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Create a turquoise beaded bracelet with alternating silver beads for a southwestern style. Select natural turquoise beads in any shape or size, and smaller silver beads as an accent. To make the bracelet, you'll also need a strand of elastic beading cord cut to fit your wrist or the desired length of your bracelet, plus 3 inches so you can tie knots around the clasp. You can make your bracelet as loose as you like, but make sure that it will not fall off of your wrist. Select a silver clasp to coordinate with the southwest beads in the bracelet.
Before you begin adding the beads to the strand, attach one section of the clasp to one end of the cording. Knot it with a double overhand knot and dot it with jewelers glue for added security. Thread your beads, making sure to slide the first few over the tail of the cording from the knot. Continue to add the beads until you are about 1 1/2 inches from the end of the strand. You can then add the remaining section of clasp the same way you added the first section. -
Native American jewelry designs are patterned with geometric shapes and generally made from colorful seed beads. The beads are stitched or woven to create jewelry that's both intricate and delicate. You can weave beads on a simple bead loom available from your local craft store; make sure to purchase quality seed beads such as Delicas or Toho beads so that the beads will be uniform and your project will be even and smooth. Beading weaving with a loom requires a pattern, beading thread and a beading needle.
Begin your project by attaching the warp threads on your loom. These are the horizontal threads that will separate the seed beads in your design. Count the number of rows in the pattern you are using, then add one to determine the number of warp threads you'll need on your loom. Your next step is to tie a 4-foot section of beading thread to the left side of the bottom strand on your loom. This thread is your weft thread and the one to which you will be adding your southwest beads. Thread your beading needle to the other end of the weft thread and add the beads according to the first row in your pattern. To weave the beads, pull the strand beneath the warp beads and press upwards so that each one of the beads will fall between one of the warp strands. Complete the row by inserting your needle back through each of the beads. Make sure to keep the warp threads beneath the weft thread. Continue to weave the beads row by row until your jewelry design is complete.
