Mirror of the Maharaja bracelet

In 2020 I have a personal challenge: every month I focus on a different theme and on a specific material. In March my special theme is ‘India.’ One of my beloved countries, and the very first I traveled outside of Europe. Many people say, that in India even the air smells different, and it’s absolutely true: as soon as yous step out of the airplane, your nose will be full of a spicy, warm breeze. Outside of the terminal a different world is waiting for you: a colorful, intense one, which feels like if you’ve stepped into the world of the tales of 1001 nights.

 

 

Not far from the capital, New Delhi there is the province called Rhajasthan. While every one of the states are different, in my opinion Rhajasthan is the closest to how one imagines India. Fortresses of never-before-seen proportions, the first elephant I’ve seen as part of the daily traffic, and traditional dresses of all colors everywhere.

 

 

 

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Visiting some of the biggest fortresses and palaces of India (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Chittorghar, Bundi, Fatekhpur Sikri, Udaipir) already inspired several jewels. Today I’d like to show you the newest one: the ‘Mirror of the Maharaja.’

It’s a bead-embroidered cuff, decorated with a beautiful handmade art cabochon from L2 studio, in combination with a filigree. (I’ll incorporate filigree components into every one of my jewels this month!). The raw brass base is covered by soft leather from the outside and Ultra Suede from the inside. I love the color of this turquoise leather so much, that I decided to show from it as much as possible.

 

 

How to make the ‘Mirror of the Maharaja’ bracelet?

If you want to learn the basics of bead embroidery, I highly recommend to start with the ‘Bead a turtle – save a turtle‘ tutorial.

Material list

• 5 cm wide metal bracelet base,
• leather,
• Ultra Suede,
• Mirror oval cabochon from L2studio,
• 53 x 33 mm filigree,
• 11/0 Miyuki Delica beads (I used two different colors),
• 15/0 Miyuki round seed beads (I used three different colors,
• 2 mm round pearls or druk beads.

 

 

Tools

• 0.12 mm Fireline,
• thread matching the color of the leather,
• beading needle,
• glue (I use E-6000 or F-6000),
• bead mat,
• sharp scissors.

 

 

Tutorial

1. Cover the inside of the metal bracelet base with Ultra Suede, using glue. Cut away the extra part, leaving only about 0.5 mm all around.
2. Cover the outside of the metal bracelet base with leather, using glue Cut away the extra part, leaving only about 0.5 mm all around.
3. Connect the Ultra Suede and the learher to each other with tiny top stitches, using Miyuki Delica 11/0 beads all around. I used beading thread which blended into the color of the leather.
4. Decorate the Delica beads on the edge opf the bracelet with picots of (3) 15/0 Miyuki round seed beads.
5. Secure and trim the thread ends.
6. Glue the cabochon to the Ultra Suede, and let it dry a bit. Keep in mind, that the beads around the cabochon are only for decoration, so the glue will need to hold.
7. In the meanwhile, gently bend the filigree to the shape of the bangle.
8. Bezel the cabochon with Peyote stitch. Aim for an even number. I added 5 rows of Delica beads and 1 row of Miyuki 15/0 round seed beads.
9. Cut out the cabochon, as close to the beads as possible. Be careful, don’t damage the thread when cutting the fabric!
10. Attach the Ultra Suede all around the cabochon to the filigree. Try to pull the US as close to the metal as possible. Tie some knots, and weave back to the Peyote bezel.
11. Add 1 row of round 15/0 beads between the Delica in the bottom row.
12. Add 1 row of 2 mm round beads between the 15/0 beads added in the previous step.
13. Secure and trim all thread ends.
14. Glue the filigree (with the cabochon on top of it) to the bangle, and let it dry.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to show me the result 🙂

 

 

 

 

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