(Components list at bottom of page)

by: Dwyn Tomlinson

Those of you who saw my blog post about the first take on this, know that I screwed it up the first time - essentially by ignoring stuff that I already knew.

I hate cutting apart stuff I've made. But - it was what I want to present as this week's inspiration, so - time to suck it up and try again.

This one worked out much better. I discovered the 3 mm bicones fit beautifully into the bevelled holes of the graphic cubes. Of course, we don't have quite as good a color selection in the 3 mms, so I used some 4 mm as well. Without the small beads in between - the last version I made was so stiff, it was in danger of grinding the beads to powder. With them, however, it drapes beautifully.

I got smart and made it on the bracelet measuring cone.

I deliberately made the strands not all identical - because my attention span is too short - and because I think the end result looks more interesting. More like a collection of gemstones and less like a matchy-matchy fashion accessory. The longer strands fall over and cross the other strands for jumbly, chaotic look.

The dark amber section of each strand is also not pure one-colour, for the same reason. It is a random blend of Topaz and Crystal Copper. You can tell which is which when you look closely - but at a distance - they just blend together perfectly.

I strung all 6 strands - yes - I put an extra one in - one of the end loops on the clasp has two strands - first, and then attached each one to the clasp, getting it tight and fastened before adding the next strand.

I'm pleased with the end result - which is a flashing mass of fiery colour.

While every strand is a little different, the basic pattern is:

• Each colour is a 6 and an 8 mm graphic cube, spaced with a 3 or 4 mm bicone - I used both - with a third graphic cube pair used for the centre colour.
• The colours are: Light Topaz, Topaz/Crystal Copper, Crystal Golden Shadow, Light Amethyst, Dark Amethyst, Siam, and then reversed.

• multi-strand bracelets don't need to be all matching strands
• the strands don't all need to be the same length
• they do need to bend
• and, if at first you don't succeed, grit your teeth, cut it apart, and start again.

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Components Clicking on components links will open a new window so that you don't lose this page.
		hclsp22gp Clasp - 5-Strand Slide Tube - Gold Plated	Price: $ 1.96 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		96096052 Crimp Tubes - Seamless - 2mm - Gold-filled (25)	Price: $ 8.84 per	In Stock
		96036002 Softflex (tm) Beading Wire - 30ft .024 (Heavy) - Extreme Sterling Silver (Spool) (I used the silver extreme to make the colours bright. I used "heavy" cuz that's what I had handy.)	Price: $ 54.95 per	In Stock
		27753011005204 Swarovski Bead - 3mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Amethyst (36)	Price: $ 7.15 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011002002 Swarovski Bead - 3mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Crystal Copper (36)	Price: $ 6.15 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011013208 Swarovski Bead - 3mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Siam (36)	Price: $ 4.99 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011263204 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Amethyst (36)	Price: $ 6.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011277212 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Light Amethyst (36)	Price: $ 7.96 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011319246 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Light Colorado Topaz (36) (I used these between the Crystal Golden Shadow. They are slightly darker - but I had a brain fart about what colour I was using.)	Price: $ 7.78 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011297226 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Light Topaz (36)	Price: $ 4.88 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011271208 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Siam (36)	Price: $ 7.96 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
		27753011288203 Swarovski Bead - 4mm Faceted Bicone (5301/5328) - Topaz (36)	Price: $ 6.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031040204 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Amethyst	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 6	27756031033001 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Crystal Copper	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031031001 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Crystal Golden Shadow	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031040212 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Light Amethyst	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031040226 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Light Topaz	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 9	27756031040208 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Siam	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 6	27756031040203 Swarovski Bead - 6mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Topaz	Price: $ 2.40 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031065204 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Amethyst (I refer to this as Dark Amethyst - but it's actually just Amethyst)	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031061001 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Crystal Golden Shadow	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031065212 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Light Amethyst	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 12	27756031065226 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Light Topaz	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 10	27756031065208 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Siam	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.
	Qty: 6	27756031065203 Swarovski Bead - 8mm Graphic Cube (5603) - Topaz	Price: $ 2.95 per	Sorry - this item is unavailable.