extra wide slip on cuff 4037

Soft core CPVC cut, seamed, and heat formed to resemble a piece of bone, then textured and polished to create a lightly striated surface.

 7 1/2" (190 mm) inside circumference
2 1/2" (64 mm) diameter
lightweight 2 oz / 57 g

some other designs similar to this:

super thin stackable bone bangles

small massive bone bracelet

large bone bangle 

brush texture wide bangle 

wide bone cuff with a split back

thick bone bracelet 

More of these unique pieces on ArtFactSite







design and photographs copyright 2016

three soft neck rings with magnetic clasp 3810

 Three soft neck rings in muted marsala with magnetic clasp and keeper form a dramatic stack without all the weight and difficulty of the traditional metal coils. These modern replicas are a cotton piping wrapped with hand dyed cotton string. The magnetic barrel clasp is augmented with a small button and loop toggle to hold the ends together.

 About 15 1/4" (387 mm) inside circumference
stack about 2" (52 mm) high

Three individual pieces one made in a light marsala, one in a darker shade, and one with a darker accent in the center.

Variations of size and color are possible.

detail of the barrel clasp and toggle

available ArtiFactSite


Here's a related design that is made in a continuous piece.



design and photographs © copyright 2016

bone cuff split back PVC modern relic 3762

Subtle flared shape with smooth tapered edges and an expandable split back this cuff is a curved organic form that looks like it was carved from animal bones - but it's actually PVC thermoplastic.

7" to 7 1/4" (184 mm) circumference with a tapered oval interior so it fits the wrist comfortably

The hairline split back enables this cuff to be placed over a larger hand then recovers it's smaller shape for a close fit.

2 1/4" (58 mm) wide

similar design here

available soon ArtiFactSite





design and photographs © copyright 2015

petroglyph bangles 3737

Part of the ongoing exploration of primitive handmade forms these petroglyph bangles are shaped inspired by the simple bold expressions found in rock pictures. The material is a thoroughly modern PVC plastic that has been heat formed and carved to create these irregular shapes.

 The non flat shape of the plastic combined with free form design suggests an organic origin, here a group of the bangles is stacked on a bracelet stand.

 An image drawn from the rock pictures found in the Petroglyph Provincial Park north of Peterborough, Ontario.

In the town of Peterborough is the place where you will find a rare piece of early 20th century engineering the Lift Lock.

links to the collection
petroglyph bangles A B
petroglyph bangles C D
petroglyph bangles E F
petroglyph bangles G H
petroglyph bangles J K L




copyright 2015 George Hutchinson

double point PVC bangle bracelet 3718

 More in the experimental series this "football bracelet" is made from CPVC plastic pipe. The shape is a compressed oval with two inflection points.

The circular pipe is cut in two places and a small segment removed. The faces of the cut are aligned. Seams are solvent welded.

7 3/4" (197 mm) inside circumference
2 7/8" (73 mm) x 2 1/8" (54 mm)
5/8" (15 mm)

links to more PVC designs here
sculptured stained spiral bracelet
wide PVC cuff bracelet
pin locking PVC cuff
elemental form PVC bangle
sand dune sculpted bangle
massive bangle bracelet
wide oval pin locking anklet 
wide open back PVC cuff
large bangle bracelet

slender bone bangles for small hands

Available here ArtiFactSite






design and photographs © copyright 2015

Himba style beaded anklets

 These beaded anklets are made from ordinary black plastic pony beads. The design is modeled after the traditional Himba anklets. The model is wearing a 20 strand layered anklet measuring about 7" wide.

The Himba people live in northern Namibia. Check out this photo gallery or read the National Geographic article here.

These imitation pieces are made with a single piece of multi-filament  synthetic cord to provide strength and chafe resistance. The beads are placed in rows of varying lengths between two pieces of black suede. The cord passes through the suede strip, then through a cinch bead then back through the suede. Each row has an cinch bead. You can see the cinch beads with the zig-zag pattern of cord in the photo at left.

A second piece of cord is threaded through the cinch beads shoelace-fashion then tightened up to provide a snug fit.

The ends of the cords are knotted then buried in the rows of beads.

 This photo shows a pair of 19 strand layered anklets made with metal beads, possibly recycled nuts, and leather strips. The red shoes are perfect.

One of the reasons cited as to why the Himba wear these anklets is the prevalence of snakes. These anklets apparently provide some protection from snakebites.

The plastic beads are considerably lighter than the traditional materials weighing in at a few ounces instead of several pounds. No tests have been done to determine the potential for snakebite resistance...






design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

one button rope bracelet grey white with clear glass beads 2749

 Whenever I use a grey and near-white cord combination the potential for color actually increases. The grey takes on a warm or cool tone as the eye compares it to the surrounding materials. The off-white braided framing cords push this grey in a "cool" direction. The clear glass beads put in a tiny bit of  spectrum color which the camera filters out of these photos.

Here's the tutorial showing how to make one of these bracelets.

 The other challenge is trying to white-balance the image which has a disproportionate effect on the appearance of the object. These were all photographed on a bright white field with a white balanced camera setting. After importing the the image from the camera the white background is normalized using the Graphic Converter software. Even after this you an see the background retains some residual color.

Here's a more colorful cousin of this design.

Here you can get a sense of the transparency in the embedded beads.

More on-button designs in the Etsy Shop.

                  Available here


design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop

beaded grey suede pillow bracelet 2654

Another variation on the Nigerian design leather toggle bracelets. This one is made with a soft grey suede, a row of clear glass beads and a modified champaign cork used as a button.

This one measures about 8 5/8" (219 mm) inside circumference but it is extremely flexible and soft.

Here's another similar design you might like.

Available here

 Black waxed thread is used to detail the loop and is also used to create the seam. The beads are plain sewn into the seam and then the assembly is turned inside out to conceal the edge of the material.

The cork is glued into place using rubber cement. This is a high-tech shortcut that indigenous creators of the original designs would never have used. They would not have had these finely made glass beads either...artistic license.

Stuffed with polyester batting the loop flap is then stitched closed to form the opening that receives the button.

I call these pillow bracelets due to their oversize profile and soft texture.

More Handmade Artifacts can be found in the Etsy Shop ArtifactSite.

design and photographs © copyright 2013 WhatKnotShop