Getting Projects Done

Tags

Allegory Gallery, beadshop.com, Candie Cooper, Green Girl Studios, Kate Richbourg, Miss Fickle Media, Nostalgica, The Great Bead Extravaganza, Vintaj

I may have mentioned in a recent blog post that I have a goal of finishing some of the projects for which I bought kits. I’m not good at (or really interested in) following instructions, but I buy project specific kits because I like the design. I also do learn things – not necessarily a new technique, but a better/easier way to do a known technique.

I’ve got three projects to talk about today. First is the Endless Summer kit from Green Girl Studios.

The materials for this bracelet are gorgeous, from the large quartz focal, to the multi-color faceted tourmaline to the fine pewter clasp. I absolutely love it. It fits perfectly. I had to restring one section because, skimming the directions, I was stringing six sections of nine apatite beads instead of 9 sections of six. But all was well in the end. I love the two seed-beaded loops for the connection points. The instructions taught me a new, better, easier way to do those. I haven’t used them much in the past, but I will in the future with my new knowledge.

This is Candie Cooper‘s Denim and Diamonds Day 1 project – a cup chain lariat. It’s not easy to photo because it is mostly chain, but it’s so pretty on. The charm in the kit was angel wings, but I chose to save those for something else. I think a more horizontal charm could have been a good idea, but I liked using this Vintaj charm with the textured side on front and the “I am strong” side on the back, like a secret message to myself. I added a few laboradorite beads from Allegory Gallery. This is a shape I buy often in this stone, but it took me a few tries to find some that would fit on my headpin. I wanted my leather to be slightly neater, and the ends get pulled through so that one is on top and one is at the bottom. I took the top one and pulled it back down through one loop so that it would also be on bottom. I cut them slightly uneven as I did the ends of the cup chain. At first I was leaving the cup chain at its full length of 4 feet, but I wore it and found that it would be good for the red carpet, not so good for moving through everyday life. So I cut 2 – 3 inches off each side. I really love this look. Candie gave a couple of other ways to make cup chain lariats in the same video. She got in a great bunch of cup chain in her shop Nostalgica. I wish I could have bought some of each!

The third and final project from this weekend was a Kate Richbourg kit from The Great Bead Extravaganza. Although this kit isn’t available, you might be able to put together the materials since Kate tells you what they are. Check beadshop.com. The project was really beautiful, and you can see it in this video. It’s a great bracelet, but fussier than I have the patience for. I tried three times including one alternate version I thought would be easier. In the end, it was not for me. It was somewhat like the leather and bead wrap bracelets, which I have also found are not for me despite how much I like them. I just don’t have the patience. But I looked at what I loved most about the kit – the book chain. And I made a bracelet of that.

I used a fabulous hook clasp by Miss Fickle Media – a favorite maker for clasps and ear wires. It’s perfect just like this, and it’s good to know when to let a project or idea go. I’ve still “finished” this kit. I have a bracelet and have integrated the other materials into my stash.

Three kits down in one weekend. Pretty good! I’m hoping to keep on this path and get more done before the end of the year.

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.

More Earrings and Online Projects

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, The Great Bead Extravaganza, Vintaj

I’ve been watching presentations from The Great Bead Extravaganza this weekend. Andrew Thornton of Allegory Gallery showed how to decoupage on metal to make customized pendants. I think that will be fun to try so I can use some of my own paper crafts. I bought a great kit from Candie Cooper, and she showed how she used it for earrings and a bracelet. Kay from Star’s Beads showed how to make a variety of tassels. I love tassels!

So I was busy and did not make much, but I did make two pair of earrings. I’m going to have a lot made by the time the Artists for Animals Auction gets here! I feel so relaxed knowing I won’t be rushing to get ready at the end.

Pair one features some wonderful filigree dangles from Vintaj.

The second pair has Czech glass beads showing a cat playing with a ball of yarn. I’m in love with everything about these beads – the motif, the shape, the colors. I got those from Allegory Gallery.

If you are in the current US heatwave, stay cool! If you aren’t, I hope you are having good weather where you are.

More Earrings

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Ava Motherwell, Inviciti, Sasha Crow Designs, Shipwreck Dandy Supply, Supply Your Soul, Vintaj

I made a few more earring pairs. I wanted to stay on the creative streak as long as it lasted. I’ve been off work for five days in a row! Very exciting. I go back tomorrow. So, on to the pictures.

