tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38503288268199030572024-03-05T00:43:18.909-05:00KJ's Beadacious BeadsAdventures in hand made jewelry.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-31207056070555191772015-12-29T15:42:00.000-05:002015-12-29T15:42:09.016-05:00Engineering a DIY Easy On, Easy Off, Stay Tight, Upholstered Daybed Mattress Cover Semi TutorialFirst off, I am not a seamstress, which is why this is a semi-tutorial. I focus most of my creative energy on jewelry. I think the finished product turned out pretty well. The pictures show the completed day bed cover and from that, if you are good at visualizing or a strong seamstress, you can put it together in whatever fashion you would like. Keep in mind that I based the entire concept on a box pillow cover with piping.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product. Ignore the fact that I did not pull all the wrinkles tight on the front view- I was tired. There are other finished picture at the end of this semi-tutorial.</td></tr>
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Second, I did indeed throw all the key-words into the title.<br />
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Okay, enough counting and onto the business at hand.<br />
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You are likely here because like me you discovered that a fitted daybed cover is expensive and available only in limited colors. You may have tried a fitted sheet, or a folded cover, only to discover that it does not stay put and does not maintain the smooth finished look you are going for.<br />
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I based the design on a basic box pillow cover. You can find multiple tutorials on-line, in books, and most especially on YouTube. (I repeat, this is a semi-tutorial; a guideline to inspire you.)<br />
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I modified the basic box concept to replace the back of the cushion with a flap- adding the benefit of no zipper- and replacing the bottom with three flaps, thus the Easy On, Easy Off of the title.<br />
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My upholstered cover is tied on.<br />
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Let us start with my terminology:<br />
<ul>
<li>Top - the part you sit on. </li>
<li>Bottom - the part that rests on the box springs or slats. </li>
<li>Sides - are the short measurement where the arm rests are. </li>
<li>Front - the long side which faces the world.</li>
<li>Back - is opposite the front and on most daybeds against the bed frame or wall. </li>
</ul>
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Note, if you have an open or exposed back, this project will need tweaking at a minimum or may simply not work.<br />
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<b>Fabric Measurements</b>- your measurements may vary. (My cuts allow for a 1 inch seam allowances.)<br />
<ul>
<li>Top: 77 inches long x 41 inches wide</li>
<li>Sides: 41 inches long x 10 inches wide (my mattress measured 8 inches high)</li>
<li>Front: 77 inches long x 10 inches wide</li>
<li>Top piping or cording fabric: 248 inches long x 3 inches wide (I used 12/32 diameter cotton cording)</li>
<li>Bottom piping or cording fabric: 171 inches long x 3 inches wide</li>
</ul>
<b>Now for the engineered cuts: </b>(This will be explained below)<br />
<ul>
<li>Two Side bottom flaps: 38 inches long x 8 inches wide each (1 for the right 1 for the left)</li>
<li>Front bottom flap: 75 inches long x 6 inches wide</li>
<li>Back top flap: 75 inches long x 4 inches wide (guessing on the width here.)</li>
<li>Four long ties: 50 inches long x 3 inches wide each</li>
<li>Four short ties: 10 inches long x 3 inches wide each</li>
<li>Four tie guides: 3 inches long x 3 inches wide each</li>
</ul>
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<b>Lessons Learned:</b><br />
For my first attempt I might have been better off using french mattress seams instead of cording or using a smaller cording and buying bias tape. I did not cut my fabric for the cording on a bias.<br />
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I cut the sides in three pieces giving me a front corner seam on the left and right. I did this to make the fit more obvious and to better match my ability to fit the finished product to the mattress. The end product would be more professional looking without that additional seam. The alternative would be to make the sides- front, left side, and right side one long piece. In this instance, the measurement would have been 149 inches long x 10 inches wide. Another benefit of side seams is that it allowed me to cut down on the yardage I needed to purchase. <br />
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I would have cut the Front Bottom Flap wider- just to give it a tighter fit.<br />
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I would have cut the short ties longer for a prettier bow.<br />
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<b>The Semi Tutorial or Putting it Together:</b><br />
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If you are making your own piping, make it first. The reason you need different lengths is because the top piping goes around all four sides and the bottom piping only goes around three sides, i.e. front as well as the left and right sides. My fabric cut for the piping reflects those measurements plus an additional 6 inches. (I would rather trim than not have enough; you may be a better seamstress and prefer no waste.) <br />
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Next, create the sides of the cover by sewing the left side to the front on the sides measuring 10 inches and the other edge of the front to the right side. This will create one long piece to cover the three sides (height) of the mattress, or a 149 inch length by 10 inch wide. Set this piece aside for a moment.<br />
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Sew the piping to the top around all four sides. If you are an experienced seamstress you may, in one fell swoop, sew the piping to the top and sides at the same time. I am not an experienced seamstress so I found sewing the piping only to the top a necessary step before sewing on the sides. It also gave me an early opportunity to make sure my fit was right. I used a zipper foot but for this large a project if you are using smaller cording a cording foot might be a worthwhile purchase. Also, if you use a smaller cording it might be beneficial to actually buy washable bias tape.<br />
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As stated above, this is an early opportunity to check the fit. Place the top on the mattress and check the fit of the pipped top. At this point I also pinned the left side, front, and right side to the top to check that fit as well. This is the time to make adjustments. <br />
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Now the engineering begins.<br />
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Sew that long piece you just set aside, that is the left side, front,
and right side to the top piece on the other side of the cording. This
is just like every box pillow cover tutorial to this point. <br />
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Below is a picture of the back of the daybed cover so you will understand my directions. I took the pictures with the mattress upside down so that all the engineered parts would be easily visible. Flip the picture in your minds-eye. (I did say semi tutorial.) That floppy part at the bottom of the picture, I called the <u>back top flap</u> above. Let me explain that name, when properly placed it is a <u>flap </u>sewn only to the <u>top</u> on the <u>back</u> of the day bed cover which is then tucked between the mattress and the daybed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back top flap- yes, it is upside down and backwards! It was the best way to take a picture.</td></tr>
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Pause before continuing on to the fourth side with what I have named the back top flap. This is the flap that attaches to the top of the cover and
will be sandwiched between the mattress and the daybed. Sew a small hem the length of the back top flap and along the two
short sides, this will create a finished back. Now, attach the
non-hemmed long side to the top of the cover. You <b>do not</b> want to sew the back top flap to the side pieces just to the top piece on the other side of the cording. This piece provides an anchor for the ties. This will give you a nicely finished top and, as advertised, make the cover easy on, easy off. Bonus, it will also give you a pretty back- an easy tweak would be to make it a bit longer thus covering more of the mattress.<br />
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At this point you have the top completed and the sides sewn on. Most of the work is done!<br />
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More engineering pictures ahead.<br />
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This is a picture of the completed bottom of the mattress:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed bottom of the mattress</td></tr>
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At the top of the picture below is a close up of the side bottom side flap and the tie guides:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/16657771214_1c8c4112ca_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7680/16657771214_1c8c4112ca_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side bottom flap at the top of the picture with the front bottom flap to the right on the picture.</td></tr>
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Below is another view showing three of four flaps. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the 12:00 O'clock position is the front bottom flap. The 6:00
O'clock position is the back top flap. The 9:00 O'clock position is the
side bottom flap. <br />
Note also the tie guides attached to the side bottom flap. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Instructions Continue:</b><br />
<br />
The purpose of the bottom flaps is two fold<br />
(1) to tuck under the mattress just as you would tuck in a sheet and<br />
(2) to provide a place to anchor the ties. Both the tuck and the ties are what makes this cover stay on tight. <br />
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Picking up where we left off...<br />
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Now, sew the piping, or cording, to the bottom of the three sides, left, front, and right.<br />
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Take the monster you have created and fit it to the mattress. Is it a good fit? Make adjustments if it is not. (I won't admit to how many times I ripped out seams up to this point.)<br />
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Lesson learned here- I used upholstery linen and it frayed quite badly. If you use a similar fabric you might want to hem or finish all the edges.<br />
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After you have tweaked the fit, you attach the three remaining flaps to the bottom of the sides.<br />
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Sew a small hem around three sides of both side bottom flaps so you will have finished edges. (Yes that was a very convoluted sentence.) These are the flaps which will go under the mattress on left and right sides.<br />
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Using your scraps, make the four tie guides; these are like belt loops on pants. These can be any width, I made mine three inches wide and three inches long and that worked out well. When folded and seamed they were about 1.5 inches wide. <br />
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Attach tie guides to the hemmed side of the two side bottom flaps. I used two per flap and positioned one near the front of the mattress and one near the back. You may attach as many as you would like. These tie guides essential to keeping the upholstered cover tight.<br />
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Now, sew the unfinished sides of the side bottom flaps to the corded sides. Think of these flaps as a partial bottom to the box pillow cover I keep referencing.<br />
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That leaves one last flap. This is what I have called the front bottom flap. This is the flap that will tuck under the front of the mattress and tie to the back of the mattress.<br />
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Hem three sides of the front bottom flap, one long side and two short sides. Then attach the unfinished long side to the piped edge of the front. Note- <b>do not </b>sew the short edges to the side bottom flaps. This should be attached only to the front.<br />
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You should now have the left side, front, and right side sewn to the top; piping sewn to the bottom edges of the left side, front, and right sides, and the bottom flaps sewn to the left side, front, and right side. <br />
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Take a deep breath, almost there. Now create the ties. You are going to make a total of eight ties. Make four long ties, 50 inches long by three inches wide, which will attach to the front bottom flap. and four short ties measuring 10 inches long by 3 inches wide. Being the inexperienced seamstress I am, I thought I would just sew the wrong sides together and then pull them through and press. Wrong! Too much bulk or an impatient maker. I made use of my hot iron and pressed in a small hem on each long side and then top sewed the long seam on every tie. Then tuck in the ends and finish the ties with a hem.<br />
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I measured at this point to determine where to sew on the ties. Since the finished side bottom flaps are approximately six inches wide I measured in six inches from each side on the front bottom flap and attached a long tie at that point. If you made your bottom flap wider, as I will do if I make another cover, use that as a measurement. Then I measured the distance left between the two ties and decided the middle ties would be best placed closer to the middle than to the edges to assure a cover which will stay in place... I ended up with the ties placed 25 inches from the edges. Whatever measurements you come up with, make sure you write them down because you are going to need to use those same measurements to attach the short ties to the back top flap. (Oh my all these flap names are making my head spin.)<br />
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Now sew the four long ties to the hemmed side of the front bottom flap and then the four short ties to the hemmed side of the back top flap.<br />
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You are done sewing. Now to fit it to your daybed.<br />
