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Noodling Around On a Saturday

29 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Andrew Thornton, Metal Me This, vintage beads

I went into my studio without a plan, and after a short while these materials presented themselves.

Materials pulled together for a potential design - black glass beads, patterned large polymer focal bead and pearl tassel in a dish. Rolled, painted wood bark beads in a baggie.

The large patterned and colored polymer bead is by Andrew Thornton. It makes me think of Moroccan tile. I wanted the necklace to feel old. I’ve been saving the vintage pearl tassel for a long time. I thought perhaps I could use the hand painted tree bark beads from Hawaii that look like fabric, but they did not end up in the design.

Finished necklace hanging to show pendant to its best advantage.

I added some patterned bead caps from Metal Me This that I got years ago from Beads & Button. I looked at a large number of vintage metal beads to find something to go above the polymer bead, and found this gorgeous patina treat, and a vintage carved wooden bead as well.

Finished necklace laying for another, arty view.

I had wanted to add some of that bright pink color into the design, but the little bright pink beads I had that might have been perfect had holes that were too small for the waxed linen. I’m usually more willing to change design than construction, so they got left behind. I did want to add one more element to the vintage black glass beads. These fancy filigree beads were out from the metal search, so I used a couple of those. I thought I might use another pair further up on the strand, but most of them are copper rather than brassy, and I didn’t want to bring in that metal shade.

I’m really happy with how it came out. I resisted using that tassel for a long time because I wanted to do it justice. I think this is just the right project.

Happy New Year 2019

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

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Tags

Allegory Gallery, Allegory Gallery Design Challenges, Artists for Animals Auction, B'sue Boutiques, Bead & Button, Bead in the New Year with Allegory Gallery, Lori Anderson, lucite beads, Metal Me This, Sondra's Estate Beads Destash Depot, vintage chain

Indeed it is a happy new year for me because I’ve had a decent amount of time to get some great things done around the house (including in my studio – more about that in a future post) as well as work on some fun jewelry. It’s so relaxing!

First is one of those great pieces for which I had one component and then when I saw another, I just knew how perfectly it would go with what I already had. I had ordered a fabulous extra large vintage lucite bead. It looked like 1930s Hollywood to me, just beautiful. I got it from Sondra’s Estate Beads Destash Depot. Then I saw some vintage stardust ball chain in antique gold from B’sue Boutiques. What a perfect combination!

I used some of the very first handmade bead caps I ever bought, from Metal Me This many years ago at Bead & Button.  I loved the idea of making the bead look even richer, like those lampwork beads with integrated textured metal bead caps. I used crystal rondelles to hold the bead caps in place. 

It’s hard to show this necklace as nice as it turned out. The lucite is more lustrous and swirly, the bead caps are richer, the chain is more sparkly. Lovely. Old Hollywood glamour, here I come.

Today I also made a pair of earrings. These will be for sale later this year in the Artists for Animals Auction. I was helped along in making them early by the Bead in the New Year with Allegory Gallery prompt for today. I love this!

From Allegory Gallery

I got these beautiful MOP looking guitar picks from Lori Anderson when I bought something from her destash. She always includes extras. I thought they would make great earrings, and I wanted to pair them with kind of an unusual bead that would pop. I chose vintage Japanese paper beads I’ve had for many years. I love the glittery bits.

I intend to participate with Allegory Gallery throughout the month as much I can. How fun and inspiring! You can see what others have made (or post your own creation!) by visiting their Allegory Gallery Design Challenges page.

I hope you have a wonderful, creative year.

Struggling with Irregular Beads

30 Sunday Aug 2015

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Tags

Andrew Thornton, Metal Me This

I often struggle with irregular beads in order to get them to lay right and play nice with each other.  I tend toward round beads because I know how those work.  I like other beads, and sometimes even buy them, but I end up struggling when I use them in a piece.  Take this necklace that I made today.

turq teeth close

I think this turned out pretty good, but I might make a couple of little tweaks (or I might take it apart and completely remake it.  I never know how much stuff is going to bother me until I wear something.)  The turquoise teeth (as I think of them) are obviously irregular shapes and sizes.  The copper tubes in between the turquoise are similarly rough and non-uniform.  The turquoise drops and tiny metal drops in between the colored beads don’t always hang right and it was a challenge to get the strands the right space apart so the drops didn’t hit the bottom strand.

turq teeth full

I do like the elements that came together for this necklace.  I used a focal by Andrew Thornton, and a metal bail by Metal Me This.  This is the first time I’ve used this colorful flat fabric cord.  I’ll see how I like this after wearing it for some time.  I often wonder how other jewelry artists get their things to look so much more finished, even when they use a variety of materials and have multiple points of connection.

Inspired by Reading – An Object of Beauty

04 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

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Tags

An Object of Beauty, Andrew Thornton, Cindy Wimmer, Inspired by Reading Book Club, Jewelry Stringing, Metal Me This, The Missing Link

The May book for Andrew Thornton‘s Inspired by Reading Book Club was Steve Martin’s An Object of Beauty.  It was a good story and fascinating to learn a little something about works of art and the workings of the art world. This might seem funny in a book chock full of art and pictures, but the passage that most inspired me was a conversation between Lacey and Patrice about the “dark secrets” of art.  Patrice explains to Lacey what he means:

“…ephemera and notations on the back of the canvas.  Labels indicate gallery shows, museum shows, footprints in the snow, so to speak.  Then pencil scribbles on the stretcher, usually by the artist, usually a title or date.  Next the stretcher itself.  Pine or something.  Wooden triangles in the corners so the picture can be tapped tighter when the canvas becomes loose.  Nails in the wood securing the picture to the stretcher.  Next, a canvas: linen, muslin, sometimes a panel; then the gesso….”

