One of those days!

Please forgive my ramblings today, not enough oxygen to the brain and I can barely see the computer screen.  After posting yesterday I started looking around for my next project to post.  This Saturday there is going to be a bunch of us tatting at the Santa Maria Beverly's Craftstore.  So I thought it would be great if I got out the doily I was making and finish it for Saturday.  Well I gave up because I couldn't find it anywhere.  So then I decided to embroider some opera length black gloves with some silk ribbon roses and some stumpwork leaves.  But I couldn't find any of my huge stash of silk ribbons!  So frustrated I made another necklace.  I started with silver findings and cream crystal pearls and a large diamond shaped metal piece as the main focus.  What I ended up with was a necklace with gold findings 3mm black and red crystals and a black crystal donut!

I liked how the red and black crystals showed up between the pearls but I don't like the donut.  So the project needs some rethinking when my brain starts working again.  Later on in the evening I was looking up an obscure type of embroidery and came up with this link to a beautiful piece of wirework jewelry http://www.flickr.com/photos/gypsymoonartstudio/4853400500/in/faves-ederajewelry/

Even though it was late I got out some 16 gauge copper wire and started to make my own version.

It is not nearly as nice as the above link, but to my credit it is handworked.  I don't use a wire tool like a Whirly gig.  But after looking at the first piece I am inspired to get a wire wrapping tool and creating my own wirework designs.  My hands are still screaming at me! 

While looking for some yarn I did find the tatted doily.  Perhaps I will wok on that today!

Marcasite look necklace

Marcascite is very lovely but very expensive.  So I purchased these links and the set crystals on them to simulate marcacite.  The necklace came out lovely it was a bit of work getting the beading wire spaced enough to use crimp covers.  It took several tries but it is finally done except I ran out of crystals and need to get 10 to finish.  Now to think of something to make tomorrow!

Marcacite look necklace.

Close-up of links.

Copper Watch

Today's project was a copper watch.  I've had the watch a couple years now and finally got around to making it.  At first I wanted to use a combination of copper and green opal beads for the band.   Here is an example of green opal.  Green opal is a kind of Chaledony and reminds me of the green patina of copper.

But in the last order the stones were very dark and I didn't like the way it was turning out so I just went with tiny copper beads.  They were so small it took some time to string them.  The band is 7 inches and has an S-clasp.

Copper beaded watch band.

Watch face

It came out very lovely.  I find stringing beads difficult so I am very happy with the results.

I also took the small beaded purse to the Beverly's craftstore in Santa Maria.  So I finished the challenge.  Now to see if they like it.  Hope everyone gets a chance to make something today.

Another Day Another Project

I've taken on a personal challenge to make something everyday!  A difficult endeavor at the best of times.  So far I've done well on the challenge.  Today I'm posting pictures of a green crystal necklace with copper beads.  The chain was already a necklace.  I just cut the chain and wired in the beads using 20 gauge copper.  The bottom piece is 16 gauge copper wire that I strung with crystal and copper beads and copper bead caps.  Then I wire wrapped the ends onto the chain.  Then curved the wire to round the bottom.  The 16 gauge keeps the shape and makes it rather fun.  The necklace is really beautiful.

Small Beaded Purse

Small Beaded Purse

The small purse fits easily in my hand

A while ago I was challenged by the local craft store to make something from a yarn called Spangle made by Premier Yarns.  At first I thought of couching it onto a scarf, but couldn't think of a design.  So while looking through my latest aquisition of beads I found that the yarn perfectly matched the turquoise crystal beads.  So I started crocheting two round circles to make into a purse.  The beads I used were size 6 roundells.  It took almost 300 beads, mostly because I used double crochet stitches adding two beads to each stitch.  All I was trying for was two beaded flat circles.  So after several tries I ended up with this pattern.  String beads on yarn or thread.

When crocheting beads like this they appear on the backside of the work, this is normal.  I used a G hook beause the Spangle yarn is thick like a size 3 thread.  Use a thread and hook that will support your bead choice.