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I found it easiest to lay the cover on top of the mattress leaving the flaps loose and untucked. Facing the front of the bed, run the long ties through the tie guides on the sides and then flip and tuck the side flaps under the mattress leaving the long ties hanging out the back. The tricky part is pushing those long ties in the center to the back. It really is just like tucking in the sheets except you need to hold the long tie in your fist and push as far as you can before letting go. Pull the daybed away from the wall (or the mattress away from the daybed) and reach under the mattress and tug those center long ties all the way to the back so they hang loose. Now, tie a pretty bow with the long and short ties and push the bed back into place.<br />
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Done, done, done. <br />
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I have been living with this cover for about half a year and it has stayed put and looks fabulous, even if I do say so myself. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done and decorated and still a bit wrinkled, but I am blaming it on the linen this time.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the right side</td></tr>
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KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-39469751675391814052015-12-13T12:43:00.000-05:002015-12-13T12:43:14.064-05:00Winter GiftsI am blessed with a supportive extended family. In appreciation I sent earrings to two aunts and a cousin. Below are photos of what I sent.<br />
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Lessons learned:<br />
<ol>
<li>do not take pictures in a hurry; none of them were straight, making one earring look bigger than the other. </li>
<li>every flaw shows when you take a picture, but I bet you knew this.</li>
<li>take pictures of the earrings closer together.</li>
<li>a folded paper tent for hanging earrings works great, but make sure the holes are not ragged and they align. </li>
<li>making jewelry is still a lot of fun.</li>
</ol>
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Again, let me express my thanks to Nicole Hanna for wonderful tutorials. <br />
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Here is another collage.<br />
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Have a great holiday.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-58393631471050087452015-10-19T15:36:00.000-04:002015-10-19T15:36:08.042-04:00Two Links to Act on Now The first link is to one of my favorites, Nicole Hanna. Nicole has a link for a one year on-line jewelry retreat: <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/blog/giveaway-art-jewelry-adventure-all-inclusive-online-retreat" target="_blank">Giveaway Art Jewelry Adventure All Inclusive Online Retreat</a>. Even if you do not win the giveaway, this is a great deal at $99.00.<br />
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The second link is one to bookmark. Milissa Ingram has compiled a list of <a href="http://sbjdesign.blogspot.com/2015/10/ive-wanted-to-compile-inventory-type.html" target="_blank">Trademarked Czech Pressed Glass Beads</a>. I know that you do not have enough beads and this will let you know where the holes in your inventory are. Plus, I am just really fond of lists.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-60780179968092839052015-10-13T13:44:00.001-04:002015-10-13T13:45:42.112-04:00Look Ma, No Hands... err... Training WheelsI almost titled this graduation, but I could not get graduated beads out of my mind. This is my first wire weave without a tutorial.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Dragon wireweave - my first creation</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/tutorials.html" target="_blank">Nicole Hanna</a> has been a great teacher. I know I have mentioned that fact at least a dozen times; I am truly grateful. All boo-boos are my own. Despite the title, I did just purchase a few more tutorials from her. She really is that good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snip-snip</td></tr>
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Last month I posted a mermaid necklace. I picked up the resin sea dragon bead at the same time. I am not sure I am going to keep this pendant. Here is a picture of the part I snipped off that was not working.<br />
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You can see that the "copper" wire I bought at a local craft store labeled copper is merely copper plated. *Shakes head, rolls eyes* Honestly, copper is not that expensive. It had to be more costly to create plated wire. I have learned my lesson. My future wire purchases will come from monsterslayer.com Not only is the price right, but copper means copper. Plus I can get 28 gauge copper wire.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Dragon back</td></tr>
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Want to see the back? I always do. I think it turned out well. That is, the wires are all neatly tucked away.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
One more picture.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Dragon again</td></tr>
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<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-15240944752674145682015-09-16T18:10:00.000-04:002015-09-16T18:10:05.759-04:00Something Old, Something VintageOr another appropriate title might be using up that stash.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mermaid necklace</td></tr>
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You may be wondering why is it called the Mermaid Necklace because the picture above only shows a part of the mermaids tail. I purchased some resin mermaid beads at On A String, now known as <a href="http://beadsinc.com/" target="_blank">Beads, Inc</a>., in Charlotte about 5 years ago. That is the something old in the title. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/721/21448852756_1b5248c77c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/721/21448852756_1b5248c77c_z.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/20852415114_8af92bd8ac_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/20852415114_8af92bd8ac_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/684/20853991353_18466fac62_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/684/20853991353_18466fac62_z.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Inspiration finally struck as I knew it would. I visited Ornamentea
in Raleigh NC about a month ago which is where I found the vintage
beads of the title. They reminded me of sea urchins.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5777/21287288668_b966f72fb8_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5777/21287288668_b966f72fb8_z.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ornamentea.com/" target="_blank">Ornmentea </a>is a friendly store with quite an interesting collection of tempting treats. These vintage beads actually had me pulling out my wallet. <br />
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In addition to the something old and the something vintage, I added a beaded bead with a sterling bead cap. Is there ever a time that is inappropriate for a beaded bead? Probably, but it went beautifully here.<br />
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If you have been following me for a while you know I have been learning wire weaving. I added sterling woven wire links from a <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/store/p35/Corkscrew_Link_PDF_Tutorial.html" target="_blank">Nicole Hanna tutorial</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5690/21287322918_4aeacf3e7c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5690/21287322918_4aeacf3e7c_c.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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My wire weaving is a work in progress, but I think I am ready to start on my own designs. I have some additional resin mermaid beads, another orange, a larger one in white, and two turquoise mermaids. I think they would make a very lovely wire wrapped focal. <br />
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What got me started on the wire weaving quest was the need for clasps. I was not satisfied with the swan "S" clasps which were quick and simple. I have a nice stash of sterling toggles that I have picked up here and there, but... well... I can't actually say why I grew dissatisfied with them other than to say I wanted something that was all my own.<br />
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So, another <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/store/p123/Bell_Woven_Toggle_Clasp_PDF_Tutorial.html" target="_blank">Nicole Hanna tutorial</a> because despite my efforts I was not quite ready to design my own.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/658/21448856356_c6e3c584f4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/658/21448856356_c6e3c584f4_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clasp from Nicole Hanna tutorial</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I know I have mentioned Nicole Hanna many times in the past, but let me add a few finer points. <br />
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(1) She is very helpful.<br />
(2) Her tutorials are easy to follow.<br />
(3) She has these really great <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/video-tutorials.html" target="_blank">videos</a> on YouTube under the channel title of Go Art Yourself. <br />
(4) And, based on my own experience, if you have been doing bead weaving and wire wrapping for a while you will probably learn this new skill quickly. <br />
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One final picture.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/742/21287288018_aeaf57ca39_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="622" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/742/21287288018_aeaf57ca39_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mermaid necklace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-4384972537851688632015-02-26T18:16:00.000-05:002015-02-26T18:16:33.745-05:00Mistakes Were Made- Again!You would think that once was enough, but I made the same mistake again. I made both earrings face the same way.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/16656437572_9171067bf5_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/16656437572_9171067bf5_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Based on Bottled Bead tutorial by Nicole Hanna</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It took me two weeks to finish the second earring; other things just kept getting in the way. I was pretty near bending the last wire when it struck me that I had both earrings facing the same way. The problem is that when I follow the tutorial for the second earring I do not stop to think that it should be facing in the opposite direction. Have you ever done this? Tutorials and wire weaving are certainly out of my comfort zone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/16469883788_f75cd9d3d1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/16469883788_f75cd9d3d1_c.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earrings based on a tutorial by Nicole Hanna</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Maybe I should make a second pair facing the opposite way and in that way obtain a two perfectly good sets of earrings? <br />
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Despite all that these did turn out lovely. I still swear by Nicole Hanna's tutorials.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-77781755049263858392015-01-04T11:54:00.000-05:002015-01-04T11:54:04.562-05:00Practice Makes a Good GiftI continue to practice my wireweaving. I made these earrings for my mother.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/16008962560_9dd03cef2a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/16008962560_9dd03cef2a_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Cupcake Earring tutorial by Nicole Hanna</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I apologize for the picture quality- Android phones are not the best way to populate a beading blog. Nonetheless, I thought it would be a good opportunity to post something.<br />
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I am really enjoying learning this new skill. I like the results. <br />
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It is keeping me busy while I ponder my next bead woven piece.<br />
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<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-569278534553130342014-12-06T00:30:00.000-05:002014-12-06T03:15:17.076-05:002nd Annual Bead Hoarders Blog HopFirst things first...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/15769569759_b4acbb4ef3_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7522/15769569759_b4acbb4ef3_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bead Hoarders jasper necklace with hand made clasp and pearl and beaded bead strap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As you can see from the caption, the focal is Jasper. I bought this at a bead show where I swore I did not need a thing and was not going to buy anything. Yeah, that did not quite work as planned.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8643/15955032832_1535b0a024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8643/15955032832_1535b0a024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass copper colored edge beads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love this jasper, it has wine, olive sometimes bordering on mustard, and cream colors. What is not to love? It is a great size, approximately 40 mm x 30 mm. <br />
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The two sides have different colored edging:<br />
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Copper Edging<br />
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The other side is edged in olive:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7569/15955583535_fd280939a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7569/15955583535_fd280939a1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass olive colored edge beads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Due to poor planning on my part I did not capture enough photos during the daylight hours. Unavailable is a clear view of the brass cut beads embellishing the edge of the focal.<br />
