|
|
BrideStyle #8: Giving pearls to girlsby Stacy Werkheiser  Click to enlarge.
Still, I exerted a lot of energy designing my bridal jewelry, and I'm guessing you have too if you've been following this series. But if you're a die-hard beader like me and are up for a few way-simple and totally practical designs for the wedding, read on.
|
Bracelets for bridesmaids
What could be more practical than making your own bridesmaids gifts? I was instantly on board after seeing the same old cliché gift ideas in every bridal catalog that landed on my doorstep. Since I already learned a lot about pearls to make my own wedding jewelry, I decided to make simple pearl bracelets for my attendants.
|
 Click to enlarge. |
 Click to enlarge. |
 Click to enlarge.
My first thought was to string a simple pattern of pearls and 15/0 seed beads, then add the heart charms as dangles. You can see the result at left. The bracelets are certainly cute, but when I put one on for a test drive, the charm was constantly banging into things and risked catching on clothing. I removed the charms, deciding that a plain pearl bracelet was far better than an annoying decorative one. The moral of the story: Always test your jewelry before giving it away.
My test drive revealed another problem, a common pitfall when stringing bracelets: I strung my beads, attached my clasp, and crimped the crimp beads while the bracelet was lying in a straight line. Then when I tried one on, there wasn't enough slack between the beads for the bracelet to curve comfortably around my wrist. Bummer. I had to restring all of my bridesmaids' bracelets for this reason, making sure to curve the strands into circles before crimping the crimp beads. That exercise is now built into my general jewelry-making technique, and I hope you can learn from my mistake.
|
Charm challenge
But back to those charms I banished from the bracelets - what could I do with them? I decided my bridesmaids deserved more than just a bracelet, so I made necklaces! Using 16-in. (41 cm) lengths of small-link chain, I dangled each charm in front and resisted the urge to add more dangles. Chic and simple. I finished each necklace with a lobster claw clasp and soldered jump ring. |
 Click to enlarge.
Once I finished the jewelry, I contemplated how to package it. I wanted each piece packaged with a reminder of where the bridesmaid got it and how to care for it. The solution came in the mail.
As a magazine editor, it's only natural that I currently subscribe to bridal magazines. And as a bride-to-be with money to spend, it's only natural that I receive all kinds of bridal junk mail. The photography in bridal mags and vendor mail is beautiful, and I realized the pictures would make gorgeous backdrops for my jewelry. So I cut out business-card sized graphics, attached them to cardstock cut slightly larger, then wrote on the back:
Handmade by Stacy Hillmer
Sterling silver and cultured pearls
Store in bag with antitarnish strip
I placed each card in a zip-top bag with the jewelry and an antitarnish strip. For the necklaces, I cut small slits at the top of the card to attach the neck chains. To prevent tangling, I fed the remainder of the chain into a small bag that I taped to the back of the card.
My favorite gift packaging is colorful take-out boxes, so I placed a bracelet and necklace baggy in a take-out box for each of my bridesmaids. Ta da! I told you this would be fast, easy, and practical!
Still not sated on bridal beading? You're in luck. Next week, I'll post four more simple beaded gifts and accessories you can make for your wedding. (Assuming your sanity hasn't yet run out - I know my tank will soon be running on empty!)
Coming next week…
BrideStyle #9: More beaded bridal projects
|
|
|
Look for this icon. This denotes premium subscriber content.
Learn More »
|
|