CRAW Bangle

This has got to be the longest time it has taken me to finish a bracelet. And not because it's too difficult. I've just been so busy lately.

But I love cubic right angle weave and this bangle is my own design. I guess the reason why it's taking longer than usual too is because I'm adjusting as I go along.

I'm now using my new Tulip size 13 beading needle and I love it! It's quite tricky to thread though, as the eye is quite small. It's also shorter than the average size 12 beading needle. And it's so sharp! I pricked myself a few times as I wasn't used to the length. It takes getting used to.

But it feels really lovely, it doesn't bend yet it's very flexible. Another marvel from Japan. They make so many cool things there.

This is the bangle so far. I placed a bezeled 14mm Swarovski rivoli as focal bead. I have a few gaps in between the Craw bands where I'll put 4mm bicones in the same color as the rivoli. Then I'll put a continuous CRAW band for the final layer.

Netted Crystals

Haven't been blogging for a while but I have been beading. :)

Did this bracelet a couple of months ago. It's made using a simple netting technique, from a pattern called Crystal Suspense by Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour, from the Best of Beadwork book.

I used 4mm rondelles and size 15 seed beads alternating with size 13 Charlotte single-cuts.

I love this because it works up really fast. You can finish it in a couple of hours, maybe less if you work fast enough.

The pattern was for a bangle but I actually ran out of rondelles so I made it a bracelet. I used a bead cap at both ends, put a flexible wire in the center of the tube and crimped it with the clasp.

The finished bracelet. It's one of my favorites, I like wearing it and people have noticed it. It's simple yet elegant.

Floral Inspiration Bracelet

This next bracelet was from a design by Callie Mitchell featured in Bead and Button Magazine. The inspiration for this bracelet is the mimosa flower, which looks like a fireworks burst.

Its main base is a double St. Petersburg stitch, which uses size 15s as the main bead and 11s at the ends before another 15 to bring the thread back into the stitch.

The center spine uses 11s as well.

The spine is then embellished with 4mm bicones between two 15s, alternating along the 11s along the length of the spine. In my bracelet I used 23 bicones.

The end of the toggle is then composed of the "mimosa" feature, with dainty bead strands mimicking the thin needle-like petals of the mimosa.

The finished bracelet. The other end of the toggle is a 6mm x 11mm Swarovski crystal top-drilled teardrop crystal that should fit tightly into the hole made by the "mimosa" part of the toggle.

Bugle Bracelet Number 3

Decided to do another bugle bracelet and I definitely love how quickly this stitch works up.

I made a bangle this time and even without a tube or wire at the center I think it's firm enough.

I alternated a metallic brown rocaille with pink at the center, and used silver lined size 15s in between.

The bugle beads I used are a caramel color with a rainbow sheen.

Here's the finished bangle. I really love this pattern.

Finally!!!

Finally finished the green herringbone bracelet a couple of days ago. Been so busy with the office but I'm happy I was able to make some time for beading again.

Here it is.

Herringbone progress!

Finally some progress! 48 inches of Fireline got me about one and a half inches of the Herringbone Highway bracelet. And around an hour of leisurely beading. Not bad at all. :)

Been so busy the past few weeks and when I get home I'm usually too tired to start beading because I just want to sleep. Hopefully I can work on this bracelet an inch at a time somehow! :)