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What I did capture was a picture of the hand made clasp on the bust.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/15335969183_edef77c07b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/15335969183_edef77c07b_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand made clasp, based on tutorial by Nicole Hanna</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/15929813216_2afdfde497_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/15929813216_2afdfde497_b.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bead hoarders special</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you have visited me before you will know that my first love is seed beads. You will also know that I am just learning how to weave wire and my go-to source for <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/tutorials/">tutorials </a>is <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/">Nicole Hanna</a>. I really am just learning. I have made a couple of pairs of earrings and done a little bit of design exploration. It is easier than it appears. I want to design my own clasps and this is a start.<br />
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One last picture before you make your way to the other participants of the necklace on a bust. Again, poor planning, I took the photos in the late afternoon on a day off, and this was the best I had.<br />
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Finally, thank you to Lori Anderson for hosting this blog hop and providing the opportunity to share and the push to create. Thank you for visiting. The other participants are linked below.<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 635px;"><tbody>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;"><td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lori Anderson"]" height="21" style="height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; width: 195pt;" width="260">Lori Anderson</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.PrettyThingsBlog.com"]" style="border-left: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px; width: 281pt;" width="375"><a href="http://www.prettythingsblog.com/" target="_blank">www.PrettyThingsBlog.com</a> (Hostess)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Audrey Belanger"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><br />
Audrey
Belanger</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"esperianterra.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://esperianterra.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">esperianterra.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jenny Kyrlach"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jenny
Kyrlach</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://anafiassa.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kathy Lindemer"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kathy
Lindemer</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lori8448@hotmail.com"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lori
Schneider</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"><a href="http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/">http://beadaddicted.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Dee Elgie"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Dee
Elgie</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Dolores Raml"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Dolores
Raml</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Rebecca Ednie "]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Rebecca
Ednie</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://http/eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Http://eclecticendeavours.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lili Krist"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lili
Krist</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://emjestudio.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Marybeth Rich"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Marybeth
Rich</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://forestofjewels.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Hannah Rosner"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Hannah
Rosner</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">http://goodrivergallery.wordpress.com/blog/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Nicole Prince"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Nicole
Prince</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://healingbeading.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Deana Hager"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Deana
Hager</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://justdeesarts.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jackie Ryan"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jackie
Ryan</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://kydojewellery.blogspot.co.uk/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Elsie Deliz-Fonseca"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Elsie
Deliz-Fonseca</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://ladelizchica.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mowse Doyle"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mowse
Doyle</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://mowsemadethis.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Evelyn Shelby"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Evelyn
Shelby</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com/">http://raindropcreationsbyevelyn.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lisa Johnson"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lisa
Johnson</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://spudandmrsbutters.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Terri Gauthier"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Terri
Gauthier</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://terrisbloomingideas.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Patti Pruhs"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Patti
Pruhs</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://threebeadsandastring.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Shai Williams"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Shai
Williams</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://www.shaihasramblings.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.shaihasramblings.com/" target="_blank">http://www.shaihasramblings.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Andrea Glick"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Andrea
Glick</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"K Hutchinson"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">K
Hutchinson</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://jumbledhutch.wordpress.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Marci Brooks"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Marci
Brooks</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://thatnothingbewasted.wordpress.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jo-Ann Woolverton"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jo-Ann
Woolverton</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.ca</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jasvanti Patel"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jasvanti
Patel</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jewelrybyjasvanti.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Laurie Vyselaar "]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Laurie
Vyselaar</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lefthandjewelry.wordpress.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lisa Knappenberger"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lisa
Knappenberger</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://liraysadesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">LIRaysaDesigns.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mary Lindell"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mary
Lindell</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"marylindell.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://marylindell.com/" target="_blank">marylindell.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"niky sayers"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Niky
Sayers</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">silverniknats.blogspot.co.uk</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sandra McGriff"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Sandra
McGriff</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Patricia Handschuh"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Patricia
Handschuh</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">thecolorofdreams.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Erin Prais-Hintz"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Erin
Prais-Hintz</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"treasures-found.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://treasures-found.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">treasures-found.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Maria Rosa Sharrow"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Maria
Rosa Sharrow</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"willowstreetshops.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://willowstreetshops.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">willowstreetshops.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kathleen Breeding"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kathleen
Breeding</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.99bobotw.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.99bobotw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.99bobotw.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Monique Urquhart"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Monique
Urquhart</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.ahalfbakednotion.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jackie Locantore"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jackie
Locantore</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar" target="_blank">www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog/MorningStar</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sheryl Stephens"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Sheryl
Stephens</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.babblebead.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.babblebead.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.babblebead.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Becky Pancake"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Becky
Pancake</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.beckypancakebeaddesigns.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mona Arnott"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mona
Arnott</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">www.bijouxgemsjoy.blogspot.ca</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Michelle Escano"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Michelle
Escano</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.cabbycraft.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.cabbycraft.com/" target="_blank">www.cabbycraft.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Denise McCabe"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Denise
McCabe</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.cabewoman.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.cabewoman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.cabewoman.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"carolyn lawson"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Carolyn
Lawson</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"sheila prose"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Sheila
Prose</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www,catswithbeads.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com/">www.catswithbeads.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kim Dworak"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kim
Dworak</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.cianciblue.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.cianciblue.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.cianciblue.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Iveth Caruso"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Iveth
Caruso</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.creativeatelier.net/blog" target="_blank">www.CreativeAtelier.net/blog</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Deborah Apodaca"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Deborah
Apodaca</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.deborahapodacadesigns.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Elizabeth Bunn"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Elizabeth
Bunn</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.elizabethbeads.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Janine Lucas"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Janine
Lucas</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories" target="_blank">www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kari Asbury"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kari
Asbury</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Inge von Roos"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Inge
von Roos</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.ingetraud.wordpress.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.ingetraud.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">www.ingetraud.wordpress.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Divya N"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Divya N</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.jewelsofsayuri.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.jewelsofsayuri.com/" target="_blank">www.jewelsofsayuri.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Debbie Rasmussen"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Debbie
Rasmussen</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.kepirasmussen.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"KJ"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">KJ <b>(You Are Here)</b></td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.kjsbeadaciousbeads.blogspot.com/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Klaudete Koon"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Klaudete
Koon</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.klaudetekoon.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Ghislaine Kruse-van Erp"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Ghislaine
Kruse-van Erp</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.kruseartllc.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.kruseartllc.com/" target="_blank">www.kruseartllc.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Ginger Bishop"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Ginger
Bishop</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.lilmummylikes.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kelly Schermerhorn"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kelly
