Handmade Bracelet in Amethyst and Obsidian

This bracelet was really fun to make. I knew i had found a large stash of small nugget and chip amethyst after I had started working on the last two necklaces, so I had leftover obsidian and this nicely colored amethyst. I was toying with ideas on pattern and how I wanted it to be strung.

I decided on shiny steel wire links to hold it all together in a simple (AOA) (OAO) pattern, with a handmade swirl hook closure that is not prone to accidentally coming unhooked. I really love this kind of hook closure because of its stability and it also looks good.

Available here

Materials:
shiny steel wire
chromed steel chain
steel hook and clasp
obsidian
amethyst

Rustic Statement Necklace in Obsidian Copper and Glass

Closeup of the copper fringe

This beautiful necklace is another variation of the last copper necklace. I really enjoy making these, there is so many options on how to pair them up with other materials

Layered Fringe Necklaces

They even layer well together. This would be really cute wearing even a plain t-shirt or a strappy little black dress.It is o easily adapted to different choices.

I had a stash of Toho beads and obsidian chip beads that really play up the boho-care-free easyness of the project. Necklace measures 17 inches and will be in my etsy shop soon.

Simple materials:

your favorite chip beads or nugget beads

your wire fringe

stringing material

clasp or chain

long drop necklace

 today ive finished an asymmetrical necklace in lava beads, aventurine, and steel (with a few black glass beads, and coconut shell beads as accents around the back)

the design began with the front section of the beautiful aqua beads, i then added a drop section of lava bead and a reclaimed bead from an asian bracelet that had corroded through its clasp (that was a core to the bracelet).

i do suggest that if you do wrapped loops in steel that you dont use your good round nose pliers! and have another pair of smooth but not dear to you flat ones for finishing the wire coils.

i think that this one really turned out nicely, and quite delicate despite the ruggedness of the materials!

femme romantic pink collection wrap bracelet

beautiful finished collection bracelet in the sunshine

 so, usually i ignore the pink end of things. i like unisex or grungy far more and its a bit of a strange thing for a guy to make such girly things. or thats my mindset when i find myself looking at pink beads that just arent right for what i want to do. oh and these are SO shiny and really quite saturated pinks.

this first round of the bead sorting and stringing went well enough. i like the colors together in the amounts that they are. but it was too hello kitty for me. i decided to add in brass accent beads randomly. they are antiqued so they help to offset the pure shine of the pearls. sorry guys didnt get a photo before the additions after.

 a few angles and different backgrounds to show how much of a feeling change what the bracelet is with causes.

after i added the brass beads it was still a little too plain, so i went and looked through my grandmothers cloth stash, it was quite extensive! and i chose a few fabrics to add on as bows to add texture and further make the whole bracelet match itself better. i think that the cloth strips really make the bracelet.

this bracelet is currently available, get in touch with me on one of my sites or here if youd like to give it a home.

supplies:
memory wire
pink marbled some kind of plastic/resin vintage necklace beads
tan/offwhite of the same sort of beads
almost white resin pearls
offwhite glass pearls
antiqued brass plated aluminum beads
glass beads
shell beads
scraps of cloth
scraps of white lace

red and black necklace

ive finished another necklace during this rain and wind. this one is made of african horn beads, wooden beads, gunmetal aged chain, and handmade clasps.

the slightly asymmetrical style of this fairly simple necklace is really eye catching, because it is nearly symmetrical.

the clasp was made from two pieces of 19 ga steel wire, formed to the size desired and then hammered. the trick really is to only allow as much of a gap in the 'hook' half to allow the 'eye' to slide in while flat.

trying things (art and design)

 

my newest bracelet has gotten several comments/compliments about my use of lace in the beading.  i wanted to add more texture than i was getting with just the different bead types and sizes, and being resourceful, remembered i had this thin lace, so i knotted it on. it really gives the bracelet more character - dont be afraid to try random things!

art and creativity is all about what you like to put together, and your own sets of  preferred materials and shapes will show through after practice on your own. dont be afraid to learn ways things go together from others, their vision will be different than your own once the project is completed. dont feel pressured to polish up your style if you like the unpolished. figure ways around that to allow for your own style to feel finished, without resorting to standard shine. it isnt an easy task, but it is achievable.

let me walk you through how i made this bracelet:

chose a color or theme
i chose a goth/victorian/slightly steampunk and black, violets, reds, with accents of whiteish

collect your materials. (beads, charms, memory wire or stringing material and clasps) i have a large collection of odd beads charms, and other such things.
go through it and pick uot the beads or objects you definitely want  in the bracelet. fill in the rest with beads that add to the feeling you want with your bracelet.

do a rough layout, or a complete layout on a design board
honestly i usually completely wing it, but i also end up restringing sections several times. it works for me, the rest is up tto you

string it, do the finishing touches
i used basic wire loop ends to keep the beads on, the end loops i attached a jump ring with a cowrie shell, and another with a few jingley beads. i tied on the lace scraps somewhere in the middle of putting this one together. shine up anything that you want, make sure there are no loose and unused loop ends, tie up or attach the ends of your stringing material, making sure it i s secure.  little things like using all loop ends makes things look/feel more finished. i wrapped steel wire around the white glass bead, as it needed some extra, darker texture.

if you make something that you feel really reflects yourself, or your design vision, do share!