These feature heart charms from Inviciti, cool metal beads of unknown origin and gem cut rondelles from Allegory Gallery‘s pewter line. Plus a pop of color with a turquoise seed bead.

I had used Vintaj patina in a couple of colors on these cute cat charms to get an aged look. I added some patina metal beads from Supply Your Soul (the artist always gets the perfect aged look I love) and added crystals with aged bead caps from Shipwreck Dandy Supply. I really like the aged and elegant combination.

These colorful earrings are just my style. They feature African glass (they’ve been washed but still retain a hint of grunge), and Allegory Gallery pewter line faceted drops in copper finish. They are heavier than average, but worth every ounce.

I was looking through some Czech glass beads and saw these little skulls. They just needed to be earrings, swinging through the air on some chain.

I picked up a set of these phrase charms in a flower shop years ago. I added the headpin dangles from Sasha Crow. Definitely check out her jewelry; it is amazing.

I’m thrilled with this little pair. Two colors of vintage crystals from Ava Motherwell with a hobnail vermeil spacer and some fun ear wires.

I’m pleased with my makes so far for the Artists for Animals Auction. It’s still months away, so I’m sure I will make more. I like making along the way so it doesn’t sneak up on me. I’ll have to stock up on padded envelopes and decorate some boxes for mailing.

Earrings Galore

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Candie Cooper, Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash, Jeni Houser Alasad, My Elements, Vintaj, Yvonne Irvin-Faus

I am trying to up my earrings game because those are what seem popular for sale. I make necklaces for myself, but if I want to raise money for a charity, I think earrings are the way to go. (Although I will always throw in a few necklaces because they are the most fun to make!) Here is what I’ve made recently.

Here are Jeni Houser Alasad connectors with vintage glass. I had been trying to find something for above the connectors. I finally found that some tiny silver spacers fit perfectly.

Slightly asymmetrical (by color) earrings with metal butterflies from Candie Cooper, galaxy beads from Allegory Gallery, and My Elements connector flowers by Yvonne Irvin-Faus.

The hammered brass components and glitter acrylic barrels (love) are from a Vintaj VIP Inspiration Box. I added vintage dangles from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash and some small textured silver spacers.

Brass filigree, also from a Vintaj box, with polymer face headpins by Mary Redman.

Mod earrings with red hoops from Famous Vintage Bead Hoard Liquidation Destash and striped beads from My Elements. Lots of great movement in these.

Colorful metal cats from Candie Cooper with polymer spacers and metal pewties from Allegory Gallery and mismatched components from My Elements.

I forgot to add these earrings when I first posted. Vintage glass with filigree bead caps, Vintaj keyhole connectors and little metal key dangles.

I had a good earring day! These will all be available at an upcoming Artists for Animals Auction.

Weekend Makes

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Artists for Animals Auction, Bronwen Heilman, CB&Co, Gaea Handmade, Handmade by JGL, Kimberly Rogers, My Elements, Numinosity Beads, pipe chain, Silver Silk, Supply Your Soul, Vintaj

My muse has returned! It feels so good. I had some ceramic cat beads from Allegory Gallery and connectors from My Elements on my bead table for quite a while. I thought they looked great together for earrings, but I wasn’t sure about the design. It suddenly came together. I love these.

I made those for the next Artists for Animals Auction coming up in the fall.

Next, I was also very happy with this remake. If you read this blog, you know I hate to do a remake and have many lovely items I can’t wear because they need a remake. I’m determined to do remakes, take apart things to repurpose materials or give them away so I don’t have so many things just sitting around. So, first, a remake. Very simple, but perfect.

Semi-recently I put a fabulous Bronwen Heilman pendant on some equally fabulous vintage chain. I liked the look, but when wearing it, the way the pendant flippity-flopped was not good. Heilman shows the pendants on black rubber tubing. Then SilverSilk debuted a new product called pipe chain. It’s perfect for this necklace, and a little fancier than the rubber tubing.

It’s now absolutely stable and perfect!

Next is a very simple make; I just put this pendant on chain and added a clasp, but it was years in the making because I bought the CB&CO pendant at, I think, my first Bead & Button show, so that was some years ago for sure! I happened to see the pendant in a box this morning when I was looking for something, and I had the perfect chain on my table that hadn’t worked with something else.

The pendant has mixed metals and all of the different discs move. I love the stamped phrase “I can only imagine.” It could mean anything from “I can only imagine the BS that goes on in your mind” about an annoying person to “I can only imagine the great things in store” about the future. I have long been a fan of Gaea‘s beads, and I usually buy one or more of her copper clasps when I place an order because I love those as well. She had offered them in different finishes at one point, and I’m glad I got some in the dark finish. It is perfect for this necklace.

