Quick Stretchy Bracelet How-to (Refresher)

A very informal, quick refresher on making stretchy bracelets.
(There is an introductory narrative section before the video begins at :52)

Here is a list of the supplies mentioned in the video. You can, of course, get your supplies wherever you like, but it does help me if you purchase from these Amazon Affiliate links 😉

.5mm stretchy cord: https://amzn.to/2OJNF0F  
Collapsible eye beading needle: https://amzn.to/2vPaIAd  
E6000 Glue: https://amzn.to/2Mu9Avo 

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Agate

Today we're talking about Agate.

Agate comes in a variety of colors, often striped, or banded.

It is a variety of Chalcedony, which is a member of the quartz family of minerals.

Agate is thought to derive its name from the Achates River in present-day Sicily after having been noticed by the Greek philosopher and naturalist, Theophrastus, somewhere around the third to fourth centuries BC, about 2300 to 2400 years ago.

Agate is composed of silicon and oxygen in various molecular and crystalline forms and arrangements, and has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, making it easier to retain a high shine polish.

Agate is found all over the world, so it's not what you would call rare.

Agate represents Balance, Harmonizing, and Longevity, and is a birthstone for those born in the month of May. 

Agate is one of the gemstones in the breastplate of the high priests of the Old Testament. Several ancient peoples - Babylonians, Mesopotamians, Ancient Egyptian and Chinese cultures - felt that agate was protective. Its perceived benefits ranged from warding off the evil eye, dispelling evil energy, protection from natural disasters and storms, protection from thirst, spiritual protection, and enhancing one's life or fortune, to name a few. Nowadays we consider Agate to represent a gentle healing frequency. If you would like to feel an enhanced sense of pace, balance, and ease of mind, meditate on Agate.
Agate at EightSusquehanna.com Photographed using the Cloud Dome Nimbus

Butterflies

Butterflies!
I made these butterflies with .999 fine silver Precious metal clay. They each have a design on the front; some have plain backs, and some have designs on the backs. Precious metal clay is a product that uses very fine particles of, in this case silver, combined with an organic binder. This makes a material that looks and feels a great deal like a fine ceramic clay. You can mold it, and shape it, and and sculpt it, and even carve it, before it’s been fired. When it’s fired, the organic binder burns off, leaving only the silver - .999 pure silver in this case. There are several brands and varieties of metal clay - the .999 silver like these are made out of; or you can also find it in sterling silver, copper, bronze, and yes, even gold! There’s even a stainless steel metal clay product! Some of the clays have different firing requirements, but this particular clay is very easy to work and to fire. For me, working in this material is like making miniature sculptures. The colored butterflies were patina’d with liver of sulphur. It does get some amazing color, but I have a tip for you - when you set about to patina your metals, DO NOT use liver of sulphur IN YOUR HOUSE - mercy, that stuff stinks! But it sure makes pretty colors on metal, so use it in the garage, or outside, with plenty of ventilation. I made this video originally, to show someone who had asked for a custom piece with one of these butterflies. She selected the third patina’d butterfly with the swirls on front. I wonder if perhaps she chose it because the texture on the back also contains a little bonus butterfly! Butterflies, by the way, represent Metamorphosis, Change, Unfoldment, Becoming. I will be getting these put together into jewelry pieces and post them online for you at EightSusquehanna.com. Meanwhile, thank you so much for watching and reading - I appreciate your attention. You can shop my other items at http://www.EightSusquehanna.com If you want to try your hand at making something like these, you can shop Precious Metal Clay Supplies at the following Affiliate Links (I do get a small commission from any orders from these links):

PMC3 Beginner Tool Kit with Torch:  https://amzn.to/2MdK9hx 

PMC3 Beginner Kit with Hot Pot: https://amzn.to/2nnzum8 

PMC Mini-Pot Kit: https://amzn.to/2M5352Q  

PMC3 Clay: https://amzn.to/2OTgBnK 

PMC Syringe: https://amzn.to/2Mhm0qa  

Texture Plate: https://amzn.to/2vwPMh4 

Carving Tool Kit: https://amzn.to/2OpUYdZ 

Optivisor: https://amzn.to/2nlJ09y 

Firing and Soldering Tripod: https://amzn.to/2novMcc 

Brass Brush: https://amzn.to/2McIBEo 

Burnishing Set: https://amzn.to/2vuRtvz 

Liver of Sulphur: https://amzn.to/2OUeBvr 

Lortone Tumbler: https://amzn.to/2M5xiyH 

Tumbling Shot: https://amzn.to/2M6e8IT 

Office Supplies

Amazon is the handiest thing ever, especially this time of year. Just need a few things, and can't bear to think about enduring the shopping crowds? Do what I did and go Amazon!

Beautiful Black Hair Comb

This beautiful hair comb features a free-form wrapping of black glass beads, Swarovski crystals and Czech glass beads, wrapped with coordinating black wire on a clear plastic comb. 

This comb sold, but here are some other lovely combs.

Customer Service and the Golden Rule

 My customer service policy was instilled in me by my Grandmother, who always said to treat others the way I'd like to be treated (the Golden Rule).

One result of that is that the things I make for sale are things I like, beautiful things. If I like what I have made, somebody else probably will, too.

I use quality materials and techniques in my work. 

I offer my creations at a reasonable price. 

I ship quickly.

When you place an order with me, a special service I give is that each handcrafted jewelry item comes to you packaged in a giftable box wrapped with ribbon. Ribbon color is based on availability and is tied in a simple bow so you can easily open it. Inside the box with the jewelry piece I include a tag or business card without pricing information, in case it is a gift for someone. 

The pricing information is included in the shipping box and on the shipping invoice. If you prefer that NO pricing information be included in the shipping box at all, just message me or let me know in the "Special Instructions" portion of the order process and I will be happy to ship your order with a "blind" packing slip, and mail you the shipping invoice under separate cover.

 I try very hard to make sure that everything offered for sale in my online stores is in stock and ready to ship.  I usually ship before the end of the next business day once confirmed (cleared) payment is received. In the extremely unusual event that an item has oversold, I will contact you  to discuss options of a back order, a slightly different item, or a refund.

If you see something you like, but want something, maybe slightly different, I do consider custom work, and of course, I certainly do repairs and rebuilds.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at all. 
 

Rebuilt Bracelet

 
A friend had a bracelet that was a special gift to her. One day it broke. She was greatly dismayed because of what the bracelet represented to her, but she was able to save the pieces and brought them to me to reassemble. I added a few new parts to the bracelet, too. Since there were extra beads when I was done, I made her a keychain too!

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