Pumpkin Patch Bracelet

I was playing with clay the other night and I thought I would make some pumpkins.  I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them until I was a bead store the other day and bought some leaves, bead caps and Rhondells.  For you non-beaders, the Rhondells are those pretty gold colored beads just after the pumpkins.  The bead caps are on top of the pumpkin and hanging over the pumpkin.  They kind of look like gold leaves.  And of course,  the leaves are those green leaf looking things between the pumpkins!  LOL

I am not a bead stringer.  I am a bead weaver.  I like using the needle and FireLine to make my bracelets.  Stringing beads is an art in itself and I rarely do it.  But after I made those pumpkins I knew where I was going with them and this is what I came up with.  These will be available for sale as a kit at the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar on October 20th-21st, 2012 at the Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center.  So tomorrow I will be making and baking pumpkins in between a few loads of laundry!!! I LOVE playing with polymer clay so any excuse I can get to play with it the better!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Have a Heart

  It was made using #11 size seed beads, crystal clear and white lined crystal.  Then it was embellished with 6mm red hearts.  I LOVE making these bracelets. You can make them in a short amount of time.  When I sit down to make one I know that I will be able to finish it the same day.  Usually under 2 hours.  Unlike a lot of the other bracelets I make and design.  But it's fun to have a quick and easier one now and then.  

Happy beading,
Wanda

It Has No Name

Here is one of my newest bracelets I designed.  The idea came to me when we were up in Duluth this past February for some R & R.  

It was a lot of fun making it.  I loved how it started out and as I was working on it and trying to figure out where I was going it had some pretty interesting shapes and stitches to the end of it.  And as I worked on it, it began to take shape and this is what the final outcome is.  I wish I wouldn't have taken apart the original test piece one!  It was a mess but yet fun to see how it evolved into this!  I would try something and sort of like it so I'd leave it.  As I looked at it I would change it a little and sometimes add something more and sort of liked what I saw and continue on until I REALLY liked what I saw and then I stitched the same pattern for an inch or so and knew it was what I wanted.  I then started this bracelet and took the other one apart.  Like I said, I wished I would have kept it or at least have taken a photo of the mess!! LOL  It would have been fun for you to see how it evolved into what you see here. 

I will be writing up a pattern for this to put in my webstore soon and for me to teach class with as well.  I am looking forward to teaching this one.  It's easy enough because it's so repetitive.  I think my students will like making it and I feel that they will catch onto the pattern quickly and be happy with it too.  I LOVE watching the students make bracelets with my patterns.  Mostly because I am in awe of the colors they pick.  It's fun to see your creation in so many different colors.  At times I have to take a photo of their bracelets because I want to make one out of the colors they chose.  I have the photos but have yet to make the bracelets in those colors!!  I need a year with nothing else to do but bead!!! LOL

I will post to here when I put this in the webstore.  The sales from my bracelets are going towards the purchasing of Christmas gifts this year for a family of 5 children.  We want them to have a very Merry Christmas.  They come from a struggling family.  The dad works but his job doesn't pay well and they make enough to barely get by.  It's sad but we know we can brighten their holiday!   Anyway, I'll let you know when it's available!

And as the title of this post states, "It has no name."  I have not given the bracelet a name yet.  I'm drawing a blank but I'm sure I will come up with one before I finish making the pattern!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spiral Netted Bracelet (The Bracelet is Sold)

If you are coming from my stamping web site you will probably have read most of this.  I did a cut and paste because I was pretty much going to say the same thing here as I did there.  

What I love most about this bracelet is that it will fit most wrists.  If your wrist is between 7" and 8" it will fit perfectly.  I have a smaller wrist and I can bend the metal to make it fit but I didn't because I knew I was making it to sell. It is available in my web store.

We have a family we buy for at Christmas time.  I am told they live nearby (in our town) and there are 5 children.  These children are getting bigger and a Fischer Price toy just doesn't cut it anymore.  So we need to buy more age appropriate gifts and of course they cost more.  So I thought I would make and sell some bracelets to raise the funds so we can get these kids nice gifts this Christmas.  

