Want to give your next necklace depth and meaning? There is nothing wrong with stringing a strand of beautiful beads and making jewelry that complements your favorite clothes. But what about designing something that tells a story? Today we are looking at intention jewelry. Make a unique necklace or bracelet that broadcasts a powerful word that holds special meaning to you. Do you have a significant word that gives you focus and strength? Add a pendant with a secret note inside or the cremains of a loved pet. Place your beads in a sequence of numbers and colors that empowers you and makes you confident. Let's be storytellers and give our jewelry a voice!
Give your next necklace weight and significance with symbolism and meaningful elements. Intention jewelry is a way to tell your story. Add a word or mantra to a bracelet so you can reflect on it. Use colors to express a mood or story. Celebrate the goddess within using beads that represent numbers. Intention jewelry is a way to enrich your jewelry with a deeper meaning. Let's make jewelry that communicates our personalities and gives us focus!
Check out our mystery kits. Inside each of our jewelry making kits is a story waiting to be told. We include hand curated beads and colors that pair brilliantly with the theme of each kit. Our recent Lunar New Year Design Kit was blasted with a firework shower of red, white, gold, and black. We wanted to evoke the explosive happiness of the holiday. Two of the themed beads inside are great for making intention jewelry - we added a ceramic Buddha and a Maneki-Neko (also called a lucky cat or beckoning cat). Give your next bracelet some charm and personality with a theme that you love!
Intention Jewelry: Make Your Jewelry Tell Your Story
Add Unique Elements To Your Jewelry To Tell Your Story
Creating your own story the next time you design a necklace is simple. Adding personal meaning is easy. Select a stone that has significance. Lapis, for instance, is said to relieve anger and negativity. Adding Lapis to a design is a way of declaring your freedom from these dark emotions. Numbers have significance for many. You can count the beads you add for a subtle whisper that is powerful to you and those close to you. You can purchase pendants that hold memories. Make your jewelry be your storyteller.
Jewelry charms have been with us since our early ancestors first picked a treasured bone or shell from the ground. They have been trending throughout history. Iconic jewelry company Tiffany's made their name known with a charm bracelet. Charm jewelry is currently following popular culture, a movie or series tends to bring the fun back. If you know how to open and close a jump ring, you know how to attach a charm to your next design. Add a charm to an anklet or necklace. Give a friend a charm bracelet.
Charm bracelets are great for telling a story. Create a piece of jewelry with a motif or theme. Add a collection leaf charms to a bracelet with fall colors and a fall pendant. Give a friend a charm bracelet full of their favorite sports symbols - a cute football and helmet shows their spirit! Load up a charm necklace for a friend that is a veterinarian, make sure you include puppy and kitty cat charms! Have some fun creating something playful and perfect for a friend.
Color is radiant. Color is vibrant. Color is life. Our rainbow of beading wire is great for adding your personal touch. A copper color wire looks amazing when you are stringing old findings. Have a skeleton key that was passed down as an heirloom? String it on copper wire and make it a centerpiece on an intention jewelry design. Red is a color that is famous for representing celebration and good fortune. String a design with a rich red and make a powerful statement. Make the color of beading wire you use just as important as the beads you are stringing.
Gemstones have often been prized for their ability to heal. Deep metaphysical meaning has surrounded stones since we began collecting these lovely prizes from the soil. Agate is said to give perception and clarity. Onyx is said to strengthen willpower. Citrine is a talisman for prosperity and creativity. Moonstone is a powerful mothering stone that may make us better nurturers and empower us during the struggle of childbirth. Celebrate gemstones and beads in your designs. Use them to make your jewelry magical.
Add some beads that give your design a colorway that appeals to you. Soft baby blue Czech Glass may stir the power of winter nostalgia. Warm autumn colors may evoke the feelings of rebirth and warm family moments. Color is a wonderful way to tell you story and give your design a lovely aesthetic.
Make An Evil Eye Talisman
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The evil eye, also called a Nazar or Mati, is one of the oldest forms of intention jewelry. This ancient design was worn as a protective amulet. The evil eye repelled the negativity and envy of others. The person that wore this charm could avoid supernatural injury or misfortune. The simple design is iconic and classic. Eye beads often come in a white, blue, and black motif, but other colors can be substituted. This talisman has been worn for thousands of years and it has spanned the globe. This beautiful bead shields the wearer and looks amazing.
