Humblebeads TGBE Necklace Project

Tags

Heather Powers, Humblebeads, The Great Bead Extravaganza

Heather Powers of Humblebeads created a beautiful necklace project for the 2022 Fall Fest edition of The Great Bead Extravaganza. I really liked it from my first glimpse, but I don’t enjoy projects. Well, let me explain. I don’t enjoy instructions. I don’t enjoy having to pay attention to instructions, and I’m not good at it. I have quite a number of kits from TGBE’s past that I haven’t made yet. And video instructions are much more difficult for me to follow than written instructions.

After seeing Heather’s necklace a number of times, right at the time of the live presentation, I was very sorry I hadn’t purchased the kit despite the above because the necklace is just so beautiful in every colorway. Alas, the kits were sold out at that point. But, many of the individual beads were available in the Humblebeads shop, so I placed an order. I based my colorway on the availability of the white Queen Anne’s lace bird, but they are my colors anyway. I love gold, silver, white and clear beads and any sort of antique looking finish, luster, or wash. I already had a Queen Anne’s lace pendant that I had added patina to. I’ve been holding onto it for years after seeing it in another Heather Powers project.

Here is a reason why I’m not good at following instructions. It’s just not how my brain works. I’ve done multiple of Heather’s projects and taken her classes. I know she is an excellent, clear teacher. This is my own impatience and overly fast brain that only wants to skim. Her instructions for each type of drop bead was to string one, knot, then do that four more times. I strung four of each drop bead on each side. I only realized that was supposed to be five (string one, knot, then do four more time) after I separated out the druk beads and wondered why I had two left (string one, knot, and then do this eleven more times). I just saw “four” and “eleven” without reading the context. Skimming lets me get a lot of things done quickly in life, but it can also lead to mistakes. Of course I had the opportunity then to fix the druk error, but I was not about to restring the whole thing. Even though I love making things and love stringing and knotting, I very much dislike re-stringing. I know that uneven numbers of beads are more pleasing to the eye (Heather said as much in her presentation) but I actually think the length this ended up is better for me (although it is adjustable.)

Even though I struggle with paying attention to instructions, I will not make the mistake of passing on a kit I really love again. Although I am super happy with my colors and using the pendant from my stash. Even when I don’t get the kit or make the project, it’s always worth watching other artists give instruction. With this project, I learned a nicer way to connect waxed linen to a jump ring than how I’ve been doing it for years. I’m so happy about that. I also love this very affordable clasp from Heather’s shop, so I’ll be using that again. I like the idea of the two interconnected jump rings above the bird, and I actually have some vintage metal pieces that look like that. This gives me an idea of how to use them. And most important, I had a lot of relaxing fun making this project and will have fun wearing it. Heather was nice enough to post a materials list, a link to the video and written instructions (which is what I used) on her blog.

Rita Leaves

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, Humblebeads, Madison Cat Project, Nostalgica, Rita Schneck

I like the glass leaf headpins that artist Rita Schneck makes. I’ve gotten them before from Candie Cooper and recently got three from one of Allegory Gallery‘s live shows. I used one in a necklace and then used the other two in a separate necklace. Here they are.

This first necklace is for me. I wanted a cascade of leaves and initially thought I’d use more. But often when I want a cascade of something, it ends up more like a mess of a jumble, so I stopped with just four. I love the bright yellow of the Rita leaf. I used patinas on the metal fern leaf. I got that from Humblebeads. I got the chain from Candie Cooper.

When I had two leaves left, I thought – earrings! But I had already cut the wire of each differently, so I decided to use them with some chain to be fringe-y on a necklace.

I had a small piece of this green rosary chain sitting on my table. It looked great with the green and brown leaves, but it was too short to be the necklace chain. I put each leaf on chain and then used the rest so the whole pendant was a bit like a tassel. I found some nice chain to use, but it was too plain, so I used Vintaj moss patina on it. I didn’t fully cover it, but just brushed it on randomly, using several coats until I was satisfied with the coverage. I will put this necklace in the Artists for Animals Auction coming up November 7 – 13, 2022. My auctions will support Madison Cat Project.

Exploring the Creative Process

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Apoxie Clay, Candie Cooper, Cynthia Thornton, Humblebeads, Inviciti, Sally Sutherland Designs, Stephen Westfall, The Great Bead Extravaganza, Vintaj

Recently, Andrew Thornton made a video about his use of idea books over the years. I haven’t been making a lot lately, so I thought I would talk about my own use of idea books. I often make sketches on loose pieces of paper, but I also have multiple books (Andrew’s use of the term “idea books” was new to me when he used it leading up to one of The Great Bead Extravaganza events.)

