Dolphinately Delightfully Designed Doodads

Beads & Knitting, and Misc. Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:02:00 +0000

Jacqueline Landry, a Knitwear Designer, with a blog post of 2/26/08 on knitting with beads.

The aforementioned blog post does not contain instructions for bead-knit jewelry, but I thought it a change of pace from the usual jeweler's perspective on using knitting with beads. There are all sorts of uses!

Of course, jewelry happens to be a nice one, although I haven't done any knitting with beads as of yet.

On another subject, the necklace you see below that I created with wooden beads created by my father, was inspired by the theme of Love Stories, which was the theme of some Ornament Thursday thing or some such once-a-month thing that a select group of creatives participate in and have links posted on the project blog, linking back to their regular blog, for that month's themed project.

I am so glad to have taken what I needed in the way of inspiration from stumbling upon the project blog in late January, but I no longer feel a "fit" with the place - sort of like the square peg, round hole thing. I don't need acknowledgement, or backlinks, or what--haveyou; the lack -thereof is not why I feel this . . . . misalignment. Crafting is an industry, and sometimes that . . . can just perhaps FEEL too apparent, perhaps? Maybe that's not it either. It's like they sing in the musical, "The Sound of Music", about Maria, about trying to pin something down, and then they can't even define what it is they're trying to pin down, regarding Maria.

Anyway, I wish the Ornament Thursday people success and creativity in their project and such! Perhaps a future month will resonate with me, but I'm going to try to just think about other things right now. I am easily distracted, and that's an understatement! I am easily weighed down by things, that I should just leave behind. I should quit trying to turn into a round peg.

Square pegs are just fine the way they are! And, as you'll see in the necklace below, the beady equivalent highlights- the center-point of the necklace, held away from the skin nicely by the diameter of the turquoise disks!

Ornament Thursday? - Better Picture Added

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:55:00 +0000

Well, I stumbled across this blog earlier today and it sparked me to pause the digiscrapping a little bit and pull out the beading stuff. January's theme was Love Story, but it can be any kind of love.

The wooden beads were made by my dad, and the Turquoise discs are from Szarka/Turquoise Magpie. Jet black Swarovski 4mm bicones are between everything.

Normally I'd go for an odd number for the focal point, but this took every disk I had; I'm glad the range of sizes of disks worked out. This works, though, because it's a very short necklace on me, and it's more important to have the horizontal width impact of the focal turquoise area, than whether or not it has even or odd numbers of disks. Plus, being such uneven widths sort of subs in for the "odd"ness, there.

I haven't worn it yet, but I will tomorrow. It feels like a nice, springy necklace. The love of course being that between a daughter and father. The disk sections all graduate in size, although the center the least so, as the biggest are there, mostly.

Stop by the blog linked above, and make the rounds of the various Ornament Thursday-ers. There's quite the variety!

About Blog Reeders, Feeds, Rss . . . etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:14:00 +0000

Go HERE for a post that pulls some great information together.

Many of you probably know how blog and feed readers work, about RSS and/or Atom feeds, about tracking how many people visit your blog, etc. I've been meaning write up somewhat of a post on the subject, but rather I thought she says it well at the above link.

I will be posting more on this at some future point, and I know Lori asked me a question or two that I never got back to her on (sorry, Lori!).

Anyway, the above blog is by someone who is very helpful in the digital scrapbooking world, but she's also involved in other things, and in exploring aspects of blogging, organizing (which follows naturally from the marvelous ACDSee organizing program she provides us digi-scrappers with help on, as far as we use it to organize our digital supplies, photos, etc.)

I'm not affiliated, but I enjoy that program. Nevertheless, she has a variety of postings applicable to areas outside digital scrapbooking. This was one I thought I'd point out for the reasons mentioned above.

The Beadwrangler's Beading Sampler Project

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 03:48:00 +0000

I've known about this site for several years; in fact, if you look in my archives and see several projects that use a red/purple mix of seed beads, those beads are a BeadWrangler mix. I chose them to push outside of my comfort zone.

In browsing the BeadWrangler's extensive, thorough, and organized collection of subjects and web pages, I peremptorily skimmed through a few bits and pages about bead stitch samplers.

My goal is to make up several pages of beadwork samplers and incorporate them into books. Barbara Grainger is making one set of samples for The Bead Museum in Arizona. I am making a sampler book to use as educational tools when speaking.

I was intrigued, but I had other goals on my mind, such as deciding which of the LOVELY seed bead mixes which the Beadwrangler (Lydia Borin) creates, to purchase for my creations!

Not giving the sampler much more thought, I'd run into it every couple of months, reading a bit more each time. About the project, one of the things they say is this:

Our goal is to make beadwork samples and then stitch them to counted cloth, creating samplers that preserve beadwork and are also references for making individual stitches. Keeping a copy of the how-to instructions with your samplers will make it easier to make these stitches again in future beadwork.

