A couple of weeks ago I found an auction for some bags of a dozen stone cabochons. From the picture, it looked like a couple were amber, so I dropped a bid on it, for all of $4.00! I didn't read any fine print, didn't wonder why a nice bag of cabs would be so inexpensive! I also didn't look at the size of the cabs, I just assumed they would be of the one or two inch long variety, like we bead around for necklaces and brooches! Well, I was wrong!

No, I am not going to say that I got junk, because they were exactly as advertised! I didn't see anything about the size of the cabs when I bid, and when I opened my package, my shoulders slumped in disappointment. I though "these aren't what I was hoping for, these are the size you use to make rings."

Then the light bulb went off! Duh! Right in front of me was a sample piece of "Lacey's Stiff Stuff". This is a new product to me, but I have become very fond of it in a very short time! I thought "Stiff Stuff" would be too thick and messy to used for a ring cab, but I decided to give it a try. Sure enough, it was wonderful. Easy to use, easy to cut, easy to sew through. This stuff is a dream! I recommend it highly.

The ring you see above is twice as large as the ring itself, for details sake. Here is a scan of the real size of the ring:

Here's what you'll need to make your own ring:

Stone Cabochon, Green 10 mm X 8 mm

30 (approximately) Size 7 Bugle Beads - Gold

Size 15/0 Seed Beads - Gold (Japanese Color #4)

Size 15/0 Seed Beads - Silver Lined Green (Japanese Color #15)

Nymo "D" - Gold

Nymo "B" - Gold

Size 10 beading needle

Small piece of Lacey's Stiff Stuff

Bond 527 Cement

1. Glue the cab to the Stiff Stuff. I put the glue on the back of the can, then set it on the Stiff Stuff. Then, I waited a few minutes, and did it again. This gave the glue time to soak in to the Stiff Stuff, and it held with no problem. Set this aside to set up.

2. Make the shank portion of the ring, using the ladder stitch and the gold Nymo "D". Each bead section should consist of a 15/0, a bugle. and a 15/0. The 15/0's keep the sharp bugle edge from cutting the thread. I used 30 bugles for mine and it fits great! I wear a size 7 1/2 ring, so you can add or subtract bugles accordingly. Just hold it around your finger to get correct sizing. Remember that it will stretch a bit over time, so go a bit tighter rather than looser.

3. Join the ring together in back and add a touch of nail polish to the knot. Go back through the three bead ladders with the Nymo, making sure to go through each bead section. This will help stabilize and strengthen the ring. Don't worry if it looks lumpy or if it tends to fold up on itself. It is not meant to be rigid, and will be fine on your finger.

4. Now, embellish your cab. This will take very little time, as it is a very small stone! With the Nymo "B", begin appliquéing around the stone, using 3 beads, and back stitching through 2 of them, Keep adding until you have surrounded the stone. Be sure you have an even number of beads around the stone. I had 30 size 15/0 around this 10 mm X 8mm cab.

5. Beginning anywhere on the cab, add a single green 15/0 bead on top of every other gold bead around the cab. Stitch back through and knot into the Stiff Stuff to secure.

6. Create the edge ruffle by stitching through a green 15.0 bead, then adding a green 15/0, a gold 15/ and another green 15/0. Pass through the next green 15/0 from the previous row and repeat until you have surrounded the ring. Don't worry if it soes not lay flat, it is supposed to ruffle.

7. Lay the shank portion of the ring flat on a tabletop and place a dab of Bond 527 on it, where you want to mount the cab. Add some glue to the back of the Stiff Stuff on the cab. Se them both aside to set up.

8. After the glue has become tacky, add another coat to both the shank and the cab back, and set them together. Hold in place for a few seconds, until they grip. Set aside to dry for 24 hours.

After drying, stitch back through three or four of the bugles and the Stiff Stuff, to secure the cab to the shank of the ring. You new ring is now ready to wear!

Band of Gold - Stone of Green