Test Results

I think I mentioned it that this blog is a way to keep me productive.  If it hadn’t been for last week’s blog post I would probably be under a quilt reading a book. 

The blog title last week showed the first of two 8mm beaded beads made of 15/0 beads.  They turned out well, no need to dwell on the blemishes only I can see. 

I had a plan: Add Lucite flowers, dangling beads, an embellishment or two and turn my test into a pair of earrings.  I tried two different constructions.

Which do you like best?

 

Of course I liked the one that was different than I had planned.  Here are a few more views of the pair:

Testing...

The turquoise slab has not been forgotten neither have the 3 strands that will be attached to it. 

I had planned one test for today and yesterday had a completely different inspiration.  Does this kind of thing happen to you?  Indulge me for a moment while I wander a bit off topic.  If you have been following along you know I am in the midst of organizing my beads.  I need some of those bigger (and bigger is relative) jars.  The craft store did not have the bigger jars when I was shopping yesterday and I almost walked out empty handed.  I did, however recall that Mandy, at Beads for Brains, had asked for feedback on beaded bead instructions found at GyönGYIKék.  I grabbed a bag of cheap plastic 8 mm pearls and that is where I got side tracked.  I think a strand of silver beaded beads might be just what I need for one of those strands.  Today made two test beads. 

Test Beaded Bead.  Ignore the magenta place holder wire.

Another view of the Test Beaded Bead

I made two because I have plans for my test pieces.  The 15° silver Japanese seed beads that I used may not be a permanent finish.  Before beginning I want to be sure that I am working with the best materials.  Thus, I need to order some 15° silver delicas. 


Thanks for indulging me.  Stay tuned as I work on the slab necklace and watch for what happens to my test pieces.

Torment

I don’t know about you, but I torment myself every time I need to choose a color palette.  I pick a main color with a secondary color in mind, but something about the secondary color does not work, e.g. no beads, wrong size, wrong finish, or just a bad match.  In this case I expected to use turquoise beads with my slab turquoise but all of my turquoise beads are too blue.  I intended to use red coral in this piece too, so I looked at my red beads, here I mostly ran into too pink and the wrong finish- I want a matte opaque for the colored beads.  Which brought me around to the choice I should have made in the first place, silver.  Of course I now have to choose between three shades of “silver:” bright silver, steel, and smokey opaque grey.  I think the steel is going to be my main silver. 

In addition, I chose some blues and greens for accents.  I also picked out all of my red coral (and one red glass) for larger accents.

This is why I have a whole set of bookmarks titled color.

Classic South Western color palette

I also went through a large stack of clippings for inspiration for the composition of the multi-strand part of the necklace.

A second view of the classic South Western color palette

Turquoise

More than a year ago I attended the Intergalactic Bead Show and made a thoughtful, but nonetheless impulse, purchase of five pieces stunning slab turquoise.  Okay I was in love.  Each slab measures about 1.18 (30 mm) wide by 1.5 inches (40 mm) long by .25 inches (6 mm) thick. 

Strand of turquoise slabs

I have had a necklace design in mind since the purchase.  This necklace is going to be for me.  Thus, the cost of contents and time is irrelevant.  I will, however, keep track just in case I have the opportunity to sell it.

Close up of slab turquoise- click for larger view

Another close up of slab turquoise

A few weeks ago on A Beader’s Blog the writer posted an old draft about why she blogs and why blog readers do and do not read blogs.  I posted a rather lengthy reply.  I started this blog to drive me to get my Etsy shop up and running and to start doing more shows.  In my reply, however, I admitted that I am really blogging to drive myself to produce.  Everything else follows from production.  I am really good at being accountable to myself; even so, broadcasting my goals is an added prod.  Keep an eye on this space for continuing developments in 2012.

Have a Safe & Merry Holiday

Christmas lights in the city

Every morning I have been greeted in the subway by a man playing Christmas tunes on a trumpet in order to raise funds for Salvation Army and when I emerge onto the streets I see these twinkling lights. I hope you have holiday filled with joy and peace.

A second view of city lights

The Next Button

Do you follow blogs via an RSS reader?  It is a great aggregator but it is not always the best way to view posts.  You miss the side lists: on this blog my flickr stream, on other blogs links to the most recent posts of blogs the writer is following, contact information, other links of interest such as etsy, and direct access to comments.  Of course, you also miss the ads, which I am really good at tuning out.

Instead of reading posts in my RSS feed, I make use of the Next button my tool bar.

When I click on the Next button my browser takes me to the next unread post on the blogger's web page.  Not only am I able to see all the additional goodies I also have easy access to comments.  Even better, my visit is counted in the blogger's statistics. 

To set up a next button from your Google Reader, choose the options gear in the upper right hand corner of your Google Reader and Select Reader Settings.

Once on the Options page, choose the Goodies Tab. 

In this tab you will find the Next Button that you can drag to the tool bar on your browser.

This is a great way to view your favorite blogs.

Have a wonderful holiday. 

Bead Storage

I have a lot of beads, and a lot of those are seed beads- Delicas, Charlottes, Czech and Japanese. 

My previous storage method- spice racks just wasn’t working anymore.  The spice racks were great for hanks of Czech beads.  They are, however, heavy and large when you have 150+ jars.

A spice rack full of Czech seed beads

I will always believe glass containers are the best as they are more transparent than plastic.  Plastic baggies were not an answer.  I really dislike the plastic tubes many of my beads are sold in so those were ruled out. 

I thought I found the answer in 4 dram glass vials.  These are a generous size for 10 grams of Delicas.  You can get these at bargain prices on e-bay if you wait for an auction.  The glass vials did not work out because the tops came loose when the plastic storage boxes they were stored in were moved.  Not every top came loose, it was always just 1 and not the same top every time nor every time I moved the storage box.  Nonetheless, it was clear this was not going to work out. 

Storage New and Newest

This left two choices: a more expensive glass jar or plastic.  Since money is almost always a consideration I chose plastic. 

More choices followed.  I considered those tic-tac style boxes because you can store them on their side and it makes viewing the colors easy.  However, I read that the tops are not always tight and that is why I gave up on the vials.  As I sometimes travel with my beads I did not want “stacking” jars.  Each container had to have a lid.  I opted for Darice Bead Storage Jars labeled as Clear “EZ” View with Screw Top Lids.  I bought sets of larger jars measuring 47 mm (2 inch) high for my Czech beads and 21 mm high jars for my Delicas.  The 21 mm jar holds about 10 grams of Delicas. 

Lots of Czech Beads

More Czech Beads

They are not as nice as my spice jars, but they are smaller and lighter.  The lids are not well finished.  Nonetheless, I expect the lids to stay on.  I am much happier with these than the tubes the beads came in. All of my seed beads will soon be stored in like containers allowing me to assess my options as I begin a project. 

Delicas

This is one of the things that has been keeping me busy, moving beads from one jar to another like a mad scientist.

One final note, I create labels for inside each container with Bead Style (e.g. Delica) Color Name, Size, Source, Identifying Number (if applicable) and cost. 

Just another photo of the same Czech Beads