ArtFire

Pretty red floral polymer-clay beads, lovely cream pearls, and sparking green crystals come together in this cheerfully elegant bracelet. Lovely multi-petalled flowers appear on both sides of the lentil-shaped focal beads, with bright leafy green providing a lovely complementary accent. Their background is a warm tan color.

The central floral is bordered by gold-plated daisy spacers, Swarovski pearls (8mm), and olivine Swarovski bicones (6mm). The side florals are also nestled between daisy spacers. Completing the strand is a pair of pearls separated by another glittery crystal. On one side of the bracelet, the crystal is bordered by daisy spacers; on the other side are a daisy spacer and a TierraCast daisy loop bead. From the loop dangles a gold-plated finely made TierraCast charm of a smiling moon (the moon face appears on both sides of the charm). All the pearls in this piece have gold-plated bead caps. As a matter of note, TierraCast components are made in the U.S.A.

Sterling crimps were used to secure the beading wire and are hidden behind gold-plated crimp covers. As an extra protection for the wire, which is 49-strand bronze, I used gold-plated wire guards. The clasp is the toggle type, and heart-shaped. Lengthwise, the bracelet measures just under 7 1/2 inches. Please see my photos for a picture that includes a side-by-side view with a ruler.

The red floral polymer-clay beads were handmade by Julie of BlueMorningExpressions on ArtFire. Julie takes great care in making her beads, and even bakes them twice for durability and shine. I always find myself smiling when I work with her beads because they're just so pretty!

All together, this is a lovely bracelet with a sweet mix of gloss and glitter, and a stylish companion for the spring, or the summer, or any time!

My mother's favorite color was purple, but she also had a real attraction to red florals and would have loved these polymer clay beads. I thus thought of her a great deal as I was making this piece. I didn't anticipate using the moon charm, though. That came about after a bit of thought when I felt there was just a little something missing from the piece. It was all so pretty, but, to my mind, it seemed the flowers should have a connection to something more. Then I thought of the moon charm. There is such a wonderful smile on the face of the charm, just a tad mysterious. That together with the flowers reminded me of summer nights years ago and my mom's flower garden with the moon shining overhead. Lovely times, lovely memories ... and I thought, this is a bracelet for making happy memories with. And that the moon charm also adds a touch of fun seemed perfect. :)

Red flower polymer clay lentils, Swarovski cream pearls (8mm), Swarovski olivine crystal bicones (6mm), TierraCast moon charm, sterling crimps, gold-plated spacers and crimp covers and bead caps, 49-strand bronze beading wire, toggle clasp