Schermerhorn</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.meanderingwithkelly.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"mischelle andrade"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mischelle
Andrade</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com "]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.micheladasmusings.blogspot.com </a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Sue Kelly"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Sue
Kelly</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.midlifegreaterexpectations.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Rachel Mallis"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Rachel
Mallis</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.mintmonarch.com/#%21Blog/c1jlz" target="_blank">www.mintmonarch.com/#!Blog/c1jlz</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Susan McClelland"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Susan
McClelland</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.mistheword12.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.mistheword12.com/" target="_blank">www.mistheword12.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mary K McGraw"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mary
K McGraw</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.mkaymac.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.mkaymac.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.mkaymac.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Tania Spivey"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Tania
Spivey</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.moobiegracedesigns.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Stephanie Perry"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Stephanie
Perry</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.mustardbeadbystephanieperry.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Mitzie. Crider"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Mitzie
Crider</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.needfulluxuries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.NeedfulLuxuries.Blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Nicole Rennell"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Nicole
Rennell</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Www.nicolerennell.com/blog"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.nicolerennell.com/blog" target="_blank">Www.nicolerennell.com/blog</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Nicole Valentine"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Nicole
Valentine</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.nvalentine.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.nvalentine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.nvalentine.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Karen Mitchell"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Karen
Mitchell</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.overthemoon-design.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.overthemoon-design.com/" target="_blank">www.overthemoon-design.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Tammy Adams"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Tammy
Adams</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.paisleylizard.com/blog/"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.paisleylizard.com/blog/" target="_blank">www.paisleylizard.com/blog/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Patty miller"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Patty
Miller</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.pattymillerbeads.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Blanca Medina"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Blanca
Medina</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.peru-medesigns.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.peru-medesigns.com/" target="_blank">www.peru-medesigns.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Stephanie Haussler"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Stephanie
Haussler</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.pixybugdesigns.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Roxanne Mendoza"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Roxanne
Mendoza</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.roxidesigns.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Claire Fabian"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Claire
Fabian</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.saraccino.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.saraccino.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.saraccino.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Bridget Torres "]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Bridget
Torres</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.shears58.net"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.shears58.net/" target="_blank">www.shears58.net</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Donetta Farrington "]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Donetta
Farrington</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.simplygorgeous-donetta.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lee Koopman"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lee
Koopman</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">www.stregajewellry.wordpress.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Deb Fortin"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Deb
Fortin</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.studiok24.blogspot.ca"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.studiok24.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">www.studiok24.blogspot.ca</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Susan Walls"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Susan
Walls</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Www.susansartcircus.com/blog"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.susansartcircus.com/blog" target="_blank">Www.susansartcircus.com/blog</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Cece Cormier"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Cece
Cormier</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.thebeadingyogini.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.thebeadingyogini.com/" target="_blank">www.thebeadingyogini.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Heather Otto"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Heather
Otto</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.thecrafthopper.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.thecrafthopper.com/" target="_blank">www.thecrafthopper.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Lizzie Clarke"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Lizzie
Clarke</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.theneedtobead.blogspot.co.uk</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Elizabeth Hodges"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Elizabeth
Hodges</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.thewhisperingseas.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Fay Wolfenden"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Fay
Wolfenden</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.torchfairy.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.torchfairy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.torchfairy.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Kelly Hosford Patterson"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Kelly
Hosford Patterson</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">www.TravelingSideShow.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Nan Smith"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Nan
Smith</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"www.wirednan.blogspot.ca"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.wirednan.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">www.wirednan.blogspot.ca</a></td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Jayne Capps"]" height="21" style="border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;">Jayne
Capps</td>
<td class="xl66" data-sheets-value="[null,2,"wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com"]" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><a href="http://wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">wwwww.mamasgototdoodle.blogspot.com</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Robin Kae Reed <a href="http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/">http://www.willowdragon.blogspot.com/</a><br />
Melissa Trudinger <a href="https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/">https://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/</a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-85250750961991010482014-11-16T14:28:00.000-05:002014-11-16T14:29:19.318-05:00Learning CurvesIt has been a while. I moved south 550 miles, I bought a condo that I am planning on retiring in. I kept my same job but at a new office; then my office moved. I work enough over-time each and every week that when my neighbors see me they ask me if I have been given time off. I received a promotion on Friday, and will begin training for my new job immediately after the holidays; thank goodness for that thoughtful scheduling.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15185307023_79dcc4d95e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15185307023_79dcc4d95e_b.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adapted from Nicole Hanna's Darling Dangles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am almost unpacked. I have studio space and my beads are unpacked, but I still have organizing to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
All that being said, I have been in love with beads for way to many years to give it up. I am easing myself back into creating but you will forgive me if my plate remains a bit full for the next half year.<br />
<br />
<br />
When last I posted I was making an attempt to learn wire weaving with the help of <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/tutorials/">Nicole Hanna</a> tutorials. I cannot say enough good things about Nicole's tutorials. The price point is good. The instructions clear. And, based on the few pieces I have done I think that wire weaving is a skill that I can acquire with a bit more practice. My skills do not do justice to Nicole's work.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the other skills I need to work on is photography. I think I just live a tilted life.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15184803314_0a2c22a4fa_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15184803314_0a2c22a4fa_b.jpg" width="357" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: left;">It took me quite a while to make these, but I imagine that I could get much quicker over time. I will find out, I am planning on making a second pair. </td><td style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darling Dangles Earrings view II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/15781096906_8561502e32_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/15781096906_8561502e32_b.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darling Dangles view III</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One final picture. <br />
<br />
<br />
If this is something you would like to learn I do encourage you to visit Niccole's site and give it a try. KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-2593087695222735332014-02-16T16:38:00.000-05:002014-02-16T16:38:52.145-05:00It's A Clasp<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/12569997063_58438102d6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/12569997063_58438102d6_b.jpg" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's A Clasp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I feel like I cheated. This is not what I envisioned. However, it works.<br />
<br />
Okay, so why do I feel like I cheated? Because I bought some <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/tutorials/">tutorials </a>from <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/">Nicole Hanna</a>. This clasp is a very slight adaptation from her <a href="http://www.nicolehannajewelry.com/tutorials/hang-my-heart-earrings-tutorial-5-00/">Hang My Heart Earrings</a>. <br />
<br />
Here is a bad picture of my first attempt at her tutorial next to half of the finished clasp:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/12570344494_8677ca7da6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/12570344494_8677ca7da6_b.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side by side results</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/12570343834_cef7bb2baf_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/12570343834_cef7bb2baf_b.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alternate hooks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I used larger wires and added a few more weaves to compensate for the
larger wires. I also only used the central element of her earring
design.<br />
<br />
<br />
I fabricated three different hooks for the clasp. I am not
going to keep the hook in the picture at the top of this blog; I think it is too weak. Instead I
will use the hook with the flower embellishment pictured to the right.<br />
<br />
I like the hook with the weaving but it is far from smooth when actually trying to hook the clasp.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have been considering constructing my own findings for years. I was pushed into doing more than mere contemplation by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Missing-Link-Beautiful-Wirework/dp/159668707X">Cindy Wimmer's The Missing Link</a> book and the lack of a multi-strand clasp for the necklace I am making.<br />
<br />
I think I made a mistake when my first attempt at making a wire woven clasp was for a multi-strand necklace. A simple single strand clasp or a toggle and bar clasp would have been a better choice at this stage. Nonetheless, I am happy with the results. Here is the serviceable but not quite so pretty back:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/12570345244_0725a2d1dd_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/12570345244_0725a2d1dd_b.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The multi-strand back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/12570346054_54dc631b30_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/12570346054_54dc631b30_b.jpg" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One more picture for the blog with a ruler to give you an idea of the size.<br />
<br />
Some final thoughts: <br />
<ul>
<li>I want more practice- especially with those curls. </li>
<li>I want to do more design, but that requires better skills and more practice. </li>
