I made my first stone beads in 1979 because I had a pendent that needed something for it to hang on. Over the past 41 years I can not tell you how many beads I have made a good guess would be in excess of 100,000.
I have lectured on stone bead making and have been blessed in the fact that I am recognized by my peers as one of the top stone bead makers in the world. At this time in my life I rarely make a strand of beads. My speciality now are single hard stone beads, my most common choice in stone is either agate of jasper. I also use nephrite and jadeite but not as often as the first mentioned stones.
As I have always been intrigued with ancient stone beads and amazed with some of the cultures lapidary skills. I have lately been working on a series (Lopactrian) of stone beads based on ancient beads, I take designs I like then make slight changes below you will see some of these beads.
A few years ago I purchased some agate beads from a bead seller on Ebay, my main reason for buying them was that the majority of the rough out work was already done.
I made it a point to buy the beads that had a nice pattern in them. I re-drilled the beads out to 4mm and then re-shaped them to a much more pleasing shape and must admit I am very happy with the results.
Banded Agate
1.46 inches 37mm long .48 inch 12.1 at largest diameter. Hole size 4mm
$275.00
Click image to enlarge
A few years ago I purchased some agate beads from a bead seller on Ebay, my main reason for buying them was that the majority of the rough out work was already done.
I made it a point to buy the beads that had a nice pattern in them. I re-drilled the beads out to 4mm and then re-shaped them to a much more pleasing shape and must admit I am very happy with the results.
Banded Agate
1.38 inches 35mm long .45 inch 11.4 at largest diameter. Hole size 4mm
$400.00
Click image to enlarge
ORDER 575-535-2524
A few years ago I purchased some agate beads from a bead seller on Ebay, my main reason for buying them was that the majority of the rough out work was already done.
I made it a point to buy the beads that had a nice pattern in them. I re-drilled the beads out to 4mm and then re-shaped them to a much more pleasing shape and must admit I am very happy with the results.
Banded Agate
1.46 inches 37.1mm long .48 inch 12.1 at largest diameter. Hole size 4mm
$250.00
Click image to enlarge
ORDER 575-535-2524
A few years ago I purchased some agate beads from a bead seller on Ebay, my main reason for buying them was that the majority of the rough out work was already done.
I made it a point to buy the beads that had a nice pattern in them. I re-drilled the beads out to 4mm and then re-shaped them to a much more pleasing shape and must admit I am very happy with the results.
Banded Agate
1.32 inches 33.6mm long .53 inch 13.5mm at largest diameter. Hole size 4mm
$250.00
Click image to enlarge
ORDER 575-535-2524
The bead below was inspired by beads from the Indus valley. This is the first in the series and I was trying to figure out exactly how to do what I wanted. I wanted a slight taper that grew larger as it came to the center of the bead. I did not get exactly what I was after but I was very pleased with the results.
This bead has a 4mm hole the outer diameter of the end of the bead is 6mm this said the wall thickness at the end is only 1mm.
By far the most delicate bead I have ever made.
Agate Bead
35.5mm long 9.7mm at widest Hole size 4mm
$350.00
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ORDER 575-535-2524
This bead is my second try at getting the taper to be very visual as it comes to the center. I was very happy with the results.
Bead is made from Arizona petrified wood and is very pleasing when you can hold it in your hand. The color layers in the stone worked well in this bead.
This bead has a 4mm hole the outer diameter of the end of the bead is 6mm this said the wall thickness at the end is only 1mm.
Arizona petrified wood
40.5mm long 11.5mm at widest 4mm hole
$450.00
Click image to enlarge
ORDER 575-535-2524
After I was satisfied with the look of the second bead it was time for me to make a bead that was inspired by Indus valley beads and it was time for me to put a bit of me in the next bead.
This bead is made from nephrite jade (polar jade) which was very popular some years ago until the source ran dry. The material is some of the finest nephrite I have ever owned and the bead came out luscious.
I basically made this bead as the one prior to it, once I had the taper to center proper I thought it might be nice to have a radius groove in the center. I drew the bead in my 3D software and then cut the groove in my image. I really liked the results so it was back to the studio for the final cut.
