasp.

TREASURES OF THE SEA Earrings – Bead weaving

The earrings continue the tale of the ocean with a deep blue navette framed by shimmering bezelchains.

Material list for one motif (double for a pair):

• 11/0 Miyuki Delica (1 or 2 colors)
• 15/0 Miyuki seed beads
• 1x 5×10 mm Navette Glass cabochon
• 20mm 3,2 mm Preciosa Bezelchain
• 2x 8×14 mm Shiny Shell Earstud
• Findings to customize your jewel

1. For the base, bead an odd-count peyote strip with (11) C11. Bead 20 rows with C11, and add 1-1 row with R15 to the first and the last row.

2. Stitch the bezelchains and the NAV onto the peyote strip. Use the C11 beads in the base, marked in red, to attach the components. Simply exit one of the marked C11 and bead to the next marked C11. Place the bezelchain into the loop of the thread. Then bead through the top holes of the NAV + the next marked C11 in the same row. Bead to the next and final C11 in the same row, while placing the bezelchain into the loop. Pull the thread and repeat the thread path if possible. Be careful not to break the C11s in the base. Continue in this manner until you have attached the navette and the bezelchain in the marked rows. Use a size 12 needle.

3. Add ear studs.

TREASURES OF THE SEA Earrings – NoNeedle design

This second earring design is a quick, no-needle variation inspired by the bezelchain concept, perfect for creating a delicate, lightweight look in just a minute.

Material list for one motif (double for a pair):

• 10 mm 3,2 mm Preciosa Bezelchain
• 1x 4×13 mm Cute Pearl Connector
• 1x 8×14 mm Shiny Shell Earstud
• 2x Jumpring
• Findings to customize your jewel

1. Simply attach the connector with a jumpring to the bezelchain between any two chatons.

2. Attach the connector with another jumpring to the ear stud.

3. Your one-minute no-needle earrings are ready!

I hope you enjoyed this beading journey. Play with different beads and decorative elements, change the colors if you want, enjoy the creative process and your new jewels.

Happy beading! ☺