<li>Tool marks are like thread, they really show up in pictures more so than to the unaided eye.</li>
<li>I want to keep doing this. </li>
</ul>
Oh, and all errors are my own and not a reflection of the fabulous work and tutorials of Nicole Hanna. <br />
<ul>
</ul>
KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-21370823892077291442014-02-09T15:24:00.000-05:002014-02-09T15:24:17.143-05:00Still ExperimentingAt least snow days are good for experimenting on creating multi-strand clasps.<br />
<br />
Here is my best try:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/12416955194_243cde5152_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/12416955194_243cde5152_c.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost There</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think this will eventually work. However, it is just a part of what I envision the clasp to be. <br />
<br />
Although photos show every little imperfection, I need more practice to get the weaving more even. I also need more practice at weaving into the loops. I suspect I might need to go to a three or four base wire weave. In other words I still have a lot of experiments ahead but I do feel like I am making progress. <br />
<br />
Let me show you another test piece:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/12417006714_3aa6d90cfb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/12417006714_3aa6d90cfb_c.jpg" height="216" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Multiple Experiments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were lots of experiments going on here. <br />
<br />
From the right to left let me walk you through the process.<br />
<br />
The loops on the right were made after the weave was started. Not a bad option, and maybe it is my just my skill set, but the I could not keep the base aligned. <br />
<br />
As you can see, the loops in the middle are jump rings. This was a good idea but I could not get the jump rings evenly sited on the base wire. You can see the one on the right sits lower than the one on the left.<br />
<br />
The non-loop on the left was another good idea but it just seemed unworkable when I tried it. It could be that it was at the end of a day of experiments and I was tired. <br />
<br />
All these thoughts are good. I need more practice wire weaving. I also need to figure out further embellishments to draw the eye away from what is inherently uneven when adding loops. <br />
<br />
What I have not mentioned so far is this does not include the hook and eye part of the clasp. This part of the experiment is just to add the strands to the clasp. I think I had better start practicing the three base wire weave and perhaps a four wire base, I might just need all those wires to pull this off. KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-71385043108318248362014-02-02T15:53:00.001-05:002014-02-02T15:53:55.679-05:00ExperimentingHave I ever mentioned that I think clasps play an important role in finishing your jewelry? That a clasp can make or break a piece? That a clasp should reflect your piece in weight, content, and style? <br />
<br />
I think I have failed to mention that I never have enough clasps in my stash. I particularly do not have enough multi-strand clasps. I do not have a single multi-strand clasp in anything other than sterling. With all of my beads I still need more clasps.<br />
<br />
So, I began experimenting. <br />
<br />
I am working on a multi-strand necklace using these links from "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Link-Beautiful-Wirework-Jewelry/dp/159668707X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391373249&sr=1-2">The Missing Link</a>:" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/12275358784_ce8e83fb71_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/12275358784_ce8e83fb71_c.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I am experimenting with making my own clasps. Promise not to laugh? Here is my first attempt:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/12274935425_92142018db_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/12274935425_92142018db_c.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay, not bad for someone who does not weave wire. The thought was good, the execution needs a bit more practice.<br />
<br />
So, my second attempt:<br />
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<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/12274938285_1f34993fd6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/12274938285_1f34993fd6_c.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This one I did not even try to finish. It was not working. The 16 gauge wire for the base was okay, but the connector loops were not the right choice.<br />
<br />
The third attempt was better yet:<br />
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<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/12275359734_71fbafb9d0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/12275359734_71fbafb9d0_c.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Adding the connectors as jump rings was the right solution. Making the jump rings (furthest left) in 16 gauge was the wrong choice- 20 gauge was a better balance. <br />
<br />
My conclusion, the theory is good, the design is going in the right direction. Execution needs a lot more practice. <br />
<br />
Practice does pay off. Take a look at the first two links I did and the final links:<br />
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/12275488756_5fd7de47f7_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/12275488756_5fd7de47f7_c.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is improvement.<br />
<br />
I am going to keep experimenting. I am going to think some more about design. I will also see what I have in my stash to put together the necklace without making a clasp. I am thinking I can use the spacer bars i bought at Beadfest to reduce the strands and use a single strand clasp. It just might work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9591467417_5cfa4738af_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9591467417_5cfa4738af_c.jpg" height="486" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Just in case your interested, the other parts of the necklace include these beads:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/12274935535_d46107881f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/12274935535_d46107881f_c.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-56749965880161226662014-01-05T14:24:00.000-05:002014-01-05T14:24:45.799-05:00Snow Day: Exploring RSS Feeds for the UninitiatedIf you look at the second tab of my blog you will find 275 jewelry blogs listed. I actually see every new post through my RSS feed:
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGrLKNe_cbP5uwKtqu8Wqhumqn3aaVq7ELO29gN-LLdRWJlokDJ99DjkWG_yMNwhyQUpNF2ph8lS7ky1ZdJrd3AvVMyWH9k4KmCBRGA9OJoQ-rJRLTs7gJau-fnyXC6hEwOPvymmzBjNo/s1600/My+RSS+Feed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGrLKNe_cbP5uwKtqu8Wqhumqn3aaVq7ELO29gN-LLdRWJlokDJ99DjkWG_yMNwhyQUpNF2ph8lS7ky1ZdJrd3AvVMyWH9k4KmCBRGA9OJoQ-rJRLTs7gJau-fnyXC6hEwOPvymmzBjNo/s400/My+RSS+Feed.jpg" /></a></div>
Not particularly interesting? Here is what it looks like as I am reading posts:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdxDQdZYibOaiz7gI-hJcbfF0wP3mjdgZA1kEY-IDbiguHKGGWzULld9iTevaN61cWlnJlSswfTuSJ-KJq2B__HrW0FFbKzskWc5bifH7yCE7rXLxuzsKbrg-m3ZO7b2moFEOHKrCGsAi/s1600/My+RSS+Feed+with+an+Open+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdxDQdZYibOaiz7gI-hJcbfF0wP3mjdgZA1kEY-IDbiguHKGGWzULld9iTevaN61cWlnJlSswfTuSJ-KJq2B__HrW0FFbKzskWc5bifH7yCE7rXLxuzsKbrg-m3ZO7b2moFEOHKrCGsAi/s640/My+RSS+Feed+with+an+Open+Post.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I can click on the title and go directly to the blog itself if I want a bigger picture or if I want to comment; or I can click the previous or next button at the bottom of the post to see a new post in the list. In this way I can easily click through over 100 posts a day. I admit I do not read every single post but I see them all.<br />
<br />
I have set up a publicly accessible RSS reader which you can use for all of the blogs I subscribe to named <a href="http://www.netvibes.com/kjsbeadaciousbeads">KJs Beadacious Beads Blog Links.</a><br />
<br />
I won't lie to you with 275+ blogs it is going to be slow to open. It is also not quite a true RSS feed. Instead it is a slide show of the most recent posts of all of the blogs I read. <br />
<br />
Here are your basic selections:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb67C9xZNXcbtEkvbqMA7nkdlq707ZuqEy_LDcbgyjrqGoiehsxscShRiyBDKutMoh-YNWedWKRQhTI-wJ2UEL4MUUAgJue6oMCqkwE-2U9LZ08fPpBRkwf0dih6W9S4DePdN_5j8ZD6PT/s1600/Public+Tabs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb67C9xZNXcbtEkvbqMA7nkdlq707ZuqEy_LDcbgyjrqGoiehsxscShRiyBDKutMoh-YNWedWKRQhTI-wJ2UEL4MUUAgJue6oMCqkwE-2U9LZ08fPpBRkwf0dih6W9S4DePdN_5j8ZD6PT/s640/Public+Tabs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is of course the tab named jewelry which links to most of the sites listed in my Blog Links tab. Most of the other tabs are easy to figure out, but let me toss a few hints. <br />
<br />
The ... and Other Colorful Things tab are the blogs I follow for color inspiration. Let me highly recommend <a href="http://blog.design-seeds.com/">Fresh Hues</a> - go ahead and visit her page and play around but be sure to set aside some time. Let me also highly recommend you add <a href="http://keroiam.tumblr.com/">kero.i.am's tumblr page</a> to your bookmarks. This tumblr is amazing and goes on and on and on. Again set aside some time just to surf. <br />
<br />
Neglected But Inspiring Blogs are not necessarily neglected but they certainly do not fit my other categories. <br />
<br />
What you can expect to see is something like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahx7AC3grxlRm1yLTORO7-0-bSC9IYDcsb0x7qriJuZWtbXp32Fp6uej5itPNq5D7mwP6lxxifEjhs56OH7ZgbdrqbH8gahJkBV59urq9Qn9WqjQgj29gZsYXBfD_zRGGUconbJwOusfT/s1600/Navigating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahx7AC3grxlRm1yLTORO7-0-bSC9IYDcsb0x7qriJuZWtbXp32Fp6uej5itPNq5D7mwP6lxxifEjhs56OH7ZgbdrqbH8gahJkBV59urq9Qn9WqjQgj29gZsYXBfD_zRGGUconbJwOusfT/s640/Navigating.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This is from the decorating tab. If you click on the top picture that will take you directly to the blog. Immediately under that top picture is the date of the last post. Clicking on one of the five lower pictures will bring it to the top position; likewise the previous and next buttons will do the same. However, this public RSS feed will not bring up posts or pictures of anything older than what is
already pictured. <br />
<br />
You are just as likely to see a slide show with all the same pictures, like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXNCFrgWkGWJBb-ORZbMG0Y2i2FHsmwYETuSpI-NIGh9B42xfRvb5SwsTorOETQ8MB7BvevToSeT5-ZhWeJ5hjHuSHdItzSjaxURG6P2P6Jlc59hWTZ1WVVjwARpKceWFaOUZrobdUNS_/s1600/Same+Pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXNCFrgWkGWJBb-ORZbMG0Y2i2FHsmwYETuSpI-NIGh9B42xfRvb5SwsTorOETQ8MB7BvevToSeT5-ZhWeJ5hjHuSHdItzSjaxURG6P2P6Jlc59hWTZ1WVVjwARpKceWFaOUZrobdUNS_/s640/Same+Pictures.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
or one that just has a newpaper logo like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzMZA4vdh7MMeYq7Fa-ruis56d6NR-k0c7f4b-kWAOePbGmgrrgNlKFFWfwh7uPFR01eT5vLBaKwo9b15MkmMaPw7ao6Xis-Qc_eDFfM9HmbtIeWNHCpoOsE_klAZG9PPD76zXi9qINHw/s1600/News+Pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzMZA4vdh7MMeYq7Fa-ruis56d6NR-k0c7f4b-kWAOePbGmgrrgNlKFFWfwh7uPFR01eT5vLBaKwo9b15MkmMaPw7ao6Xis-Qc_eDFfM9HmbtIeWNHCpoOsE_klAZG9PPD76zXi9qINHw/s320/News+Pictures.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div>
<br />
I do not know why the same picture repeats nor why some blogs show only the news logo. I do know that the news logo is a default and may appear if the posts are old or if they have no pictures. <br />
<br />
You may also notice that there are blogs in the list which have not been updated in years- they remain in my list because they are still inspiring and continue to provide useful information.<br />
<br />
I love seeing what everyone is up to. I welcome all the inspiration that comes my way. I could not possibly keep up without an RSS feed. I use <a href="http://www.netvibes.com/%E2%80%8E">Netvibes</a> as my reader. It is free unless you need in-depth analysis of web traffic. <br />
<br />
If it is too cold to go out and you need a break from whatever you are doing, click on the link for my<a href="http://www.netvibes.com/kjsbeadaciousbeads"> public RSS reader</a> at Netvibes and see what your fellow artisans have been up to.<br />
<br />
One final note- the only jewelry blog I showed in this post was <a href="http://www.olivebites.blogspot.com/">Olive Bites</a>- Cat was my first follower. I found many jewelry posts I wanted to show as examples but since I could not narrow it down and did not want anyone to feel slighted I selected from my other tabs.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-71558873491109298452013-12-08T16:12:00.000-05:002013-12-08T16:13:26.486-05:00Saying Thank YouIf you have been following my blog you will know that I moved to Jersey City less than a year ago. I have no family here and at that time knew nobody within many hundreds of miles. When I needed to be picked up at the doctor's office last week following a test I asked a new friend. I did the usual, said thanks and wrote a thank you card. I also made her a necklace.<br />
<br />
The original plan was to create a necklace using black and white beads with wire-wrapped connectors. I grabbed a focal from my stash- a nice piece of onyx, some agate, a vintage white crystal, some Czech fire polished crystals, one resin and shell bead, and got to work. The original plan looked like this:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/11275652123_62342ef233_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/11275652123_62342ef233_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Plan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now this is a very fine necklace with great components. I used spacers to embellish the ends of the beads and silver filled wire.<br />
<br />