Round 1: Chain 6 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 2: Chain 1, bring up a bead. chain 1, bring up a bead, chain 1 (This will make the first stitch a chain 3 with two beads.  Make a beaded double crochet into the ring 11 times. Connect with slip stitch at begininng of  row.  (Beaded double crochet: Wrap twice around hook, place hook in ring or stitch, yarn over and pulled loop up, [three loop on hook] push bead up to work, yarn over and bring yarn through two loops, push another bead up and finish double crochet by yarning over and passing yarn  through last two loops.)  (12 double crochets)

Round 3: Chain 3 as before adding two beads.  Two double crochets in each double crochet in round 2.  Slip stitch into chain stitch at beginning of round 2. (24 double crochets)

Round 4: Again start with chain 3 adding two beads.  Then 3 double crochets in each stitch.  Slip stitch into beginning chain. (72 double crochets)  The purse I made only had two double crochets in each stitch because I ran out of beads!

Next I took and secured the ends and then with the right sides together sewed through the two circles using wildfire thread 12 lbs.  I left half the circle open and tied off the ends.  Turning the circle right side out.  Next I placed the purse clasp over the open edge and sewed remaining edge to the holes in the clasp.  I also added two buttons to hide the original chain 6 loop.  I wanted to use a silver chain for the necklace but I didn't have one strong enough for the weight of the purse.  So I made a beaded chain using random beads the same color of the purse but with different shapes.

I learned a great deal from this project.  First that beads are really heavy!  The weight pulled the circles into an oblong.  Next time I will try this with size 6 or 8 seed beads.  Also I got the purse a little off center when I was sewing it together.  I would also add another round to the circles because only a small lipstick or rolled up money will fit inside.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,  if you try this I would love to see pictures!

A Turquoise Day

Today I wanted to play with some turquoise beads I had purchased a couple months ago.  It isn't a color I work with often and it has been a challenge.  So  I got out some brass wire that was gold colored, and some bicones and squares in turquoise and black.  It is fun to make larger beads by putting several together on wire and then making wre loops at each end.  The necklace is made of 66 beads in groups of three.  It is long enough to put over my head so I don't have to mess with a clasp!  Here are some pictures.

Necklace doubled

Necklace with some of the beads I have.

Close up of beads.

Wedding Jewelry

Along with helping to craft the wedding I was also in charge of making the wedding jewelry.  I had made the jewelry for other weddings but this time it was different.  I usually made the brides maids bracelets in the wedding colors.  But the bride wanted pearl necklaces in an unusual design.  The right side of the necklace was double stranded and on the left connected to a decorative clasp and then became a single stranded necklace.  The difficult part was that I couldn't find ornate enough clasps.  So I looked for buttons and brooches.  I finally found a beautiful bow brooch with lovely rhinestones.  But it didn't seem right making the same necklace for everyone in the wedding party.  After ordering the supplies it was decided to have no bridesmaids.  Which was actually better because then I could really make different styles!  Here is my niece on her big day.

My nieces picture at the chapel

Close up of the necklace

Here you see the whole necklace.

I had a few problems at first.  The stringing wire was not strong enough so it fell apart.  Once I switched to heavier wire it worked great.  My sister sat and strung the beads again and was the major influence of how lovely it came out.  In order for the pin to go over the pearls I was going to connect the strands to the back of the pin using small pearls under the pin so it wasn't to bulky.  My sister wanted the necklace to be interchangable with different pins.  I had thought of that design but didn't know how to get the pin on over the pearls.  My sister suggested trying to use the small pearls and then pin over them.  That worked!  So now my niece can get different looks to the necklace by using other pins.  After I got it together my niece had me adjust the length three times and it was perfect!

You may have noticed that the brides flowers and handmade paper flowers.  That is another story!

If you would like to see more pictures of the wedding crafts visit my sister's blog http://paperplates-pjbeach.blogspot.com/