Beaded Bracelets

I have not made too many bracelets. Maybe because I cannot wear them - they get in the way as I work on the computer in the professional part of my life.
However, recently I took a couple of classes from a beading store (Beads and Plenty More in Northland mall; from an awesome instructor named Joanne in case you are curious) and started playing with the idea.

The first kind of bracelets combines pearls and beading with Japanese delica beads. Actually, man-made pearls are better unless you can spend a fortune on very even real pearls. I used mostly glass pearls but also some shell pearls; I prefer working with shell pearls but there is more color selection with glass pearls.

The net effect is having the pearls "wrapped" in beaded leaves. Japanese delica beads are used because they are very consistent in size, and that's necessary for this style. Here are some of my bracelets. The pearls are 10 mm in diameter.

I made a set of necklace and bracelet using the same technique. Two different pearl sizes (10 mm and 12 mm) provide the necessary curve for the necklace. The necklace falls just below the neck like a collar.





The second kind of bracet is made with crystals and lace-like beadwork. Here ar some examples.