I have two main idea books: one for upstairs and one for downstairs. However, I couldn’t find the downstairs one a few weeks ago, so I brought the upstairs one down. I’m sure I’ll find the other one eventually. I like to buy books made by folks who take old kids books and fill them with blank pages. The spiral binding makes them easy to lay open when I’m trying to write/draw in them, especially when I have a lot going on.

One thing I like to do, especially if I am watching a video or tutorial, is write down supplies or tools and where to get them. It’s handy to be able to refer to this later when placing an order or trying to remember what that great thing was that someone mentioned.

Pendant by Cynthia Thornton. Vintage turquoise nuggets from Allegory Gallery.

Of course I sketch design ideas. It’s helpful to capture those and also fun to go back and see how much of the idea goes into the final design (if it even gets made). The earrings at the top of the page have not been made (and these sketches are from 2019). I can’t specifically say the sketch at the bottom of the page got made. The pendant got used, but nothing else from the sketch was incorporated.

Faux tin mitten and sari silk from Humblebeads. Large clear glass and manik-manik beads from Allegory Gallery.

Here’s a case where I ended up adjusting the design as I went along and made a much better piece in the end.

Here I took down the names of some interesting books Candie Cooper referred to in a video, noted where in the video there was a design idea I wanted to go back to and did a quick sketch of some tips she gave about using memory wire.

When I was participating in the Art Journeys for Art Bead Scene, I would often look at the inspiration and sketch out ideas based on art beads I thought of. I love this one. I used both the Sally Sutherland tab beads and the Czech glass flowers from the original sketch.

Inviciti charm inside Vintaj frame.

Pendant by Andrew Thornton

Idea books are also great to use when thinking of designs for kits. This one is from one of Allegory Gallery‘s 2015 design kits, Amethyst Aether. I loved that kit! The necklace used a lot of ideas from the top sketch. The bottom sketch also turned into a necklace similar to described.

The book always comes in handy for writing things down. It’s so much better than all of my scraps of paper which then I can never find. This is from when Andrew Thornton was doing a tutorial (I think with Apoxie Clay) and he mentioned some mosaic artists. I went to check them out and made a list of the ones I wanted to follow for inspiration. The other day in another video he mentioned one of his teachers from college, Stephen Westfall, and I love what I’ve seen. Those pieces from Persephone!

There is so much more you can do with these books. Andrew had a lot more things in there if you watch his video. I often use them for lists when I’m deciding what to buy just because I’ve got a cat on my lap and I can reach the idea book and my scrap paper is further away. I don’t want to disrupt the cat! It’s nice to have a place to (sort of) organize the creative mind.

Simple Weekend Makes

Tags

Candie Cooper, Humblebeads, Jes MaHarry

I don’t make a lot of holiday related jewelry. I usually forget to wear it and/or can’t find it. However, I really loved this beautiful crystal four leaf clover. Also, it does not have to be just for St. Patrick’s Day, although I will try to wear it this coming week. I need to get more v-neck or scoop neck clothing for some of my shorter necklaces.

I got a nice selection of pinch bails from Candie Cooper. I always want to have the right findings for projects, so I’ve been trying to increase the supply in my stash. I added chain and done.

I also made a bracelet. It was inspired by a Jes MaHarry bracelet, but I can’t find it on the website. I seem to always focus on things in the emails that aren’t on the website; they are just background! Anyway, everything on the website is eye candy, so take a look anyway. I’m probably attracted to the layering pieces because I can make something like them. I don’t have the high end materials to make something more like a Jes HaHarry piece. I really admire her style.

I used a couple of types of rosary chain and a little set glass charm. I’ve been wearing bracelet stacks lately, and this will fit right in.

I need to focus on cleaning my studio. It is really out of control. I have three surfaces. None are really workable. It makes it difficult to create. I got a baker’s cart with baking sheets to hold in progress projects, but I have to clean a surface to have a place to put a project sheet!

I know I am not alone. Heather Powers of Humblebeads had a contest that involved people posting pictures of their studios. But I know I will feel more creative and have more fun and enjoy my studio more if I get it under control. It’s an on-going process. I get it organized, and it gets messy again. This can be my spring cleaning project. I’m going to create an art wall as part of that process. Even if it is just cleaning, I enjoy being in my studio.

