Category Archives: Fiber

Color, Fiber, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work

Fun with Fiber

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From time to time I have attempted to add fiber to my designs, but haven’t had much luck. I’m not sure whether I just don’t like the look of fiber or I don’t like the look of fiber the way I use it. My bet is on the latter! Yet, seeing the fiber adorned designs of other jewelry makers participating in Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup, mentioned a few posts ago, I decided to try again.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Britex Fabrics (www.britexfabrics.com)  in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. My daughter and I had allotted ourselves 45 minutes before we needed to hop a trolley and move on. It wasn’t enough time! There are multiple floors to this shop but I went straight up to the third floor filled with notions. I was pretty overwhelmed by the ribbons, trims, cords and buttons and had to keep talking to myself about remaining focused on what I needed. The pieces below utilize a couple of the ribbons I purchased.

The pendant for the blue piece below is polymer clay and made by Nora Pero of Austin, TX. I intended to use the ribbon around the back of the piece, but used too many beads and then realized it wouldn’t show. I’m pleased with the colors.

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The bright piece below is whimsical and initiated with the torch enameled owl. I like the amber in it and appreciate the lightness it brings both in color and weight. I also used some faceted carnelian which hangs from the handmade chain. I thought the ribbon was a good match.

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The challenge for me with fiber seems to now be how to do something besides a side bow. The additional challenge is to find one of the boutiques I serve or an independent customer who will like the look of fiber.

Fiber, Necklaces, Wire Work

Flying in Circles-Bead Soup Reveal

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A prior post discussed bead soup and displayed photos of the lovely mixture of beads and findings that I received from Laura Demoya,  http://www.thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com/

Each of us involved in the bead soup event were given a specific date to reveal what we designed with the soup that we received. Today is my day.

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When I received the bead soup, I was intrigued by the little purple ceramic bird shown. It made me think about the little critters that pass by my window as I work. This bird was made by Pajego Art House http://www.etsy.com/shop/PajegoArtHouse?ref=seller_info and was intended as a clasp. I decided to use it as a main embellishment in the necklace rather than as it was intended. The round pendant in the center is from White Clover Kiln http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteCloverKiln?ref=shop_sugg .

Before telling you more about the necklace, I’d like you to know more about the birds outside my window. The large window in my studio provides a hazard for some of the birds here at the ranch. They fly under the front porch roof and crash their little heads into the window. As my cat has grown older and become a bit slower in catching the birds from her tree perch, she has learned that if she is patient and sits on the outside window sill, a bird may crash into the window and become stunned long enough for her to capture it. I’ve tried to tell her that this is cheating, but she just doesn’t get it. It often seems to me that the birds go round and round in uneven circles as they try to figure out whether or not they can fly right into my studio.

The aforementioned tale explains the conception of the shape of the copper wire armature as well as the name of the necklace. I freeform manipulated the wire to go around as the birds sometimes do in flight.

It seemed obvious to me that the ceramic bird should be wired onto the armature. Yet, this little bird had different ideas. Each time I secured it with wire, I then held up the piece and the little bird turned upside down. I tried various wire gauges, said both nice and then harsh words to the inanimate object, but to no avail. He still hung upside down. Then I spotted the ribbon Laura sent in the soup. After I wrapped this around the back of the bird several times, he finally stayed in place. (Notice this bird became a “he” bird when I started having trouble with it.)

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The rest of this piece needs little explanation as it was simply embellished with the beads as I wired them into place. It was a very pleasant process after I finally secured that bird right side up. The handmade chain in the back also sports bead links and a handmade clasp. The wire armature and handmade chain were dipped in Liver of Sulphur and then went for a couple of hours ride in the tumbler. At the same time, I dipped and tumbled the light gauge wire that I used for attaching the embellishments.

This was enjoyable to make and Laura afforded me the opportunity to work with ceramic pieces from another designer as well as to use crystals which I seldom work with. I used the other beads and sterling silver clasp in the other necklace shown below. The amethyst drusy focal for this piece is from Magpie Gemstones (www.magpiegemstones.com) Thanks to Lori Anderson for her grand organization of the bead soup project and for letting me participate.

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As for flying in circles . . . I fear I do a good bit of that inside my studio and I really should slow down and relax more before I end up just as confused as some of those poor outside fliers!

