Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelets

I came across these great beads in 2 different sizes and I knew that I had to make a chunky bead crochet bangle from the. In lower light these beads appear purple with a rainbow finish, but when held up to the light they appear a translucent red, almost like pomegranate seeds.

Purple Spiral Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

I found the beads for this bangle when I was online shopping for supplies for a custom bracelet. I loved all the colors and how they blended together so seamlessly. The bead mix is called Summer Sunset and I think that the name describes these colors perfectly.

Summer Sunset Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

Grandmother's Bracelet For A Friend

Last week was a friend's birthday. Her third grandchild was due any day and she was so excited. I thought, what could be a better gift than a grandmother's bracelet. I made a shiny aluminum chainmaille bracelet of byzantine segments. The segments are divided by Swarovski crystals, each one representing the birthstone of a grandchild.

I just gave her this special gift and she loved it. It made me so happy to see how thrilled she was to receive it. As an added bonus, it is also a mother's bracelet. Her birthday and the birthdays of her 2 daughters are in the same months as her grandchildren. So this is a double duty bracelet.

Trying Out Aluminum

One of my biggest loves is making chainmaille. I had been coiling, sawing and tumbling my own rings. It takes time, but I loved being able to do whatever weave I wanted without having to order rings and wait for them to ship. (Different weaves require different ring sizes.)

Fast forward to today. I am back to work full time, my youngest son is involved in sports year round and I have a very old home that I am trying to maintain. The thing that fell by the wayside, besides cleaning, was chainmaille making. And I really miss it! So, I decided to try purchasing my rings. With the price of silver sky high, I tried to give aluminum a try.

My precut rings just arrived and they are beautiful!!! Keep an eye on my Zibbet shop shop to see what they become.

Root Beer Float Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

I picked these beads for a nice neutral bracelet and as I was crocheting it I was reminded of a root beer float. The brown beads are shiny and translucent and the cream color beads are opaque. What do you think? Does it stir any cravings in you for a trip to the local soda shop?

November Featured Etsy Blogger

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry. Her beautiful handcrafted jewelry is made from wire that has been twisted, shaped and coiled into some truly unique pieces. Cindy uses different metal, beads and stones so that no matter what your taste you will be sure to find something to fit your style.

I am in love with the bracelet shown below. The beads she used are very unique in that they are made of glass, but look like real stone. I also love the silver and the chunkiness in general of this bangle. Click here to learn more (and possibly purchase) this great bracelet.






How great would these sterling and lapis earrings look with a pair of jeans on the weekend? Take a closer look, I bet you'll fall in love with them.

September Featured Etsy Blogger

The featured Etsy Blogger for the month of September is Designs By Vanessa. Vanessa has a great shop with a wide array of beautiful items.

Her main focus is birds such as these Song Sparrow Earrings




and Bird Iron On Applique.




Bu,t you will also find other themes such as these adorable Cupcake Cards.



Why not pay Vanessa a visit. She may have just what you are looking for.

More Black and White

I liked the black and white bangle that I posted last week that I had to make another. Instead of a bangle this one has a sterling silver clasp. It is available for purchase in my Artistry Arts store.

Nice Things Come In Small Packages

I added these tiny earrings to my Artistry Arts shop last week. Earrings are my must wear piece of jewelry. I don't know about you, but there are times when I want an earring that I even feel in my ear. I want a small, very light earrings on days when I don't feel good, it's very hot, my allergies are bothering me, etc. It might seem strange, but that is how I feel.



Do you have days that you want a small earring? These look large in the photo, but they are less then an inch long.

Think Pink

I just added this to my Artistry Arts shop. It was made by crocheting bright pink lined and pale pink lined glass seed beads into a bangle bracelet. Perfect for Spring!

Wonderful Wednesday

This week I went way back to one of the first shops that I hearted as a favorite when I joined Etsy. Arny Designs has an eco-friendly shop where I found these great earrings made from plastic grocery bags.

Wonderful Wednesday

I am in awe of polymer clay artists. Here is something from beadsCraftz that is stunning.

Fringe Bracelet Tutorial

Here is a tutorial on how to make a fringe bracelet, also known as a cha-cha bracelet.
I hope these instructions are clear as I have never written a tutorial before.

Supplies: Beading wire such as Beadalon or Softflex
Beading thread such as Nymo or Fireline
Size 6 seed beads
Various size and shapes of beads in color/colors of your choice
Size 11 or 15 seed beads in complimentary color
Crimps
Clasp
Beading needle

Cut a length of beading wire long enough to add a clasp at each end. Since this is a hefty bracelet make sure that your finished size is about 1 inch longer than your wrist size. For example, my finished bracelet measures 8¾ inches, but fits well on a 7 inch wrist.

Let me see if I can explain this part clearly. You are going to string the size 6 seed beads on the beading wire like you are making a bracelet. You will add one part of your clasp to each end and crimp as usual. The only difference is that you want to have about an inch of the wire not covered by beads when you are done adding the clasp and crimping. You will need room between the beads to add the fringe.


Attach your beading thread to one end of the wire using a square knot with a dot of glue. Needle under the first seed bead. Pick up a combination of 2 or 3 beads ending with an 11 or 15 seed bead. Go back down through the beads you have just strung on, but do not go through the seed bead again. Needle under the next size 6 seed bead and continue to the end.

At the end make a knot and come back through all the size 6 seed beads again, adding beads between each as you go. When you get back to the other end you can either knot and end there or know and turn around and add fringes of beads down the length of the bracelet again depending on the fullness that you want. The bracelet in the photo has 3 fringes between each seed bead.

I apologize that I don’t have any photos showing the steps. Next time I make one I will definitely take some as I go and post them here.

Please feel free to email me if you need clarification on anything at maryann726@gmail.com

Beading Daily Reader' Gallery

Beading Daily is a great website for beaders and all jewelry makers. They have free patterns and projcets along with ones that you can purchase. They have great, informative articles, polls and a readers gallery.

The call went out a few weeks ago for submissions for a readers gallery that would showcase combined techniques. I submitted my bead crochet bracelet with copper end caps and clasp and it made it into the gallery along with a lot of other great pieces of jewelry.




Click here to view the entire gallery.

Square Stitch

I am out of wire at the moment so that means no chainmaille making for now. I have been doing some bead crochet and some beadweaving. I had never tried doing square stitch. I don't know why since it isn't difficult at all. I looked through my bead stash and found some glass cube beads that I forgot I had. I also came across a great pewter button and this blue bracelet is what I came up with.