Humblebeads Seed Bead Frame Tutorial

Tags

Heather Powers, Humblebeads, The Great Bead Extravaganza

I watched a tutorial Heather Powers of Humblebeads shared on her Coffee Break segment on Friday 2/11/22. It is a simple way to make a frame for a pendant with small spacers or seed beads. It’s really effective to fancy up a pendant. I loved the look, so I tried it.

This is my second try. The first one was probably just one seed bead short and the pendant kept popping out of the frame. It’s just such a great technique! Heather showed it on a pendant that was a different shape. She said you could use it on any shape or even earring charms. I might try it on earrings charms.

I put the finished pendant on a medium jump ring I got from Creating Unkamen. I love their handmade jump rings. They are such high quality. I recommend their shop if you are looking for a variety of handmade jump rings. I got hooked on square wire handmade jump rings from Eden Art Glass. I highly recommend that shop as well.

I put it with honey moonglow beaded chain. I think it looks sweet and old fashioned. I’m sure I’ll use this technique again. Thanks to Heather for the tutorial!

I also bought Heather’s kit for The Great Bead Extravaganza – Tucson 2022 coming up next weekend. Previews are on Friday 2/18/22 and presentations are on 2/19 – 2/20/22. There are a variety of bead and jewelry artists who offer projects, tutorials, kits, sales, new products and all variety of wonderful things like a bead show, but it’s all online! Visit the page for more information.

Lots of Projects in the Works

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Ava Motherwell, Humblebeads, Nealay Patel, SilverSilk, Soft Flex, The Great Bead Extravaganza

I’m having fun with a bunch of jewelry and bead related things this weekend.

First off, my sister and her girlfriend sent me a box of fabulous goodies, each one better than the last. The first one I did something with was a sterling cuff bracelet circa 1989. It goes perfectly in a bracelet stack! It is the curvy one that has a design that looks like waves.

Last weekend I attended the online bead show The Great Bead Extravaganza. Seeing Nealay Patel‘s presentation with SilverSilk inspired me to get out some of my SilverSilk and make something.

This necklace uses the purple pearlesque SilverSilk (my photo doesn’t do the color justice) and dark rhodium ends. I also used Soft Flex beading wire and a Humblebeads leaf, two more small businesses that are part of The Great Bead Extravaganza (TGBE). The parts for this had been sitting on my beading table for a while as I tried to figure out how to construct my vision. It turned out a little different, but still good!

Allegory Gallery, also part of TGBE, recently added some fabulous multicolor vintage plastic beads to their shop. I could not resist. They reminded me of some black glass beads that fit together in a similar way that I used in a favorite necklace. I used them almost as soon as I got them. I loved how they all looked together, so I only added some tiny vintage German glass beads from Ava Motherwell as spacers to up the color quotient. I’m thrilled with it.

I was thinking I would make one more thing to add to this post, but I ran out of time and now the week is upon me, so I’m going to publish this post. I hope I get some creative time in the upcoming long weekend (and that you do too!)

Delicate Turquoise

Tags

Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Gaea Handmade, Humblebeads, Suzanne Branca

When I think of turquoise, I often think of nuggets, particularly chunkier nuggets. However, I got some beautiful small turquoise heishi beads from Suzanne Branca. I decided to use these with a lovely polymer disc from Humblebeads.

I hung it from a copper hoop by Gaea and knotted between each bead with waxed linen. I wanted the necklace to be long enough to slip over my head, so I added vintage chain at the back. The color in this necklace packs a punch, but it is light, so it will be comfortable in hotter weather. It has been in the 90s a few days lately, so I have comfort in mind.

Vintaj VIP Subscription Box

Tags

Green Girl Studios, Heather Powers, Humblebeads, Swarovski, Vintaj

I decided to get myself the Vintaj VIP monthly subscription box. I had thought about it for a while, but hadn’t done it. You can get a good look at what type of things you will be getting because Heather Powers does an unboxing video and project every month on her Humblebeads Facebook page. That is what finally convinced me to get the box. I really wanted the box shown in the most recent video. I love the components and especially the gorgeous Swarovski. Also, they had a deal for half price the first month, so I took advantage of that.

The kits include finished design ideas for inspiration. Heather Powers makes something different in her video, so that gives you additional inspiration if you’d like.

Each box has beads, filigree, metal and special elements like something from Green Girl Studios and Swarovski.

Here are pictures of each of the packages closer.

Beads and cabochons. I especially love the two pairs of set glass in the front. They will look wonderful in an Apoxie Sculpt project.

Metal components. Vintaj has all types of finishes, which I love. They show great mixed metal projects. I like all finishes. I’ve turned over one in a couple of the pairs to show the textured side and smoother side. You could use them either way.

