Can I tell you a secret?
Sometimes, jewelry designs that look lovely in photos are incredibly uncomfortable to wear!
Take these lampwork beads, for instance. A whole bracelet composed of those glowing colors LOOKS great… in a photo.
But the reality is that a bracelet of that sort is heavy, and lumpy.
Which is what led me to create this bracelet design.
The pretty beads stay out of the way on top your wrist, and a smooth wire coil keeps them in place, and lets the underside of your wrist be lump free.
Not only that, but it weighs half as much!
The inclusion of wire wrapping and the possibility for mixed metals in the design is another bonus.
You don’t have to use glass beads in this design, btw, any beads with a 1.5mm+ hole, such as polymer clay, stone, ceramic, etc. will work.
Tools and Materials:
- Beads, bead caps and spacers with holes large enough for 16 gauge wire
- 16 gauge bare copper wire
- 18 gauge bare copper wire
- 24 gauge bare copper wire
- Nylon jaw pliers
- Flat nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Chain nose pliers
- Bail making pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Bench block
- Leather sandbag
- Chasing hammer
- Rawhide (or nylon) hammer
- Bracelet mandrel
- Sharpie marker
- Split ring pliers
- Coiling gizmo
Beads I used:
- From Michael’s:
- Bits & Baubles, Rose Gold & Gray
- Bead Landing Pink Ceramic Large Rondelle
- Plated Plastic Ring Copper 12mm
- From Hobby Lobby
- From Dollar Bead Box:
Videos you may find helpful:
- What Are Flush Cutters And How To Use Them
- How To Use Bail Making/Looping Pliers In Your Jewelry
- How To Make a Hook & Loop Clasp With Wire
- Coiled Coil Beads video
- Wire Jewelry Masterclass book
Enjoy the video. Happy creating!
Watch the Create This Fun Bohemian Chic Bead Bracelet on YouTube.
