Finished this today, though it was mostly made yesterday while I was doing laundry. A new technique for me: tubular netted. I had planned to make it longer, and because of that had used a batch of seed beads (black iris) that I had a ton of, but somewhere in adding thread the second time something went wrong and I couldn't figure out where or how. So I finally gave up and simply attached the clasp. It has the feel of a grapevine given the netting style and the clasp with its grape leaf toggle and the cluster of grapes on the bar. I didn't originally know how I felt about the black iris coloration with such intricate chainwork, but it grew on me the longer I worked with it.
Name: Through the Grapevine
Price: $35 (reason: mostly time and effort)
Length: 18.5 inches
Didn't realize I hadn't posted this here!
I had a hard time deciding what to do for Mom's birthday (the 28th), when I suddenly hit across a series of ideas. I was originally making this style of bolo in a bright blue-teal, and she had remarked how much she liked it and wanted to see me finish it. But I haven't gotten around to it due to lack of finding ideal fringe beads. Then, during Bead Day with my niece, she commented how much she loved these buttery-yellow seed beads a friend of mine had sent me. Bingo!
So I started to bead the bolo chain. Then I realized I didn't have a ring for it. So I rummaged through some things until I came across a metal ring necklace I'd bought on clearance with the intent of using spare parts for another project (but had found a better alternative), and decided one of the links would be perfect. I still wound up one or two fringe beads short, so I smuggled the unfinished work home last weekend, snuck to my favorite local bead shop, bought a couple beads, went home, smuggled my bead box and the project upstairs while she was busy in the garden, and finished putting it together.
Name: N/A
Price: $40 (original not for sale)
Length: about 30 inches
