Yay!

I received my order from Artbeads.com today! The mail seems to be incredibly slowly lately. Anywho, I am (maybe a little too much) amazed by the Delica beads. Perhaps it's because I'm used to seed beads that are all wonky and inconsistant, but the Delicas lay almost perfectly when workin on the peyote stitch. I'm also in love with the long English beading needles. I've been using stubby beading needles from Walmart, which are sturdy but don't quite work with all projects. I'm not sure why...I felt the need to take a picture of the beads, lol.


I really need to finish up my other projects that are just sitting around unfinished.

Fillers

Our DSL is messed up, boo.

In the meantime (or down time), I've *gasp* actually began reading the manual to my camera (that I've had for quite some time, erm). So hopefully I'll have some better pictures from now on...heh...

While I've ever so patiently been waiting for my Artbeads order...I began using one of my mixes and came up with these random bits:

I plan on making some more random bits and combine them together and work a little magic. It should be fun.

I've also been working on this little number:

Not sure exactly where I'm going with it...and honestly I'm getting bored working on it, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to it. Maybe I'll just put it away for a long time.

*Sighs*

I don't think I'll be making the trip to Pulaski. :(

I was bad today. I went to Michael's (the one that's staying open) and bought some bead mixes. Though I only did it because I realized lastnight that my previous mixes that I purchased from there have seed beads that were a. Czech glass, b. fun colors, and c. uniform in shape/size. Plus I have this fear of running out of beads during a project...so i wanted to make sure that I had more than enough to go around...and then some....more. I also got a pack of Mill Hill beads to play with and to if I like them. Plus the MH beads I picked up were a shiny metallic pink...hehe, they actually match some heels that I have, wee!

Today I was browsing, looking for more information about bead embroidery, and came across many inspiring websites. I am amazed at how far beaders go with seed bead creations. I'm at awe at how beautiful the pieces are that people create...and how unique the ideas are.

Anywho, on the topic of bead embroidery...I know how to do the beading/stitching (I once started working on a beaded art doll, but I was just using plastic pearl beads)...but I had recently noticed that artists who make bead embroidered jewelry tend to back it with (ultra) suede or leather. I never thought about backings for jewelry pieces (then again, I have never seen a piece in real life) and so I'm trying to figure out how the backing is added/secured. Meh, can't really find instructions for the process online (atleast I didn't have any luck). Maybe I can find a book at the library....though I do think I have an idea as to how it's done. Eh, maybe I'll just get some of the thin leather from Michael's and play around with it.

Outside the Box

Here is the funky little bracelet that I mentioned earlier (the tween who liked it).



Totally outside the box for me, haha. I'm so anal with pieces being symetric that I usually go nuts trying to create something free form...and I suppose that this truely is free form.

It was fun to make though....kind of freeing in the sense that I let go of being obsessed with everything matching up.

The seed beads are a result from a manic "shopping spree" at Walmart. I went a little overboard with the 99 cent beads...though my only real complaint about them is that the darker beads (I tried to avoid using them on this piece) seem to have the color washed off of them when dunked in water several times. Though I did use mostly the lighter pastel shades, and they seem to hold up fine, so yay.

Anywho, I'm not sure if I'm too keen on the way it looks, but *shrugs* I'll wear it anyways just for the heck of it.

Sleeeeeeepy

First day of classes = not so bad. I found 3 of the 4 to be interesting. Also, the word of today was "creative." Almost in every class I heard that we, the students, are a creative bunch. Being in the Recording Industry and a Music Business major...I had no clue that my first day of classes could be oh-so inspiring in more than one way, haha.

I ordered some Delicas and some decent beading supplies (no more big box store supplies!). I cannot wait until everything arrives, wee! Then I'll be goin' to town beading to my little heart's content!

I'm thinking about pulling out my little beading loom and actually complete a piece (I've got so many unfinished pieces that are now horribly tangled after neglect). I suppose I never finished a piece because, well, I'm really not sure how...or atleast a good way to finish off a loomed piece. I've been meaning to do some research on that, haha. I'm pretty sure I'll find a method and have it imprinted into my brain by the weekend.

