Crystal Bangle

Sometimes you come across a beading pattern that makes your heart sing.

"My Heart Sings" Mixed Media Art by Rachelle Hartley

I found that pattern on Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour's website, www.beadinfinitum.com.

Crystal Bangle made with filled net stitch
 
© 2005 Gwen Fisher and Florence Turnour

The pattern for this exquisite bangle is available for FREE on their website.
http://www.beadinfinitum.com/Kits/index.html#Crystal_Bangle

I made a bracelet of this last night using 4mm Swarovski rounds in White Opal AB and size 11/0's and 15/0's in Galvanized Silver. I audibly gasped on row 3 as it all pulled together. It's like a magic trick, you won't believe your eyes. The architecture of this piece is amazing and you will know what I mean when you make it for yourself.

And I encourage you all to make it. This bracelet is deceptively easy to make and you will create an heirloom piece that will be a coveted piece for years to come.

Why does this piece make my heart sing? It's because you can change the beads used in many different ways to achieve endless combinations. You can use 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones, 4mm Swarovski pearls, 4mm Czech Fire Polish or any 4mm round beads. You can use one colour throughout, or how about one row of colour A and another row of colour B? I am currently working on one that has three different 4mm Swarovski bicones per row and they are starting to spiral as I make it. I'm using Crystal, Provence Lavender and Tanzanite with Steel and Antiqued Silver tones of 15/0's and 11/0's.

I'm making mine as bracelets that will have magnetic clasps, as the width of my hand is just too big for a bangle to sit nicely on my wrist. I wonder what it would look like if I used 2.8 mm drops in place of the 11/0's.... I better finish this purple toned one first. And I have all day to play today as it's Thanksgiving here in Canada. My husband is off golfing and my son is coaching football.


Happy Thanksgiving Day to my fellow Canadians! I am thankful for so much in my life: a wonderful husband, the best son in the world, loving family, great friends, a job I love and the opportunities that being a Create Your Style with Swarovski Elements Ambassador has brought to me.

I am thankful that you, gentle reader, took the time to visit my blog today.

Book Review: Making Elegant Jewelry for Special Occasions

Special occasions deserve significant jewelry! Making Elegant Jewelry for Special Occasions, from BeadStyle magazine, offers 30 projects for celebrating life’s landmark events with stylish, sophisticated pieces that add the perfect finishing touch.

This is a lovely DIY jewellery book with something for the beader of every level. The beautiful projects are versatile, so you can easily change colour or length to make the perfect piece for your event. The pieces also lend themselves to being a great jumping off point to take your skills to the next level.

Making Elegant Jewelry for Special Occasions contains a stunning assortment of projects: light and delicate jewelry, simple and clean designs, bold yet classy pieces. With chapters on crystals, pearls and wire, you know you'll be able to find the ideal piece to complement your chosen outfit.

Each project features full-colour photos and step by step instructions, plus detailed supply lists and a basic tool and techniques section, so you can whip up a jewelry set this afternoon to wear tonight.

This book contains designs from some of my favorite designers: Cathy Jakicic, Irina Miech and Linda Hartung. The "showstopper" piece of the book for me is Cathy Jakicic's Clear Winner. Such a rich and decadent design using beads from the Swarovski Elements assortment. I can imagine wearing this piece for a swanky New Year's Eve party.

The piece I'm most excited to make is in the wire chapter. It's called Maid To Order by Jane Konkel. It's an earring design that brings together elements of design that I've used in my own work, but with a fresh twist. Wire work combined with crystals and wrapped onto preexisting forms. I'm sure you'll be able to whip up a couple if pairs tonight! These will make great presents for teachers! They don't want soaps, lotions and pencils. Give them some handmade jewelry!! Your kids can help you with these too.

You can purchase this book directly from Kalmbach Publishing. This is a definite winner!!

Dixon Chick rating: 5 out of 5 crystals

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