Well, finally I took a deeper look at this bead stitch sampler project, and I am blown away by the scope of the project that these two ladies are engaged in! Rather than put alot of pressure or deadlines on themselves though, they are creating samples in a logical order, over however long of a period it takes to finish up a particular sort of "category" of stitches, before moving on to the next. I quote:

When we have finished all known stitches in 2-D, we will begin new samples in 3-D. Once those are finished, we will make samples that combine stitches together. When we have finished those, we will make samples of beadwork from various countries. This will not be the whole item, rather a portion of the motif in the item as a sample.

They have completed some marvelous samples already; see HERE, as well as HERE (scroll down to the bottom, which isn't far), the latter link showing several types of beadwork samples mounted/affixed to an evencount fabric.

As you explore these web pages, take a look at the history pages for each of the stitches such as peyote, brick, bead crochet, et. al as I found them to be highly fascinating, rather educational, and very informative. I have not read them all as of yet, as I'd prefer to absorb the information in a manner that allows me contemplation, time, and mental space for thinking about and appreciating each technique's often ancient as well as often complex history, as well as for understanding and appreciating the aesthetic and architectural aspects of each of these ways of putting beads together.

That said, the best way to do so is to dive right in and begin creating a beadwork sampler of my own; they invite and encourage you to do so, and provide a bounty of information, tips, diagrams, and instruction towards helping anyone so inclined.* They also reference, for each technique, a listing of books that they report as having clear illustration and technique, as well as including books in these listings that are inspirational in regards to beading, beadwork, artists thereof, or in some other related way or subject.

Their intention is much broader, and much more culturally significant, than the absolutely personal and creative satisfaction of producing a beadwork sampler for their own reference. Besides the extensive educational potential of such a sampler, they also are endeavoring to gather in knowledge from any source that may have such knowledge, especially of types of beadwork and any and all names under which they may be known, in or from various cultures or communities around the world. I quote:

Each time a new sample is put up, please let us know if you have heard the beading stitch identified by any names we do not have listed. We plan to create a cross reference of all the known names that identify each stitch. We invite bead/beadwork research organizations and experts to join our program and support our efforts.

This is a very laudable effort, I believe, in order to preserve the rich traditions and techniques of such a creatively satisfying and artistically expressive medium that is this working with beads, using varying methods to bring them together and construct an expression of each artist or craftsperson's personal aesthetic sense and vision.

As well, how can one truly appreciate the creative adaptation of the old, the innovative use of traditional techniques in new and unusual ways, the creation of new techniques or of hybrids of methods historically used, the combining of traditional with the unexpected, or the "happy accidents" of serendipity that result in a pleasing and interesting new bead stitch; how can one truly appreciate these things going on in the world of beadwork today, without having a foundational understanding of the techniques, methods, and cultural associations of beadwork as it has existed, been created, and been utilized in the past, up to and through the present time?

How can we appreciate and understand these things, without a preservation and even conservation of, meaningful and/or representational artifacts of the past, as well as representations of the techniques that our craft, art, hobby - whatever your involvement may be - are based upon today?

That, I feel, is what these two ladies are trying to accomplish, and is summed up in this final invitation and quote I bring to you:

This is a historical journey that will be chock full of techniques, information and lots of fun. Join me and Barbara Grainger in this monumental effort to preserve beadwork.

We, the beadworkers, ARE the preservers, and we need to actively take part in preserving the history of a pasttime, activity, creative process that we love, if we are to really understand and appreciate where the craft IS, and where it can go!

*Note: There are many more types of stitches with instructions than are linked to in this sentence; just click on any particular sample shown in the main sampler area to discover more.

Land of Odss' All Dolled Up Bead Dolls - Wow!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 04:30:00 +0000

The work these people have done is so supremely detailed and fabulous! Now, some of them are not as much to my taste as others, but I can admire the time and effort that goes into those, as well!

My favorite is Azure, at the top . . . the sense of freedom just feels so right, and I love the colors and patterns . . . .

What are your favorites?

Voting is open until very early January of '08.

Designing For and With an Old Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:10:00 +0000

Last August I had the planned opportunity to visit with an old friend from high school, whom I had run in to for the first time in years the previous year.

This visit, I brought an assortment of beads and materials to make her a necklace with her active input as we sat and visited together.

I must say, it is a different sort of a challenge to design this way, although rewarding! The combination of beads and colors is not exactly what I would have chosen, and so it took me quite awhile longer to arrive at something I felt was aesthetically pleasing, after letting it grow on me a bit. I also did not use every type or color of bead she picked out, as she picked an assortment from which any combination thereof would be pleasing to her!

These beads were chosen after my gift to her of a dolphin pendant in what looks to be brecciated jasper, which I had had for about two years. I originally purchased the pendant at a Gem Faire, and searched through the entire selection of this particular carving in order to acquire a dolphin in a color untraditional for a dolphin motif, as well as look within the stone itself for interesting aspects. I love how there's two planes of striations that are at roughly right angles to each other within the stone; imagine the geological feature/forces involved! All to end up adorning my friend's neckline.