And speaking of the weekend, I might take a little trip down to Pulaski. I actually seem kind of excited about that. MMC's homecoming is taking place and one of my friends is on the court. The two years I attended that college, never went to a single homecoming event (I always rushed to get back to Nashville, and far far away from that place on the weekend) and now that I've been away from there for two years, I'm actually looking forward to visiting it again. And I am actually admitting all of this without a gun pointed at my head...I must be loosing my bitterness towards MMC. But then again, as my luck tends to have it...it might just end up like all my other failed attempts to visit down there, haha. Eh, whatever happens, happens.

I feel like beading at the moment (nothing unusual there), la de da.

Gaah

Ok, first thing's first- Golden Globes...Depp was robbed! That's all i will say about that, however, I still love you Johnny! *mwah*

Second thing- My dsl connection is sooo freakin slow!


Anywho, I've been working on several new pieces. Ideas are flying all around. I guess I'm definitely over my "crafter's block."

A young little lady (family friend) was over today and saw one of my bracelets and told me how pretty it was. Now that's a nice boost of confidence for me, especially coming from a tween.

Classes start Wednesday *gags.* Goodbye free time, I'll miss you dearly. Maybe this time I won't fall into an uncreative depression slump. I can't wait until I'm through with college.

Two Things

Meh, here's just a couple of things for now...

The hemp choker I made a couple of days ago (haha, nothing special or fancy, but hey)



Now, here's a choker I made...um...more than 4 years ago (I can't remember when I finished it...butI was still in high school). It was my first big, intricate, seed bead project. I used a pattern from a "Jewelry Crafts" magazine that I got back in 1996, but I ended up altering it a bit as I made it. I made so many mistakes....and the knots are showing where I would end and begin a new thread....but I did learn a whole lot from making it.

Boo!

Yesterday I discovered that my local Michael's is closing (lease was up). Everything was marked down to 50% but there were absolutely no beads to be found (except maybe in some kiddie kits). I couldn't find anything that really interest me. Man, atleast I have another Michael's that isn't too far away...

Lastnigt I got an idea for a bracelet so I spent the later portion of the day (on and off) working on it). I rarely get ideas for "unqiue" jewelry anymore so this makes me extremely happy that I could actually envision this piece that's somewhat intricate and that it's actually turning out like i want it to look like. Yay for things going right.

Peekture Post Time!!!

Ok, just for the heck of it, here's a sampling of some things I have made in the past.


Beaded memory wire with a polymer clay cupcake I made.


Swarovski dangle earrings.


A bunch of little Czech glass (seed) beads strung as a single strand and worn layered as a bracelet.


An "opal" heart pendant made from polymer clay (I love me some polymer clay).


A Swarovski necklace I made for Swarovski's contest....however, their system never accepted my entry, boo.


Well, that's enough for now, hehe.

La la la

Lastnight I decided to start working on a hemp choker. I forgot how much I enjoy doing macrame.

I'm itching to get some new beads. Though school starts up next week, blah. I need to buy textbooks, oh joy. Ah, but soon I shall upgrade my seed bead supplies (no more Walmart, Michael's, and Hobby Lobby brands for me) and also get some Delicas and more Swarovskis! Oh how I absolutely love Sarovskis!!!

Projects

Ok, I am currently working on:

-"Fairy/Faerie Ice" peyote cuff (need to go to Hobby Lobby and buy more beads for this, arg).
-"Pirate's Gold" peyote cuff.

It recently has dawned on me (especially after getting into the peyote stitch) that there is a major difference between good quaility seed beads (such as Delica) and cheapo glass seed beads. The cheapo ones are so annoying because they make the whole pattern all wonky and blaaah. I think i'm going to "invest" in some Delica beads very soon.

I think I'm going to mess around with hemp/macrame soon. I have a ton of hemp and haven't done any macrame stuff in over a year. That should be a nice little change for a while...plus it'll help me use up some of the funky glass beads I have.

I also want to start on an amulet pouch and a business card holder. That should be fun...yep yep.

Haha, and I shall accomplish of all this while watching the complete 21 Jump Street series. Oh how I love love loooooooooove Johnny Depp!

Busy Bee!

Since the beginning of the new year I have been a busy little worker bee. I'm really getting into peyote and seed beads. School starts back soon...I just hope I can get some intricate pieces between now and then.

It's also amazing how much beading inspiration I'm getting from watching Johnny Depp movies...haha. Oh how I love that man!

I really need to take some pictures of some finished pieces soon.