In fact, the chronology is not quite that tidy. I strung the copper lumpen necklaces; used the leftover beads (and added a few of my own, like the faceted “disco ball” sterling) to make this matching bracelet; then I wanted to make a black, silver and violet necklace, complete with custom focal bead made by yours truly. That was the hangup: I had a bunch of other beads to make first. So it's fairer to say the necklaces were conceived first.

As with (most) of the lumpen necklaces, the sides are not perfectly symmetrical; instead, I'm careful to include one of each on both sides several of the larger design elements. This gives balance, without the worry of attempting to get the beads on each side of the of the focal to behave identically, which they never do.

Both these bracelets are strung on 49 stranded Beadalon, in one long piece, with sort of a fringe at the end, for both decorative purposes and to add greater strength (because the stringing material doubles back on itself.) The finish is easier to see on the left side of the purple piece.

Pixie dust focal with mixed metal, glass, pearls, goldstone, and rutilated quartz. 2002.

Pixie dust, amethyst, sterling, cloisonne, glass. 2002. (I was too lazy to mount the camera on the tripod; since it was a cloudy day I just took these outside and shot them on a velvet pad. Not perfect nor even particularly professional, but you can see what's going on.)

Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.