My mother is modeling this necklace, as I wasn't QUITE finished with it when my visit with my friend was over. I finished it up the next morning and left it with my parents, as I had been staying there out of town, to give the finished necklace to her. My mother is wearing a deep, deep green dress, but as you can see the colors aren't quite accurate. With each photo, I adjusted it as close to the in-person view of the necklace colors as I could get; the sunstone rondelles are not red, IRL, and the pendant is a touch less bright, as well.

I took some photos in more direct sunlight than others, as I was trying to show the sunstone's sparkle; an impossible task, perhaps, but at least you can get a better sense of the piece by contrasting the color-shifting of the various photos.

Besides the brecciated jasper focal and the sunstone rondelles, the necklace includes primitive-cut smokey quartz briolettes, seed beads in red, sunstone-ish, and blue, Swarovski crystals in several colors, two sterling silver moderately large-ish oval beads, and some non-sterling silver metal spacers from Joann's. My friend particularly liked these spacers, although I generally don't mix sterling with craft-store mystery metal. That said, it's the look that matters, and how happy my friend was with it.

She was really happy with the final result! The sunstone really lights up in the sunlight, even the non-sparkley bits. The smokey quartz, oooh, in some of these photos, you can see the gemmy flash and gorgeous colour they have!

I really had a hard time with the red seed beads; I tried to design the necklace without them, but the design needed something unifying the pendant with the rest of the necklace; I took care to avoid a "patriotic" feel as I was designing; the blue crystals and seed beads easily began to combine with the red seed beads into a Fourth of July-ish feel, which was all wrong for this necklace. Her favorite colors are red and blue, though, and she loves dolphins as I do, so I worked at it until I was happy with it.

It's amazing how something as timy as a seed bead in a bold color, mixed with gemstone and crystal beads, can affect the mood and look of a piece of jewelry!

Pet Peeve: Truncated Blog Feeds

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:24:00 +0000

With the exception of 5 or fewer blogs, of people I've come to know, or their blog is far and away outstanding head and shoulders above others in their subject matter, I am going to pluck truncated blog feeds from my feed reader, like autumn's leaves that have held on too long to the past and have turned brown while still on the tree.

Well, now it is recognized by those who discuss and hash out what the general feeling and consensus is on "best practices" for various types of things, that "best practice" for providing rss/etc. feeds is to provide full feeds. People will just drop you if it adds up to too much time vs. the other blogs they enjoy that do not put an extra step in the reader's path. I quote from Google:

There's a steady debate on the issue of full-content feeds vs. partial-content feeds. While there are good reasons to choose either option, the user experience is generally better with full-content feeds, as the user no longer needs to click through to read an article. Be aware that some users choose not to subscribe to partial-content feeds because of the extra effort involved in reading them.

I know for some, with Google Ads, alot of the advice out there on "make money blogging" type sites which I've stumbled on, is to use truncated feeds so the person has to click through to actually come to your site. Besides, these ads can be put in feeds now too (even though that annoys me, but my eyes flick past it anyway.) That program also recommends full posts in feeds as best practice.

Also, current and cutting-edge feed readers have options, plugins, or scripts available that allow or are designed to preview/show the whole post within the reader, regardless of the truncated setting by the blog's owner. Still, this requires a bit different treatment in the feed reader's behavior, and as such, the truncated feeds are still . . . a pet peeve, a . . . thorn in the side, or some such, that eventually may become bothersome enough for the reader to dump that particular feed.

My feelings are strong on this, but that's how I feel. For blogs that I do enjoy, that do not make me jump through hoops (excepting those of online friends or places/people I've come to interact with online, or said outstanding head-and-shoulders above their field kind of blogs), I generally end up at their site for one reason or another from time to time, anyway. Not because of an artificial block put in my way, though.

I'm going to cross-post this to all my blogs, so I apologize in advance for that.

Variation of a Fire Mountain Gems pattern #63DK

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:32:00 +0000

HoneyComb Bracelet, with changes made by me. I also have a sort of space age-y or retro-y Swarovski pearl and crystal version, and also a graduated shades of color version of this that I made that I spent some time working and reworking the pattern and order of colors placed, blogged previously HERE, the second post down.

I made this bracelet awhile back for my wonderful SIL, the one who got me into this addiction, er, I mean creative pursuit. It's all her fault, I tell you . . . .

We did a design challenge for each other; it was to be make a bracelet for the other, with a color the other one specified. I requested turquoise for mine, and she requested blue.

Her creation for me (to which the photos do not do justice at ALL) just happened to win First Prize in the Utah State Fair last year! I am madly in love with it, too . . . she's always saying I'm so good at this, but I tell you, she is a jewelry artist herself. The way she combined visual textures; visual contrast and similarity amongst the sizes, colors, and shapes of components, plus the theme she set for the bracelet which was guaranteed to steal my heart; dolphins!