This paragraph reminds me of posts by bead and jewelry makers – all the steps that go into making the art, the secrets in the art like a little fingerprint left behind in a handmade bead or a color they might never replicate.  I really wanted to make something inspired by this passage.  I envisioned fabricating a little metal frame and putting a tiny picture of some sort inside to make a pendant that looked like a painting, but I simply don’t have the technical skills.

I was saying this to my sister, and she said maybe this is the impetus to learn more technical skills.  Siblings sure know how to cut through your, umm…rubbish.  I keep buying books and materials, but I act like osmosis is going to transfer the knowledge and skills into my head and hands.  Ain’t gonna happen. So my inspiration for this hop is the discussion the book led to.  I’ve wanted to increase my skill in wire work, and my sister’s words gave me the push I needed.  I have Cindy Wimmer‘s The Missing Link as well as various untouched tools and supplies. Here is what I have done since that conversation.

wireworkPMText

The square at bottom right are some of the things that didn’t turn out, but I kept trying.  I’m not perfect, but I have some decent clasps, links and a whole bunch of my own handmade jump rings!  It was very satisfying to make these things. Now here is a picture of them after liver of sulfur in process of being cleaned.

componentsinprocess

Using the liver of sulfur was so easy.  They turned black the second I put them in.  Cleaning them after is quite a fiddly process, but I am so pleased with how they turned out.  Then I tumbled them all, using my tumbler for the first time. Fear of tumbler conquered!  I have sealed them once.  I think I will do it at least twice.

I also tried a second technique based on a mini-tutorial in the Summer 2014 issue of Jewelry Stringing magazine.  I did a simple alteration of a blank using script paper and Mod Podge.  I’m really pleased with this and can see a lot of applications for it in future projects.

scriptblank3

Then I broke out some Color Me This patina samples I had gotten from Metal Me This a while ago and tried my first crack at color patina on a couple of large silver rounds I had.  You can see the un-patinaed version on the right.  I was overly anxious about it and tried to sand off a bit of color before it was totally dry.  (I’m not so great at reading/following directions/being patient, which is one big problem in learning new things.) So then I decided to fix that by layering on another color, which I also don’t think I let dry all the way.  I preferred the original color that I had, and I might steel wool them a bit more, but I learned a lot from this one experience.  I think they are decent enough that I will probably make them into earrings, and I’m no longer leery of color patina. Now I’m excited about it!

patina

It feels great to have been inspired on a journey of learning that will enhance my creativity.  This experience has taken some of the trepidation and mystique out of learning new techniques and using new tools.  I plan to keep practicing these as well as trying some other new techniques soon.  I hope you enjoyed my post, although it feels a bit like inspired by reading once removed.

As always thanks to Andrew Thornton for putting this group together and doing the work to host this wonderful hop!  I’m particularly thrilled and grateful this month.  My hopping will be delayed as I am helping with a move today, but I invite you to visit Andrew’s blog to see a full list of participants.  Their creations will inspire you!

 

Bead & Button Show 2013

09 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by beadlove in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Bead & Button Show, Diane Hawkey, JoAnne Zekowski, Lisa Peters Art, Metal Me This, Trinket Foundry

This past Friday I went to the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee.   I haven’t been for several years, and my companions and I agreed that this year was more fun than we’ve ever had before.  We plan to go again next year.  Now, on to some of the great things I brought home!  I hope you enjoy looking. 

Image

Above are beauties from Diane Hawkey.  I was familiar with her very colorful work, particularly her houses, but I was thrilled to find the more rustic pieces as well.  The long red, grey and brown bead is one of my favorite purchases from the show. 

Image

Next are some lovelies from JoAnne Zekowski.  She made the stoney-looking (that’s a technical term) round beads around the outside of the picture.  Gorgeous.  The spacers are old beads she was selling at her booth.  I just had to have them.  She doesn’t currently have an online presence, but said she will soon have an etsy site.  I’ll update you on this blog when she does.

Image

The beads above are from Lisa Peters Art.  I had seen pictures of a couple of these before the show, and they absolutely made me swoon.  I just love looking at them. Her esty shop is empty while she is at the show, but she assured me it will fill up after the show.  She is also always happy to be contacted if you’ve seen something you want that is not in her shop.  I know I’ll be stopping in because I wanted more but her booth was one of the last ones I got to, and my bead budget was running out!

Image

These wonderful findings are from Metal Me This.  The shop owner sells lovely etched metal components (or sheets if you make your own) and her own line of patinas called Color Me This. 

Image

I just had to show one last thing before I finished.  Tin beads from Trinket Foundry.  I love tin, recycled stuff, and bright colors.  These are a bead trifecta!

I hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of the Bead & Button Show.  Do you have a favorite bead, jewelry or handmade craft show that you attend? 

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