Yep, Still Here - Still Kickin' - Creatin' Again

I admit, I'm not the most creative nor the most talented but, I enjoy what I do.  :)  Isn't that the whole idea behind crafting afterall ?  So because I am a crafter, I have tried MANY, MANY arts and crafts over the years.  I have discovered there are some things worth coming back to afterall.  lol !  I thought I had left behind beading on a loom (that was not that long ago either).  Nope.  For whatever reason, I just went for it again.  Only this time, I used a much smaller bead - 11/0's !  Not sure what I was thinking when I did that but that's what's cookin'.  lol !   

I am "in process" now and am still discovering new things with this form of beading.  So I'll start from my beginning this go round. 

No photo for this part but part 1 of course is stringing the loom.  This particular loom lies flat so I have to hold it up in one hand to get the thread on properly.  I did NOT follow the you tube instructions like the last 2 times. I just did it "my" way and was done with it.  lol !  It's probably the wrong way but I didn't think I'd get into it like I am.  lol !  Figures.

Photo #1 - Part 2 -  This is my set up for now.  When I was "playing" with this the last time I said no more until I got a new loom.  HA !  Never got it.  The top part of the loom is leaning on a drawer from my jewelry making supplies set up !  lol !  At least my fingers can fit under there !  lol !  I'm still looking at what loom to buy !  lol !  
  

 

Photo #2 - Part 3 -   I'm making the same pattern I made on the very first attempt at beading with a loom.  Those beads were a huge 6/0 size bead.  These are the 11/0's.  Yeah, quite a difference !  lol !  What was I thinking ??  I guess I'm a glutton for punishment !  sigh.   Colors are  dark copper and cream soda. 

    

 

Photo #3 - Part 4 - This is basically what I work on.  My desk with a beading pad on it then the loom.  Well, it just isn't working that well.  The beading pad has a tendency to slip and slide especially when I have to put the magnifying glass on it !  That's the black oval shaped thing to the right.  Then when the pad slips and slides of course the whole loom slides off the plastic jewelry supplies drawer !  UGH ! Re-set it all - again !  :(  There has to be a better way !  I'll figure it out.  Oh wait - I NEED A NEW LOOM !  LOL ! 

 

 

The bigger picture.  This is my work space.  Yeah, lots of stuff to distract me.  That little guy to the left (my first grandbaby) being held by my oldest is the BIGGEST distraction of all !  lol !  Anyway, I must say the adjustable arm magnifying lens is FANTASTIC and a big help !  I have several projects in view that need to be finished or worked on and they ain't gettin' done !  lol !  When I need a break from looking at those darned tiny beads, I look at my bead porn on top of the drawers in front of me !  lol !       

 

 

Since these photo's are only showing about an hours worth of work, I still have a long way to go.  This one will hopefully be a bracelet.  We'll see how the ends turn out but that's what I'm shootin' for.   I am still learning, still in process.  :)  A few things that need to get better are:  Stringing the loom properly, getting the right tension, using beads that are a little easier to see and work with, working in a spot that is not so distracting !  lol !  

Oh, and I didn't get to that new thing I mentioned in the previous post.  That's coming next week.  :)

 

Thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again soon !     

 

 

 

It's Been Too Long - Again and Now With More Kumihimo

Yes well, that's pretty much all I had been able to do in the past couple of months.  lol !  With a broken foot, there's not a lot that one can do or is suppose to be doing.  lol !  The doc said stay off it so I did.  I saw the doc this past Monday and the foot has about another 3 to 4 weeks of healing to go but at least the darned boot is off !  Yay !  That said, he gave me a funky looking shoe to wear until we meet again in a few weeks.  That "shoe" hurts my foot worse than the injury itself.  :(  Onward and Upward as it were. 

First of all, I never did find out what is the actual cause of that previous issue I was having.  The end part being "loose".  It seems to come and go.  Doesn't happen with every necklace.  I made another necklace since and it didn't happen with that one.  Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out in the future.

I did manage to make a few things and finish them up last week.  Photo's are below.   A necklace for my niece in spring colors.  Which I should of mailed this past week and for some reason it's still sitting on my desk.  A bracelet which was fun to make.  I used three sizes of seed beads including 8/0's, 6/0's and magatamas and three colors.  I really like how it turned out.  It kinda reminds me of a dragon's back.  :)  Then the wire wrapped earrings.  I saw some like these on a glass forum, searched the web to find the tutorial (it's a freebie), found it and made these two pair.  Of course they are FAR from perfect but they were kinda fun to make.  One pair is copper and the second pair is made with rose gold color wire.  These are the last kumihimo items I've made.  I'll make more I'm sure.  I have ALOT of seed beads in all shapes and sizes I can use but the magatama's are the ones I like using the best in kumi.  They just make the pieces more dramatic and prettier I think.  

With those pieces done, I took a few days and did nothing as far as jewelry or any crafts are concerned.  Needed a bit of a break.  Then it was time to get back to something.  So I have begun a foray into something new to me - beading on a loom !  lol !  Why not ?  I've tried many things using beads. This is one art/craft I had never tried.  I will write more about this new adventure in an upcoming post. 

Photo's of the last couple of kumi pieces I did and the wired earrings.

 

 

 

 

So until next time, thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again sometime soon.  If you have a couple minutes, check out my Etsy shop.  There may be something in there you like.  :)  Also, I will be posting some new items in the next couple of days.