The pattern is jogged out to the side a bit, and a wire-wrapped link holding a butterfly charm is placed in-line with the main pattern/line of the bracelet, which visually balances the "jog". The "jog" provides extra interest as well, and visually balances the butterfly charm. The sparkle this has is beautiful, and it looks amazing worn, if I can so so myself without seeming too self-important.

I have yet to make one for myself, but that will change! I'm imagining caribbean blue opal Swarovski crystals, and some other greens/blue-greens, maybe some blue; I'm not sure yet. A dolphin will be dancing from the charm link, you can be sure!

If you clicked through to see the color-graduated version, click a close-up of the pic; that will show the colors better, although the purple velvet and the dark/medium dark purples, some of the light ones as well, don't show as graduated as they are in person; also, at the time, I had few supplies and had few colors to work with!

Another note; this looks most excellent created on Beadalon's coated silver-plated beading wire, which is said to not tarnish (it's coated, for durability too). I used the size readily available at Michael's. This size worked PERFECTLY for this bracelet, as it was thick enough to not really slip back out of pattern once I had pulled the parts of the weave together as I did them; a little tightening occasionally was helpful, but it held its place much better than a thinner wire would have. The silver color of this is much more attractive than the smoke grey of the regular steel beading wire peeking through the translucent crystals, and occasionaly through bits of the woven pattern; no matter how tightly you pull the weave, this pattern is one that shows the base wire a little here and there, and you also don't want to break the crystals. Firm but not aggressive tugging will do the trick!

Oy, I've rambled! I like this bracelet, though!

Pink Glass Faceted Teardrops & Smoky Quartz Briolettes Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:08:00 +0000

I made this necklace last winter, and initially was going to keep it for myself, but pink is not my best color. I was so TICKLED with the composition of this, though! The silver flat rounds are textured, not stardusty or sparkly as they may look here.

I gave this necklace to my SIL Becky for Christmas '06 . . . . I'm going to have to make one in Smoky Quartz and Green for me, or maybe w/blue and smoky instead . . . . not sure!!!

I had her pick out a pair of Smoky Quartz briolettes to make herself matching earrings, as well. They will also go fabulously with many other things!

What do you think? Click photo for a much better, close-up view!!!

Face Screen; Protection From Flying Bits O'Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Fri, 04 May 2007 20:51:00 +0000

Courtesy of the MAKE blog, is one of today's posts regarding this face screen.

I immediately saw jewelry-making potential for this, when snipping sterling or other wires as the pieces tend to fly, often phenomenally quickly, in all directions.

Safety goggles are always a good idea, but I wear regular glasses, as well as point the end that's gonna fly in other directions.

I would feel less stifled, less "crushed", if you will, in this face screen; less crowded than having goggles on top of my glasses, as well as feeling much more breathable/less sweaty.

If you go to that last link in the last paragraph, it shows the price at $12.99.

What do you guys think?

My First Macrame Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:17:00 +0000

I used a 50% off coupon awhile back on this Sherri Haab Book, Beaded Macrame Jewelry: Stylish Designs, Exciting New Materials. She says the projects in the book increase in complexity or difficulty, and that they are designed to teach you in order. Tempted though I am to skip to the cover project, I'm starting with the early projects.

The first is a lark's head sennit bracelet, and here is a scan of my result.

The stone has a bit more banding that can be seen in person, and is a LITTLe lighter, and nicer-looking of course. Thise funky lines on it are scanner light reflections from its polished surface. I do not know WHAT stone it is, as I received these in a get rid of beads you are stumped on or don't want anymore swap.

Let me tell you, reaming out the hole in this oval to be quite a bit larger than it started out to be was a bit of a pain, but worth it as it becomes the focal of this bracelet. A loop goes over the stone, and it ends up looking like it is in the middle of the bracelet.

I used a few tiny applications of GS Hypo Cement in the final knot to make sure it is completely secure.

I also like how this happens to match my new necklace, in the post below.

I used a faux suede lace in turquoise for the macrame portion. Oh . . . getting them through the hole I had reamed . . . well, getting the second lace through was rather a pain, as well, but it worked out nicely in the end.

For a stone that may have seemed "ugly", I think it has gained new life in this bracelet. It'll also go nicely with a bohemian tunic I have; I'll feel just like a hippie, lol.

Now on to ream 4 amethyst beads that are basically sticks with a hole through the middle, through the short axis (not through the long length of it). Amethyst is probably harder than this stone, although it's a primitive amethyst, with lots of white areas, so hopefully it won't be TOO hard.

Emerge

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:13:00 +0000

Well, this is a bit more cheery than the last post. I also apologize to those who also read my main blog, as I'll be cross-posting it there as well.

I created this necklace I call Emerge. It's got a few things I'm going to fiddle with on it, but I just couldn't wait to post it!

I'm not sure what the brown round beads are, but they're some kind of jasper. They are not as dark as they appear, though. The other brown beads are picture jasper, the oval blue/green ones are amazonite, and the bird tracks, letters, and bird's nest are ceramic beads. The drops are citrine, and they really add some liquid sunshine to the necklace.