I’m still working on some other things. I got a lampwork hand bead from Kimberly Rogers of numinosity. I am so in love with it. I really think I just want it on chain or maybe leather. It is heavy enough to flippy-flop, so I think it is best to have a design that has two connection points. I tried to create a form that would accommodate the hand with a couple of other loved items, but it wasn’t right. I might end up trying again. Then I took part of a repurposed earring (that I think I also got from Kimberly in a destash). I was trying to focus on grungy to look right with the top of the hand. But it didn’t quite work.

Then I thought what if I go in my other favorite direction from grunge, kitsch. The hand has a pink cast to it, and I was so in love with this bubblegum pink vintage chain when I saw it. I do like it, but I’ve also ordered some ball chain in a patina called Cimarron Rose (grey, cinnamon and rose gold) from Supply Your Soul. I love the patina items from this shop. The color combinations are so great and the application makes things look perfectly grungy. I went looking for chain with the Urban Decay patina, but there was none. This one might be even better with some tones from the pink family. If I like it, I’ll have to think the best way to connect the pendant to avoid flippy-flop. I might go with leather.

The other necklace in this picture shows the earring part I was working with. It is meant to go vertically, and I had it that way with the hand at the bottom and the bead on that middle loop. It is a nice brass, and I used hematite and marble Vintaj patina to make it look old and worn. I didn’t like it with the hand, so I decided to turn it horizontally and just leave the bead dangle on there. I used a handmade headpin from Handmade by JGL. We’ll see if I leave either of these. The length of them makes them layer well together.

I got pretty long-winded on this post, so thanks for sticking with me if you are still reading!

One for Me; One for You

Tags

Artists for Animals Auction, Crystal Emporium, Denise Peters Galloway, Vintaj

The next Artists for Animals Auction is coming up May 2 – 8, 2022, so I’ve been making things on and off to get ready. I usually just randomly make things, and then closer to the auction, I take inventory and figure out how much more I should have ready. I’m always surprised how much I’ve already gotten done.

This necklace features a purple flower pendant from Denise Peters Galloway of Crystal Emporium. I’m anxious for spring, so I used flowers, leaves and butterflies with a variety of other Czech glass and a few stone beads.

I also made myself a necklace. I saw some inspiration in a magazine and was looking for a specific pendant in my pendants box. But instead I found a brass feather. I got out my Vintaj patinas and gave it an ombré look using marine, blue fluorite, verdigris and lapis with a little aged bronze for an accent.

I knotted turquoise with tiny faceted sodalite beads. So pretty!

Fun Resin Experiments

Tags

Colorful Soul, Crop-A-Dile, Cynthia Thornton, Enchanted Adornments, ICE Resin, resin, Vintaj

I had a fun weekend with my parents for the first time since the pandemic! It was so great to be together, and my mom and I did some resin projects. I tried some new things. Some projects turned out, and I learned a lot to improve them next time as well.

I made a variety of wire frames to do projects like this and this. Those were a struggle. As I tried to adhere the resin covered tissue or paper to the wire frames, they just kept sticking to my gloves. One turned out great, one okay, two wouldn’t stick at all. I had cut more, but decided to figure out a better way to do them before using up more supplies.

This one turned out great. The paper was thicker than tissue, so easier to work with. It was larger, which helped, and I had hammered the frame flat, so it had a better surface to adhere the paper. The paper was from an old (like 30 years old) thesaurus, so the paper was a bit toothy with fibers, which probably helped.

This is a version of a project from Cynthia Thornton‘s book Enchanted Adornments. I was telling my mom how exciting it is that when I got that book, the projects seemed so out of reach, and it was just eye candy. Now they are things I can try and work toward. Some I can even make! This wing is by no means perfect, but it does encourage me to try again, The tissue paper did actually stick with much fussing, and the wing frame is okay. I need some different wires. Some day I will definitely make the project in the book that uses these wings. I believe the instructions in the book as well as some other tutorials say to glue the tissue/paper to the frame and then after it dries, coat with resin. I watched one tutorial about a week before my trials. I meant to watch more and do some research, but I’ve become more of a hands on learner, so I just jumped in. I might trim this tissue and use this wing for something. I didn’t remember to do it last so I could add some sparkle powder I had to the resin. I’ll do that in the future.

