Goodbye

I've stopped selling on ArtFire and have started my own web site.  You can now visit me at www.llrodenjewelry.com.  Nothing wrong with ArtFire but it wasn't a good fit for me.  In the short time I've had my own site I've sold so much more than I did in a group setting.  I'm still making and selling jewelry.  My skills are transitioning from beading to gem stones and metal. I've been working on cutting my own stones and making my own settings.

The new site also has a blog feature that I'm transitioning to.  It's much easier to maintain everything all in one place.  I hope you visit me there.

Linda L. Roden

Still here but quiet.

I find I'm reluctant to spend time on the computer.  There are so many projects to complete and ideas running around in my head.

I recently completed a couture sewing class and have been practicing by making a dress for Emily.  I'll find out this weekend if it actually fits her.  This dress and other obligations took nearly a month of my free time.  That's time I hate to lose but what can ya do?

I recently completed several jewelry pieces for a friend's wedding.  I've also completed some other jewelry but haven't photographed it yet.  I probably won't do any more jewelry photography until after the next show.

I'm also wanting to do more metal/stone/glass jewelry instead of so much beading.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the beads but the rocks and metal are really calling to me.

There are so many social sites available and I wish I had more time to be social but I'm a hermit at heart and prefer my time in the basement.  I have a show coming the first weekend of December that should be big.  This is the 24th annual Olde Alton Art & Craft Fair.  I've attended as a shopper, many times, this will be my first time as a vendor. 

I have a few more pieces of jewelry to complete before the show as well as some more sewing to do for the grand-kids and myself.  Can't there be more than 24 hours in a day?  Just never seems to be enough time.

Just talking

I've taken a bit of a break from jewelry making to get some children's sewing done.  I'm still poking at the wedding jewelry but I have time to get to that. 

This summer has already been busy.  I've just returned from the usual circle trip of Kentucky(kids) to Florida(kids) and back through Kentucky to home.  In the process I was able to go stupid in a few fabric stores and managed to overload my stash.  So many cute fabrics for the grand-daughters and I'm nearly done with a two piece outfit for Austin.

I found some really bright multicolor daisy material and some stripe material in the same colors.  Since Austin's middle name is Daisy I couldn't resist.  The pattern is a wrap style over-dress and a slip style under dress.  The over-dress is the daisy print and the under dress is the stripe.  They can be worn together or as single dresses.  I cut some of the daisy's out of the print and appliqued them to the skirt of the stripe dress just to add a little something extra.

Once I'm totally finished I'll post a picture.

I also got some butterfly print material.  Austin and Emily are both nuts about butterfly's.  I have material to make clothing, hats and booties for new baby and several pieces of material for myself. 

I really don't have time to go to work every day.  Too many projects to complete but I'm happiest when I'm in my basement messing with stuff.

In addition to full time work, hobbies and attending to aging parents, I'm also involved with DAR.  We have several programs planned for this summer and it's keeping me very busy. 

Busy = Happy.

Hope every one has a happy summer.

New project

Austin's outfit will be delivered this week.  I hope she likes it.  Now I'm on to other stuff.

A friend has asked for wedding jewelry.  I'm making several pieces to give her plenty of options.  Lots of crystal in navy and clear with accents of white pearls.  So far two necklaces completed and a bracelet in the works. 

Pictures will be posted when the projects are complete.

Austin's New Outfit

I've inherited a bunch of material, another sewing machine and a new sewing table.  This has put me in a sewing mood.  This time Austin is benefiting from the urge.  Here is the process and the results.


I've used this pattern a few years ago to make an outfit for Emily.  This time I decided to hot-rod it up a little. 

I re-drew the pattern to Austin's size and started out with a dark lavender material for the main body.

I used a white background material with lavender flowers for the accent material.  The top is lined so I needed duplicates of the material.

I made a diagonal cut and joined the contrasting pieces.

I covered the seam line with wide, white rick-rack.

To make the lining I needed to cut a mirror image.

 Here's a view of the front after assembly.

And a view of the back.  As you can see I continued the contrast material to the back.  For the straps I put in 3 button holes on each strap to make the length adjustable.