So back to the bracelet.  It is made using black 1.5mm cubes and #15 silver lined clear seed beads.  A Briolette is in the middle of each end of the bracelet along with Swarovski bicone beads.  

This bracelet is not my original design.  I got the pattern from the April/May issue of Beadwork magazine.  It's one of my favorite magazines, that and Bead & Button or any other magazine that catches my fancy at the time!!! LOL

I am working on my 2012 Christmas bulb and I have the main part figured out and 2 pieces to it made already.  I am not sure how many pieces I need but when I get a couple more made I will dig out a Christmas bulb and see how it will fit around it to know better.  I'm SO thrilled I got it figured out early in the year.  Once I get it completed and the instructions written up I can make some for gifts for the family this year.  They loved my bulb from last year and I am SO happy that I can make them a new and different one this year!!!  I will try to find the photo of the 2011 bulb and post it on here.  It was very pretty.  Actually I made 2 different bulbs last year but only made one of them as gifts.  So maybe I didn't need to create a new one!!!  Well, of course I did.  I have students that will want to make a new one this year!  Wish me luck on the finishing part of it!!!

Happy Beading,
Wanda

Beaded Beauty!

I thought I would share with you today a bracelet I had made.    These beads came from a mix.  I purchased #11's, #8's and a tube of mixed sized ones.  There were tiny bugles, drops, cubes and very tiny #15's in that mix, plus the regular size beads.  I dug out a pattern I had and played with it to make it work with these beads.  And this is what I ended up with.  I plan to give this to my sister.  She starts a new job on Monday and this will go with a lot of the clothes she wears.  She won't be getting it before Monday though.  I will be dropping it off at Bead Basics so it can be on display for a few days.  

This bracelet was a lot of fun to make.  Though I do have to say, I have never done the herringbone stitch with bugles before.  It was interesting and fun, plus I LOVE how they look with this.  It helped to give that look of undulation to the bracelet, along with pulling the thread tightly at the right spots too!

Fun, fun, fun is all I can say about this bracelet.  I wish I had more time to bead!  I found the pattern for this at Bead Maven's.   

I will have something stamped for you to look at tomorrow.  I wanted to share this with you today.  I was not able to stamp today, I am putting together those technique pages!!  It's a race with the clock!

Thank you for stopping in today,

Wanda

Serpentine Bracelet

Here is a bracelet I made using Jet AB fire-polished and seed beads. I totally enjoy making these. They are quick enough to make. Pop in a movie and about the time the movie is done, so is the bracelet! I LOVE it when it works out that way!

This bracelet is for sale and can be found in my web store. There is no photo of it available yet but the description of it is in the store.

Measurements are very important. When I make bracelets I make them to fit the EXACT size of the wrist. Once the clasp and clasp beads are added it gives the bracelet that little bit of extra room to move a little and not be tight on the wrist.

I also use magnets on all of my bracelets. It makes them easy to put on or take off.

With magnets you must always remember to open them as though you were cracking an egg. If using one hand to open it use your thumb and with the magnet pressed against your wrist, push the other end off to the side. It will slide off the other end of the magnet.

Here's another bracelet tip for you. If you have bracelets that are made with elastic thread ALWAYS roll them on. Stretching them to put them on will wear out the elastic and will shorten the life of the elastic.

The measurement of this bracelet is 6-1/4" long. With the clasp and clasp beads it measures 6-13/16" long.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Touch of Elegance Bracelet

Here is a bracelet I made a few weeks ago. I not only made it but I designed it!!!! Shocker, huh??

This bracelet is indeed for sale. The cost is $16 plus sales tax for Minnesota residents and postage. Postage is based on the weight of the package and your zip code. I never add a handling charge.

This bracelet is made using Swarovski Crystal Rose Montees.

I also have the patten for this bracelet for sale for $4.00 plus sales tax. Free shipping on the pattern, it's only the cost of a postage stamp!!!  A PDF file and easy download will be available soon.

If you're interested in either the bracelet or the pattern or even both please email me.

Thank you for looking,
Wanda