Posts Tagged ‘Hand Beaded Bracelets’
Peyote Bracelet Tutorial – New Ebooks!
I've got some new peyote bracelet tutorials for you! One is free, and the other one has such a teensy price that it's almost free.
So without any further ado, how about some ebook tutorials, for your peyote-beading pleasure!
Peyote Bracelet Tutorials
"Exploring All Angles" Bracelet, in the Even Count Peyote Bracelets Tutorial
It doesn't matter if you have never seen the peyote bead stitch before, or if you are a dyed-in-the-wool peyote veteran. Check out these two pages, each with an ebook tutorial:
Basics of Even Count Peyote: Especially for anyone who either doesn't know how to bead the peyote stitch, or is a little rusty. Not only do you learn how to do flat even-count peyote, but there is even a project called "Windows and Doors", which is a unique bracelet. And the ebook is free!
Even Count Peyote Bracelets: Now that you know how to peyote bead, here are six gorgeous bracelets for you to make. You'll learn how to use some of the more unusually-shaped seed beads, as well as learn bead embroidery on peyote! OK, it's not free, but it's ultra-reasonably priced, especially since it has 6 projects and tons of close-up photos! (And available for immediate download, to boot.)
"Windows and Doors" Bracelet, from the Basics of Even Count Peyote Tutorial
They are over on my new site, Beaded Jewelry Diva, which I am dedicating to beading tutorials (both free and almost-free).
So come on over and see me there; I have lots more tutorials for you there, and I'm always adding new ones for your jewelry-making pleasure!
Viking Knit Chain Photos
I know it's been longer than I had planned, to get you these viking knit chain photos, but I've finally had a chance to sit down and catalog what I had, and what you might like to see.
Viking Knit Bracelet (Click to Enlarge)
First off, I've been making mostly bracelets, along with some necklaces. So far, no earrings (that's my next project). This first bracelet looks rather plain at first glance. But when you hold it in your hand, it looks like copper lace. And it's nice and light and oh-so-comfortable.
Next is a bracelet I decided a little more color. So, I've incorporated seed and lampwork beads in this particular piece of jewelry.
Beaded Viking Knit Bracelet (Click to Enlarge)
I had a whole lot of fun with it. Of course, I had to include some of my own lampwork beads while I was at it. I've gotten lots of compliments on it, how it looks like the seed beads have been woven into a net.
(BTW, I have included instructions for a similar bracelet in my Intro to Viking Knit tutorial.)
OK, what next? Hmmm, time for a necklace perhaps?
This particular necklace uses viking knit as the background, with the wire-wrapped pendant as the focal.
Viking Knit Necklace and Pendant
I have a blast doing these free-form pendants! I've always had a problem with them though; they are substantial in size and need a chain that is equally substantial. And viking knit fits in nicely!
But a viking knit chain doesn't need to be relegated to just the background, not at all!
Although viking knit can be a necklace all by itself, it can be equally intriguing when different gauges and styles of viking knit chain are incorporated in the same piece.
I have a work in progress there I've mixed 24 gauge single knit and 26 gauge double knit -- looks kind of cool so far!
So far I've used copper, artistic wire, brass and also am working in silver. I have some gold-filled wire, but I haven't decided what to do with it yet (seeing as it's so very expensive these days). I'm sure sooner or later an idea will come to me and I'll dig into my stash of gold-filled.
Viking Knit Bracelet -- Flight of the Bumblebee
Here's something that I call "Flight of the Bumblebee" which turned out very interesting indeed! You see, when I grabbed my wire, both the brass and the black wire were supposed to be 26 gauge. That being the case, I figured I'd do some double-knit.
Well, if the brass was 26 gauge, I'll buy and eat a hat! So my brass portions are thicker than the black (which really was 26 gauge). At any rate, it's a cool look and it feels really neat!
In fact, I may dig into my small stash of gold-filled wire and do a mix of it with sterling silver. Hmmmm......
That's it for the moment; more later!
Blessings Bracelet, Part 2
The blessings bracelet that I spoke of in the last post is done now. It's in shades of purple and green, with accents of pink and a kind of butter-cream ivory.
So here are the supplies, the finished product and the general technique.
