About this Product
Necklace set | Stunning teal blue Czech glass button focal, apatite stone beads, artisan lampwork rondelles, copper spacer beads, antique seed beads, bronze button clasp
Inspired by goimagine's Button Up Maker Challenge
Czech glass button from vintage mold: ~32mm teal blue with gold (silver back) "Petalwave" design.
Artisan (Amber Baggett) teal blue ~6x10mm rondelles.
Apatite natural gemstones: 10mm rounds; 6mm rounds and faceted rounds.
Silver ovular freshwater pearls (for balance on back of button).
Copper spacer/accent beads: 3mm rounds; 3.2mm bicones; 4.8mm bicones.
19th C. Venetian aqua/silver-lined seed beads
Gold bronze artisan chrysanthemum button clasp; antiqued copper niobium earwires w/ 2mm copper round; copper findings.
Strung on 49-strand beading wire.
Necklace length/weight: ~21"/1.7 oz.
#202356SW
- My work is offered as necklace/earring sets (demi-parure). If you don't wear earrings, the earring pairs make lovely gifts.
- I work with artisan and other beautifully designed toggles and clasps. Helpful hint: Practice hooking and unhooking the clasp; visualize this while doing so without looking.
- Please take care to avoid knocking or dropping beads against hard surfaces. Many beads I use (glass, ceramic, etc.) are breakable.
- Bead descriptions are based on bead vendor information and the best of my knowledge.
- Colors viewed may differ from actual colors due to device variances.
- Packed in a gift-ready window-lidded tin (anti-tarnish tab enclosed).
Dark Poet Designs | Unique Bead Jewelry
Meet the Maker
The name Dark Poet Designs was lifted from my once-upon-a-time one-line resume:
"...wife, mother, Girl Scout leader, bookkeeper (in both senses), dark poet..."
I am a retired elementary school teacher who has been designing bead jewelry for over 25 years. Originally, I hosted in-home studio shows. Over time, teaching and Argentine tango became my focus. I kept creating, but quit actively marketing my work... until joining goimagine.
I create necklace/earring sets, earrings, and an occasional bracelet. Each of my designs is one-of-a-kind. I frequently use mid-century vintage glass beads, usually post-war Japanese, German, or Czech. Other materials include semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, crystals, seed beads, glass rondelles, raku or ceramic beads, contemporary artisan-made beads in various media, and sterling silver or bronze beads and clasps.
Thank you for visiting my page. To see some of my past work and browse through some interesting links, visit my old website. My work is for sale online exclusively here at goimagine. Some of my work may be seen on Instagram. I'm also on Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr.
— Karen Reck | Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico
P.S. I haven't written a dark (vampires, ghosts, and demon lovers) poem in several years.
How it’s Made
Notes on this piece: I've off and on been collecting Czech glass buttons — those made from vintage molds, as well as a few genuine mid-century vintage buttons. I purchased them to be used as clasps, but I was inspired by goimagine's Button Up Maker Challenge to move one front and center in this design. The focal bead/button in this set is a large teal silver-backed with gold highlights with a floral motif. It's complemented by artisan Amber Baggett's gorgeous teal blue lampwork rondelles and large and small apatite rounds, accented with copper spacer beads. A local artisan's floral bronze button was used for the clasp with antique Venetian seed beads used for the clasp/button loops and as spacers. The tricky part of using buttons in a necklace design is getting them to hang in a way that they don't routinely flip over. I mitigated this by adding a loop of freshwater pearls on the back (silver side) of the focal button.
My designs are inspired by the beads, by their color, shape, size, and origin.
In my first years of bead jewelry design, I had to see and/or touch the beads to know what I wanted. After years of experience, I can confidently shop online and have a growing list of “go-to” artisans, vendors, and brands for my supplies.
My design descriptions include a list of “ingredients” used in each design.
Some designs come together quickly and organically. Others are re-worked several times, even if I’ve already attached the clasp with crimp beads and crimp covers and need to completely re-string.
Designs are often “retro-classic” as my OOAK designs are bead-centric with a nod to mid-century costume jewelry, rather than inspired by current fashions in jewelry designs or color trends. Add a pinch of whimsy and my personal take on color palettes.
I work on felted bead boards to calculate the length of each necklace (usually “matinée” length 20-24”) and to hold the beads I’ve selected for my design. Sometimes I change my mind mid-design and put away many of the beads I’ve been working with, then search for or order others. I usually work with 49-strand .018 or .019 gauge bead wire, which allows stringing back under a half-inch or so of beads after the crimp bead and clasp are attached. I work by creating my design on the wire, rather than try to lay out the complete pattern, as it’s important to see how the beads will hang and to pick compatible spacer beads.
I use sterling or gold-filled, and occasionally copper, ear wires and headpins, and often create “mis-matched” earring pairs.
The weight and length of each necklace are listed in case you have a preference for lighter or more substantial pieces. (I enjoy both.)
Shop Policies
Please contact me if you have any questions about your order, my work, or my terms.
Shipping
U.S. shipping is FREE/included in price (First Class).
Time in transit may vary depending on USPS.
Estimated packing/shipping times: 2-5 days.
I will accept returns if you:
Contact me within 5 days of delivery.
Ship items back within 7 days of delivery.
Conditions of return
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs.
Item(s) must be returned in their original condition and in original packaging.
Refunds will be issued after I've received your return.
Custom orders cannot be returned or exchanged.
Thank you for your support of goimagine and my work!