However, I am a bead weaver, and being inspired I grabbed another piece of onyx, bezzeled it and then embellished the bezel with more seed beads and some 3mm fire polished crystals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/11275654743_cc79395ae6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/11275654743_cc79395ae6_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embellished bezel on onyx</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is another view:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/11275616314_ab98fd0674_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/11275616314_ab98fd0674_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had to cut out the onyx that I had at the center of the original necklace, which left the strands:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/11275614924_39cc0788c4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/11275614924_39cc0788c4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strands</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is the finished necklace. Now, if anyone can offer some tips on capturing the length of a necklace and capturing detail I would appreciate it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11275579976_4db67ed8f2_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="555" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11275579976_4db67ed8f2_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished necklace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One more closeup. I received Cindy Wimmer's The Missing Link book for my birthday so I have been playing around with wire. Rather than add a clasp that I purchased, I made a clasp. The clasp is not part of Cindy's book, but without the book I would have just gone with a purchased clasp.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/11275538045_847f7b60be_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/11275538045_847f7b60be_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand made clasp</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is good to have friends. It is good to be able to create.<br />
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If I don't post again before the holiday, you have a safe and happy holiday.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-6466745980797696772013-11-10T14:22:00.000-05:002013-11-10T14:22:22.169-05:00Beside BeadsI have not started a new project. I have not even figured out what I am going to make next. <br />
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Some time ago I won three tutorials from Callie Mitchell of Peregrin Beader. I had no problem choosing the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/90619576/tutorial-for-elizabeth-i-cuff-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active">Elizabeth I Cuff Bracelet Pattern</a> as I have admired it for some time. The problem is I only have most of the beads needed to make this. I think I can substitute and create a different colorway but I have not quite pulled things together yet.<br />
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I recently bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Forgotten-Things-Creating/dp/1596685484">The Art of Forgotten Things</a> by Melanie Doerman and it is quite inspiring. Again, I just have not gotten around to pulling the beads from my stash to make anything.<br />
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I also recently received <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Missing-Link-Beautiful-Wirework/dp/159668707X/ref=pd_sim_b_3">The Missing Link</a> by Cindy Wimmer which I cannot wait to try. I even ordered a tumbler so I could work harden the links. That is suppose to be delivered tomorrow. Is it me or does everyone have as much trouble just getting started?<br />
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I am finding other things to distract me here in the New York City metro area. <br />
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Yesterday I went to Macy's flagship store to update my wardrobe. I hate shopping for clothes but I have to say this was an experience. I pulled out my android and took some pictures.<br />
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First is the approach to Macy's<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/10782363376_1a8ed8d062_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/10782363376_1a8ed8d062_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming up on Macy's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You do not get the full effect of how busy the streets of New York were... cars, taxi's, sidewalk vendors, tourists and locals. I love living in a city and this was just exciting.<br />
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Here is another view from outside Macy's: <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/10782329915_b4ef9e6d65_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/10782329915_b4ef9e6d65_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Urban canyons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It was a beautiful day yesterday, crisp and quite comfortable. A light jacket was sufficient. Walking warmed you quite well. It was pleasant to sit at one of the little sidewalk parks and just watch life pass by. <br />
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<br />Macy's is immediately to the left with the red awning. <br />
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What I did not capture with my camera was the "Broadway Bites" street fair. This was a series of tents set up on Broadway with local restaurant vendors. It was about a block or so from where I snapped this picture. This gave me the opportunity to sample food from a Turkish restaurant. It was delicious.<br />
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Inside Macy's was very different from the usual mall experience. Everything was bright. There were flashing lights and multiple large monitors broadcasting on the main floor. Although the streets outside were busy, inside Macy's was a completely different busy. The pictures do not do it justice.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/10782364876_43e87123e9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/10782364876_43e87123e9_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were little side shops, a lot of helpful clerks, places to sit and rest for a bit. Here is another picture:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/10782366726_81332ebc82_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/10782366726_81332ebc82_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Although this floor was bright and shiny I have to say that one of the things that I liked the most were the wooden escalators, including the stairs, to be found on the 9th floor! Sorry, I do not have pictures I thought it was just too dark. <br />
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Finally, here is a twilight view from Journal Square of the sky line. This is where I wait for the bus to take me home. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/10782578903_64f0a010e8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/10782578903_64f0a010e8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The World Trade Center and a partial view of the NY skyline.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, onto the repair task that I really do need to get to today.<br />
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<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-43727655311313078122013-10-20T17:53:00.002-04:002013-10-20T17:53:55.622-04:00Frustration and FunUgh!<br />
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What do you do when you are 80% finished with a project only to find out there is a HUGE issue? I kept going.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/10390300854_cdf563f10e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/10390300854_cdf563f10e_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia plain brown wrapper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The problem is the beautiful cranberry beads are not color fast.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/10390308585_4757ee34b9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/10390308585_4757ee34b9_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Losing color</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can see the color has rubbed off while I worked the bracelet. <br />
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I was much too far along to tear it out and start over again. I wanted to finish it. Now I have to figure out what to do with it. Hopefully, it will just look old and well loved.<br />
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I do like the shape. <br />
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I did say use the word "fun" in the title.<br />
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If you want to test your eye for color, have an android phone, and like puzzle games I recommend you download Blendoku. I downloaded it last night and played for way to long. It appeals to the artist and puzzle player in me. In the game you begin with one color and have to move the pieces to blend from the start color to the finish color. This is a great way to learn about color. There- I made a justification for playing a game. KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-17278027721107862262013-09-29T13:29:00.000-04:002013-09-29T13:29:19.959-04:00BeginningsI have started a new project. This one will be easy as I am using the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/94302877/right-angle-weave-bollywood-necklace?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=hindia&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto2&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_search_type=handmade">Hindia tutorial</a> I purchased from Studio 183 on Etsy. I love this pattern.<br />
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To begin, here is my project tray:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/10002237853_b6d11ed622_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/10002237853_b6d11ed622_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia project tray</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I began by choosing the center base beads, which are not in any of
the pictures. They are a very pale pink rose quartz 6 mm bead. Despite
the fact that they have been in my bead stash for well over 20 years
they have been well used; they are quite versatile and will soon need to be restocked. I think next time I will go a shade darker on the pink.<br />
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Getting to pink as a base color was a process of
elimination. I use blue all the time and did not want to make something
in blues again. Black and white are wonderful, but did not fit for this
particular project. Green is one of my favorites, but for some reason
it seemed to be over represented in my work. I just finished a brightly
colored piece so that ruled out oranges and yellows. I always consider
red, it really is my favorite, but I wasn't sure it would work in this
piece because I did not know what other colors to use. I decided on purple as it a popular choice, but I did not
have enough of a choice in seed beads and embellishment beads to fit
this project. That left pink.<br />
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Once the
pink was chosen I selected bronze and brass tones for balance, and just a
touch of gold, I picked plums and cranberries for additional color. <br />
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Now, my project tray does not show much other than the tools that I start with, minus my magnifying light. Here is an overall view of my bead choices:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/10002237383_b77101c6b0_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/10002237383_b77101c6b0_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia bead choices</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is a close up of the seed beads:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/10002115865_f32f154986_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/10002115865_f32f154986_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia seed bead choices in 15, 11, and 8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The embellishment beads are here:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/10002113655_92cc5754f1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/10002113655_92cc5754f1_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia embellishment beads. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The embellishment beads are pearls, size 15 charlottes in gold, pink amethyst onion cut briolettes, 4 mm amethyst rounds, and 4 mm swarovski bicones.<br />
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Gathering the intended beads only narrows down the choices, it does not end them. I found that the pink swarovski bicones were too dark and I had no light pink 4 mm bicones. (How did that happen with my huge bead stash???) I substituted a brass cut bead that is almost a bicone.<br />
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Here is my work in progress:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/10002175596_da68946c18_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/10002175596_da68946c18_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindia work in Progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the end, I opted for the cranberry seed beads; they were just too alluring to set aside on this project.<br />
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<b>Geek Update:</b><br />
Way back when I started this blog I saved all my pictures in Flickr and then posted them here via a URL link. I am still doing that. However, I also had a widget in the side panel that showed my most recent flickr updates. That widget stopped working quite a while ago but I missed it. Today I found a substitute in the flickr badge. <br />
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If you use flickr, search for flickr badge and click through the steps. Then in Blogger choose layout and the html gadget and paste the badge text.<br />
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I am glad to have my most recent flickr photos available again on the side bar.<br />
<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-56997627257774515482013-09-15T16:54:00.001-04:002013-09-15T16:54:14.302-04:00Checking InNo new works to post.<br />
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I did want to tell you that it is a fine opportunity to pick up Melanie Doerman's <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/the-art-of-forgotten-things">The Art of Forgotten Things</a>. The book is on sale for $6.26 at the Interweave store. If you like romantic jewelry, and work with seed beads, don't miss this sale. You won't be disappointed. Think of it as an early Christmas present to yourself.<br />
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I got my copy in the mail this week and I am inspired. Follow the link and take a look at the preview.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-92029998744366467112013-08-25T16:11:00.000-04:002013-08-25T16:11:44.554-04:00Philadelphia Bead Fest LootI swear I said I did not need any more beads and it was true. Except, I really did need some tiny crystals, some bead caps, and more seed beads are almost always in order. I had a good time. What surprised me the most were all the tutorials and kits for sale. All lovely. I am just going to post pictures of the loot below, appropriately captioned. If you want to know the name of a source let me know.<br />
