Well-known to those who do battle as an occupation, Phoenix Down is something of a necessity for reviving members of your party that may not have dodged in time.  (Granted, this particular version doesn't actually exist in the games, but... it's a nice thought when the temperatures start climbing.) Seems like a good idea to keep a spare close by, right?

I was just hit by an idea for sparkly simplicity and happened to have wire to play with right next to me. Of course something geeky happened. (And of course that Swarovski crystal.)

(For Sale)

Well-known to those who do battle as an occupation, Phoenix Down is something of a necessity for reviving members of your party that may not have dodged in time.  Seems like a good idea to keep a spare close by, right?

I was just hit by an idea for sparkly simplicity and happened to have wire to play with right next to me.  Of course something geeky happened.  (And of course that Swarovski crystal.)

(For Sale)

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.

There is simply no way that you can look at a smiling Carbuncle and be sad. It's impossible. Carbuncles are nifty little critters/summons/GFs/things from the Final Fantasy series of games that actually aren't out to tear your face off. (Alright, fine, except in FFIII. But that has got to be a serious misunderstanding.) In fact, they can be incredibly adorable. And, as you can see, shiny!

In the middle of two more projects, I decided that I needed a little pick-me-up. This little guy definitely worked. I also decided that I wanted to experiment a little with materials, hence the yarn instead of my generally standard silk ribbon lacing. It goes perfectly with the playful little Carbuncle, don't you think? Alright, fine: there's a total of 1,152 beads here. Now I'm going to try and FORGET that, thanks.

(For Sale)

I took way, way too long figuring out how many beads were used here. 1,802 delicas, 6 "materia beads", and 1 random lovely purple glass bead. Many a four-letter word was uttered after. Then I poured myself a drink. But look upon the dancing chocobo cuff bracelet and be happy, for they are dancing chocobos!

Yeah, this is completely insane. But it started out so innocently with just one FF4 chocobo sprite... which became two... then six. Then I can't really explain what happened. The chocobos made me, I swear it. ...Anyway. I really like how the dark purple background turned out, which is good--I wasn't so sure at first. And of course, well... chocobos. This actually successfully combined three requests in one: 1.) beaded chocobos, 2.) sized for a larger wrist, and 3.) a metal-free clasp. Well, I feel successful.

(Sold)

And so two fascinations come together: prayer beads and Final Fantasy 7. ...No, I didn't think the connection existed before now, either. It was all because of Pray for the Planet's beads that I got this idea in the first place. These particular beads are black and beautifully textured, with tiny silver "cracks" running through them. Much more beautiful in person. So is the rainbow obsidian "black materia", which actually manages to have a silver glowing accent to it. Awesome.

And in case you're interested in the symbolism... Three groups of ten beads represent the three pillars/columns/"the three lines", and the ten steps/branches of the Sephirot. The black materia is just that--but the drop from it represents the "11th step/branch" which represents the abyss (but it's kind of blasphemous, ha ha, but then so am I). It seemed... appropriate for Sephiroth's symbol to rest on the edge of the abyss.

The original is sold, but I can take commissions for more.

I am amazed. No, really. This was a very vague request. Just something to be a reminder of Aeris. I started completely blind, no ideas. And this just happened. I'm very, very proud of it. The level of simplistic detail just... makes me happy.

It reminds me of Aeris and the very concept of "sanctuary", and everyone who had sought either. Everyone who had known her, everyone who had been through the church either on purpose or by accident.

In reality, it's just a 20 mm quartz sphere, copper wire, Sculpey and loads of time. To the obsessed, it's probably kinda cool. *grin*

I come up with the most creative titles, don't I? I... am proud of this. Too proud. But it makes me so very happy. In case you did not know, this is the (modern/Compilation) version of the SOLDIER symbol. And SOLDIERs are--say it with me, folks--from Final Fantasy 7. And now it's a very shiny, very stylish bracelet. Stylish because I said so, of course.

For the most part, I'm not willing to think about how long this actually took. "A long time", as most beading projects will. What... insane devotion. But insane shiny devotion. So it's okay.

Available by commission, though I'm pondering a little design change.