Evil eye glances were ominous curses. They could be malevolent looks from jealous people that wished to cause harm. Even more worrying, the evil eye could be cast from a friend with no intention to cause calamity. A look of envy from a friend, could jinx and endanger one that was not wearing the amulet. Infants were sometimes protected with their own evil eye bracelets in the event that an over appreciative glance could cast a hex. Today, there are still people that wear the Nazar as a form of protection. The evil eye is also appreciated as a form of casual jewelry.
How To Make A Mala Necklace For Prosperity
Kristen discussed her word of the year on this episode of Free Spirit Beading. She has made a practice of choosing a word of the year each January. Rather than struggle to keep a resolution, she selects a word that has power and reflects on it throughout the year. Love, Clarity, Meaning - a word can be a tool for transformation. Kristen focuses on her word and uses it to make positive changes. Kristen chose Prosperity as her word this year. She is reinforcing that word with jewelry and symbols she can reflect on.
Kristen decided to string a mala necklace for prosperity. A mala is a form of meditation jewelry. A full mala is designed with 108 beads. This can be worn as a necklace. Half malas are strung with 54 beads and can be worn as a bracelet. Kristen decided to incorporate Feng Shui numbers into this design. She chose six and eight. Six is related to good fortune and eight is said tp bring wealth and prosperity. In this design, she split her beads into sets that reflected her numbers. 33 beads and 15 beads are number sets that equal six if they are added together. All totaled, her beads equaled 108 on her mala. She is also using pyrite and citrine as stones that will encourage luck and prosperity. She strung her design on red wire - which is also associated with abundance. She gave her mala a cute focal. Kristen added her Maneki-Neko bead from our Lunar New Year Design Kit. This necklace will truly be a lightening rod for abundance and prosperity!
From Kristen:
Making a mala style meditation necklace is a thoughtful way to infuse your adornments with intention and wear as visual talisman. Mala have been used for centuries to help their owners set intentions, meditate and manifest their desires. Traditionally, a mala has 108 beads with knots in between which assists in counting your mantras during meditation. Gemstone are often added to infuse meaning based on their special properties.
Why 108 beads? 108 is considered a sacred number. 108 represents the universe. It is said that there are 108 energy lines that converge to form the heart chakra. The distance of Earth from the Sun is about 108 times the diameter of the Sun. The diameter of the Sun is 108 times the diameter of the Earth. In astrology, silver is thought to represent the moon, the atomic weight of silver is 108.
In addition to the 108, you can add decorative spacer beads (not counted in 10). A guru bead is in the center at the bottom here strands come together and is considered to represent the student-teacher connection. Below the guru bead is the tassel that represents enlightenment.
From Kristen:
How did I set the intention for Prosperity in this design? I made these choices in my design all around the idea of calling in prosperity:
I chose to use the maneki-neko bead as my guru bead. The maneki-neko ('beckoning cat') is a common Japanese figurine which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. There’s actually a meaning behind which paw the Maneki Neko cat is holding up. If it’s the left paw, this is supposed to attract customers. If the right paw is raised, this invites good fortune and money. This cat is holding a Japanese coin from the Edo period; a ryo was considered to be quite the fortune back then.
I chose to use the gemstone Pyrite as my 108 beads. Pyrite is said to attract wealth, success and protection.
I chose to use the gemstone Citrine as my decorative bead. Citrine is said to bring happiness, positivity and abundance.
I chose to string on red color Soft Flex beading wire. Red is the color of energy, passion and action.
I chose to work with the number 6 for my beads. The number 6 is considered lucky in Feng Shui, because it means 'flow' in Chinese. The number 6 also represents happiness and blessings. A number of businesses display the number 6, to invite good fortune and wealth.
How To Make A Chakra Healing Gemstone Bead Stretch Bracelet
The chakra system originated in India. The word chakra in Sanskrit translates to 'wheel' or 'disk'. Chakra energy centers are said to link the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual and each of the 7 chakras has its own color, sound frequency, element, and properties attached to it.
