Free-Form Peyote Pendant. Repurposed Earring

When a friend asked me if I can design something with a broken earring, I didn’t know it will be a free-form peyote pendant.
My immediate idea was a bead embroidery design with an earring in the center.
What I didn’t want to do is glue the earring onto the backing material. I wanted my friend to keep the earring clean if she changes her mind about the design.
Beadweaing around the earring and making a case for it seemed to be the answer to the problem.

Colors and Beads

I matched the earring colors and added just one element of a different color, white, that wasn’t represented in the earring design. If you know me well, you wouldn’t be surprised; I added a pearl!
The seed beads I used were all sizes 15 and 11. Also, I added several 4 mm Swarowski bicones. They enliven the design!

Free-Form Peyote Pendant Idea

First, I started weaving the back of the earring. Believe it or not, I started with a simple Right Angle Weave chain. Then I switched to Peyote and kept making an oval to cover the back of the earring.

The second part of the design was all about the free-form peyote technique around the earring. I already tried this technique to make a beaded ring. I think it is perfect for small projects when you don’t know what beads you will use.

Thinking of this pendant design, I decided to reflect on the ocean’s colors and the sky above it. As you see in the video and the photos, I added 3D elements to resemble waves.

Also, the freshwater pearl looked like a necessary element in the ocean-inspired design.
Do you like this design? Would you try free-form for any beaded jewelry projects in the future?

Happy beading!