Glass Calypso
Shimmy Bracelet
Designed by Kristin Burgess


Tip drilled moon-shaped glass beads stack up wonderfully in this fringe filled bracelet!   These unique fiber optic glass calypso beads come in a range of colors including pink, green, purple, blue and assorted colors.  Stack them up vertically for fun and frilly earrings.  Try stacking the yellow calypso glass for a neat pair of 'banana' earrings!







This project is a great beginner project but is fun for all levels!  Stringing and crimping are involved with this bead project.   The bracelet has a total length of 7&1/4".  Two crimp beads and covers are needed, one of each on each side, to attach the beaded strand to the clasp.   By omitting beads evenly you can decrease the length of the bracelet without altering the look.   I find it helpful to strand the bracelet directly onto the softflex spool as it is easier to keep the pattern even (you can also add beads to either end if you need to increase the final length).   You will have beads leftover to perhaps follow up and make some fun frilly calypso earrings!

Step 1:

Prepare a clutter free workspace to lay out small piles of your beads and components out on.   Start by stringing this pattern onto the Soft Flex spool...1 amethyst faceted Czech, 1 lime green calypso, 1 seed bead, 1 purple calypso, 1 amethyst faceted Czech, 1 peridot calypso, 1 seed bead, 1 lime green calypso, 1 amethyst faceted Czech, 1 purple calypso, 1 seed bead, 1 peridot calypso, 1 faceted amethyst, 1 lime green calypso, 1 seed bead, 1 purple calypso, 1 faceted amethyst, 1 peridot calypso, 1 seed bead, 1 lime green calypso, and continue pattern until you have reached 7&1/4" (or your desired length).

Step 2: 
 
Crimp the beaded strand to the toggle clasp.   Remember that the clasp will add length to your bracelet!  Having at least one seed bead on either side of the bracelet end makes the toggle bar able to swing sideways (so that it can pass through the ring).   If you choose to use a different clasp be sure to measure and consider it's length along with the beaded Soft Flex length. 
  Crimp one side of the bracelet to the ring side of the toggle clasp.  After crimping side one, trim the remainder Soft Flex tail using the cutters.   Attach side two to the barr side of the toggle clasp.  Trim remaining Softflex after crimping.  Using the end part of the crimper tool attach the crimp covers over the crimps for a more finished look.  



Step 3: 

  Bead "leftovers" can be used to make the featured dangle earrings to match!  Use two 24 gauge headpins (14 kt gold fill or sterling silver) to stack up your beads on.  On one headpin stack up 1x yellow bead, 1x violet bead, 1x lime green bead, 1x yellow bead, 1x violet bead, 1x lime green bead, 1x yellow bead, 1x violet bead...with the round nose pliers form a loop and coil once or twice, trim leftovers. 
   Repeat for the second earring.   With the flat nose pliers swing open the loop on your earwire of choice and thread earring onto ear wire.  Swing the loop on both earwires shut after adding in the earring.  Be sure there are no gaps on the earwire loop where the earring might slip out!

As always, enjoy!