All That Glitters
©2025 by Cynthia Rutledge
Canyon petroglyphs attest to human presence in southern Nevada for more than 10,000 years, and members of the Paiute tribe were in the area as early as 700AD. Rafael Rivera was the first European to enter the valley scotting the area in 1821 as part of an expedition to open up a trade route, known as The Old Spanish Trail, between New Mexico and California. He named the valley, Las Vegas (the meadows) after its spring-watered grasses.
The area changed little over the next 34 years until in 1855, Brigham Young sent a group of Morman settlers to establish a mission. Sadly, due to disappointing yields in nearby mining efforts, the group’s leaders decided to abandon the fort in 1857.
While the Morman settlement proved unsuccessful, their legacy continued in the adobe building they constructed. The fort was once used as a store. Later, the area was purchased for a ranch, then sold again to a group of railroad companies. The railroad tracks went straight through what is today, downtown Las Vegas. The railroads brought gambling, casinos and showgirls to Freemont Street (the only paved street) to attract railroad and Hoover Dam workers. The dam was finished in 1936 offering cheap hydroelectricity to power the flashing signs of Freemont’s “Glitter Gulch”!
All That Glitters celebrates the long history of Las Vegas, from the ancient peoples to the world-renown city of “glitter” today. A central cushion-cut CZ is surrounded by beadwork and baby cup chain. Pointing to the stars are two beaded marquise-cut CZs and a trillion CZ. A beaded pear CZ drop completes the pendant.
Six-sided Right-Angle-Weave, using tiny pearls, makes for a lacey necklace chain ending in beaded pearl buttons. Inspired by the pyramids of Egypt and the Luxor Hotel this pendant is a shining light in the midnight sky.
Workshop length: This is a one-day workshop held for Club Bead 2026
Skill level: Advanced
Necklace length: 17” but can be extended
Techniques:
Embellishing techniques
Flat, even count peyote stitch
Six-sided RAW
Stitching-in-the-ditch
Tubular, even count peyote stitch with decreasing