I've moved. I can now be found at
http://mindfulbeader.posterous.com/
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Sunday 2 May 2010
Looking forward to 20th June...
...when I'll be having a stall at the Open Garden of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in leafy South Birmingham.
The theme this year is Green and ethical so, even more than usual, I'm in search of old, unloved pieces of jewellery to cut up and give new life to. If you're local, please contact me to donate (I'll swap you £5 off an item on the day) and - even if you're far away - keep your fingers (and toes) firmly crossed for fine weather!
The theme this year is Green and ethical so, even more than usual, I'm in search of old, unloved pieces of jewellery to cut up and give new life to. If you're local, please contact me to donate (I'll swap you £5 off an item on the day) and - even if you're far away - keep your fingers (and toes) firmly crossed for fine weather!
Sunday 7 March 2010
The Craft Fair season begins
It felt like emerging from hibernation to get an invitation earlier this week from http://www.guineveredesigns.co.uk/ to take part in their first craft fair of the season. As it's only 3 weeks away it'll require some serious planning but I'm sure I'll be up to the challenge. I'll hope to see some of you there.
Monday 13 July 2009
Fifteen beads in search of a project
I made these beaded beads about 2 years ago, following Leslie Frazier's "Woven Beads" pattern featured in "The Art and Elegance of Beadweaving" by Carol Wilcox Wells and using size 11 Japanese seed beads and 4mm czech faceted glass. I've fished them out at intervals since then but never hit on the right project but now I think I see my way clear.
I've just finished a set of smaller beaded beads using Japanese size 15s in Lined Light Violet and 3mm czech faceted glass in a colour that tones with the amethyst in these. My plan is to string both sets together with the 3mm and 4mm Crystal AB facets I have on order acting as spacers. If it goes well, I'll post a photo.
Wednesday 28 January 2009
(With a very special thankyou to Nancy, my FaceBook beading friend, who is such an inspiration and encouragement.)
This latest project was going round and round in my head all night so after several hours of beading in my dreams I got up at 6.15 am yesterday and made a start.
I saw a picture of a bracelet in a magazine recently which used stick pearls on decorative headpins which were then poked through chain and the end made into a spiral. I didn't like the pearl idea much but could see how to do the same thing using 2 or 3 small amethyst and/or quartz chips on an ordinary headpin, which gives the whole thing more texture.
It's great! No fiddly turned loops. No wasting the end of the headpin or having to save it to make something else with or the GUILT GUILT GUILT at throwing the ends away.
I originally planned to make a bracelet but when I saw how it was shaping I thought it would be even better as a necklace. So I designed on the hoof. It's in a Y shape, slightly longer than my usual length. I worked as far round as the collarbone, then alternated chain links with chips on turned loops and finished off with a pair of co-ordinating earrings.
The colours and the way it hangs remind me so much of wisteria. The plant comes in the most gorgeous shades of purple - not as scented as lilac but more showy. In England you mostly find it growing over the doorways of old houses. In the absence of a photo of my own, here's a link:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plants1/product/p6632/1.html
This latest project was going round and round in my head all night so after several hours of beading in my dreams I got up at 6.15 am yesterday and made a start.
I saw a picture of a bracelet in a magazine recently which used stick pearls on decorative headpins which were then poked through chain and the end made into a spiral. I didn't like the pearl idea much but could see how to do the same thing using 2 or 3 small amethyst and/or quartz chips on an ordinary headpin, which gives the whole thing more texture.
It's great! No fiddly turned loops. No wasting the end of the headpin or having to save it to make something else with or the GUILT GUILT GUILT at throwing the ends away.
I originally planned to make a bracelet but when I saw how it was shaping I thought it would be even better as a necklace. So I designed on the hoof. It's in a Y shape, slightly longer than my usual length. I worked as far round as the collarbone, then alternated chain links with chips on turned loops and finished off with a pair of co-ordinating earrings.
The colours and the way it hangs remind me so much of wisteria. The plant comes in the most gorgeous shades of purple - not as scented as lilac but more showy. In England you mostly find it growing over the doorways of old houses. In the absence of a photo of my own, here's a link:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plants1/product/p6632/1.html
Sunday 23 November 2008
Another bracelet
The most recent batch of photos was taken in daylight with flash, so haven't turned out as well as the last lot. However, this is one I AM pleased with - the circluar peyote medallions as before, in one of my favourite colour combos.
Monday 10 November 2008
The remainder of yesterday's photoshoot
Every so often I spread out my entire stash and make a batch of memory wire bracelets for the fundraising stall at my husband's place of work. They give me the cost of my materials, or slightly under and they add their own markup. I worked it out and I've "raised" around £230 ($375) for them over the last 6 months.
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