Miriam's Garden

This piece is based on the Carole Horn Neptune's Garden bracelet from the December 2011 Bead & Button.  I used the size 8/0's listed in the magazine for the diagonal peyote base, rolled the edges, added three Czech floral buttons for the closure, and then went all Miriam Haskell adding beaded flowers and leaves until I had a corsage bracelet.  I think this piece went from being Neptune's Garden to Miriam's Garden.

The 8/0 peyote base is very supple even though I stitched it with 8 lb. Fireline.  It was easy to add the embellishments to the base because of the large 8/0 holes.  I tried to get a good balance between matte and shiny beads.  I even found a spot to add a pearl.

loops on the right for fastening to the three floral buttons at the far end

looking into the garden

Russian sakura

five tiny petals and a pearl

I've spent a few hours working on sakura blossoms I found on Pinterest.  Yes, I'm making something I discovered on Pinterest!  The conversation in my head went something like this, "make just one pattern before you spend anymore time collecting [hoarding]  more patterns and pictures...I'm begging you...just one thing."  So with that ultimatum I had to bite the bullet.  If you are looking for the pattern you can find it HERE [¿or maybe I managed to link the photo?]

none of my husband's Russian friends are in town for the summer

a lot like making Russian leaves - is it diagonal peyote?

I found a gorgeous version at irosperlen.blogspot.com