So the story goes, there was once an assassin hidden amongst the courtesans.  For every successful kill and escape, she would add a red butterfly to her bracelet.  One day the bracelet was found on the side of a dock, hung on the handle of a knife that had been hers, and no trace of either the assassin nor the nobleman she was sent to kill (who would have been the ninth butterfly) was ever found.  A romantic heart may tell you that she fell in love with the nobleman and they sailed away together.  I see nothing wrong with hoping for that.

So I am terrible at waiting for things and I also sort of wanted to do something simple.  No, actually simple, not just the "fake simple" I usually get roped into.  I've had these eight red glass butterfly beads set aside for a very long time, and that little story in my head ever since.  Finally doing something simple in a "less is more" sort of thing makes me happy.

(For Sale)

"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." - Sarah Williams

Kind of couldn't help but think of the quote while I was finishing this. I needed a little something different, again, and I'd been picking and different kinds of layered bracelets lately, so this happened. I really wanted something to showcase that "cheap plastic ring" which did not in any way look cheap to me. The blue highlights are so subtle that they're hard enough to pick out in person depending on the light, nevermind trying to get decent pictures of them, but I hope I've succeeded enough for folks to be able to adjust their monitors and marvel. Or something like it.
(For Sale)

Maybe I've been reading too much classic hard science fiction lately.  Nah, that's not possible.

I just wanted to do something a little different for a bracelet.  Hand sewn, hand beaded super soft fabric managed to get a little "stiffened" and reinforced in the process, sort of turning it into a soft bangle.  The centerpiece is a gorgeous 12mm "red tiger eye" bead that really flares in direct light, giving off a fiber optic type of glow.  I'm rather fond of the semi-rustic look of it, myself.  I'll have to play with this style/method more.

(For Sale)

An old, battered peacock cabochon I'd gotten years ago at a discount really needed a new life. Add leftover seed beads, some wire scraps, Swarovski crystals and a band of super-soft black leather I'd been playing with and... results! There's a little extra dusted gold detailing along the top and bottom, since... well, shiny.

I so needed to do something simple.  Even if hand-sewing leather is full of cursing.

(Sold)

And now that the gift has found its way to its owner, I can talk about the hell I went through to make this bracelet. *grin* Well, it was... a trial. A very, very big trial. I was juggling techniques, trying to figure out exactly how I wanted to do this and what I wanted to make it out of. I was actually disappointed at first, because a few things couldn't be exactly accurate due to what the clay kept doing/annoying me with, but now... yes, I've had time to step back and appreciate it. I want to make more, but the charms will have a slightly different style. This is definitely one of a kind.

And because I am me, and have to interpret everything, I rather liked the idea of the silver wire wrap around each crystal. It sort of represents Cosmos' energy and influence, the silver working its way through the chain and the eternal loop. ...Yeah, stop looking at me like that.

If you're not familiar, Dissidia is a "Final Fantasy fighter" that I keep meaning to take breaks from but keep picking back up for "just another couple of battles", so that should tell you something.

I came across this lovely little shop in the town next door recently, and took a look at their jewelry. Lovely stuff, I must admit. And then I looked closer. "I can do that."

So I... did. *grin* Well, the original was covered in beads. I... didn't have that many. *cough* Nor did I have the astounding variety. But for what I already had, I think this turned out beautifully. Reminds me of a dragon's hoard for no particular reason, as well.

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The combination of an unpracticed hand and a new blade can at least have a sparkly result. It belongs in the "definitely, without a doubt, handmade" category, but I can't say I'm in the least bit disappointed with it. This was an experiment all the way through, from how the pattern was transferred (mild failure; the lines weren't deep enough, and blind cutting with a new blade IS NOT FUN), to cut, to the blending of paint and pigment. I think it turned out quite amazingly for all that it's been through (a.k.a. me), and the fact that I found a very rich red silk ribbon was the perfect touch. In case you can't tell, both the red and the white portions have incredible iridescent sparkle that changes with the light source. I know, me and sparkly.

While this piece was made as a semi-bracer/to cover the back of the hand, it works perfectly as a bracelet for the larger-wristed (which is not me, with my scrawny little wrist) or an arm band for any size. There are many possibilities when it comes to how to lace it, as well.

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