Numerous other designers are revealing their bad soup pieces today. You will find their addresses at the following http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2012/06/participants-of-6th-bead-soup-blog.html .

Fiber, Pendants, Philosophy

Simmering with Bead Soup

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One of my favorite Christmas presents was given me by brother and sister piano students Amy and (now doctor) Mathew Bridges) one year. It was a dry bean soup that their father (Dr. Bob Bridges) put together and it included a recipe for use of the contents. I so enjoyed the resultant soup, that I’ve made and given the mix many times as gifts to others.

Recently, I decided to engage in another type of soup making and joined a group organized by Lori Anderson  http://www.prettythingsblog.com/ . This is the 6th time she has organized Bead Soup for those of us who wanted to stir things up. Briefly, she partnered each jewelry designer with another beader and the two of us exchanged beads that included a minimum of a focal piece, a clasp and some other beads. each of us sent our soup mix to our partner and are currently working to make something with the mix.

I’m fortunate to have Dr. Laura Demoya of Dallas as my partner. She writes a blog called The Bead Therapist ( http://www.thebeadtherapist.blogspot.com/ ) and when she’s not wrangling patients or family, she makes beautiful jewelry. Below is a set of photos of what Laura sent me.

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I’m a bit embarrassed that I just sent her the soup I mixed in a bubble envelope when she created such a pretty package. I guess I’m just more of a bubble envelope kind of gal.

In the next couple of weeks, I will work with the contents shown in the last photo and create one or two pieces of jewelry. We’re set to reveal our makings on July 28th; so keep your eyes out for what’s on the back burner simmering right now. It’s smelling pretty good . . .

This is definitely a different type soup from that given me so long ago by my students. For one thing, there was no recipe included in Laura’s package. Yet, the mix still holds promise for satisfaction and it’s likely that some idea generated while using this soup can be passed on to others as I create new things.

Bracelets, Fiber, Techniques, Tutorials

Let’s Wrap

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wrap ball

I’ve recently become intrigued with wrap style bracelets and the many variations thereof. They are quick and fairly easy to make and the cost of materials is usually quite nominal. I realize these have been around forever, but the resurgence of them within the broader market causes me to rethink their myriad of possibilities. For example, take a look on the Nordstrom’s website and search wrap bracelets. There you’ll find some rather expensive ones ($128 and up) that don’t look much different than those you see that I’ve made.

There are some good free online tutorials that show the process for wrap bracelets. For example, The following link takes you to the DIY tutorial for the bracelets pictured above: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1t8Exa/honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-wrap-bracelet/

These are made with leather, ball chain and waxed linen thread. They’re easy as pie.(not that making a pie from scratch is that easy . . . ) I started making them with the regular silver colored ball chain and then found a package of the colored chain at Hobby Lobby. My customers like the colored chain. I also made, but failed to get a picture before it left home, a bracelet with beads instead of the chain. I simply strung beads, crimping at both ends, and used them in the place of the chain. This is a bit trickier, but provides many color and texture choices. I also made one wherein I used colored cord from the fabric department from . . . you guessed it, Hobby Lobby, . . . in place of the chain.

The second tutorial is slightly more complicated, but still easy. I watched a video on the Auntie’s Beads site http://www.auntiesbeads.com/Wrap-Bracelets-Video_p_9111.html) and then made the turquoise and leather bracelet below. I used 6 lb. test Fireline (from the Walmart fishing department) to make my bracelet. This style provides many options for variation.

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I made a bracelet that looks just about like the above, but used a different technique. I hand sewed the seed beads between the leather pieces, again using Fireline. The one below wraps around the wrist four times.

sewn wrap Finally, I “borrowed” the idea for the braided bracelet from the Nordstrom’s website. They show a braided bracelet made with two pieces of leather, using the ball chain as the third braiding element. I didn’t have round leather and used multicolored cord. There’s really nothing novel about the braided version, but I had not thought of using chain it it before. You can just barely see the orange ball chain in the picture below but it’s there. Now I’m wondering about a plethora of other things that could be braided with the leather or cord. Any ideas?

wrap braid This may not be the kind of wrapping some of you were thinking about from the title. But I just can’t do the other RAP. If you can, go right ahead without me, but I’m sticking to this kind of wrapping and that’s a wrap for today.