You can probably guess that this necklace has personal meaning for me. It also has a kind of southwestern feel to it when I put it on, I think because the blues in this piece resemble turquoise, and of course the desert is well-represented in the browns; the bird tracks resemble petroglyphs, too.

I absolutely love this necklace! The extender chain is silver plated; the rest of the metal is sterling silver.

The meaning for me in this necklace, well, some of the meaning, is related to therapy.

What do you guys think?

Secret Beader Exchange Gift To Me

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:36:00 +0000

On the Bead & Button Forums, I'm participating in a Secret Beader Exchange. I received from my Secret Beader today, and I am FLOORED!

It is breathtakingly stunning, elegant, unique; a marvelous design that is just WOW!

This picture does NOT do it any kind of justice; perhaps I can get a better pic tomorrow outside . . . .

It turns out that Scarlatte was my Secret Beader! I have ALWAYS admired her gorgeous designs; I am SO lucky to receive such a MARVELOUSLY designed bracelet, with fantastically beautiful materials . . .

She used sterling silver, Bali silver, Biwa stick pearls, rock crystal and black onyx. The faceted focal is amazing . . . I could be mesmerized in its depths for a long time!

The way this lies around my wrist, with the two rock crystals framed by the black onyx and silver, framing the focal, and then down around the sides of my wrist to the beautifully silky, elegant, and extravagant stick pearls . . . this is such a luscious gift, beyond anything I could have hoped for in this exchange!!!

Thank you SO MUCH Scarlatte . . . this came on a day when I was having a really hard time, having a really bad day. This washed it away INSTANTLY with its brilliant and beautiful design, materials, and the thoughtfulness and care that you put into it . . . .

I am touched and VERY appreciative. The two loops are, indeed, very handy as I have larger wrists, and the option of two loops to put the stick-pearl-as-toggle into are much appreciated, and do, in fact, allow me to wear the bracelet!

Ok, so I'm gushing, but who wouldn't? The shine, the reflection of light off the focal's facets . . . the sheen and pearlescence of the pearls, the icy translucence of the crystals . . . the organic feel that the Bali silver spirals and the stick pearls contribute . . .

Ok, can you tell I'm in LOVE!!! Hee hee.

Oh, thank you thank you Scarlatte! If my giftee likes a tenth as much as what she's getting as I love this, I'll be happy about that.

Berry Enchanting Victorian Twilight Flora

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:24:00 +0000

I thought I had posted about this bracelet, but I looked back through my archives, and don't think I have.

I made this bracelet last August for a challenge on the Bead & Button seed bead forum. It's very different from anything I had made before, but I LOVE it!!

Here's what I posted about it in the challenge thread:

This was fun! Challenging, but fun . . . I've never tried anything like this before!

I did a strip of 3 drop peyote, but stitched long ways, instead of across the short width of the bracelet. I then did two rows of loops around each long edge, attached to the open peyote three-drop sections and the next row in, on the long outside edges. This is why the long ways stitching orientation.

I used an 8mm snowflake obsidian round bead for the clasp, with a reinforced loop of seed beads on the other end. Both clasp ends are reinforced. I don't count this bead as an embellishment as I wanted it to blend in with the bracelet, and it really does! It goes PERFECTLY!

I used Czech Ornela rainbow grey 11/0 seed beads for the base, ends, and loop. I then used, as my three extra materials, Swarovski crystals (black diamond bicones, 3 and 4mm), 4mm garnet round beads, and Czech pressed glass beads. I embellished my way down the length of the bracelet, although I pulled out the first third I had finished as I hated it, and started over (ugh!!). I was very hesitant to embellish as I was very unsure, but it started coming, after I restarted . . . I like this! I stacked some crystals sometimes, and sometimes a crystal on a garnet "berry".

I call this bracelet Berry Enchanting Victorian Twilight Flora. It feels and looks like I'm wearing a bit of a fairy-inhabited or magical garden around my wrist, at that magical twilight time of evening, with a few bright spots of color still visible as the light dims.

What do you all think?? I thought the rainbow grey beads would add to the Victorian feel, as well as provide a nice background to POP the embellishment colors . . . I also chose black diamond Swarovski crystals, as I didn't want the gleaming brightness of clear . . . I wanted it a touch more subdued, and yet it still sparkles . . . !!

Bead Embroidery Pendant/Pin Project: Strawberry

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:33:00 +0000

Inspired by Diana G. at her blog, I have been thinking about and planning to start a small bead embroidery project.

I know backstitch, and used to cross-stitch alot, so I feel I have a good stitching background.

I absolutely LOVE strawberries (dolphins too, but that will be a project for when I'm more skilled . . .), and thought that a bead-embroidered strawberry pendant/pin would be a nice way to start.

