This bracelet was definitely the most time consuming that I have ever done……. it took almost 3 weeks to finish! To be honest, there were times that I wanted to throw it in the “Take-Apart” bin and just move on to something else but just looking at Callie Mitchell’s Industrial Chic pattern in Beadwork Magazine gave me the motivation to keep it going :)
If anyone is inspired to make this bracelet, please take note of one very important thing……use identical size 8/0 beads for the base!! I wish I knew this before I started the first bracelet base :( I was using some leftover beads from my Mom’s stash and while going through them, I realized how many were warped, broken, or just flat as lentils! I didn’t think much of it at first but then I realized how much time I was spending just looking for the next semi-normal shaped bead that I could pick up next. So finally I just gave up and ordered some awesome Hematite Toho beads from ArtBeads.com. When I got the package, I was so thrilled to see that all the beads in the bag were almost completely identical and then it was easy-beading from then on….at least as far as the base goes. Oh and one last important thing…..be prepared to break a lot of needles :( There were many areas that were so tightly woven and “crowded” with other beads that I couldn’t weave easily through without breaking the needle tip. I’m not sure if I’ll do another like this again but I am pleased with the finished piece ;)
The supplies I used are almost exactly as what was listed in Callie’s pattern but I’ll include exact colors and such:
- Size 12 beading needles
- 6lb Fireline thread – Smoke
- TOHO Metallic Hematite Round Seed Beads 8/0
- Silver Round Seed Beads 15/0
- 4mm Swarovski Bicones:
-Cyclamen Opal
-Jet Hematite
-Purple Velvet
-Tanzanite AB - 3mm Jet Hematite 2x Swarovski Bicones
