Started out today cleaning my basement/studio. After scrambling to get Christmas gifts made and other presents wrapped my basement looked like a bomb went off. Now it's reasonably neat and again a comfortable place for me to work. I can put up with the mess for a while but then it begins to get to me and I can't concentrate on any thing.
Once every thing was in order and the shop vacuum used I sat down at my beading desk and went brain dead. I usually have a gazillion ideas running around in my head but not today. Then I got the bright idea to go through my beading/jewelry magazines. I decided that when I came to a design I like, that I haven't tried before, I'd use that design for inspiration. I say inspiration because just like my cooking and sewing I view the directions as suggestions.
Usually I'll go through a stack of magazines and mark what I'm interested in trying but then I'd move on, flipping pages and marking. A lot of times I'd have a stack of marked magazines and never get back to the article. This time I'm stopping when I see something and using the article, complete a project before moving on to another design. So far it's working and I've made a new bracelet and earrings.
During this past year I've purchased several tools/beads/findings that I haven't used - yet. I'm looking at this as the start of a new year and new ideas. I hope to be able to complete a lot more projects without buying a bunch of new stuff. Believe that? Me either! But I'm going to try.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas
More room to write here than Facebook.
It's a winter wonderland out side. Everything covered in white and beautiful. Spent the day making goodies for tomorrow's Christmas party at my niece Jeanne's.
Made a very simple candy treat from a recipe I got at work. Simple, the best kind. You mash up a package of Oreo cookies, mix in 8 oz of softened cream cheese, form it into balls and chill till firm. Once they're firm you cover them in melted chocolate. So simple but so good.
After that I got the bright idea to use gingerbread graham crackers for the filling. Since they don't have the filling of Oreos they were a little dry. Solved that by melting a stick of butter and added that to the mixture along with about 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. Of course keeping it real simple I did all the mixing in the food processor. YUM.
For the final item I made 2 cheese cakes. These were at the request of my nephew, Nick. I hear they're his favorite but we all seem to like them. I also made fruit salsa to top the cheese cake if desired or just to eat with graham crackers.
Took a few minutes to finish wrapping the gifts for tomorrow. Now all that's left to do is get there. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone. My favorite part of Christmas is visiting with family that I love but don't get to see as often as I'd like.
It's a winter wonderland out side. Everything covered in white and beautiful. Spent the day making goodies for tomorrow's Christmas party at my niece Jeanne's.
Made a very simple candy treat from a recipe I got at work. Simple, the best kind. You mash up a package of Oreo cookies, mix in 8 oz of softened cream cheese, form it into balls and chill till firm. Once they're firm you cover them in melted chocolate. So simple but so good.
After that I got the bright idea to use gingerbread graham crackers for the filling. Since they don't have the filling of Oreos they were a little dry. Solved that by melting a stick of butter and added that to the mixture along with about 1/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. Of course keeping it real simple I did all the mixing in the food processor. YUM.
For the final item I made 2 cheese cakes. These were at the request of my nephew, Nick. I hear they're his favorite but we all seem to like them. I also made fruit salsa to top the cheese cake if desired or just to eat with graham crackers.
Took a few minutes to finish wrapping the gifts for tomorrow. Now all that's left to do is get there. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone. My favorite part of Christmas is visiting with family that I love but don't get to see as often as I'd like.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Gem Stone Watch
This was a very productive weekend. Below you can see the process of assembling a two strand gemstone bracelet watch. Not a whole lot of description here. I strung two strands of gemstones on flexible beading wire and attached them to a pre-made watch face.
Simple Dangle Earrings
A friend mentioned that she'd really like to have some earring made from Rose Quartz. That got me digging out my supply of rose quartz and making several pairs of earrings. Here's the process for making a pair of simple dangle earrings. I've found out that it's really tricky photographing the process while doing the work. Since I was photographing as I go you'll also get to see my messy work area in the background.
Below is some of my rose quartz stash. I have finished nuggets, chips - large & small and various other shapes.
To make earrings you need earring findings as well as the pretty stones or beads. For these earrings I'll use silver head pins and silver ball post earrings with a loop for attaching the earrings. I've also used some silver, flower shaped bead caps and tiny silver spacer beads. To attach the earrings to the post you'll need a couple split jump rings.
To begin I added the following things to the head pin. 1 silver ball, 1 bead cap, 1 large faceted quartz nugget, 1 bead cap, 1 small silver ball, 1 small faceted quartz nugget and finally another silver ball.
Once everything is on the head pin I used my chain nose pliers to make a 90 degree bend in the head pin.
Then I used my round nose pliers to make a loop in the head pin.
After making the loop I used my bent nose pliers to hold the loop so I could use my chain nose pliers to make wrapped loops with the remaining wire of the head pin. Carefully make the loops parallel and tight to each other.
After several wraps use wire cutters to trim the remaining wire close to the wraps and press the end down tight to the head pin.
To attach the earring to the ball post open a jump ring and slip on the earring and the loop of the ball post. I use the smallest jump ring possible that will still allow some movement of the earring. To open and close jump rings use two pairs of pliers, one on either side of the opening of the jump ring, and use a back and forth motion instead of pulling the opening of the ring apart. Make sure to close the jump ring so there is no gap.