I thought I'd start by tracing a very realistic, from a photo, gi-hugeous strawberry, but I just couldn't figure out how I could get the detail of shading different reds in a less-than-random way, that I'd want to do if I went this route.

So, I next thought about the fact that I have several strawberry rubber stamps, in really good sizes for the type of project I'm desiring. I looked through them; some are more stylized than others. I settled on a Posh Impressions clear (but mounted on EZ Cling Foam) strawberry stamp, the outline portion of a pair of duet stamps. Duet stamps consist of a more solid image, and a more outline image, of the same item. They work well separately, and with the outline stamped over the solid image as well.

There it is; It is about 1-1/2" in size. I am not sure if it is too cartoonish-looking or not, but I'm going to stamp this on some felt in a craft/fabric type of ink. I'll cut it out, and order the beads. The seeds and outline will be size 13 silver-plated charlottes (seed beads are glass; plating is the best quality for metal-coated one can get, in charlottes and other seed beads I believe). These are so small they are about the same size as other size 15 seed beads I have. I only have pearl white, and a springy light green in size 15 seed beads though, so I'll have to order some appropriate color seed beads for the strawberry body. I'll probably order some green and metallic green size 15's for the top, just to play with options, but I'm thinking I may bead the green leaf top, in the silver charlottes as well.

So, what do you think?

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted here. I've been suffering through desperate and dangerous depressive lows (I am being treated by professionals, though, and medication, just to ease your worries if you have any!)

Diana, you have inspired me to try this. I still feel guilty about the lighthouse bead tapestry I haven't gotten back to, but I need to work out some better knot options, practice them, and then I'll get back into it (I have about 1/2" to 3/4" of that WIDE tapestry done . . .)

Stringing Fall 2006 Issue

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:57:00 +0000

I don't think this issue is worth the (yikes!) $7.99 cover price.

Alot of extremely organic designs, but alot of them were either extreme, or so . . . . WAY over the edge, they were beyond edgey.

Edgey, cutting edge stuff, is fine. But some of these were way over.

There ARE a variety of designs I like in this issue, but $8 for this? All of their previous issues had so many great designs!

It's almost like the editors rejected projects that weren't "strikingly to extremely different". It isn't that I want to see things that are all the same, but . . .

Anyway, I did like quite a few, but I didn't like MORE.

There was one I really like, even though it looks like it uses very verry large sapphire beads. I couldn't even put a price on this one, although I'd guess $300 cost, minimum. Like I say, I'm not sure; of course, one can always substitute, and they suggest that here. I like that they showed it with the sapphires, tho; very drool-worthy.

SW White Buffalo

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 07:50:00 +0000

I'm thinkin' about keeping this one myself . . . .

Small White Howlite Buffalo pendant, sterling silver slightly curved tubes, white and turquoise Swarovski Crystals in 3 and 4mm sizes, a couple of silver oxidized spacers, and 6mm hex-cut bronze Japanese bugle beads.

Oh yes, and the delightful size 13/0 silver-plated charlottes! Since seed beads are glass, plating is the best it gets, when it comes to putting metal on them.

It's going to have an extender, as well.

The bronze hex-cut beads are the lighter brown color you see in the photo, depending on the lighting they flash from a darker bronze to the lighter bronze. Some of them scanned oddly, though, as well as darker than they actually are. Looks MUCH nicer in person!

This is such a delicate style of necklace, with a very petite feel to it!

Falling Apart

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:27:00 +0000

Okaaaay . . . I hesitate to post this here, but what the hey.

Alright, so some of my earlier stuff has fallen apart. Before I knew about various widths and strengths of beading wire, and about making sure the two strands were separate when doing the first part of the crimp, and such.

Early stuff, although one is right on the border of when I realized, oops I had bought the thinnest wire, and of course the crimps I had were too large for it.

Everyone makes mistakes, but these are SO discouraging! Embarrassing. Two family pieces and four that I sent to the wholesaler guy. The most recent being from last March/April.

Which is after I started this blog . . .

The crop circles one fell apart after two wearings (I wore it once, to test it). I gave it to my sister, and it fell apart her first wearing.

I am SO embarrassed! I recently did a post on various crimps and methods, as you know. We'll see, but I think after I send this most recent, more learned batch of jewelry to the wholesaler guy, that I may be seriously testing more pieces on family and friends. Plus, making more pieces with chain, too.

I know, experience is good. But I am really, really embarrassed. Going to fix everything, of course (the wholesaler restrung and fixed the four that came apart on him).

It does make me wonder if any of my earlier stuff fell apart after people bought it.

I was NEW, though! I didn't know beading wire came in different widths and sometimes needs different crimps and crimpers, depending. I also didn't know that you make sure the two strands are separate when crimping, until last spring.

I'm also going to add a bead AFTER the crimp, to help reduce stress. I've also seen and read that many pass the beading wire back through some beads, for extra strength, but the manufacturer of the beading wire says that that is not necessary, that you can cut off the wire right next to the crimped crimp. Well, I do like following manufacturer instructions, but I'll be sending some back thru some beads, when possible (some beads have TINY holes; I might start reaming some that go near the end of the necklace).

