I did it!!!

I did my first cuff bracelet!  I had no clue as to what I was doing most of the way through it, from buying the foundation materials, to the closure, to the backing, to the picot stitch all the way around to sew the front and back together...but I managed to get one done!  woohoo for me!  The pictures didn't show the colors so well, but the main focal beads are sort of a mossy green with brown spots.  I used some awesome bugle beads from Fusion Beads that are silver-lined transparent brown...they are kind of a cross between brown and copper.  Very neat.  I used Czech chocolate mud pie mix, some different shades of green in 11/0 and 15/0, a package of coordinating doodads and some coppers. I used microsuede to back it, and stiff felt for the foundation.

This was my first time doing peyote stitch around the focal bead.  I usually use tall stacks, so that was a first.  Also, it was my first time using the picot stitch to sew the front and back together.  So this was a journey in firsts for me!  Which is why I'm calling this bracelet "Journeys". 

I liked this piece because it is not symmetrical and has interesting things to look at.  What are your opinions?

The other issue for me was size.  I used myself as a dummy for sizing, which probably isn't a good idea.  I'm a big girl.  Whereas my wrist is only 6.5", this bracelet measures 2 1/4" wide, which means it's going up my arm.  That's where the problem came in.  It fits a little loose on me, but it is 10" long!!!  I see bracelets that are 7" on average, which would fit just my wrist, but being so wide I had an issue.  What are the standards for bracelets?  My daughter is average with skinny wrists.  She can fit it closed over her hand and it fits very loose on her.

I really enjoyed making this cuff, so thank you, Carol, for making my mind up for me!  I would like to make more, but I would really like to hear your feedback, kudos and criticisms on what I did right and what I did wrong.  Be honest!!!

Thanks for stopping by!