It is a wonderful time for me to spend time with family, visit friends, and work on new store items for January.
Happy Holidays to all! :D
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Beauty of Creation
This week has been a week of creating.
Serious creating--not simply dabbling with thoughts, bandying about possibilities. Indeed, I sat down for hours to get everything just right; I worked until my fingers throbbed and ached. This is the sort of creating that requires an absurd amount of focus, where everything else fades into the background.
All that matters is the idea, and making that idea become tangible and real.
Honestly, it was rather incredible... Going into my own world, bringing order to chaos. It is always rather humbling when this happens... And, though my fingers still hurt, I feel triumphant.
For, in this state, I turned this:
Into this:
...and this:
Into this:
The first design took 2 hours to make--not including the time it took to sort the beads. Don't believe that I sorted them? Just look at this:
The second necklace, the gear necklace, took at least four hours to finish. Indeed, I started it at 10:00 AM, and was still working on it at 2:30 PM. It involved an hour of attaching gears to almost 200 tiny jump rings... and another hour of wire-wrapping... and yet another hour of adjusting the design, when it didn't lay flat.
Worth it?
Totally.
I look forward to making more in this style, when my fingers stop hurting! :D
Serious creating--not simply dabbling with thoughts, bandying about possibilities. Indeed, I sat down for hours to get everything just right; I worked until my fingers throbbed and ached. This is the sort of creating that requires an absurd amount of focus, where everything else fades into the background.
All that matters is the idea, and making that idea become tangible and real.
Honestly, it was rather incredible... Going into my own world, bringing order to chaos. It is always rather humbling when this happens... And, though my fingers still hurt, I feel triumphant.
For, in this state, I turned this:
 |
| Unsorted 6/0 seed bead mix |
Into this:
 |
| Collar Necklace, inspired by ancient Egyptian designs and the colors of lapis lazuli |
...and this:
 |
| Jumbled pile of gears |
Into this:
 |
| Collar Necklace, inspired by the combination of Egyptian style and the steampunk aesthetic |
The first design took 2 hours to make--not including the time it took to sort the beads. Don't believe that I sorted them? Just look at this:
 |
| Booyah! |
The second necklace, the gear necklace, took at least four hours to finish. Indeed, I started it at 10:00 AM, and was still working on it at 2:30 PM. It involved an hour of attaching gears to almost 200 tiny jump rings... and another hour of wire-wrapping... and yet another hour of adjusting the design, when it didn't lay flat.
Worth it?
Totally.
I look forward to making more in this style, when my fingers stop hurting! :D
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Wonder of Creating....
I have spent most of today creating--so focused on what I was doing that I forgot to eat.
It is truly amazing to be able to take an idea and make it into something tangible.
It is truly amazing to be able to take an idea and make it into something tangible.
Monday, December 12, 2011
This Just In!
...or, perhaps a better name would be: this just listed!
I have been working on getting this pair of hairsticks posted for quite some time... I am so, so happy to announce that they are finally up on my store!
And here they are! A pair of hairsticks whose toppers are made with mood beads:
...Yes, those pictures are all of the same pair of hairsticks. Since the toppers change color with heat, the different shades are the product of heat exposure (read: I touched them, and the color changed).
You can see the listing here.
I am so happy with these! :D
I have been working on getting this pair of hairsticks posted for quite some time... I am so, so happy to announce that they are finally up on my store!
And here they are! A pair of hairsticks whose toppers are made with mood beads:
Everchanging
...Yes, those pictures are all of the same pair of hairsticks. Since the toppers change color with heat, the different shades are the product of heat exposure (read: I touched them, and the color changed).
You can see the listing here.
I am so happy with these! :D
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Another Glimpse at My Beading Table...
I have come to the realization that I have been really busy--like there was any real doubt of that, I know.
So, in addition to learning pearl knotting, I have been playing with gears...
...and playing with different ways to color hairsticks...
...and playing with fire polished Czech glass beads.
Also in the works are Egyptian-inspired hairsticks. And a line of jewelry based on Narnia. And winter-hued pieces, reminiscent of snow and ice.
Add to that Christmas presents for my family, and you'll have a good idea about what I've been up to! :D
So, in addition to learning pearl knotting, I have been playing with gears...
|
| Oh, the possibilities! |
 |
| Steampunk-inspired hairstick, recently listed on my store. |
...and playing with different ways to color hairsticks...
 |
| I am hoping to expand my hairstick line by adding colored sticks to my repertoire. Right now, I am beta testing a couple different possibilities-- I want to prefect it, before putting any of these for sale. |
...and playing with fire polished Czech glass beads.
 |
| I am also hoping to duplicate these toppers on non-colored sticks, and post them to my store some time soon. 'Tis the season for sparkle! |
Also in the works are Egyptian-inspired hairsticks. And a line of jewelry based on Narnia. And winter-hued pieces, reminiscent of snow and ice.
Add to that Christmas presents for my family, and you'll have a good idea about what I've been up to! :D
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Glimpse at my Beading Table...
Look! It's a post about jewelry-related things! Because, believe it or not, I actually have been quite active when it comes to learning new techniques and creating new designs... I just haven't been feeling too inclined to write about it, considering the morass of November.