For some, that last probably sounds like I should have been doing it all along, but the manufacturer stated over and over in their FAQ's and ask/answer questions section on the Beadalon site, or a related manufacturer sponsered site, that IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. Still, I'm gonna do it now, as it can't hurt; will just add a bit more time, but it'll be worth it.

I'll also be using the new Wire Guardians, when possible (some designs will preclude it, but I'm glade this product has come out). These are designed to reduce stress on the crimp.

I'll pass on the scrimps. They are hardwareish-looking pieces of crap, in my opinion. Even the manufacturer recommends using a dot of jeweler's cement/adhesive, to secure it, when they also tout the fact that you can unscrew the thing and change out your design; screw it on and off at will. But then they recommend glue inside . . . so much for security.

I'm really in a MOOD right now, but I'll say that that is CRAP. Lol.

So, I guess some painful honesty, here today. A learning experience all around. All items made in this batch I'm sending to the wholesaler were after learning about some of my errors, especially of using too thin a beading wire accidentally, so I hope and think they'll be okay.

I'm discouraged, though. It's disheartening and embarrassing. The things I'm talking about were made from my second month of beading, to stuff up through the 7th month or so (eek!). Anyway.

Fire Mountain Gems - EVERYTHING Assortable now . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:48:00 +0000

With Each Other!

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad change, because it seemed to me it was easier to rack up 25 assortable sterling items, low-price ones, for $50 or so, than it will be to get that discount on silver stuff now; now you'll have to buy more items to get to the discounts, although now all the stuff that wasn't assortable before, like findings, jump rings, etc., will be, now.

So since one can ALWAYS use more findings, THAT's good. As well as Swarovski and such being assortable now, too . . .

So it's a tradeoff, but I think the net result will be that people will have to place higher $$ orders in order to get the same or similar discounts as before. AND, what about if prices on some of the previously non-assortable stuff have been jacked up a bit (probably so), in order to compensate for potential discounts . . . since it's going to be rare for me to get anything other than the first discount, the net result may be paying MORE for many to most items??

Then again, who can say . . . .

Since I use seed beads, I suppose it's easy to throw those on, at $1 each for some of them, at the best discount. Course, you're buying $200 items that way, which is 200 items . . . THAT's not hardly ever going to happen.

I think, that, FMG has done this, yes at the request of the customers, but it might end up being better for their bottom line . . . I guess we'll see!

Groovy Dolphin Love Necklace Pour Moi!

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:25:00 +0000

I made this necklace for me! I'm nuts about dolphins, but you probably already know that . . .

The pendant is mother-of-pearl, with a clear glazed finish, so it reflected quite a bit. It's curved inwards, with the resin Dolphin area nestled within. It actually looks ALOT better in person; I had been leery of these type of pendants, as the online pics of them are not very good. It looks awesome in person, though, especially since the scan kinda flattened out the depth of it.

I was going for a 60's/tie-dye look, with the multi-colored millefiore. As it's for me, and I used all the millefiore in this color I had, there's a few off-drilled beads near the back; I don't care, for myself, but I'll replace them eventually so people don't think I do shoddy work. You can't really see, but I know they're there.

I put 4mm mother-of-pearl beads between the glass beads; the ovals didn't sit as well with nothing between them.

This is a LONG necklace, at least for having a pendant. It hangs just below my chest.

Following through on the dolphin theme, the sterling silver clasp is a pair of dolphins that hook through the tails together.

Utah State Fair First Prize-Winning Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:10:00 +0000

My SIL Beck made this for me; we are doing a challenge/exchange of bracelets we are making for each other; she chose the color blue, and I chose the color turquoise.

She sent me these photos, as I won't actually have the bracelet myself for another week! I can hardly wait . . . .Some of the beads reacted funnily to the flash, but that's what happens w/some stones, glass, translucent and special effect beads sometimes.

I've seen it in person and I LOVE it!! It's absolutely gorgeous. And I love dolphins, and so she worked those into it too!

THANKS Beck! Once I put it on, I'm not sure when (if? hee)it's coming off . . . .

Various Crimps

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:51:00 +0000

Here's my thoughts on various crimps and methods that I've tried and not tried.

Regular 'ole crimp tubes, with crimping pliers: Use sterling and gold-fill only (or gold, if they have it and you are going all gold, not sure they do, and don't know about the strength of that one). If you use plated, they are not quite as soft metal, and not as malleable for the crimping process; I believe they will get over-worked sooner, and be more likely to break.

Use the right crimp tubes for the appropriate diameter beading wire, and the appropriate crimping pliers to match. Micro Crimping pliers, Crimping pliers, or Mighty Crimping pliers.