I added old paper I had stamped an image on to this vintage brass piece. I really like how it turned out and will do this again. I love large, flat old metal pieces like this. So fabulous for many projects. I have some small vintage brass tags I meant to resin paper onto but forgot. I will do that next time. My mom loved this piece, so I gave it to her after she gave me this bracelet she made that I loved, below.

The paper looks almost dimensional and the large glass glitter is perfect for it.

I tried just using resin on paper I had stamped. I watched this tutorial. I love the look. I added eyelets to make it a pendant (using my fabulous new Crop-A-Dile!) I will do this again. I was a little heavy handed with the resin, so it’s a bit textury on the paper. It doesn’t matter for this aged look, but it was a good lesson.

I tried it on this “leather” paper that is heavily textured. I also used eyelets to make this a pendant. I think this is a cool technique that could add some nice elements to a lot of jewelry.

My mom suggested using resin on paper for art journaling. I did a little but not as much as I thought I would. Not sure how much I would use that in journaling, but I do think it could add really nice texture. I also get overwhelmed trying to do too many things. For sure the 30 – 45 minute working time for Ice Resin is my limit anyway!

This surprised me the most. The paper was a plain cream background pre-resin. I really love how the resin soaked in and made darker spots and brought out a lot of fibers for a “crackle” look.

Here are a few other random things I used. Some papers that I put resin on and tried to stick to bezels, but they refused to stick (except to my glove.) I’ll use them as charms. I put resin on some sections of an old measuring tape to use in a future project.

Last but not least, I got some beautiful strawberry paper in a paper swap as well as some word stickers. The strawberry paper is almost identical to the wallpaper in my room when I was growing up and has really good associations, so I made a pendant of that memory. I put a little Vintaj patina on the vintage bezel in the moss color. If you haven’t heard, Vintaj patinas will no longer be manufactured; they are being replaced with Colorful Soul paint.

So that’s the end of the experiments for this time. So fun! I look forward to our next resin adventure.

Sunday Necklaces – Part 2

Tags

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton, Vintaj, Vintaj VIP kit

I made two more necklaces yesterday. It was such a productive day! The first one was in response to a challenge from Andrew Thornton, as I explained in my last post. The parameters included using blue, the number six (however we interpreted that) and a natural material. I sketched out a design that ended up having nothing to do with the necklace I ultimately made. Typical!

I got out my box of blue beads and saw these large, organic shaped blue beads. I’ve always loved their grungy look and soft blue color. They are weird in that they are a large hole bead on one side but have a regular sized hole on the other size. I wonder why. I used six of those. I took out a box of natural materials – shell and bone. I chose these carved bone beads. I spied some mixed leftover small African glass beads and a bag of bayong wood beads I got from Allegory Gallery. I really like how it turned out! I didn’t notice until after I’d strung most of it that one of the carved designs on the bone beads is actually a face. One of those is strung upside down. Oh well!

This filigree and “love” charm in the necklace above are from my May Vintaj VIP kit. The kits come with a great inspiration card showing projects made with the materials. There was a necklace showing this large filigree folded over and painted with patina. I loved that idea, so I used it! I added different dangles – the “love” charm from the kit and two vitrail Swarovski crystals from my stash. The chain is from a repurposed necklace I got in a box of goodies from another artist, and I just love it. Each link is three interlocking oval jump rings. I’ll have to find more like this. It’s just delicate enough. I finished it off with a vintage box clasp. I never would have thought to use the filigree this way. I’m so pleased.

Using My Precious

Tags

Vintaj, Vintaj patina, Vintaj VIP

I didn’t know this would ever be possible, but I think I’ve reached the point where my stash is good enough that I’m comfortable using some of my really precious beads. It’s kind of silly I wouldn’t feel that way anyway; I don’t sell most of my pieces. I keep them, so I could re-make them if I didn’t like the finished piece or my style changed. In any case, I have a nice stash, so I figure I should be using it.

I came upon this strand of rough beads. I love rough gemstones. I think these are green apatite. I’m not sure. I didn’t have them labeled. My labeling habits are not good. I decided to use one of my favorite brass findings from Vintaj, this pretty floral fan. I used Purple Sapphire Vintaj patina on it. I got this one in a Vintaj VIP box. I would have had to hoard it, but I have a couple more. I put a rough, natural garnet drop at the bottom. That’s something that I’d really want to hoard. I don’t find large rough stones like that as often as I’d like.

It’s really fun to see a beautiful rough strand of beads actually used in a necklace rather than sitting in a drawer!