a part of the brilliant array of colors available in Lisa's Botanical series

Lisa's inspiration: the plum blossom

First photo to help you see how to create the under 15 minute Tutorial, you will read about below!

Lisa's Under 15 minute Tutorial, complete!!! Wow! I love it!

I am sighing with delight at the essence of Spring I am viewing before me. You see, I received a gift from my friend Lisa Kan (http://www.lisakan.com/ ), the author (the beautiful book, Bead Romantique), bead maker, jewelry designer, fabulous vendor of her really excellent tools, and more! What doesn't she do? Her site says, "Infinite Possibilities" and that does, very much, seem to personify her attitude and her outlook on life.

I am SO delighted with these beads from her "Botanical" series, which are already a major hit with everyone who sees them, to the point that they are already making an appearance in two magazines, that I HAD to write about them! Here is the link to her Botanical series page on her website catalog so you can view all the myriad of amazing colors. They are jaw droppingly beautiful. http://www.lisakan.com/LisaKanDesigns.htm and THEN go to the catalog: you will see the link to it on the left hand side of the page.

By the way, I hear that Andrew Thornton (http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/ ), also a friend of Lisa's , made a lovely bracelet for the current issue of Stringing Magazine using the Botanicals! How cool that we are all responding so strongly to them; they are just perfectly wondrous.

They definitely call out to me: get ready for Spring, Jean!

Inspired by plum blossoms, they can be used in many ways. Lisa has been kind enough to give me her tutorial from her blog. The following tutorial is in her words.

Tutorial: The Under 15 minute Botanical Silk Corsage Bracelet

Well, like I mentioned on my website a few days ago, I had such a blast in Philly that I brought home the flu too. So I took Tuesday to Thursday off from the studio to rest a bit, worked on paperwork and updated the site with the Botanicals catalog. (Not really resting but... not in the studio in the 100 degree weather.) You can now find photos of the 23 (and I'm not done creating more yet) Botanical colors now available. There are some limited edition colors made from rare production glass rods from my vault. I still have more rods to go through so who knows what floral colors will turn up next. Stay tuned! So at Philly Bead Fest I was showing off my "Under 15 minute" Botanical Silk Corsage Bracelet. I am sure you can utilize this idea for other types of beads/materials but the bracelet turned out so beautiful using silk ribbons from my friends, Fran and Judy, of Class Act Designs. Simplicity is the key here, not only in materials but in techniques. Sometimes you don't need to employ seedbeading and hours of labor to make a wonderful "instant gratification" and "I am DONE?" piece of jewelry. The flowers on THIS corsage will live forever and a perfect gift to make for yourself (or someone special). I used the Professional Precision Tools for the wrapped loops.(note from jean: see Lisa's site, where she sells these excellent tools).

Here goes my first free online tutorial!

All you need to make this wonderful corsage bracelet is three 6mm Swarovski Margarita crystals (Crystal AB is what I used); three 1.5" headpins, three Botanicals (I used BT005 for this sample), three 8/o seed beads (or any leftover bead about 3mm for cushioning between the wire and Botanical flower) and one silk ribbon from Class Act Designs (or similar product). Make shank buttons as shown above using the wrapped loop technique.Carefully slide the three Botanical buttons onto the silk ribbon. Center the three as best as you can, visually. I spaced mine about 1/4" apart. You are done making the bracelet! Walla.... really? Yes you are REALLY done. To wear the bracelet, center the flowers on your wrist. Wrap ribbon around your wrist, criss-crossing through the center to lock the flowers. Wrap ribbon as much as you'd like around your wrist until there is just enough remaining ribbon to create a square knot. Then tie a loose but secure square knot. Don't knot so tight that you can't undo the bracelet later. Lastly, tuck the knot under one of the ribbon wraps to hide. If you practice, you can tie the bracelet around by yourself without any help.
There you are! Wear and enjoy the bracelet. Make a few more as these make wonderful quick gifts that won't break the bank.

Thanks so much, Lisa!

Website: http://www.lisakan.com/

Blog: LisaKan.blogspot.com

Facebook: Lisa Kan

as Lisa always says, "Bead creatively"!

Jean