2 posts tagged “beading”
My newest creation:
I created this bracelet this afternoon while my Little Miss was painting popsicle sticks - a cheap, cheap project from the craft store keeping her busy for hours. The bracelet is made with memory wire, a string of amethyst chip beads and some Blue Moon silver spacer beads. Amethyst is my birth stone and since purple is one of my favourite colours, this bracelet is perfect for me. It loops around my wrist three times. One lesson learned........ with these chip beads, I have to be careful not to pick any chips where the hole is drilled too close to the edge of the chip or might break and fall off the bracelet.
So, everything worked out with the bead show and the course I was registered for. They received my cheque just in time and I was set to go. I didn't really know what to expect from a bead show so I left home so that I would have an hour to look around before my course started. I brought some cash. Well, an hour definitely wasn't enough to carefully look at everything, nonetheless, the cash that I did have with me was spent very quickly.
I happily scampered over to the classroom after an hour of browsing and was ready to learn something new. Here is the bracelet we made:
The beads and wire were part of the course and so they are basic. The wire is a non tarnish brass (20 gauge) and the beads are just some simple glass beads. The main technique we learned was how to make wire wrapped loops to attach the bead links to each other. I had practiced some wire wrapped loops before using the instructions from a book or a magazine and I managed to be fairly succesful in making them but what the course really taught me were the techniques to get them the same size every time and where to place your pliers to make it all work with the beads. The instructor was Ania Kyte who has a studio called Turtle Beads Studio. The last step was to learn how to make the clasp. That was the course. 2 hours well spent and very enjoyable. I definitely want to practice and make more but first I need more wire. After the show, I had no money left nor had I any time left to go and buy some wire. I had to run and get home. I ordered some wire yesterday. I think bracelets are in the Christmas present future for people like my Little Miss' teachers. I've already planned all my other knitted Christmas gifts.
Right now, my favourite book to flip through and think of the possibilities is this book:
There are some great things in it. I don't like a lot of the jewelry she has created as projects but I love the techniques described. I experiemented with the basic fibula pin type shape yesterday with the little bit of wire left from the course. It worked. I'm so excited as this will make the perfect shawl pins I've been longing to create. Of course, I need heavier wire to make a good shawl pin. I'll get a picture of the one I made yesterday but I could probably only use it for a very light scarf because the wire is too soft.
And more beads........... I got some pearls at the bead show. I also got some other lovely faceted glass beads that work with the pearls as well as a great glass pendant. I've been laying out all 3 in a combination on my bead design board (yup, all these new things) for a lovely necklace. Big problem......... I don't have much stringing material. But I think it will make a beautiful necklace.
Better run. Gotta pick up kiddo from school.