Repeat the process to make the second earring. Simple and easy!
Below is some of my rose quartz stash. I have finished nuggets, chips - large & small and various other shapes.
To make earrings you need earring findings as well as the pretty stones or beads. For these earrings I'll use silver head pins and silver ball post earrings with a loop for attaching the earrings. I've also used some silver, flower shaped bead caps and tiny silver spacer beads. To attach the earrings to the post you'll need a couple split jump rings.
To begin I added the following things to the head pin. 1 silver ball, 1 bead cap, 1 large faceted quartz nugget, 1 bead cap, 1 small silver ball, 1 small faceted quartz nugget and finally another silver ball.
Once everything is on the head pin I used my chain nose pliers to make a 90 degree bend in the head pin.
Then I used my round nose pliers to make a loop in the head pin.
After making the loop I used my bent nose pliers to hold the loop so I could use my chain nose pliers to make wrapped loops with the remaining wire of the head pin. Carefully make the loops parallel and tight to each other.
After several wraps use wire cutters to trim the remaining wire close to the wraps and press the end down tight to the head pin.
To attach the earring to the ball post open a jump ring and slip on the earring and the loop of the ball post. I use the smallest jump ring possible that will still allow some movement of the earring. To open and close jump rings use two pairs of pliers, one on either side of the opening of the jump ring, and use a back and forth motion instead of pulling the opening of the ring apart. Make sure to close the jump ring so there is no gap.
Repeat the process to make the second earring. Simple and easy!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Random Glass Necklace part 2
All the parts are completed and ready to connect.
To build the necklace I used 6mm jump rings to connect 1 bead with a wrapped loop on each end, 3 headpin dangles and 1 bead with wrapped loops. Continue adding wrap loop beads alternating with 3 dangle units until all units are attached. I don't put dangles at the clasp ends of the necklace.
Here's the necklace with everything except the clasp attached. I used a small snap/button type clasp for a closure and soldered all the jump rings closed. That's easier said than done since the beads keep wanting to get in the way of the soldering iron. I used Stay Brite solder and flux with a low temp soldering iron.
Here's the necklace with the clasp attached, the jump rings soldered and everything cleaned.
Now I'll have to take another jewelry break to do some sewing. I promised my granddaughter, Emily, that I'd make a Christmas dress with snowflakes. Yes this is the same granddaughter that got the Glenda costume for Halloween. And yes she has me wrapped around her little finger.
In case you missed seeing her completed costume here is another picture.
To build the necklace I used 6mm jump rings to connect 1 bead with a wrapped loop on each end, 3 headpin dangles and 1 bead with wrapped loops. Continue adding wrap loop beads alternating with 3 dangle units until all units are attached. I don't put dangles at the clasp ends of the necklace.
Here's the necklace with everything except the clasp attached. I used a small snap/button type clasp for a closure and soldered all the jump rings closed. That's easier said than done since the beads keep wanting to get in the way of the soldering iron. I used Stay Brite solder and flux with a low temp soldering iron.
Here's the necklace with the clasp attached, the jump rings soldered and everything cleaned.
Now I'll have to take another jewelry break to do some sewing. I promised my granddaughter, Emily, that I'd make a Christmas dress with snowflakes. Yes this is the same granddaughter that got the Glenda costume for Halloween. And yes she has me wrapped around her little finger.
In case you missed seeing her completed costume here is another picture.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Random Glass Necklace
Every time I wear the necklace I made from random glass beads and wire someone comments on it. I made it just to use left over beads but it has become one of my favorite necklaces because it goes with almost every thing. I decided to use that necklace for inspiration. I recently purchased several strings of lampwork beads and that's the base for the new necklace.
Here's a couple shots of the inspiration necklace.
And the bead stash. Not going to use all of them but will dig out what I want. Actually may end up making a couple necklaces or maybe a matching cha-cha bracelet and of course earrings.
To start I used 20 gauge Artistic silver wire and wired up 17 beads for the main part of the necklace. Each bead has a wrapped loop in both ends.
For the dangling sections I used head pins to attach smaller beads. I'll use 3 sets of beads on headpins between every main bead section. Everything will be strung together with jump rings and the rings will then be soldered. I tried making the original necklace without soldering the jump rings and things tended to fall off.
I don't have near enough headpins filled but that will have to wait for another evening or possibly this weekend.
Here's a couple shots of the inspiration necklace.
And the bead stash. Not going to use all of them but will dig out what I want. Actually may end up making a couple necklaces or maybe a matching cha-cha bracelet and of course earrings.
To start I used 20 gauge Artistic silver wire and wired up 17 beads for the main part of the necklace. Each bead has a wrapped loop in both ends.
For the dangling sections I used head pins to attach smaller beads. I'll use 3 sets of beads on headpins between every main bead section. Everything will be strung together with jump rings and the rings will then be soldered. I tried making the original necklace without soldering the jump rings and things tended to fall off.
I don't have near enough headpins filled but that will have to wait for another evening or possibly this weekend.
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