Green Girl Studios charm. It says Guardian Angel on the back.

Vintaj filigree. I’ve always wanted to work more with filigree. I buy it, but I often don’t know what to do with it. I’ve purchased a couple of Vintaj technique books, so those will be helpful, as will the kit inspiration sheets.

I don’t often make projects designed by other people, but I really loved the idea presented for the Swarovski piece on the Vintaj design ideas card, so I did make that with kit items and a vintage chain I had. Even the back is beautiful with the mirror finish on the crystal and the design on the filigree.

I think I will really enjoy these Vintaj boxes! There is still a lot of stuff to get through this year until there are more forms of support available (visiting family and friends in person, etc.) so I am continuing to find ways to engage in extra self-care.

SJ Designs Honey Do List – August 2020

Tags

Eric Wentling, Honey Do List Challenge, Humblebeads, Sarajo Wentling, SJ Designs Jewelry

Sarajo of SJ Designs Jewelry has a challenge on her blog every month. Her husband Eric, a great photographer, chooses a photo to inspire her jewelry making, and Sarajo invites us to play along.

Photo by Eric Wentling

This month is a burst of color with this summer scene. It is especially appropriate because Sarajo has been raising and releasing monarchs in recent months. I had the perfect pendant from Humblebeads, so I couldn’t resist joining in!

I used a vintage pinch bail to connect this polymer Humblebeads monarch pendant to a strand of rich orange, bright yellow and fresh green vintage glass beads. I feel like these beads capture the summer colors of the photo, almost like the monarch pendant has landed here to drink some nectar.

Thanks Sarajo and Eric for the great inspiration and challenge! If you would like to see what others have made, visit Sarajo’s blog post.

Heather Powers’ Fluttering Wings Summer Camp

Tags

Heather Powers, Humblebeads

I have wanted to learn to work with polymer clay for some time, but like many things, I put it off. Then I saw what looked like a wonderful opportunity: the Fluttering Wings Summer Camp with Heather Powers of Humblebeads. I already knew Heather was a good teacher; I had seen many of her free Bead Table Wednesday video tutorials. Here is a bracelet I love that I made based on one of them.

I was excited that not only did the summer camp include some polymer clay projects but also a metal etching lesson and some finished jewelry projects using what we made. The course is set up in three distinct parts, so I took three days off of work. I thought it would be too easy to put it off and say I would do it “later” if I didn’t. I was so glad I did. I found that the online format is great for me. There are written and video instructions that I could read/watch the day before and then get right into a project the next morning. I’m a morning person; it’s easy to lose my get up and go by the afternoon if I’m not already into it. I can go back and watch/read things as many times as necessary. I have lifetime access to the materials to try them again and again or use them as the springboard for other projects. There was also a Facebook group where we could share with others and ask questions. Although this is no longer available, there were a limited number of kits containing many of the course materials. I would highly recommend getting that if you ever take a course where that is an option. It was so helpful and beautifully organized.

My things turned out pretty well. (Although I have to bake my beads again because I didn’t use an oven thermometer.) When something didn’t go as planned, I was able to figure out why and knew how to fix it or re-do it based on the excellent course information and/or answers from Heather. Here are some of the beads in process.

Here are some practice ear wires and bezel pendants – one finished (blue) and one that needs a repair, rebake and finishing. The kit included sterling wire for finished earrings, but Heather even included some copper wire for practice. I made a couple of charms from scrap because I wanted to see how easy (or not) it was to embed wire in polymer. (It was easy.) 

Here are a couple of finished pieces using the etching. The earrings are a class project. I love the ear wires! 

The necklace is something extra I made.

I haven’t finished the rest of the jewelry projects yet because I got sick as things were winding down and decided to take it easy. I’m still recovering and will get to those projects when I am able. At the end of the course, Heather did a video showing even more great jewelry projects using the components (or versions thereof) that we made. A great bonus!

I have kind of a bad attitude toward learning new things. I’m always worried they won’t work out, I’ll feel like it’s all been a waste, and I won’t want to keep trying. I think I can change that outlook now. My mom and I have been doing resin experiments and on the whole, they have been turning out. When they don’t, I can figure out why and even want to try again. The same can be said of my work for these lessons. Everything was so much more doable and worked out so much better than I could have imagined. I loved it, and it was an incredibly positive experience. I am planning to take more of Heather’s online classes and have even looked at other polymer tutorials I bought and never used. It’s an exciting new way to explore my creativity.