You Ought To Make A Memory Wire Bracelet

If you need something quick and easy to make as a gift or to sell in your shop, a spiral  memory wire bracelet will do the trick every time.

But aren't those bracelets a trend that sort of came....and went?

About 8-10 years ago they were indeed very trendy in the crafts world. I made and sold them quickly at my Ebay store, and everyone loved them.   As far as coming and going, though, I'd have to beg to differ. 

Memory wire, or spiral bracelets, have been around since the 50's.   They are always classy to wear, and present a world of design possibilities.  They can be as simple as just throwing a few old beads on wire, or thinking hard about the junxtaposition of elements along the wire using varied mixed media products, bead caps, polymer clay beads, vintage glass.

Let's go on a little tour of some pretty spirals I have known.....I made them all:

I used some crazy old soldered filigree beads in these.....they were really quite rare.  Hard to find that kind, any more.

This photo really shows off the beads and their movement.  I used some lamp glass and vintage in this one, too.  It now belongs to my dear friend, Kate Mulligan of OrganicTeabyKate.com

Here are some pretty little numbers using fancy Czech beads in 6-8-10mm and some plated metal bead caps:

I love to finish the ends with a loop and add more beads on rhinestone headpins, which we still carry along with the memory wire in several types and styles, at B'sue Boutiques

This one had some more of those rare soldered filigree beads....sigh.  I have no more!

I just love the fluid movement of a spiral bracelet.   Here you can really see how those little rhinestone headpins set it off!

These are a combo of many of my handmade polymer clay beads and tons of the cool Bead Caps from B'sue Boutiques

Here's another funky bracelet made of a bunch of my organic-style polymer clay beads!

To make a bracelet like mine, all you need are maybe 5-6 coils of wire, a pliers to turn the ends, and then a bunch of beads and bead caps---whatever you chose.  String them on and see how they play!  Don't like the combo?  Pull them off before you turn the ends!   When you get it just right, loop the ends (do note:  the wire is stiff! and you need to be sure you roll it all the way in, so no wire is sticking out to poke you).  Then string some little beads on short head pins, loop the ends, and apply to the end loop of the bracelet.  Or add some little charms or pendants with jumps.  I usually do three pieces, but how many YOU use is up to you!

The big thing is to have fun with it!   Anyone can wear a spiral (memory wire) bracelet, they fit everyone, and they really do NEVER go out of style.   I think what makes them compelling is what YOU decide to put on them.  No two ever alike!

Maybe we'll feature them as a challenge at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group  sometime this spring!

 

Comments

[kate]

Love these bracelets! They are a big seller at the Farmers Market. The one size fits all, which is one of the reasons so many people have told me that they purchase one.

[Brenda Sue]

When I did shows, I always took a whole basket full of them----literally. People love to paw through a basket of beautiful beaded things, and these bracelets are fairly sturdy, so no harm done. If I took twenty, I'd be doing good to come home with two. They were easy to make, satisfying to make, and depending on what sort of bead and what sort of bead cap, could be made economically and sold economically. These, easy peasy earrings, and hatpins! were my money makers!

[Lee]

I do love memory wire bracelets! These are beautiful! I find it sometimes a great way to use leftover beads. You can dress them up any way you want, beadcaps, little spacers, seed beads....