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Apollonia: Architecture meets fine jewelry
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

Born in 1857, Sotirio Bulgari hailed from a small village in northern Greece. For generations this area was known for its exceptional silversmith art, a refined skill that had been passed from father to son since the Byzantine Era.

Apollonia is inspired by Bvlgari's masterful use of Roman architecture as a muse. In this case, I am using the imagery of the Italian baroque ceiling from The Palazzo dei Penitenzieri in Rome.

This set consists of a pair of earrings and a necklace. The main components are cubic right-angle weave (CRAW) and peyote stitch bezeled pear CZs using seed beads and fire polish beads.

More info...

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Fortuna's Wheel of Fortune Bracelet
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

Fortuna's Wheel of Fortune Bracelet is a series of three "wheels". The central "wheel" is a CZ that has a simple peyote stitch beaded bezel. From there, the outside of this shape has been extended to give it a square 3-D shape representing the early designing stages of a wheel. It's not square, but not round either. The side "wheels" are made in two parts, the wheels and the axles.

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Designed for exclusively for Heart of Texas 2021.

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NEW!
Art Deco Tutti Frutti Bracelet
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

The style has an east meets west aesthetic, which was wildly popular in the 1920's, but only gained its fun name in the 1970's. Art Deco Tutti Frutti Bracelet is the result of a blend of designs, the Art Deco era with its angles and Tutti Frutti with the riot of colors. These styles come together in a fashionable bracelet using cubic-right-angle weave (CRAW) and peyote stitch.

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Designed for exclusively for Club Bead 2021.

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Swaying in Harmony
Necklace & Earrings
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

Combine a beautiful chain with a dramatic pendant, and you have a contemporary necklace that has timeless elegance. Whether you wear it with jeans and western boots, or a velvet cocktail outfit, Swaying in Harmony will be a staple in your wardrobe. Add earrings and this set will be indispensable!

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NEW!
Gaudí's Folly Earrings
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

Gaudí's Folly Earrings were inspired by two different aspects of his work. The first, being the architectural flowing shapes, arches and spires. The second, was to capture the essence of his use of color and light. Then, the more I worked on these diminutive 3-D shapes, the more I thought of them as follies! More info...

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The Beloved: A Wrap-style Bracelet - NEW KIT!
©2016 by Cynthia Rutledge

A wrap-style bracelet with an interesting lacing technique is the background for the embellishments. The center component consists of a beautiful puffed ring that "swirls" on a pearl stem. The second set of components has a trillion CZ as the center with a puffy bezel to accent the shape. The last components are 10mm CZ's with a simple bezel. All of the components are sewn to the wrap bracelet, which ends with an oval CZ button.

More info...

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Gabrielle's Earrings Kit
©2018 by Cynthia Rutledge

Gabrielle's Earrings is a blend of styles using inspiration from the long pearl necklaces and mixed chains that were a standard iconic style of Coco's personal style, my design flows from this inspiration right into the art deco period.

A bezeled cushion-cut CZ and a puffy square-shaped pearl drop can be linked together for earrings or a small pendant. The shapes can be used independently from each other for smaller earrings or multiples linked together for a bracelet.

More info...

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Anatolia's Bracelet
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

The wealth and prosperity enjoyed by many during the early Byzantine era is demonstrated by the expensive jewelry produced during the period. Jewelry played a significant role in how people expressed their status. Byzantine royalty loved having their bodies covered in jewelry. From headwear to earrings, necklaces, and body jewelry, these royals would wear as much as possible to show their status.

Anatolia's Bracelet is inspired by the jewelry designs of this amazing period.

Exclusively designed for Beaders Dream Retreat 2020, San Diego.

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Arabesque Collar
©2019 by Cynthia Rutledge

Arabesque Collar is a meeting of materials, a collision of contrasts and a marriage of metal and glass. The word "Arabesque" refers to an Arabic or Moorish form of artistic decoration based on linier patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage or complex geometrical patterns.

Thin copper patina is the base of the central component, cut to an oval shape and decorated with a beautifully bezeled CZ, using peyote stitch. The CZ bezel is embellished with pearls and crystals, drawing the eye to this focal point. The metal form is simply bezeled, ending with a picot/netting flourish. Behind the scenes, there is a pearl cabochon "foot" added to support the metal structure on the collar.

More info...

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In Plain Sight
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

My inspiration stems from the architectural aspects of the ruins of the ancient capitol city, Tikal (dating back to around 350 BC and abandoned in the 9th century AD). This pre-Columbian Mayan civilization is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin, which is now northern Guatemala. Consumed by the rainforest, Tikal was "found" again in the 1840's. The site is famous for its soaring temples, large royal palaces, residences, gaming courts and even a jail.

In Plain Sight revives the style of the temple pyramids that are found in Tikal. From 125 to 230 feet tall, these temple pyramids are made of limestone and have a stair-step style with a central staircase, carvings and a flat platform at the top.

More info...

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Symbol of the West
©2020 by Cynthia Rutledge

Few fashion jewelry statements are specific to a locale, but the Native American bolo, or bola, tie is synopsis with the Western United States, especially Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Mid 20th century bolo ties were designed and made by Zuni, Hopi and Navajo silversmiths, and were at first, basically a sliding component designed to keep a bandana from coming off from around the neck.

Symbol of the West is inspired by the early bolo styles. A "woven" peyote stitch cord ends in two bezeled metal ovals and a decorative pearl and beaded cap.

More info...

This piece was created exclusively for the Heart of Texas 2020 workshop.

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Attention:
Beadwork and Metal: Meet in the Middle Students...

Bead & Button has created an online space for ALL students from my Beadwork and Metal: Meet in the Middle workshops to post photos of their finished boxes.

See the beautiful work that is up so far! Here's a link!

Here's how to submit your finished Beadwork and Metal: Meet in the Middle box photo:

• Take a photo with a plain white background. (You can send more than one photo but only one photo will be chosen for the gallery.)
  
• Email your original, unedited photo to editor@beadandbutton.com and put Beaded Boxes in the Subject line.
  
• Bead & Button will crop the photo and do any color adjusting.
  
• Bead & Button will email a contract for you to sign before your image can go on the website. The contract gives Bead&Button permission to post an image of your work, your name, and any contact information you would like put on the website.
  
• If you have any questions, you can send an email to to editor@beadandbutton.com

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Timeless Beadwork Designs
A Book by Cynthia Rutledge

My book, Timeless Beadwork Designs, celebrates my 20th year in this business and is a "thank you" to all of you, my friends, students and customers.

Timeless Beadwork Designs has 15 brand new projects. My inspirations came from art, history and design from the 1400's to the 1900's. There are 2-3 different colorways for each project resulting in 31 pieces of beadwork to inspire you to bead: five necklaces, four bracelets, three pairs of earrings, two rings and a brooch.

Order your autographed copy here!

NOTE: Errata Sheet for Timeless Beadwork Designs: Download Here

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