I love to wear bracelets. They just make me happy. It's like having art on your wrist at all times.. I had made a double strand bracelet many years ago of small turquoise rondelles.. it's special turquoise, a Robin's egg blue from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona. The mine is now closed and the turquoise from there is treasured. My original bracelet had central beads of red coral and blue chalcedony. This time I wanted to make two bracelets and use some of my collection of faceted carnelian rondelles - I think the red orange beads work well with the turquoise.
If you've never worked with beads.. and would love a bracelet or necklace, why not get a few things from the bead shop and give it a try? It's pretty easy! On the left of my work tray you'll see the best beading medium, it's called SoftFlex and it has 49 strands of twisted stainless steel which is coated with nylon. It's very strong! Then you'll need some "crimp beads", to connect the beading wire to a clasp. You'll need a crimp bead tool (the black one below) - it's ingenious - you use one part of the tool to put a u shaped crimp, then a second part of the tool to fold the u over and press hard to finish it.
Long ago at a bead show I got some gold beads - before gold sky-rocketed - and used them in the 2 bracelets. You'll want to get some silver beads and spacers - they are much more reasonable.
Finished product. I wear them 24/7 - never take them off - even swimming!
I decided the blue chalcedony wasn't as eye-catching as the coral, so I restrung my second bracelet with red-orange coral. I like it better, what do you think?
I love teaching my grandchildren how to make things. Caleb also wants to learn to sew. I've let him do some sewing with my yarn needle.
I do hope you get some supplies and make your own bracelets and necklaces. I might make some for my Etsy store. I have some sweet little pearls and could make a bracelet with pearls and turquoise, wouldn't that be pretty?
I'm off for a day trip to the beach with my friend Shirley. This will be fun! I hope you have a wonderful day! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
I love your turquoise bracelet! Turquoise is one of my favorite stones and you paired it so nicely with complimentary orange beads. Very pretty! My daughter and I got into making jewelry for a while. We haven't made any for a long time but have wanted to. We just need to get some time and get around to it. It's a lot of fun! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThe bracelets are beautiful and I enjoyed learning about the different beads and the process one goes through to create a bracelet. The photos of your hand and Caleb's hand and your respective bracelets are precious. I hope you and Shirley are enjoying the ocean for me, too :) xx
ReplyDeleteThe jewelry you make is amazing Teresa. You've shared several pieces with us girls and I'm always struck by how beautiful each piece is. You definitely are an artist and see colors and details that the rest of us don't see or can't fathom together. How sweet that you're shRing your love of all things beautiful with the boys. It will be a gift of love and time spent with them that will stay with them the rest of their lives. I still cherish the time my grandma spent with me, teaching me to cook, crochet and clean.
ReplyDeleteBlessings always my friend,
Betsy
So pretty Teresa, great color combination! So sweet that Caleb wanted one! xoRobin
ReplyDeleteThey are all so pretty! Love your pictures today too. I'm a sucker for the turquoise color and have several bracelets made of it and they are my favs. Have fun at the water. Wish I could go sit in the sand and let the waves wash up over my legs. Sounds like a perfect day.
ReplyDeleteI love making beaded jewelery and have many, many supplies and beads in my bin. Love your bracelets but most of all I love the pictures of you holding hands with your grandson, those are priceless.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Absolutely beautiful. The orange beads are especially nice as accents.
ReplyDeleteI don't wear jewelry but yours are really beautiful cause they're blue !!!!!!!! I like the colors !
ReplyDeleteVery nice Teresa. I love the colors. My four children and I used to bead all the time when they were younger. Lots of fun and ended up with a ton of bracelet and necklaces. Might get that black crimper and give it another go as I have lots of nice beads.
ReplyDeleteOH they're beautiful :-) The colours really compliment each other, can't believe your spacers are gold though! How cool is that?
ReplyDeleteI haven't used beads in a long while but I used to just crush the crimp beads with pliers! Possibly not very neat ;-)
Ohhh beads...you know I love beads! Your bracelets are lovely. I love them all, of course. I still have all my beads from when I use to make stuff. I was big time into dragonflies then (ok, still am) and I have lots of dragonfly beads. I even took a class on how to make a peyote stitch bracelet...I still have it somewhere (I think) but it's half finished...yep, I have was the Queen of Starts even way back then, too. Happy Beading sweet friend. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty bracelets Teresa and how sweet is your dear grandson. I really like the beads he chose, they really suit him. Grandson love indeed x
ReplyDeletethat is a beauty of a bracelet
ReplyDeleteI love Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. Nothing quite like it. I do like what you did with the bracelet. You really set off the turquoise in an understated way. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteYour bracelets turned out very pretty. Love the blues. The accent colors look wonderful. I have a large tote with my beading supplies stored away. I use to sell jewelry at my craft shows. It has been ages since I have even looked at my supplies but I know I have a lot of the tools. I always liked memory wire for bracelets and have several in my jewelry boxes. I use to make macrame jewelry too, some earrings. I have worn the earrings I bought from your shop. Still love them. Playing with the beads can be fun and relaxing. I use to get a ton of my supplies from Fire Mountain.
ReplyDelete(((HUGS))) Susanne :)
That is gorgeous! I love anything with Turquoise and that makes a very pretty color combo...
ReplyDeleteA lady of all trades!!! Is there anything you can't do Teresa!!! They are just beautiful!!! Caleb is lucky to have a granny like you!!! Can't wait to see what you've been up to next!!! Enjoy the beach!!!
ReplyDeleteLove
AMarie xxx
They're so pretty. I love that style of jewelry. I'm glad to hear the boys want to learn crafting too, how nice that they have such a willing and talented teacher. :)
ReplyDeleteYour bracelet is very pretty and you've sparked my interest in the older type of beads. I'm not clever enough to make anything like this but admire anyone who can. You have such talent but I think I've said that before. xox
ReplyDeleteI wear bracelets every day, love them to bits and they always seem to find their way home from holiday with me.
ReplyDelete