Who knew when we posed the question over in the Jewelry Making with Beadalon Facebook Group that we would get so many different responses and opinions about Aromatherapy Stretch Bracelets?
Right out of the gate, I need to offer a special thanks to Dakota Stones for providing the beads and Susan Belluci for providing the Essential Oils for our project today! They send us some really cool lava beads, Tiger Iron, matte coins and Bayong wood beads all of which take oil. And Susan sent in her box of good smells that I had a lot of fun experimenting with!
A great material to use to make Aromatherapy Stretch Bracelets, and what I demonstrated with, is Beadalon's Elasticity. It is available in 3 sizes: 0.5mm, 0.8mm. and 1.0mm and 4 colors: clear, black, satin silver and satin gold. It is made in the USA, durable, consistent in its diameter, and priced competitively.
One of the challenges that you'll be faced with when making stretch bracelets with Lava Beads is that they tend to have very rough insides. Because they're natural stones, and they are LAVA, they are very abrasive against the wire. We recommend using the Battery Operated Bead Reamer - in a small cup with water - to smooth out the insides of the beads. It's not a 100% fix for the roughness, but it's a good start. Another good tip for creating a strong design is to double the 0.8 Elasticity. And the best way to do that is to use the Elastic Cord Needle!
The most important thing to keep in mind when using these or any other beads with oils is to LET THEM DRY! Dakota Stones says it best on their lava bead page:
Essential Oils and Dyed Beads: When using essential oils with enhanced or dyed beads, place the jewelry on a paper towel, apply a small amount of oil, and allow to dry thoroughly. The surface should have no visible sheen. Essential oils may contain compounds or alcohol which will cause color to bleed. Allowing the surface of the bead to dry thoroughly will help to protect clothing and other materials.
Also, the two most important tips for a successful design with Elasticity: 1. PRESTRETCH YOUR ELASTICITY! AND 2. TIGHTEN YOUR SURGEON'S KNOT FROM BOTH THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM! As many of you know, I had been using a technique to knot my Elasticity that involved doubling the thread, threading one of the tails through the loop on the end, and tying a surgeon's knot. The absolute best part of my job is learning new techniques from others. I have learned a new technique, and I owe a huge thanks to Ricky from Dakota Stones. Watch this video. Do this knot. You're welcome!
We switched it up with our contest question this week, and asked: what about jewelry making helps you relieve stress? I loved reading through the comments and seeing all of the wonderful ways making jewelry helps us out. We are so lucky to have found something that helps us escape from the stresses of our lives, focuses us, and brings us joy. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who joins us each week to take a break and focus on ourselves. We all deserve it!
Happy beading!
Meredith
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