Bracelet Completed

The bracelet is now finished. The first step in completing was to cut a piece of felt the same size and shape of the leather...using the same pattern. A little dab of E6000 glue helps to keep it in place so the edge can be beaded.

Using black beading thread and seed beads, the edge is covered in a simple slip stitch. I'm stitching about every 1/16th of an inch around the edge. Pick up a bead, take a stitch...pick up a bead, take a stitch...over and over again.

  The thread is ended with a couple of tiny stitches that cross each other to form a knot; the the needle is carried between the leather and felt and exits about an inch away. Cut the thread.

Hopefully, Sommer will enjoy her bracelet.

Bracelet Continues

Decisions, decisions, decisions. What beads to add to the cabachones on the black leather bracelet? I auditioned quite a few ideas; and right away wanted to bring the design out towards the sides...so a must would be adding some triangle or oval shaped beads. Ovals were just too similiar in shape to the cabochones...so finally, I settled on leaves. What to do around the center cabochon? I want to add some crystals...but, these large montees might be too much? Here are some of the other ideas that I (and my muse) auditioned.

Finally, this last option was almost the end result. More leaves to balance the ones added to the sides...and some black to subdue the bright of the blue crystals. But, I didn't like that space between the black montees. So, I included a small montee in blue to each side. I added some seed beads and hexes to the end of the leaves to widen the beading a little and bring it around the bracelet.

Now, I'm happy with the general idea. Next is to sew everything in place.

 Here is the finished bracelet top.Instead of beading the entire surface, I'm going to leave some leather showing. My daughter is not too "girly". She is a welder by trade...so, I'm thinking that this more "biker look" would be more to her liking. Tomorrow, we attached the felt to the bottom and sew everything together...encasing the metal bracelet shape between the leather top and the felt bottom.

Charmed for sure!

Last weekend, my daughter and I had a great time making charm bracelets.

She started with some butterflies (which was very unusual for her...so girly)...and here is what she created. It is very feminine and so pretty...

 Next, she worked on a spider charm bracelet...and this is something I can see her wearing every day!

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I'm really proud of her work, these were her first charm bracelets...and she did are really, really good job! Now, not to be lazy myself...I completed two for the Studio. And, as soon as I find a minute to go back and count all the components so I can figure out a price...they will be included in my jewelry page. 

Hope the photos inspire you to think about creating a charm bracelet with some of your "dangelies".