The Ice Empress

I finished the Ice Empress Bracelet this afternoon, marking the first afternoon that my two girls let me get some beading done with them nearby, without any accidents. I am so relieved that I was able to have a few beads around the kids and no grabbing or messing around.

Anyway, I am proud of this piece, I felt confident during the entire creative process.




I used lots of little faceted Labradorite buttons, grey peacock freshwater pearl flat irregular chips, white freshwater pearls, and lots of different seed beads including 15/o, 11/0, and 8/o hex cuts. Woven with c-lon thread with a size 12 needle, the thread shredded many times and I had to add and end threads constantly, despite applying and reapplying Thread Heaven frequently. This was tricky as it filled up those beads holes so that I could barely get the needle to go through for the last pass.




I started the base for this bracelet with a chevron chain, then weaved a row of right angle on each side of the strip. I added the clasp and the outside row of Pearls on the next pass. Then I added the diagonal embellishments to the right angle weave boxes. Lastly, I added the Labradorite and more Pearls to the center row.




It measures 1.25 in wide by 7.5 in long. I think it would look lovely on a bride. I would wear it if I could marry my fantastic husband again.

Getting Started

This is my "Empress Bracelet". It is made from 15/0, 11/0, and 8/0 hex cut japanese seed beads, as well as very pale blue topaz rondelles and grey freshwater pearls with a Bali sterling silver clasp. I sewed it using C-Lon thread and size 13 needles.

I used several different stitches, including chevron, right angle weave, and picot. The surface embellishment was the last step, and the most difficult, but very satisfying.

I wear this bracelet anytime I want to be identified as a beader... because people always notice it! I think of this as my signature piece.

I started this blog as a way to share my art and the process I use to make it. I hope to share my inspirations, mistakes, and finished pieces. I am without a camera currently :( so any jewelry pictures will be from my HP scanner, which is truly an HP and VERY cranky.