Blessings Bracelet Supplies
As you see in the photo, the supplies are kind of eclectic. I have seed beads, lampwork beads, Swarovski in bicone and cube. Sterling silver is in the bunch, as is gemstone beads in malachite, rhodochistite and jasper.
The clasp is a sterling toggle. I used Soft Flex beading wire for the main part of the bracelet, and Fireline 8 lb. in crystal for the stranding portion.
The Finished Product
As you can see, I don't necessarily favor being symmetrical. As in my lampwork, I prefer to be a bit of a free spirit and favor organic designs.
One thing that's very important in this particular bracelet is that you have to measure carefully, but you also have to keep it very loose for the main part of the bracelet. You'll see why when I talk about the construction technique.
General Technique
First, using the Soft Flex I beaded the main portion of the bracelet in a single row. Between the lampwork beads I put seven size 6 seed beads.
I kept the construction very loose at this point, with beading wire showing. The reason is that I will be moving my needle between and around the seed beads, and I need some slack.
Once I had the main part of the bracelet done and crimped, I started with the stranding section. I tied my Fireline (doubled for strength) between two beads on the "outside" of the lampwork beads. I then threaded the needle through the beads until I came out through a lampwork bead.
At this point, I put random beads on my string and threaded them around and through the size six seed beads. The reason I chose this size seed beads is because they have a very large hole, and can accommodate many passes through of the thread and needle.
And that's basically it. I just added beads until (in this case) I ran out of thread. You could do that, or create a more symmetrical stranding and stop sooner.
I hope you've enjoyed this, and so I'll leave you with some lampwork that's awfully pretty to look at.
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 Triple Swirls Lampwork Beads Handmade Bead Set SRA  US $24.99
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 Mango Coral Topaz Lampwork Beads Handmade Bead Set SRA US $23.00
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 Lori Robbins sra Handmade Lampwork Boro Glass Beads H27 US $24.99
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 BC Lampwork Boro FOCAL Bead SEA SPARKLE sra US $15.00
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 11 Black Oilslick Lentils Lampwork Glass Beads Set SRA US $24.99
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Do You Have a Blessings Bracelet?
My friend Jennie mentioned the concept of a "blessings bracelet" to me a few months ago. It's a bracelet that, whenever you look at it, it reminds you of your blessings.
I know, in today's world it's hard to come up with anything to consider a blessing -- sometimes it all seems so bleak. But a blessings bracelet serves to remind us that life can be good, if we'd take the time to remember the little things.
Count 'Em Up
I thought that a bracelet would be a good idea, so I started on something simple that I could wear every day. I got about half-way through and then realized that if it was too simple, I wouldn't notice it. And if I didn't notice it...how would I remember to count my blessings?
So, back to the drawing board.
Meanwhile, Jennie was working away at hers. Periodically she'd ask how mine was going and tell me the status of hers.
Then there was the day the photos came. Wow! (FYI - you can click on the photos to see a larger image.)
In case you haven't followed along, Jennie and I live at opposite ends of the country, so photos are all we have to go by. And when she sent me the photos of hers I felt so bad that I hadn't worked on mine.
So here are the photos of Jennie's bracelet, and I will be hard-pressed to come up with something even half as nice. I'm staring at my pile of lampwork and Swarovski (in purples and greens -- how's that for a color combo) and trying to think of what I can do.
Hmmm, the sterling beads have gone into hiding somewhere in this room, but I did find some toggle clasps. And yes, I have beading wire...oh no! I just realized that wherever my sterling beads are, that's where all my crimps are.
Yes, this is going to get interesting.
Well, off to locate the silver beads and wayward crimps. Once I have them all together, I'll take a photo of all the "fixings" so you can see the supplies before...and the finished bracelet after.
In the meanwhile, I'll leave you with some ebay eye candy to peruse - enjoy!
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 Purple Rose Lampwork Swarovski Bali Bracelet KTBL US $59.00
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 Rainbow Lampwork Swarovski Bali Bead Bracelet KTBL US $69.00
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 Bliss Boro Lampwork Swarovski Bali Bead Bracelet KTBL US $59.00
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 HANDMADE ITALIAN GLASS LAMPWORK SWAROVSKI BRACELET US $8.95
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 LOVELY LILAC HANDMADE ITALIAN GLASS LAMPWORK BRACELET US $8.95
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