This is something new for me. This spring, I'd been enamoured with the leather cord wrap bracelets, you can see some here and here.
Then, I read about memory wire bracelets and thought I could get a similar look even quicker. And they are simple and quick. But still very beautiful. Well, I think anything made with these beads can't be anything but beautiful, right? Even poured into a jar or onto a plate, they are just plain gorgeous.
Here are the ones I made for myself, the memory wire bracelet looks nice worn with the leather wrap one. These two have aquamarine, pearls, aventurine, moonstone, laborite, and chalcedony. I seriously splurged on the aquamarine, and went all out with it on these two.
A family member requested a mermaid themed one, and I made this blue piece. But thought it needed pearls too, so I experimented with vintage pearl beads on a single wrap, hooked with a silver clasp that could stack with the blue bracelet.
As tempting as it was to immerse myself into weeks of bead heaven like I did last time, I managed to limit my obsession to a couple of days, because I have so much going on with the remodel project.
Sugarwings joined me for one of those days, she did some beading and spent the rest of the time working with sculpy clay.
Remember that I said I thought memory wire sounded easy to do? It is, she had no trouble whipping up a few herself, with a little help bending the ends and attaching the charms.
She even made a couple for her sisters.
While I had the supplies out, I couldn't resist making a few of the leather wrap style ones for the guys in the family.
For some of the memory wire bracelets, I used vintage buttons as charms on the ends.
This one has 2 laborite and amethyst bead dangles and is made up of all semi precious stones. Which can get very expensive, a lot of beads quickly go onto the wires and before I know it, my stash from the gem show is dwindling! I do love the look of this style, but it takes more beads and less time than the other type. I think the leather woven strands are more of a challenge, too. Going back and forth to make some of each was a nicely balanced way of working.
Sadly, I had to pack it all up, there are too many other projects waiting for my attention right now, and it is hard to justify making bracelet after bracelet to give away. Maybe once the dust settles on the remodel, I can get back to beading and make some to sell. Because, I certainly enjoy creating them, and I can only wear so many at a time… no matter how tempting it is to fill up both forearms and admire the pretty colors.