Chakra Gemstone Beads Used:
Unifying = Crystal Quartz
Root RED = Red Garnet
Sacral ORANGE = Carnelian
Solar Plexus YELLOW = Citrine
Heart GREEN = Green Aventurine
Throat LIGHT BLUE = Blue Apatite
Third Eye INDIGO/DARK BLUE = Lapis
Crown VIOLET/PURPLE = Amethyst
What does a Chakra healing bracelet do? Chakras are believed to be vortexes of energy within us connected to certain aspects of our physical and emotional being. Gemstones are considered a powerful tool in correcting imbalances within these chakras. It is believed the healing powers of stones would subtly absorb the negative energy blocking the wearer's chakras and balancing their flow of energy.
To cleanse and charge your bracelet:
1. Place the bracelet under running water and set the intention for the gemstones to be cleansed and cleared of any and all heavy or unwanted energy.
2. Dry the bracelet off and place it in your hands. Close your eyes.
3. Set the intention that this chakra balancing bracelet cleanses, aligns, and revitalizes all of your chakras, allowing for greater ease, flow, and joy in life.
4. You can do this anytime you need a little boost. You can also charge your gemstone jewelry under the full moon.
Make A Triple Goddess Necklace With Moonstone Beads & Symbolism In Mind
Please note: Video sound was not working until 2 minutes into video.
From Kristen:
This week on Free Spirit Beading with Kristen Fagan, we paired Soft Flex Beading Wire, in white, with moonstone beads. We showcased a triple goddess wood cut pendant from Allegory Gallery. And we discussed designing jewelry with symbolism in mind. I love paying attention to the meaning of gemstone beads and using symbols as a way to connect with the world and energy around me. I find it is a wonderful way to add a bit of magic to my life and creative pursuits. It also helps me dig deeper to my own consciousness and it empowers me with strength, clarity and encouragement.
What is the Triple Goddess Symbol?
The Triple Goddess symbol is comprised of a waxing crescent, full moon, and a waning crescent. The most common meaning assigned to the Triple Goddess symbol is the maiden, mother, and crone. Each phase of the moon correlates with a phase of a woman’s life. Here’s a breakdown of each phase.
The Maiden: Represented by the waxing moon. The maiden embodies purity, youth, creation, pleasure, naivety, and new beginnings. The maiden invites you to explore your spirituality, sensuality, and creativity.
The Mother: Represented by the full moon. The mother embodies love, fertility nourishment responsibility, patience, gratitude, power, and self-care. The mother invites you to master giving and receiving love.
The Crone: Represented by the fading waning moon. The crone embodies endings, wisdom, death, acceptance, and culmination. The crone invites you to accept that without death there is no birth.
The mother, maiden, and crone is not the only way to honor and connect with this symbol.
Here are some other meanings of the Triple Goddess symbol.
Planes and realms: Earth, the underworld, and heaven
Cycles: Life, Birth, Death, and ultimately rebirth as the moon phases continue
A connection to the divine feminine
Wearing the Triple Goddess symbol can be a powerful reminder throughout your day to your connection to the divine feminine and all it represents. It's a reminder of the constant flow of life, birth, death, rebirth.
(source: Zenned Out)
What Is a Moonstone?
Named for its moon-like sheen, Moonstone is a Feldspar mineral, Moonstone is a natural crystal mineral that is thought to harvest the energy of the moon. The moon, in Feng Shui and many other spiritual traditions, represents the divine feminine. The creative and intuitive power of feminine energy is activated by the moonstone. It can help us balance and cool down emotions and stress. It can also put us in tune with our feminine and feeling side. The serene and tranquil energy of the moonstone also invites creativity, healing and motherly protection. It also acts like a mirror so we can see clearly our reflection.
(source: The Spruce)
Do you see how choosing moonstone with the pendant is a perfect match in more ways than one? Learning more about the gemstones you are designing with add a bit of magic and importance to your jewelry design. While natural stones are beautiful, they also hold a lot of meaning and power for the wearer. Kristen used moonstone beads with this pendant to enhance the moon symbolism. As the moon orbits Earth, it cycles through eight distinct phases which is why she chose to use 8 moonstone beads in a row. She also repeated the number 3 for the spacer beads to connect to the 3 phases of the triple goddess moon pendant.
