BayMoonDesign: It's a Bee Thing

photo credit ::https://unsplash.com/@borisworkshop

Bees are considered extremely auspicious throughout the world. They have played an important part in symbolism since Ancient times. I have been collecting bee beads and using them in my jewelry because of their symbolism.

The list of virtues of the bee is very long. They have been considered to be messengers carrying news to the spirit world in many cultures. Bees represent wisdom and immortality. Bees symbolize love and also fidelity. They represent productivity and industry. They produce beeswax and honey which are golden. Gold and the golden color have always been related to wealth. Bees were believed to have knowledge of the future and secret matters.

Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash

I did some research on fall trends for 2017 to get some ideas on what to add to my jewelry collection. I found that leather jewelry is going to be popular once again. I decided to go with the leather trend and make some leather bracelets. I wanted a set of bracelet that can be worn separately or together. To be worn together, a theme and color scheme is needed.

I decided to go with the theme of bees. Bees are the true source of very positive symbolism. Bees represents such fine moral qualities as hard work, diligence, wisdom, spirituality, humility, modesty, communication as well as physical and spiritual cleanliness. Bumblebees are considered to be beneficial insects because they pollinate crops and plants. The tiny bee is essential for our very existence. I also decided to go with a yellow, orange, and black color scheme. These are great colors for the fall. They also works with the beads that I decided to use.

Beehive Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

I designed these earthy leather and bead bracelets to have a side clasp. In addition to the enameled flower, ceramic bee, lamp work bee hive, and assorted ceramic beads, I used in my 3 bead connectors for each bracelet I used:

7 inches of heavy sterling silver wire
14 inches of 1.5 mm black leather
2 end caps
1- 7mm jump ring
1 – 9mm lobster clasp
Round nosed pliers
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers

First, I created beaded connectors, which requires some simple wire-wrapping. About 3 inches down along the wire, bend it slightly to the left, then wrap it over the right side of your round pliers, forming a loop. Then, take the tail end and wrap it a couple times around the main part of the wire. Cut off the excess tail with wire cutters.

Add your beads, and repeat the process to form a loop on the other side. A few mm from the bead, create a loop, and wrap it around the main part of the wire until it fills the space between the loop and bead. Trim off the excess wire.

My connectors are about 1.75 inches long, which is a good size for a bracelet. I wouldn’t go any longer than 2 inches.

I spent some time looking at various leathers and I decided to go with 2mm leather cord because I wanted the leather cord substantial enough for a bracelet yet not too bulky when worn with other bracelets. I tried a new company to me Plessmann Endless Leather. It is located in Germany. They are a supplier with the largest choice of leather cords and leather laces worldwide. They have more than 2000 different leather cords at wholesale prices online. Braided bola cords, finest stitched and braided, nappa cords, cords made of finest salmon leather, suede, printed leather, exotic leather lace and much more and in a huge selection of colors. They also have a the selection of jewelry findings that you can select for their leather. I often find one shop has the leather, but they don't have the findings. I love that they have both.

I used one of the black Plessmann Endless leather cords and I threaded the leather cord through one loop, and tied it tightly in an overhand knot. You will lose a little bit of length tying your knot – but trim up your ends evenly so that you have about a 6-inch length of leather cord. Combined with the beaded connector you made, you will end up with a bracelet length of roughly 7 inches.

Finally, twist open a jump ring and connect a lobster clasp to the two holes in your end clasps. The lobster clasp will connect directly to the loop in your beaded connector.

Set of bee bracelets by BayMoonDesign

I followed the same directions for this flower and bee bracelet. I used some more of the black leather cord. The orange and gray flower is enameled by GardanneBeads.