This bead has a 5mm hole the outer diameter of the end of the bead is 6.5mm this said the wall thickness at the end is only .75mm.
Nephrite jade
53.4mm long 12.1mm widest diameter Hole size 5mm
$900.00
3D drawing
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ORDER 575-535-2524
After I made the nephrite bead I thought the shape would work very well with a nice banded agate. I feel I was right as the shape and banding and color are very pleasing.
Banded Agate
2.2 inches 55.8mm long .50 inch 12.8 at largest diameter. Hole size 5mm
$650.00
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ORDER 575-535-2524
This next bead was an attempt at getting a lot of eyes in one bead. The material in this bead is ocean jasper from Madagascar, for some time this material was quite common and the color range was amazing, as with all stone the material was so popular that it was pretty much depleted at the source within just a few years.
I have never been much for a majority of white in a bead but with the almost pure white with the reddish eye patterns I knew this stone would make a very fine bead. When shaping the bead I felt the shape should be subtle and nothing drastic so the shape did not take away from all of the eyes.
Ocean Jasper
2.28 inches 57.9mm long .66 inch 13.7mm at largest diameter. Hole size 5mm
$1200.00
SOLD
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ORDER 575-535-2524
The agate in this bead is called Royal Aztec. I have had a piece of this material for many years that came from my grandfathers collection. I have always hesitated making anything from this piece because I only had one piece. I found more of this material on Ebay so was in the position to make this beautiful bead you see below.
I am very pleased with how this bead turned out and feel it is one of the finest beads I have made to date. The colors work together well with the shape and the eye adds it its uniqueness.
Royal Aztec Agate
1.49 inches 38mm long .55 inch 13.9 at largest diameter. Hole size 5mm
$1100.00
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ORDER 575-535-2524
The agate in this bead is condor agate found in Patigonia Argentina. I feel that condor agate is some of the most exciting agate I have ever seen. It has some of the brightest color combinations you will find in any agate
I am very pleased with how this bead turned out and feel it is one of the top beads I have made to date. The colors work together well with the shape which has a delicate appearance.
Condor Agate
1.95 inches 49.7mm long .38 inch 9.6mm at largest diameter. Hole size 3mm
$750.00
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ORDER 575-535-2524
The material in this bead is Rhyolite that was found in New Mexico. Rhyolite is extrusive igneous rock formed during eruptions of granitic magma. This particular material is quite hard and has wonderful subtle color layers. The bead is extra large in diameter and its size works well with the material it is made from.
Rhyolite
1.54 inches 39.2mm long .80 inch 20.2mm at largest diameter. Hole size 6.3mm
$750.00
Click image to enlarge
ORDER 575-535-2524
It is not to often that I will give a name to something I make but I felt that this name fit this wonderful bead "RED EYE EXPRESS". The material in this bead is condor agate from Patagonia Argentina. The red in this bead is very close to true red and it stands out like the lighthouse on the hill near the coast.
This is the most technical bead I have ever made and the amount of hours in it would floor most people, they would wonder why I would spend so much time on one bead. My answer to this is look at the bead .......... Beautiful and unique is all I can say.
RED EYE EXPRESS
1.77 inches 44.9mm long .55 inch 14mm at largest diameter. Hole size 5mm
$2200.00
Suzi made this wonderful 16 strand kumihimo cord for the bead, the colors used
really compliment the bead, it has my signature clasp. Hope you enjoy it.
Click image to enlarge
I purchased a quite large piece of Ray mine “Arizona” chrysocolla about thirty years ago, it sat around all of those years while I tried to figure out what best to do with it.
I I finally decided the best thing to do was to make as many treasure beads I could from the rough. I cut the piece into the largest blanks I could see. This bead is the first of a few that came from this wonderful piece of chrysocolla..
Ray mine Chrysocolla
1.11 inches 28.1mm long .49 inch 12.5mm at largest diameter. Hole size 5mm
$1200.00
