Mother's Bracelet with 6 kids!!

[Polly]

Hi Sean,

There are so many options, that its hard to know where to start.

What types of materials do you want to use?

Some good birthstone beads are the <a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=26-591&action=search
" target="_top">#26-591 Rhinestone & Sterling "Stardust" beads[/url], <a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?action=serve&item=08a.htm" target="_top">Swarovski #5301 rondelle/bicone beads[/url] (available in about 130 colors), and the <a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=05-706&action=search" target="_top">Swarovski rhinestone "wheels"[/url], available in birthstone colors.  The "wheels" are available in white and yellow plate.

For some design ideas, 3 kids on each bracelet sounds good.
This raises the question of how to divide them.  
 - Into 2 sets of colors that look good?  
 - The 3 youngest on one bracelet, and the oldest on the other?  
 - The ones whose birthdays are earliest in the year on one bracelete, and the ones whose birthdays are later in the year, on the other?
 - Boys on one, girls on the other?

If using the Rhinestone Sterling Stardust beads, then good spacer beads would be smaller Stardust beads (in our catalog, we have 3 sizes of round Stardust beads, and in our upcoming Fall supplement we'll have a few 12kt goldfill stardust beads, and some melon shaped stardust beads... I'll put in links as soon as they're available, which may be just a few days.)

For both styles of Swarovski beads ... you could use just about anything as spacers.  Smaller clear Swarovski beads would be great (unless someone's birthday is in April - then clear/diamond is already their birthstone), or sterling silver and 12kt gf round or melon beads, or silver or gold plated beads in just about any shape would also be good.

Is this any help?
Or does it spark any new questions?

--Polly

[Polly]

Great ideas, Thanks!

I knew I was leaving out some major category, but couldn't think of what it was. Names! You don't *have* to use names, but it certainly can be nice to put the names with their birthstones.

It also makes for a good design element:
Clasp - - - spacers - - - Birthstone Bead - Name1 - Birthstone Bead - - spacers - - Birthstone Bead - Name2 - Birthstone Bead - - - spacers - - - end.

Unless everyone has very short names or nicknames, you would probably need 3 bracelets for 6 children.

My favorite types of letter beads for bracelets are the small flat round porcelain beads (<a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=27-105&action=search" target="_top">#27-105[/url] are white with black, and <a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=27-115&action=search" target="_top">#27-115[/url] are black with gold), the small 5.5mm pewter cubes (<a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=44-920&action=search" target="_top">#44-920[/url]), and the sterling letter cubes (<a href="https://www.rings-things.com/cgi-bin/hazel/hazel.cgi?SEARCH_KEY_SKUID=26-576&action=search" target="_top">#26-576[/url]).

The letter cubes (and the Stardust beads I mentioned in my first posting) all have large holes, and so would require different stringing methods / materials than the Swarovski beads and/or porcelain letter beads.

Anyone ... just let me know if you want me to go into stringing methods recommended for any particular types of beads!

[tellurien]

Hello all... have a mother with 6 kids and wants to make a mother's bracelet... suggestions on how to do this?  I thought 2 bracelets with 3 kids on each... HELP

THanks,
Sean

[bonnyhill]

I gave a lot of thought to my "mother's bracelet" because of my interesting family situation.  I have a 22yr old daughter, 21 month old daughter, 4 yr granddaughter, 21 month granddaughter (yes I have a baby the same age as my grandbaby), and a 15 yr old step daughter.  I wanted to include all on one bracelet and have managed to do it twice.  On one, I used Swarovski birthstone crystals for my 2 granddaughters followed by letters spelling out "Grandma".  Then I added a filigree charm that says, "Mom" followed by the birthstones of my 2 daughters and 1 step daughter.  Then I decided to make another bracelet and use all names.  I made a 3 strand bracelet this way:  top strand has my grown daughter and step daughter, second strand has my baby daughter's name, and 3rd strand has my 2 granddaughters names.  I used crystals to represent the girls birthdays.  You could easily do the same with your six names on 3 strands.  The only thing is....if any of the names are very long the names will take up a lot of room on your wrist and not be centered on the top for everyone to see at a glance.  But then I think that's okay.  The bracelets are conversation pieces that will bring people close and they can be shown what you have done.  Okay....I've used too many words and hope I haven't confused you much.  If you want to have it clarified any....please feel free to e-mail me.  I have a fairly decent photo of the 3 strand bracelet that I would be happy to send.  Best of luck!!  

[bonnyhill]

I usually use the 5.5mm silver letter cubes but the smaller 4 or 4.5 would make for smaller names.  Since the holes on most silver letter cubes are much larger than those of the crystals I use silver saucer beads between the letters.  It just makes them hang nice and uniform on the wire.  Once upon a time I tried "stuffing" the letter cube with a small metal bead....but the look of the saucer bead edge between the letters is nice and makes the strand a little more elegant than without.  I use 4mm saucers for the small letters and 5mm for the larger letters.  I love the round white beads too but some people really want that all sterling look.  AND....if someone wants to add a little gold so their new sterling bracelet matches their existing yellow gold wedding rings.....I sometimes use small goldfilled beads between letters as well as interspersed throughout the rest of the bracelet.  Grab a piece of wire and start stringing....see what combinations you like best.  One more hint that I hope will be helpful......if you make a 3 strand bracelet without using a reducer or cone...so that all 3 strands will be crimped to the clasp, you will want to use a larger toggle for ease in fastening or some other type of clasp; hook & eye or lobster, etc.  Cindy