(Components list at bottom of page)

by: Dwyn Tomlinson

Somebody STOP me! I just can't stop making these bracelets! They are so handsome and different from my usual style - but I am really loving the look.

This is Regaliz - Licorice Leather - so named because it resembles those old, tangy coils of licorice that you can still find in the specialty candy stores - and not that modern plastic c--- that you get in movie theatres. These fat strips of leather resemble wood, but are surprisingly supple and pliable.

Combined with these special findings, designed to fit on this super-sized leather, you can easily make a handsome bracelet, quickly and easily.

In fact, the only difficulty seems to be in stopping. ;-)

A few things to know

• Heavy duty wire cutters cut the leather nicely. Make sure the end is cut square, not on an angle.
• Sometimes the end of the leather splays out and can be hard to fit in the cup of the clasp finding. Trim/shave the wider part off with sharp scissors until it fits into the cup. It should be a snuggish fit.
  
• The recommended glue is Super New Glue - which is a cyanoacrylate - in the same family as Crazy Glue(tm) or other Super glues. It bonds skin. It bonds fast. It's a little runny. Apply to the end of the leather, and around the edges, and push into the cup immediately, and hold for a few seconds. Check for ooze and drips, and wipe up with a tissue immediately. If you glue your fingers to something, peel off immediately. This is why you hold for a few seconds, then check. You want to make sure you haven't glued yourself to the project before the glue finishes curing, because you won't feel that you are stuck until it is too late. 
• The hook clasp adds a good inch, allow for this when measuring. I like my bracelets large and loose: I found 8 inches with the magnetic clasp was perfect. You will probably prefer smaller.
  
• By and large, the beads stay in place. The leather does vary a little in thickness, so if the beads are sliding around more than you like, put a drop of glue where you want the bead to stay, on the back of the bracelet, and slide the bead into position.
  
• For Gawd's sake, put the beads on first, then glue the clasp on.
  
• Make sure you don't glue half the clasp on facing the wrong direction. Just saying.
  
• If you want to make a "true" bangle - no clasp, use a bead to hide the join. Cut the leather to fit over the widest part of your hand. (In my case, about 10.25 inches) Apply glue to the ends and sides of the ends, and push both ends into one of the wider beads.
  
• Try for a necklace, or a long bracelet that wraps multiple times around your wrist
• I bet Stephanie is going to wrap crystals onto one of these.
  

These also have a nice, quiet masculine look, so maybe for the Dude in your life, cuz, you know, Father's Day is coming up soon.

email to a friend

Components Clicking on components links will open a new window so that you don't lose this page.
		s32976 Adhesive - 3 gram Super New Glue - (This glue works very well.)	Price: $ 3.25 per	In Stock
		s32981 Beads - Regaliz - Leopard Cube - Antique Silver (So awesome!)	Price: $ 4.46 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		s32995 Beads - Regaliz - Oval - Antique Silver (All the Regaliz leather, beads and findings are on one page, so follow a link to pick and choose!)	Price: $ 2.85 per	In Stock
		s36015 Findings - Regaliz - Magnetic Clasp - Pewter	Price: $ 12.60 per	Sorry, Out of Stock
		s32980 Findings - Regaliz - Magnetic Clasp - Pewter - Stamped (1) (This clasp is so handsome, but the hook clasp stays fastened surprisingly well)	Price: $ 12.60 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		s32974 Leather - Regaliz Licorice Leather - Teak (foot) (I like all the colours. I found 8 inches to be the perfect length with the magnetic clasp. The bangle was more like 10 inches.)	Price: $ 5.88 per	Sorry, Out of Stock