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Solid Oak Inc, Shambala Bracelet Kit

Not long ago, Stitchcraft Marketing contacted me to see if I would be interested in trying something a bit outside of my comfort zone: jewelry making. A few years ago I bought some beautiful beads on a trip to the national parks, and I’ve always wanted to turn them into something. So I was eager to try my hand with jewelry.

Stitchcraft Marketing connected me with Solid Oak, Inc., a company out of Rhode Island that produces all kinds of jewelry supplies.  I had my choice of quite a few fun looking projects, but I decided on a Shambala Bracelet Kit.

The kit arrived quickly and contained most of what I needed to complete the project.

Shambala

Shambala

The kit suggests that you’ll also need scissors and something to seal the ends of the cord (candle, lighter, or nail polish).

This bracelet makes heavy use of square knots, adding beads in between for shine and sparkle.  Knotting cord was new to me, and I’d say I did a fair job at it. I have to remind myself that I’m learning new skills and they won’t come as easily as knitting does, at least not without some practice.

The only thing that frustrated me a bit about this kit is that I ended up needing a beading needle to make it work.  The cord supplied is approximately the same width as the holes in the beads, and even burning the ends of the cord slightly didn’t make it easier to string the beads.  Luckily I had a beading needle at home that I could make use of, but I would suggest adding one to the kit requirements.

The whole bracelet took about 30 minutes to complete, and part of that was troubleshooting stringing the beads.  When I finished, mine looks mostly like the picture (I’m sure as a result of my knotting talents).

Shambala

Shambala

I think this kit is great for beginners or would be a fun thing to do at a kids’ party.  Overall I was pretty pleased with how this project turned out and it gives me some great ideas for future projects.

A special thank you to Stitchcraft Marketing and the folks at Solid Oak, Inc. who sent me the Shambala Bracelet Kit (retail: $10) for free. I received no other compensation for this review. All opinions and photos are my own.

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