I've tried out the Magical Crimp Forming Tool a bit, and my first went wacky, but since that one I've done better. Try to make sure you are centered in the tool; this leads to me crimping with the nose of the pliers upwards, so I can more easily center the crimp in the pliers. I am afraid of overworking the crimp, but I still make sure to do enough presses to get the ovoid shape as a final result. I also wonder if the crimp is biting down into the nylon coating of the wire, which concerns me if it stresses the wire too much, but we'll see. I have seen a touch of splitting of the edge of the crimp at the edge, where it's crimped down into its tightest diameter; not splitting so much as I think it's just folded over itself, and the fold, squished down, is looking like a separation, but it's not. Especially since the first pressings of the tool produce a ravioli shape, I think when the corners of this shape get crimped over, that produces a fold. But I'm talking really tiny here; the oval looks good to me!

A caveat: This is made for use with Softflex/Softtouch .019 beading wire. I would GUESS that it would work with other companies' .019, but I haven't tried that. Or with Beadalon's .018. So designs that require a thinner diameter, it may not be good for. Me, I tend to go with the manufacturer's instructions, so I've got a roll of the Softflex stuff.

Beadalon's EZ Crimp - I haven't tried the sterling ones that are part of the actual clasp finding, but I have tried the separate base metal? ones that are just the crimp and loop. They say sterling silver on the package but I don't think they MAKE these separate ones in sterling silver . . . let me say these SUCK, royally. Squeezing with all my might, using the proper pliers, I barely ever got any kind of a squish at all, and certainly nothing that would grab and hold a wire, let alone securely.

I never did receive a complimentary screw crimp finding (set?) that Beadalon was going to send me, through communicating through Katie Hacker . . . granted I replied to her awhile after her email to me requesting my address, but when I queried her about it I never rec'd a reply. I'm assuming it was going to be a starter set, because w/out the tool in that set you can't use the finding. These look a bit too industrial for my taste, anyway. I was surprised to see these used in the focal area of a necklace in a recent ad in a magazine - I have qualms about using something so . . . hardware store-ish looking, at the back of a necklace, let alone the front . . . . If ever sent them, I will try, and report. Perhaps ease of use and security of hold would convert me, but I'm not optimistic given my experience with the not so EZ Crimps.

Wire Guardians by Beadalon - I have some of these, but I have not used them yet. They do seem like a great idea, and that they will reduce stress on the crimp.

I've used some crimp findings on leather, but I will talk about those in a post about leather, suede, and ribbon and finishing them off, sometime.

I'm not fond of the, use some flat nose pliers and just squeeze your crimp tube flat, method. I don't like the look. I prefer to use crimping pliers and then use a crimp cover to cover it. Although with the Magical Crimp Forming tool, covers aren't necessary, and now I feel I can do illusion-style necklaces, tin-cup necklaces, and the like, as I really don't like the look of naked crimps on those that most people do, and for many designs, the size of the crimp covers would interfere with the design.

The above method is what is used with Tornado crimps, which are crimp tubes with a twist in them, that is said to grab the wire better. It does sound like a good concept, and I can see why the just squish flat with some flat-nose pliers method is what is directed to be used for those. Again, though, I don't like that look, so I probably won't be using these. I may try them sometime, but we'll see.

I've seen "crimp beads" in catalogs, but have never used them. I do have to wonder if they hold as well as a tube, though, since they start out rounded away outwards from the wire, while a tube is slim and close to the wire . . . I think you use crimp pliers with these, so perhaps that doesn't matter.

Patiently Awaiting the 2nd August Update to The Bead Bugle

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:01:00 +0000

Does anyone else ever anticipate the generally bi-weekly (well, twice monthly, so often there's three weeks in between updates!) updates to The Bead Bugle?

Click post title to go there.

I happen to have a subscription, so I can access all the projects. There's alot that are over the top, but even from those I can learn bits n' pieces of techniques I'd like to use, even if I don't like the project. Then there are the projects I DO like!!

So, twiddling my thumbs, waiting. Guess it may be next Wednesday, then. I do know one of the producers of it is undergoing chemo, I think, and so that's why there's been 1-2 delays a month for the last 2-3 months. Understandable, plus, someone's health is more important, anyway.

2 Lampwork sets for sale . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 23:16:00 +0000

Click link to go to pick and info on them. They were purchased from a legitimate, SRA lampwork artist on Ebay.

Finding myself in desperate need for money, I must sell them. $20 is what I paid for each set.

I also have a few bits n bobs of other jewelry stuff I'll post later.

Also, if anyone is interested in my pieces, especially what's in the Etsy store, make an offer.

STUNNING necklace by Lori Anderson . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Sarebear) — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 04:29:00 +0000

I subscribe to her blog on Bloglines.

Click the title to go to her post and professionally taken picture of a necklace that is just breathtakingly beautiful! Looks like the Shaggy Loops chainmaille weave, with some opalescent pink glass 9-10mm rings that I happen to have as well (if I've interpreted the "scale" of the picture/necklace correctly).

The pendant is a bit different, which is good!

This is JUST BEAUTIFUL!

I thought I'd feature someone else, for once!