Making bead bracelets seems to be the neat thing to do these days…for young children, teens and even adults! The last time I thought about making anything with beads was when I taught kindergarten years ago, or when my kids were very little. Now, apparently, everyone seems to be making them to share messages with others. I think much of this started with the whole fan base of Taylor Swift. It shows how much impact her followers can influence marketing trends! Why not write a message to a friend!
In any case, when my granddaughter went to a Penn State Lady Lions basketball game a few weeks ago, she was able to make several bead bracelets with tiny basketballs on them. She was thrilled!
My only experience with beaded bracelets as an adult was ordering several bracelets with tiny beads from Etsy. One was made of Citrine stones (my birth stone/color). Then I ordered another set of seven bracelets from Sedona, Arizona. I had hoped to wear them all together as a set…but alas…they were too small and I couldn’t stand them that tight (no pictures for the set).
Needless to say, the set of bracelets stayed in their package for a long time. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking I could take them apart and restring them somehow. When I finally took the plunge to go shopping for the right elastic and additional beads to fill in to make them longer…I got sucked into the whole industry of beading!
If you’ve ever wandered through JoAnn’s Fabric Store or Michaels Craft Store you know what I mean! Yikes! I didn’t quite know what I needed so the displays were very effective in getting me to part with my money!
Before I started cutting my precious bracelets apart, I thought I’d better try to make a bracelet first. Of course, that meant ordering a board to hold the beads while I figure out the design.
I needed elastic string (like stretchy fishing line) and I had to learn how to tie a knot that would stay tied…haha…then I found a “jewelry glue” to put on the know to hold it. I’m sure I’m not doing it right, but hopefully I’ll get better at it.
Here are some of my first attempts at making bracelets…I fell in love with the tiny turtle beads in the bracelet on the left:
Then I experimented with real stones…they sure felt more substantial than plastic beads. Already I’m discovering what I like to work with…and of course real stones are more expensive than plastic!
Of course, I wanted to see the bracelets as I made more, so I draped them over my water bottle on my desk.
I think Bert took pity on me and later that day he brought me a stand he had just made to display the bracelets! Very clever and appreciated!
Even the ends were cute!
Restringing my special bracelets was a challenge. I had decided to make a bracelet with all 7 colors on one bracelet. First, I cut the string on each bracelet and put the beads in individual little containers…with labels so I’d remember what they were.
Then I tried to figure out how many beads of each color would make the right length bracelet. I ended up with 5 of each color and a single bead of white opal between the colors. It took three tries to get it the way I wanted. I still can’t make in invisible knot, but with the glue it just looks like another bead. Oh well!
Now, let the fun begin! I must have a bracelet to wear to the next Penn State Lady Lions basketball game…
So, when I’m not cranking out greyhound coats or making skin care stuff or soap, know that I’m sequestered at my desk focused on getting this elastic string through tiny holes in beads! Try it yourself!!