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before I get to the rest, let me tell you my splurge were beads by Harold Williams Cooney. I have had my eye on his American Trade Beads for years. I found some for sale and they were all that I expected.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9591467181_8dc6b49330_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9591467181_8dc6b49330_c.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Trade Beads by Harold Williams Cooney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/9594258314_e2fc70397f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/9594258314_e2fc70397f_c.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal beads which are great for filler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/9594258830_dbf03d66fa_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/9594258830_dbf03d66fa_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daggers - something good will come from these</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/9594259280_38205fe7dd_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/9594259280_38205fe7dd_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piggy Beads - will be featured soon in an upcoming major magazine and now found mostly in Europe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/9594259662_7297d40fb4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/9594259662_7297d40fb4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Duos - I really needed to try these</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/9594260262_185caecb6a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/9594260262_185caecb6a_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicas - these are almost all 10's and 15's and you can never have enough Delica beads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/9591467305_8f38b64d99_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/9591467305_8f38b64d99_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Glass - these were inexpensive, and the colors were not quite captured by the camera. These are hardworking beads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9591467417_5cfa4738af_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9591467417_5cfa4738af_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caps, Spacers, and Charms - When you need them you cannot find them, so I stocked up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9594261302_f74e318ff4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9594261302_f74e318ff4_c.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bead Caps for Kumihimo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9591468355_fe789013de_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9591468355_fe789013de_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kumihimo cords - A trend for my future?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/9591467825_513c5e4e2a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="563" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/9591467825_513c5e4e2a_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish Charms - these are for another fish necklace in toned down colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9591467949_5a317e63ba_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9591467949_5a317e63ba_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pressed Glass Strands - what most people envision when they are given the word "bead"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9591469017_6e7ef1e263_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9591469017_6e7ef1e263_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny Charlottes - These are tiny even by seed bead standards and irresistible.</td></tr>
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KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-14651555022202120402013-08-18T12:50:00.003-04:002013-08-18T12:50:53.994-04:00Open Your Eyes and Find ArtI am not working on anything at the moment. I am planning on going to Beadfest next Saturday. <br />
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I thought you might like to see what I have discovered. I walk down this block in Newark NJ every morning from my bus stop.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/9537215101_b2df345c1f_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/9537215101_b2df345c1f_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk to work, Newark NJ</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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It looks intimidating, what with the razor wire and the metal doors pulled over windows. I never really thought twice about it. This is a block from the Newark Museum and a block or two from parts of Rutgers. <br />
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However, when I looked at the trees as I was passing by I discovered some hidden art.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/9537215851_dd13dcda16_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/9537215851_dd13dcda16_c.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mask I</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/9540007320_216c4d747e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/9540007320_216c4d747e_c.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mask II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love these masks, made of metal, and appreciate them every day when I pass by. <br />
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I bet, seeing the street, you were expecting graffiti- which I also love when done well. <br />
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Finding art is always a joyful surprise.<br />
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What will you find this week?KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-50637555511434048862013-07-28T13:15:00.002-04:002013-07-28T13:15:58.851-04:00Production of One of A Kind EarringsI have been meaning to write this post for ages. <br />
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I have over 100 pairs of production earrings.. All of them are well made, one of a kind earrings. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9386100546_b4d37efd98_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9386100546_b4d37efd98_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Production earrings blue and white glass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Here is a sample to get started:<br />
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My production earrings require the following supplies: wire cutters, round nose pliers, in-expensive nickel free ear wires, head pins, focal beads, and embellishing beads. <br />
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My production earrings are priced at $10.00 each. I make a good profit on the earrings. They are intended as impulse purchases. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9383321189_84f817a26e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9383321189_84f817a26e_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sample focal strand of mustard colored cinnabar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You begin with a strand of focal beads. I always buy my beads in strands. These cinnabar beads I will price at $0.78 each when calculating my final retail price.<br />
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<a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9383320069_09cb490cfa_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9383320069_09cb490cfa_c.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Next are the embellishment beads. First are crystals. These are small crystals, 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm. They are all fire polished Czech crystals. I am guessing the average cost per crystal is $0.06. I buy them by the strand and I am always on the lookout for more. They are handy for earrings and for spacers in larger necklaces. <br />
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You may also use small round stone or glass beads as well as pearls. <br />
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<a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/9386100606_0e35fdce67_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/9386100606_0e35fdce67_c.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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After my last necklace I discovered I did not have enough brightly colored crystals, so I purchased a few strands on my last visit to Manhattan.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9383320265_2d149d4129_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9383320265_2d149d4129_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large seed beads</td></tr>
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Then there are seed beads. I really like size 6 and size 8 seed beads. <br />
I do not even price these. <br />
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The secret to production is organization. Take a look at some more production earrings:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9386100210_377aebcd7d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9386100210_377aebcd7d_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Production earrings yellow stone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Each pair is different. There are three different red beads in these yellow stone earrings. There are 6 mm round red stone bead, 4mm red crystal rondelles, and 4mm round fire polished Czech crystals. You will also note grey rondelles, clear purple lined size 6 or 8 seed beads, indigo blue seed beads in size 6 or 8, and blue drop glass beads. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9386100046_2e9a0f7a88_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9386100046_2e9a0f7a88_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carved rose quartz production earrings</td></tr>
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My production earrings are all simple loops. Wrapped loops require more time.<br />
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I use the entire strand of focal beads in a single sitting just to be sure each earring is one of a kind. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9386099564_d45fa25172_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9386099564_d45fa25172_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All my seed beads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As I said, the secret to production is organization. When I was making these earrings I had some <a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/itemdetails/H202333PK">bead trays</a> that were more like paint pallets. Each filled with embellishment beads, each tray organized by color. You know it takes time to organize your bead stash, but it is time well spent.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/9383320751_016a6f6c66_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/9383320751_016a6f6c66_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Production earrings, quartz</td></tr>
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One more set of production earrings.<br />
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These are not as creative as my usual work. They are fun and quick. And, as I said above, are intended as an impulse purchase. These replace a purchase your customer would make at a big box store or even a smaller reseller like TJ's. They are priced not to put a big dent in your customer's wallet. They will give an outlet to the desire to purchase something different, something handmade- which is what drew them to the venue in the first place. <br />
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I always place a big price sign in front of the display. I also have a separate suggestion sign that these make great stocking stuffers, birthday gifts, teacher gifts, secret santa gifts, etc...<br />
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One final thought. If you are selling high priced pieces, lower priced earrings might well imply that your higher priced items are over priced. I still have not finished that debate with myself. <br />
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Good luck in your sales. <br />
<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-15662995891562377412013-07-13T09:31:00.000-04:002013-07-13T09:31:32.763-04:00The Catfish Are Jumpin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summer time and the living's easy, catfish jumpin and the river is high... I just love that song. If you would care to listen while you blog hop, here are two good choices: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3kQt14_5OQ">Ella </a>or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8NuEXrhyAPs">Charlotte Church</a><br />
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Karen Williams of Baublicious began showing off her fish quite some time ago. When she finally published a tutorial I knew I wanted it. Then she announced a <a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/2013/07/fish-are-friends-reveal-and-blog-hop.html">Fish and Friends blog hop</a>; and because I had a fish almost complete I joined. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/9273906339_ff5a3045fc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/9273906339_ff5a3045fc_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small fish with kiss lips</td></tr>
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When I started this first fish, I had no idea of what I was doing or what would come next.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/9276808842_5a65d215d5_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/9276808842_5a65d215d5_m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An error in Vision</td></tr>
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Surprisingly enough, the Scheherezade Pendant was next. I featured that last week. My plan was to create a variation on a charm holder or chatelaine from the Scheherezade Pendant and the fish. My original concept did not quite work. Honestly, it was not awful, but I did not like that the red and yellow rings covered up so much of the Scheherezade Pendant. <br />
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Next was what I call the Big Fish, but Karen identifies in her tutorial as Fat Fish:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/9276692822_9dd47837a2_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/9276692822_9dd47837a2_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Fish</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9276692172_b88837a33c_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9276692172_b88837a33c_m.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filler fish</td></tr>
