Creating with Cabochons: Celestial Bliss

Participating today is a great honor for me. The opportunity to share my cabochon work is magical and I'm grateful for the possibility because of an angel whisperer, Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime. 

I actually had missed the deadline for joining in this hop and was so disappointed because I'd been bead embroidering cabs all year for a celestial necklace in honor of my daughter Christina, who died last year, and in honor of my other two beautiful daughters, Colene and Sarah. 

I didn't want to be rude, so I quietly watched as people prepared for the blog hop. Weeks passed, and I wished. But when I read an  AntiquityTravelers post about the hop, I could not not ask to be included. It was just a couple days until the reveal!

And then the coolest thing happened. 

Sally read my email just as she was about to email everyone the participant's list! It was right on top as she opened her email. 

And so I'm sharing my celestial cabochon jewelry today. Creating it has been healing and meditative work. And being able to participate today is a gift, an affirmation that angels are among us. 

So, firstly I'm sharing lots of wire work cabs for inspiration. I think cabs are my very favorite component of all. I love them! I started creating with cabs the first time I began making jewelry. 


One of my very favorite bezel techniques uses chainmaille. With a simple Half-Persian 3-1 weave, a strong and versatile bezel can be made for even the largest gemstone cabs. 

The tutorial for this bezel is available on the BBJ website, Series 1600 "World Traveler"  and it's available for free. What a great technique! 

Charoite cab with antique brass chainmaille bezel,
carved amethyst beads, charoite rounds, Swarovski crystals.

The same chain can be inverted also, to create another style bezel.

This cab is seraphinite, the "angel stone" 

In addition, I love to  chainmaille bezel rivoli crystals with a 12-2 Japanese weave.

And I enjoyed creating my first traditional peyote bezel for a rivoli last month for the Summer Color Surprise blog hop! 

Wire wrapping is another of my favorite techniques for cabs. 

Rose Quartz and Cubic Zirconia Faceted Gem

Double Wrap of Larimar cabs, with larimar
rounds, pearls, mystic topaz, and silver beads

Blu Mudd Artisan ceramic made into a cab and wire wrapped

Wire wrapped Drusy quartz

And this year, I began combining wire wrapping and beadwork. Here, I've made a simple wire wrap and added beadwork to the wire bezel. 

Azurite with Beadcomber flower and Humblebeads

I've also been wire weaving, and creating reversible bezels. I learned the technique from Lisa Barth, and a tutorial is available at her Etsy shop. 

One side of the ocean jasper is held with metal work.

Wire woven Ocean jasper 

The reversed side of the ocean jasper is a beaded bezel. 

Beadwork bezel reversed ocean jasper cabochon

I began creating this necklace last November, almost a year ago! I decided to use all the indigo blue 7 celestial drusy cabochons that I've collected. Most of the cabs are from the lovely Julez Buell and her shop, Julez Jewelz Cabochons on Etsy. 

When Sally added me to the challenge, I stayed up most of the night and finished the 10 month long project for our hop. I may reach for more Lacey's and continue on creating a bib design, or I may simply focus on adding soft leather backings to the cabs. No matter what, I'm enchanted; I adore all those seed beads!

Drusy Cabochons from Julez Jewelz, sun button by Beadfreaky.

The sun shone as if to say "be happy!" as I photographed 

Thank you Sally for organizing a wonderful cabochon blog hop! I count my lucky stars to be a part of "Creating with Cabochons." And thank you sweet angels for watching over us :) 


The Cabochon Artists:

Our Host:  Sally Russick

D Lynne  Bowland

Alicia Marinache           

Lynn  Jobber           

Jenny Davies-Reazor           

Jen  Judd           

Jo-Ann  Woolverton           

Marde Lowe           

Dawn Doucette           

Mary K McGraw           

Gloria Allen           

Cheri  Reed           

Sonye Stille           

Elizabeth Owens Dwy           

Veralynne   Malone           

Tania Hagen           

Lynsey  Brooks           

Christina Miles           

Holly  Westfall           

Kathy  Lindemer           

Patti Vanderbloemen           

Therese Frank           

Adrienne Berry           

Liz   E  

Tanty  Sri Hartanti           

Ginger Bishop

Renetha Stanziano           

Marlene  Cupo           

Sandi Volpe           

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson           

Niky  Sayers

Mischelle Fanucchi           

Tracy  Stillman           

Skylar Bre'z           

Ann Schroeder           

Paula Kramer

Jess Green           

Susan Kennedy           

Stacie  Florer           

Cathie  Carroll           

Susan F.   

Michelle Caballero       

Sabine Dittrich           

Kristina Johansson           

Kimberly Sturrup-Roberts           

Melissa  Meman           

Cheryl McCloud         

Michelle  Timms           

Cindy  Pack                     

Lynda  Carson

Cynthia  Machata           

Julia  Harris           

Karin  Slaton

Ingrid  Anderson           

Karin Grosset Grange

Jasvanti  Patel   

Inge  von Roos

Molly Alexander

Toltec Jewels