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.