But! November is behind us, and it's time to share a little of what I have been doing recently...
Such as pearl knotting.
Recently I took it in my head to learn how to do this very traditional technique. But what, you might ask, is pearl knotting?
Well, this is pearl knotting:
As the name suggests, it's a way of stringing pearls by hand-knotting them on silk thread.
This particular method is very traditional. After all, pearls used to be so valuable that it would be tragic if a strand of them were to break. As they tumbled onto the floor, they might get cracked, or even lost forever. But, by putting a small knot in between each pearl, this fate could be averted; if the strand broke, only one pearl would fall off.
...Besides, it just looks classy.
And so, that's one of the many, many things that I've been doing recently. To date, I have successfully knotted two such strands (the first attempt doesn't count). I like the way that these necklaces drape--very elegant. I hope to incorporate this into more designs to come, if for no other reason that I simply enjoy doing it (even if it is rather time consuming... that is a lot of little knots).
But! November is behind us, and it's time to share a little of what I have been doing recently...
Such as pearl knotting.
Recently I took it in my head to learn how to do this very traditional technique. But what, you might ask, is pearl knotting?
Well, this is pearl knotting:
 |
| My second and third attempts--one with real pearls, the other with Czech glass beads with a blue iris coating. My first attempt was certainly not so... uniform. |
As the name suggests, it's a way of stringing pearls by hand-knotting them on silk thread.
This particular method is very traditional. After all, pearls used to be so valuable that it would be tragic if a strand of them were to break. As they tumbled onto the floor, they might get cracked, or even lost forever. But, by putting a small knot in between each pearl, this fate could be averted; if the strand broke, only one pearl would fall off.
...Besides, it just looks classy.
And so, that's one of the many, many things that I've been doing recently. To date, I have successfully knotted two such strands (the first attempt doesn't count). I like the way that these necklaces drape--very elegant. I hope to incorporate this into more designs to come, if for no other reason that I simply enjoy doing it (even if it is rather time consuming... that is a lot of little knots).
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Blessings Abound...
Today has been filled with many, many happy things...
And...
6. Staring at my Christmas Tree (now with even more ornaments*).
* - The craft store had all of their Christmas decor on sale for 50% off... Yes, I admit to buying some more pretties to go on my tree! Like the iridescent bird. And the purple balls covered in golden starbursts. But not the gargoyle--I already had him. :D
- Shopping at a craft store.
- Helping my friend put up her Christmas Tree.
- Being introduced to Almond Joy coffee creamer (sooooooo good).
- Being surprised by my husband--he brought home dinner (also sooooooo good).
- Enjoying after-dinner smoothies, while I take pictures and my husband plays on his computer.
And...
6. Staring at my Christmas Tree (now with even more ornaments*).
* - The craft store had all of their Christmas decor on sale for 50% off... Yes, I admit to buying some more pretties to go on my tree! Like the iridescent bird. And the purple balls covered in golden starbursts. But not the gargoyle--I already had him. :D
Monday, December 5, 2011
In light of everything that has been happening recently, I've been doing my best to live in the moment, to seek comfort in beauty. And it's been working so far. Mostly.
Anyway, along those lines, here were today's goals:
I am happy to say that both of those goals were reached.
Here are the results:
For my Christmas tree, I tend to start with a theme... And then add special, extra touches. My current theme is burgundy, purple, and gold.
And, occassionally, I like to include bright red:
This time, I also added touches of clear and silver:
...And maybe some more bright red:
Of course, that's just the beginning. There are plenty of ornaments that match absolutely nothing--that I include simply because I like them. Like my Christmas Gargoyle. And my VeggieTales ornaments.
Now that it is all said and done, I'm sitting at my computer, staring at the warm glow of my Christmas tree. To me, there is something very comforting about Christmas lights, and the soft sparkle of tinsel. Any other time, these things might seem gaudy... but, right now, they are gentle beauty--and they make my heart glad.
Anyway, along those lines, here were today's goals:
- Retrieve the Christmas tree from storage.
- Assemble said Christmas tree.
I am happy to say that both of those goals were reached.
Here are the results:
 |
| Surprise! It's our Christmas Tree! |
For my Christmas tree, I tend to start with a theme... And then add special, extra touches. My current theme is burgundy, purple, and gold.
 |
| Okay, so it's a dark picture--but in it, you can see purple, burgundy, and gold! |
And, occassionally, I like to include bright red:
 |
| One of my favorite ornaments, taken from my parents' tree. I remember this bird from when I was little. |
This time, I also added touches of clear and silver:
...And maybe some more bright red:
 |
| This very special ornament was handmade by my grandfather. I teared up when I put it on the tree. |
Of course, that's just the beginning. There are plenty of ornaments that match absolutely nothing--that I include simply because I like them. Like my Christmas Gargoyle. And my VeggieTales ornaments.
 |
| Yes, that is Larry the Cucumber. And a hand-blown glass hedgehog. |
Now that it is all said and done, I'm sitting at my computer, staring at the warm glow of my Christmas tree. To me, there is something very comforting about Christmas lights, and the soft sparkle of tinsel. Any other time, these things might seem gaudy... but, right now, they are gentle beauty--and they make my heart glad.
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