I fell in love with these Czech glass leaves the moment I saw them. I knew I wanted to cluster them together in some fashion so they would look like a cornucopia of fall leaves. After playing around with the beading wire and leaves for a while, I came up with a braclet that is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry to date.
Shanna Steele, Auntie’s Beads Designer
This bracelet requires knowledge of the Right Angle Weave technique. For more information on this technique, please watch Karla Kam Right Angle Weave Video.
A note about this project: I did not establish a pattern with my leaves before I began this bracelet. If you would like to do so, lay your beads out before you begin the project.
Instructions:
1. Cut a piece of beading wire measuring about 3 feet. Pick up a leaf , 2 seed beads, a leaf, and 2 more seed beads. Make sure your beads are centered on the wire. Cross over with the right thread through the last 2 seed beads added on the left.
2. On the left thread, pick up a leaf and 2 seed beads. On the right, pick up a leaf. Cross over with the right thread through the last 2 seed beads added on the left.
3. Continue to repeat step 2 until you have used all your Czech glass leaf beads. Your work should be about 6 inches long.
4. On your left thread, pick up 2 seed beads. Pick up 2 seed beads on your right thread. Pull your threads together and add a seed and a crimp bead to both wires. Run your wires through one half of the toggle then back down through the crimp bead and seed bead. Secure the crimp bead using your Crimper tool.
5. Run your left wire through a couple more seed beads. Do the same with your right. Cut the excess wire using your Nipper tool.
6. Take one of your wire scraps from the wire you cut in step 5. Run it through the 2 seed beads at the other end of the bracelet.
7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to complete your bracelet.
8. Use your chain nose pliers to gently apply your crimp covers to the crimp beads.
Materials and Tools Needed:
Czech Glass Leaf, Bronze/Amethyst, 9 x 14mm (9 pieces)
Czech Glass Leaf, Bronze/Medium Topaz, 9 x 14mm (9 pieces)
Czech Glass Leaf, Bronze/Olivine, 9 x 14mm (9 pieces)
Czech Glass Leaf, Smoky Topaz/Gold Inlay, 9 x 14mm (9 pieces)
Miyuki 8-311, Topaz Gold Luster (about 1/8 tube)
OR
Miyuki 8-342, Berry Lined Lt Topaz AB (about 1/8 tube)
OR
Miyuki 8-357, Root Beer Lined Lt Topaz AB (about 1/8 tube)
Antique Gold Toggle with Flower
Crimp Beads, Gold Filled, Bag of 50, 2 x 2 mm (2 pieces)
Gold Filled Open Bead Crimp Cover 3.2 mm, Bag of 10 (2 pieces)
Beadalon 19-strand Wire, 30 ft., .015, Metallic Satin Gold (about 36 inches)
Nipper Tool
Beadalon Designer Bead Crimper
Beadsmith Ergo Pliers, Chain Nose With Cutter
