Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch

I have managed to do a few other pieces in between bouts of frustration.

This one in particular I love. The translucent AB finish on the bugles gives a shimmer to the bracelet that is lovely. I happened to have some size 15s in the same color and finish, and used them to construct my first button-hole and button closure. It works really well, surprisingly. I used a vintage mirrored bead turned upside down as the button, since the mirrored back had the same shimmer as the beads.

I haven't seen anyone use small bugles for peyote work, but it's just like two-drop peyote, only with fewer beads to pick up. It creates a very nice "hand" to the piece, as it's wonderfully flexible across the length, it folds and feels almost like fabric.

The bugles, though are not as consistent in size as round beads, so you have to be on watch for overly long or short beads, and pull the work tight to maintain tension and sizing. Otherwise the edges wobble. Even though the difference between the bead lengths may be less than half a millimeter, it does become obvious in such precise work. 

Because I was having such a good time doing the peyote, the length got away from me a little bit. It's sized for a larger wrist, or would actually look good around a black silk opera glove.  Anyone planning on attending the opera soon, dressed to the nines?

Right now, I'm working on a bugle peyote necklace with the blue/plum raku beads, and a raku pendant from Xaz Beads I found at the Pasadena Bead Show.  The peyote is very soothing after beating my head against the wall.