Bezelled Cameo Pendant - step by step jewellery making tutorial

Thread a needle with an arm span of thread and add 4 size 11 toho seed beads. Go through all 4 beads again in the direction they were threaded on in and then go through the first 2 beads again so now all 4 beads are sitting together in a square.

The thread is coming out of the top of one seed bead, now thread 2 more size 11s and go down the next seed bead, take the needle up through 2 seed beads on the previous side

Continue adding 2 seed beads in this way, going down one seed bead in the first column and up 2 in the other until you have a total of 50 pairs of seed beads which sit neatly in a circle around the cameo.

Join the seed beads into a circle by stitching up and down the first 2 seed beads added and reinforce this join by stitching through them a couple of times. Now to add a row of 15 seed beads which sit on the edge of the 11s. With the needle exiting a size 11 pick up 1x15 and take the needle back through the same size 11 and the size 11 next to it.

Continue adding size 15s all around the circle and then weave the thread through to the other side and add 15s the same as before.

Now add the cameo to the bezel and thread through all the 15s just added to tighten, pull the thread to draw up the 15s and tighten around the cameo.

Do the same with the 15s on the back, you can pass through them all twice if needs be to pull tight and encase. 

Now the cameo is encased in the bezel you can leave it like this to wear but if you want you can add other beads to create a more decorative elegant finish. For example a picot edge as in photo 10. To add a picot edge exit a size 11 seed bead along the bezel edge and add 3 size 15 seed beads go back through the 11 and the 11 next to it, continue this all the way around.  

To make a beaded bail exit a size 11 on top of the cameo and again use herringbone stitch to create a strip that can be looped over and attached to the back.

Add jump rings and lobster clasp or fastenings  of your choice. If you prefer you can make a bail using size 15s and bead a chain of right angle weave

Finally I decided to make a brooch using an oval cameo bezelled with peyote stitch. Another idea is to bead embroider around a cameo which is glued to a stiff backing, maybe using seed beads and tiny pearls.  So, if you like cameo jewellery hopefully these ideas will help you create wearable pieces which you can adapt to suit. Please share photos of any you make on beads direct and friends Facebook page.