I’ve been experimenting a lot on beadwork and jewelry making — and I’ve enjoyed wearing them the past couple of days. No, they aren’t for sale. I haven’t quite mustered the confidence to sell them. I’ve given away a piece or two — but always with the caveat that if anything breaks, I will repair them.
Here’s a favorite bracelet I had put together some weeks back. I’ve had the beads for 3 years or so now, but I got the chain during my last trip to Manila. (How can you beat the price of P60.00 pr approximately $1.20 for 5 yards of this chain?) I didn’t have the luxury to shop then so I took only this and another, keeping in mind the beads I already had stashed away. When I bought the beads in Wellmanson’s in Divisoria in 2006, they cost P20.00 for 20 grams, and there were approximately 20 beads. I am not sure if they are still selling for the same price but I saw them on the shelves when I visited this May. The lobster clasp and the heart locket with its own lobster clasp, I bought from a bead store here on Avenue of the Americas (a.k.a. Sixth Avenue).
I created a bracelet extender (which is what I call it only for want of a better term really) which is made of braided suede straps, slightly longer than the regular 7.5″-8″ inch bracelet length, to enable me to loop it around whatever bracelet I am hoping to extend. When worn by itself, I knot the middle and attach a charm to weigh the braided strap down.
Combining the two bracelets make for an interesting combination of texture and color. Because of the lightweight material, a charm is a good means to give the bracelet an anchor so that it falls nicely on the wrist. A favorite pendant attached to a bail will also do.
Pinay New Yorker 