Saturday, July 2, 2011

A Bracelet a Week: Twenty-Six

Olive Green Rope Bracelet

Today marks the half-way point in my year-long Bracelet a Week challenge. I’ve got to say that it feels like a lot more than twenty six bracelets have gone by. But at the same time, I can’t believe it’s half over already. I do have some design repeats planned for the next few months, but I still have a long list of original pieces to experiment with as well.

This week’s bracelet is something new, and was inspired by my tribal fringe necklace. I really liked the look of the bead loops from the fringe as they wrapped around the twisted herringbone rope, and I wanted to see how it would look in a bracelet size.

I decided to go with a plain herringbone tube, instead of twisted. When you combine Fireline with really tight stitches, twisted herringbone doesn’t offer a lot of give in small lengths, and I wanted to make sure that this bracelet had a nice shape. To get a gentle curve, I used two different bead finishes, with three rows of lined beads snuggled together to form the backbone of the bracelet.

It took awhile to decide on a palette and pattern for the looped embellishments. I was going to use bright orange, but I decided to stick with subtle colors instead. I like how everything turned out, especially the picot and druk caps at the ends of the rope.

Now to plan the first bracelet for the last half of the journey!

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13 comments:

  1. Beautiful!!!!!!!!! The design and color are just wonderful.

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  2. I love those greens! Nice work on the finishing of the tube, too. I have a nice length of herringbone that I want to use either as a bracelet or the focal section of a choker but haven't decided how to finish and connect it neatly yet. I haven't liked how it looks with bead caps - I'll have to experiment with nestling some beads in at the ends.

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  3. I am really loving this bracelet! I wear more beaded bracelets than I do necklaces, and this one is very much my style. Great job and I love the colors you chose....clasp is perfect finishing touch!

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  4. That is a stunning bracelet so sweet and elegant! I love the clasp too!

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  5. I love it and those colors are awesome!

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  6. I love this SO much! Went to ArtFire and looked at all your pictures. So so pretty. I like the understated elegance of it! When you say you used 2 diff bead finishes and 3 rows of beads, does that mean the tube is only 3 beads wide (or round)? I'm not sounding too articulate here so I hope you understand what I'm trying to ask!!! Thanks, Mortira. And Happy Canada Day yesterday!

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  7. Thanks everyone! I'm hoping to make a few variations on this style, once my new Fireline makes it through the mail backlog.

    The herringbone tube is 8 beads wide, with 5 dark olive, and 3 yellow lined at the 'back'. I find it helps give the rope a more bangle-like shape.

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  8. Mortira, I can't remember if I've posted a comment on your blog before, but I just want to say I'm a real fan and have been a regular reader for over a year. In fact, I gave you a shout-out on my blog for your wonderful tutorials. You have truly lived up to your blog's name!

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  9. Thank you so much! I'm off to check it out right now.

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  10. Wow! I want one of these... I will have to find beads this color...
    Your work is extraordinary!

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  11. Wow Mortira, this is stunning! Do you perhaps have a tutorial for this bracelet, or something similar...would love to know how to add that beaded black and yellow detail, as well as the clasp.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kiki! I don't have a tutorial for this project yet, but I hope to create one early next year. You can find a tutorial for button clasps here:

      http://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/sagescupboard?section_id=7382948

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