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Then I pulled some fish out of my stash- honestly I have had these fish since the mid-1990's it was time to use them.<br />
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Putting it all together for the chatelaine:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/9273905593_889a07111e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/9273905593_889a07111e_c.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full Line of Fish</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/9276691100_8456dec6c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/9276691100_8456dec6c8.jpg" width="114" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done</td></tr>
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In case you have not noticed, I love to make necklaces. Having said that, I always struggle with the neck strap. This time was no different. I tried several options and settled on St. Petersburg Chain. <br />
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Finally, connect it all:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/9276690814_5630239782_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/9276690814_5630239782_c.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colorful catch</td></tr>
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<br />A few words about the tutorial. I did not diligently follow Karen's excellent directions. I substituted saran wrap for the bead she uses. I did not quite execute the increases correctly. I scanned the directions for the dorsal fins and the kiss lips and then did not refer back to the directions to complete the work. In other words, any errors are my own and not the fault of the designer. This is a wonderful tutorial and covers more than just the fish pattern. You can purchase the tutorial at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/126561004/pdf-tutorial-fancy-fish-beadwoven?ref=shop_home_active">Karen's Etsy shop</a>. She also sells kits.<br />
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Now, without further ado, go visit the rest of the participants:<br />
<a href="http://franciebroadie.com/blog/">Francie Broadie - FAB Custom Jewelry</a><br /><a href="http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com/">Shirley Moore - Beads and Bread</a><br /><a href="http://www.beadsong.blogspot.com/">Bobbie Rafferty - Beadsong Jewelry</a><br /><a href="http://pixiloo.blogspot.com/">Tanya Goodwin - A Work in Progress</a><br /><a href="http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/">Cynthia Machata - Antiquity Travelers</a><br />Kathy Jo - KJ's Beadacious Beads You are here<br /><a href="http://theresestreasures59.blogspot.com/">Therese Frank - Therese's Treasures</a><br /><a href="http://www.alaskannancy.blogspot.com/">Nancy Sopp - AlaskanNancy</a> <br /><a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/2013/07/alison-omans-three-fish-friends.html">Alison Oman</a><br />Dolores Dwight (Sorry, no link yet.)<br /><a href="http://amybeads.blogspot.com/">Amy Severino - Amybeads</a><br /><a href="http://www.eleanorpigman.blogspot.com/">Eleanor Pigman - Eleanor Pigman</a><br />
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and our hostess, once again:<br />
<a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/2013/07/fish-are-friends-reveal-and-blog-hop.html">Baublicious</a><br />
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Have fun at the hop.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-68357723221429507792013-07-07T11:38:00.000-04:002013-07-07T11:38:47.725-04:00Scheherezade PendantIt has been a while. <br />
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I just finished making Sabine Lippert's Scheherezade Pendant. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/9229235493_c6b4ba972d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/9229235493_c6b4ba972d_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the pretty layers of Scheherezade</td></tr>
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You can see that I finally decided to use bright colors. <br />
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Here is a second view:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3697/9232018006_0a9b1f96b9_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3697/9232018006_0a9b1f96b9_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Scheherezade</td></tr>
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And finally, a look from the edge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9232018696_346496a670_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9232018696_346496a670_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edgy Scheherezade</td></tr>
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I liked this pattern. It was fairly easy to put together, even though as usual I did not quite follow directions.<br />
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Next week I will be participating in a fish blog hop hosted by Karen Williams at <a href="http://baublicious.blogspot.com/">Baublicious</a>. At least I think it is next Saturday. I need to get busy.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-6315506037497796202013-05-26T14:57:00.000-04:002013-05-26T14:57:12.100-04:00Links Update and RSS Reader Reviews<h3>
<b>Introduction</b></h3>
As it is a long weekend, and I have just started a new project and do not have any photos, I thought it would be a good time to update my second page, which is all of my links. The second page is available via the tab right under the Blog Title, named: All My Blog Links. New links are under a heading called New Links – amazing how organized I am. In case you did not notice, I follow a lot of blogs. Today I am adding another 36 to the list. <br /><br />This blog post is has two subheadings, both are worth reading.<br />
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<b>RSS Reader Reviews </b></h3>
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</h3>
First, if you are not interested in RSS Readers, skip to Links Update for a few call outs on the new links.<br /><br />I am able to follow a lot of blogs because I make use of an RSS Reader. I have used Google Reader, but when it was announced Google Reader was being discontinued, I scrambled for a new reader. <br /><br />I tried <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/">Blog Lovin'</a> and I did not love it. It is not awful, but it just did not work for me. I also did not like that I ended up getting e-mail from them. <br /><br />I next tried <a href="http://www.newsblur.com/">NewsBlur</a>. I gave up on that fast because they wanted money from me without even giving me a free trial. That may have changed given the passage of time since Google announced the end of Google Reader. However, even if they had given me a free trial I would have had to pay since at that time I had 331 feeds and their basic policy is to charge for more than 64 feeds. <br /><br />I signed up for <a href="http://theoldreader.com/">The Old Reader</a>, which is like Google Reader. The one thing I did not like about it is that it has no android app. This is really not a problem for the jewelry and design blogs I follow because I do not even try to read those on my android, but you might. I stuck with The Old Reader for a few weeks, but every time I scrolled down to see what was in the queue it marked all my items as read; that was unhelpful. It also seemed out of date and difficult to edit my feeds. <br /><br />I tried <a href="http://www.feedly.com/">Feedly</a>, and the load from Google reader was easy, but... I did not like the way the list (title) function worked. More importantly it did not pick up all of my unread posts, not when I filtered under "today" because I had unread blog posts which were older than today; neither did it pick up all my unread posts when I set the filter to "latest." I think the problem is how far back Feedly looks or perhaps it could be with the number of blogs in my feed. Feedly just seemed to miss too many posts. Your mileage may vary.<br /><br />I have opted for <a href="http://www.netvibes.com/">NetVibes</a>. It is pretty. I am able to view the entire post in the reader itself. It handles the list well. One of my pet peeves is that there is no alphabetize function. I also really dislike the edit function for my feeds. On the other hand, it picks up unread more than a day old. It is free. Importing from Google Reader was easy. I may make my reader a public page; it might be interesting.<br /><br />I generally embrace change, but the loss of Google Reader has presented challenges.<br />
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<b>Links of Special Merit</b></h3>
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</h3>
I follow each and every blog on the list. I look at, even if I do not read, every post. They are all unique, beautiful, and return value to me in exchange for my time. Thus, I feel bad not calling out each and every one of them. However, not everyone can page though as many blogs as I can so I am going to point out a few that you might want to take a peek at.<br /><br />First is a Polish blog named <a href="http://izziland-izziland.blogspot.com/">Izziland</a>. Beautiful woven seed bead jewelry. This blog won my heart right away.<br /><br />Next up, is <a href="http://artefactum.blogspot.com/">Artefactum</a>. This is a Russian blog. If you need inspiration this is the place to go. I do not embroider, or at least I have not embroidered with beads for many years. Nonetheless, the colors and composition are stunning. <br /><br />Bead Lady: <a href="http://bead-lady.livejournal.com/">The Impossible is Often the Untried</a> is another Russian blog and if you are not following her work you are missing some spectacular bead work. <br /><br />Since I am on a Russian kick, I might as well include <a href="http://chikineva.livejournal.com/">Chikineva</a>, and <a href="http://gbdreams.livejournal.com/">GB Dreams</a> – absolutely stunning. The Russian beaders do such complex work. <br /><br /><a href="http://cherishdesigns.wordpress.com/">Cherish Designs</a> is not a seed beader. Which only goes to prove I am an all inclusive gawker. Cherish Designs was also the grand prize winner of Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party. If you follow her you will see why. Her work is quite original.<br /><br /><a href="http://joanbabcock.blogspot.com/">My Life In Knots</a> – you have to follow this blog if for no other reason than it is such a great name. If you like micro macramé then add this to you list. Unfortunately, it has not been updated since February. Maybe she will be back.<br /><br /><a href="http://laurabrackenblog.blogspot.com/">Laura Bracken</a> is just an overall great blog. She recently published a post about how to get published as well as a post about photographing earrings. How could you leave this off of your list.<br /><br />Because I cannot resist I have three new wire weaving blogs,: <a href="http://shaktipajdesigns.com/blog/">Shakitpaj Designs</a> and <a href="http://blue-almonds.blogspot.com/">Blue Almonds</a>. See also <a href="http://wiredelements.com/">Wired Elements</a> which is really just a link page and not a blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nancylthamilton.com/">Nancy L. Hamilton</a> falls outside of the normal blog fare in that she mostly offers video tutorials on metal work. <b> </b><br />
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<b>Final Word</b></h3>
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These posts always take hours- they require a lot of editing. I maintain the second page of this blog so I have a record but also because I think each and every one of them deserves at least a look. If you like to see what everyone else is up to and need a quick way to page through a lot of blogs I highly recommend you adopt an RSS News Reader. <br /><br />Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.<br />KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850328826819903057.post-39676289978555757482013-05-19T16:13:00.000-04:002013-05-19T16:14:15.194-04:00Blue Eyes Crying In the RainI finished my necklace and wanted to take a picture before I left town... of course it was raining, and my light is through north facing windows.<br />
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Here is the finished piece on a pillow:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/8754151411_bec597450d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/8754151411_bec597450d_c.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Eyes on my pillow... yes it sounds like a country ballad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And here is a different, but similar view:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/8754150471_c8a855f450_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/8754150471_c8a855f450_c.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Eyes again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Blue Eyes has 54 beads and is 96 inches long!<br />
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That being said, it turns out I am just not very productive after I get home during the week.<br />
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I only added one more beaded bead, an Empress Bead- I still love this pattern:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8134/8754151319_111d38e583_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8134/8754151319_111d38e583_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue and White Empress Bead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The caps that I picked up in Philadelphia were the perfect fit for the Empress Bead.<br />
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And I had additional Blue Eye Beads, which I wired together with other beads to make compound links:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/8755273464_0d0b55ed3e_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/8755273464_0d0b55ed3e_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compound beaded links from wired components</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What the heck do you call these? Beads? Links? Compound Beads? Any suggestions?<br />
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When I put this necklace together, I created 4 piles:<br />
1) Beaded Beads<br />
2) Simple Compound Beads<br />
3) Blue Eye Compound Beads<br />
4) Blue Eye Capped Beads (from last week)<br />
I then created a randomly generated list using those numbers and that is how I put together the necklace.<br />
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I will be home this week, after 8 weeks away for training. I have 5 tutorials! I was a very lucky winner of a contest by Callie of <a href="http://www.peregrinebeader.etsy.com/">The Peregrine Beader</a> and won three, yes 3, tutorials. I can't wait to start a new project.KJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02839682837427981888noreply@blogger.com14