To add a little pizazz I made a rick-rack flower broach with flower bead centers with 3 leaf beads on the outer edge.  I added a pin to the back so it could be removed for washing.

Here's a closer view of the broach.

Next came the crop pants.  I used the light color material for the tie belt.  And cut the length a little shorter so I could add a ruffle to the hem.

Here's the pants with the ruffle hem trimmed with the wide, white rick-rack.  And there you have it.  Austin's new outfit.

More Copper Work

As usual I'm slow to add to my blog.  I forget to take the pictures as I start a new project but this time I remembered before I got too far.

Some time ago my Dad worked some copper pipe on his lathe for me to turn into bracelets.  The first couple attempts didn't turn out so good but I kept the rejects figuring I eventually do something with them.  It's eventually. As you can see the pipe was lopsided and dented.  The Knurling was pretty deep and uneven.  

I used my Dad made grinding wheel to knock off as much of the knurling as I could.

 The center was cut too deep for me to get it totally clean but I kept working at it.  After using the grinding wheel I worked at it with files and was able to knock off some more of the texture. I got it as clean as I could and decided to work with the marks that were left.  I annealed it and marked it for forming.

I used my new stakes and hammers to reshape the metal.
 

I used the sharp, straight edge of a jewelers hammer (not shown) to add more directional marks all over the surface of the bracelet. I hammered the edges with the same hammer for added interest.

Then I used my saw to open the tube into a cuff and rounded off the open edges with a file.   I liked what I had.  It was simple but eye catching.

 Once I was happy with the texture and shape I gave it a good polish with a brass brush on my flex shaft.  Then it got a coat of wax.
 

From old plumbing pipe to shinning bracelet.  Then to my mother's arm.  She was very happy.

Another New Year

Some people may think I'm unusual but like so many other people I do use the start of a new year to make good intentioned changes and finish old projects.  Doesn't mean that it always sticks but some things are just tradition. 

I recently inherited a bunch of sewing stuff so in addition to cleaning my work area I had to find room for the new stuff I brought in.  To start I had to clear a space to fit an awesome sewing table built by my Dad.  He's a thoughtful craftsman and built this table with a recess to fit the sewing machine.  It makes a nice 4 foot square work surface.  That gives me plenty of work room and enough extra room for my other two machines.  I can just pull them forward when I want to use them.

Making room for the table, in my usual method, I made a mess on top of the mess I already had.  One thing besides making messes that I'm good at doing is finding room for new things and throwing away things I don't use.
 

 Isn't this a great table?  I did have to have help from my brother and his boys to get it from the upstairs at my fathers to the basement of my home.  Thank you brother and nephews!!

Dad even attached an electrical outlet to the side of the table so I don't have to crawl under it to plug everything in.  In this case my nephew earned that chore (plugging in).

This table was piled high with sewing, soldering and forming supplies.  I did take a before picture but it wasn't in focus.  The hanging bar clock belongs to my oldest son.  I'll be glad when he finally settles somewhere and can take it home with him.

This is another Dad built table.  It's taller than a normal table and wide so I can lay out material.  It also has extra support attached to the underside to stand up to heavy use. It's my everything table.  I cut material, hammer and solder metal, cut glass, paint, work polymer clay, do lampwork and nearly everything else on this table.  

Even though I didn't have to move my jewelers bench I did clean it off.  I find that the more I work the smaller my work space gets until there isn't a clear space left.  This table really needed cleaning.

Here's where I do my beading.  Not very clean and never is.  I usually have several projects going and plunked various areas on the table.  You can see a few strands of beads and a container of mixed beads.  Since I took this picture I did put the book away and finish the necklace I was stringing.  It was a simple necklace, just a lot of mixed seed beads strung on 3 long lines, then braided.  One of those mindless kind of projects.  Next to the beading station you can see a TV.  It's a great place to watch jewelry DVD's and programs such as Project Runway and Project Accessory.  I also really like the DIY home design programs.

That's my start of 2012 story.  Always the hope that the new year will bring inspiration and the time to follow it through.