This is a new free bracelet pattern by Sandra Halpenny and the pattern is posted HERE on her blog. She also has a YouTube tutorial HERE. I'm always on the look-out for patterns that call for Rulla beads and I love how Sandra has used them here. The Rulla motif is what makes this bracelet special. I might even try making a bracelet with only those motifs.
If you compare the photo on Sandra's blog with the pattern diagrams, you will see that the one in her photo is a variation of the pattern. The pattern tells you to add seed bead connectors between the Rulla and fire polished bead motifs. The one in the photo doesn't have those extra seed beads between the motifs. I made a sample of each version and you can see the difference between them in the photo below:
The version with the connectors is very delicate and airy. The version without the connectors is more compact and and somewhat chunky. It's just as pretty as the other one and I might make one like that sometime. If you make yours that way, you will need a few more Rulla beads and fire polished beads than if you make the other version.
There is a typo in the supply list for the pattern. Sandra used 4mm Czech Cathedral beads but she mentions that you can also use other kinds of beads instead. It says to use 6mm crystals but it should say 4mm. I used 4mm fire polished beads and 6mm beads would have been much too large. I do have some 4mm Cathedral beads but not enough to make this bracelet. They are pretty much the same size as 4mm fire polished beads.
If you need to get some Rulla beads to make this bracelet, Supply Emporium has a very nice selection of colors. Don't forget to use the coupon code CRAFTY15 to get 15% off your order of over $30.
I got both of these fire polished bead colors at Aura Crystals. You will find the turquoise beads HERE and the Rosaline Moon Dust beads HERE.
ROYAL WEDDING BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki/Czech "Aztec Gold" (55127)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki/Czech "Aztec Gold" (55127)
- Rulla beads "Aztec Gold"
- 4mm fire polished beads "Gold Suede Turquoise"
The only place that I know of to get these hybrid seed beads is Potomac Beads. They have the 11/0 beads HERE and the 8/0 beads HERE. As you can see, the seed beads match the Rulla beads perfectly.
UPDATE: I found out that Simply Beads USA also has the Aztec Gold seed beads. The 11/0 beads are HERE and the 8/0 beads are HERE. By the way, I added the 8/0 beads to the ends of my bracelets. The pattern doesn't call for them.
ROYAL WEDDING BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Pewter" (4222)
- Rulla beads "Opaque Violet White Luster"
- 4mm fire polished beads "Rosaline Moon Dust"
It's just gorgeous. I love your color choices. Wonder if SuperDuos would work instead of Rullas, which I don't have.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried regular SuperDuos. However, I did try the smooth kind of SuperDuos and they work great. I just used one less seed bead on each side. I also tried Mini DiamonDuos and they worked pretty well but the shape of the motif comes out a little different. The other thing that I tried were Puca's IOS beads and I wasn't too pleased with the results with those.
DeleteHow pretty and royal! The little seed bead fourishes (are those picots?) on the fire-polished RAW components remind me of the crosses on a crown!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Barbara H.
I suspect that was Sandra's intention when she designed it, Barbara. Yes, those are picots.
DeleteLinda - Love this new bracelet and think I prefer it without the seed bead spacers as well. I am wondering if you have tried this with bricks instead of rullas and if not, do you think it would work? I have bricks but no rullas.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb. Check back tomorrow and you will find out! Tomorrow's post will be all about alternatives to Rulla beads.
DeleteLinda I found the Aztec Gold seedbeads at SimplyBeadsUsa dot com also. (Potomac was out of stock). Thanks for all your explanations. They are just Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteHi Doris. Thanks for telling me about Simply Beads. I'll add a link to their site in my post.
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