picot bracelets

I made my first picot bracelet in my beading class and modified the design slightly to make the second one. Sewing beads on a button was my own idea. I doubt I could do it in the same way twice. I'll probably stick to using unadorned buttons from now on; I like the beaded button, but I don't love it. Plus I had a terrible time trying to sew the button on the bracelet. I guess that is what happens when you completely cover the buttonholes with beads. My grandmother recently gave me her sizable button collection, so I now have a large store of unique and vintage buttons on hand.

My youngest sister's birthday served as an excuse to make a third picot bracelet much like the second one but with pale opaque violet beads instead of clear ones. I wish I had taken a picture of it, because the bracelet got lost (temporarily, I'm hoping.) My grandmother gave me the perfect button for this bracelet (it is silver with a clear glass rhinestone).

swarovski tennis bracelets

I made the bracelet pictured at the top in a beading class. My mom and I chose the colours together since I was making the bracelet for her.

I originally intended to give the second bracelet to my cousin. But after finishing it I discovered that I should have used a different clasp (this clasp is fine for thinner bracelets, but just doesn't work with this one.) I can slip it on without undoing the clasp, so I kept it and made a second one for my cousin.

Two of my aunts are commissioning a bracelet like my mom's, but they haven't seen the grey/black/clear version, so I'll point out a few design differences. The silver beads in my mom's bracelet are glass and smaller in diametre than the sterling beads on bracelet #2. I personally like the larger beads, but the crystal beads fit slightly more closely together on bracelet #1. I got rid of the bead loops near the clasp when designing bracelet #2.

crystals and vintage grey

The grey beads and the sterling silver clasp were inexpensive garage sale finds. The clasp was so tarnished that I had no idea it was silver. I haven't had the heart to finish this project because I crimped the last crimp bead prior to discovering a major mistake (the three strands are different lengths, and I mixed up the top and bottom strand).

double infinity and wirework necklace

I designed this necklace for my grandmother but made a second one for myself. (You can't tell from the picture, but the necklace is one single chain.) I used the chain maille pattern for the "Double Infinity Bracelet" in Chains by Becky and added Miyuki beads, leftover wire, and beads from a necklace I bought majorly on sale (the beads are acrylic, I believe, but when mixed with metal, they really do look like glass.)

70s inspired chain maille bracelets

After taking a class, I decided it was time to strike out on my own with some help from the book Chains by Becky. The top bracelet (another present for my mom) is a slight variation on the Byzantine chain. I can't recollect how I came up with the second bracelet. I started with one of the patterns from my book but ended up doing something else entirely. That particular shade of topaz was common in interior decorating in the 70s; I chose to pair it with pink after seeing one of Mary's outfits on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

simple chain maille with beads

I used a basic pattern from a beginner's chain maille class but added beads for extra colour and sparkle. My mom lets me borrow this bracelet (and her other jewellery, I might add.)

beaded bangle in green and pink #2

I gave this bracelet to my sister for her birthday even though it is my favourite beaded bangle to date. I hope she doesn't mind if I end up having an identical bracelet! This palette is a cooler variation on the one below.

beaded bangle in green and pink

I discovered the hard way that these beaded bangles might not survive a fall....or a run in with a door post (don't ask!) Fortunately, I was able to repair the damage without too much trouble. I used the same stitch as below, but altered the design.

aqua beaded bangle

My wire-wrapping technique has some drawbacks (for one thing, it is extremely difficult to hide the wire at the end), so I tried the stitch I learned when making my first bracelet. It took me quite a long time to design the bracelet and figure out how to sew on the beads.

experiment in wire wrapping

I wanted to make a bangle of some sort, and I had some leftover wire from another project. So I picked up a plastic bracelet at Goodwill and wrapped some beaded wire around it.

just beginning

My very first attempt at beading. Note the crimp bead near the clasp (a good way to hide mistakes!)