Make A 3 Strand Bracelet Celebrating The Goddess Within
Kristen celebrated International Women's Day by making a multi-strand bracelet tutorial fit for a goddess. To add some extra visual energy to this gorgeous bracelet, she used patina paints on her temple clasp. Adding patina to a metal or painting a bead is a special way to make your jewelry one of a kind.
From Kristen:
We will tap into the properties of rose quartz and garnet beads and combine them with numerology, pretty pink table cut Czech Glass beads and one of our patina painted temple clasps to create a beautiful bracelet that celebrates the goddess within.
Let's take a look at how you can design jewelry with Divine Feminine symbolism in mind. Using symbolism is a great way to inspire your design when feeling stuck and infuses a bit of magic into your jewelry!
Power of 3: As a Goddess, we naturally imbue the power of three within us. We experience three phases in our lives, ‘maiden, mother and matriarch (crone)’. Whether we are male or female, we have the ability to work with the feminine creative power of the number three within us to transform our lives by aligning the three aspects of our being – our mind, body & soul. (source: Universallifetools)
Power of 13: The number 13 has a unique association with the Divine Feminine. 13 is said to have been revered in prehistoric goddess-worshiping cultures because it corresponded to the number of lunar (menstrual) cycles in a year 13 x 28 = 364 days. (source: Witchlike)
Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is associated with love, heart, and beauty. Rose quartz is the embodiment of divine femininity. It is full of feminine energy. The nature of rose quartz is associated with Water, one of the two traditionally female elements. Water is our emotions, tenderness, inspiration, ability to love, and care. A person wearing rose quartz learns to trust their feelings, gradually opening themselves up to unconditional love and acceptance. (source: Solancha)
Garnet - Since ancient times, garnet’s traditional red color was associated with the heart and blood. Garnet’s color and inner fire could also stir a person’s creative energy. Garnets have been symbolically associated with life force, especially the feminine life force. (source: Gemsociety)
Here are some closeups of the closure. From left to right: each of the three beading wire strands are crimped to the holes in the temple clasp, attach a split ring to the toggle bar and then crimp the three strands to the split ring being mindful of the order, lastly how it looks when closed.
Creating An Intention Necklace That Celebrates Your Word Of The Year
My goodness. Kristen uploaded this video two years ago. Just before the world went a little wonky on us. It is hard to imagine the lives we lived before the shadow of Covid stretched across the world. In this video, Kristen showed us how to use metal stamping tools to create an intention necklace with her word of the year. With the benefit of hindsight, hopefully Kristen's word was a helpful and healing word in 2020.
Kristen chooses a word of the year at the beginning of each new year. Who needs a resolution? A word of the year can give you focus and clarity on what is important. Love is her word of the year, this cycle. It is a mantra and an exploration. Choose your own word. Betterment is a good one. Sensibility, tranquility, and harmony are other ideas. Select a word and make your personal life revolve around it. It is a great way to become a little better without the burden of a resolution. It is easy to break a resolution. But a powerful word is stronger and deeper than gossamer goals.
Pick a word that best suits you. Ponder a word that challenges you to make changes or expresses a thought that is comforting and healing. Don't let the worrying storm of the pandemic overtake you. Select a word that infuses you with power and courage.
Metal Stamped Love XO Bracelet and Earrings With Moonstone
Kristen has been selecting a new word of the year for more than a decade. She finds words that give her purpose. A couple of years ago, Intention bracelets were all the rage. Celebrities rushed to buy a simple bracelet with a single word on them. Celebrities chose some great words. Rihanna selected the word Faith. Beyonce chose Surrender. Kanye West used Beautify as his word. This is very much in line with Kristen's word of the year. If you don't want to focus on a word for a year, you could always make an intention bracelet that helps you get through the day.
What is your intention word for 2022? Action is a fun word. It demands you stay on the move and quit being passive. Kindness is a word a lot of us could remind ourselves about, even if we are not being grumps, the word may inspire us to do more for our fellow humans. Play is an amazing word. As a father, I need to remind myself that my child needs me to take a moment to be less serious and engage in the fun that made being a kid so glorious.
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Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com