Nothing New But At Least I'm Having a Little Fun !

Well, it would seem I've abandoned beading with a loom already.  As much as I enjoy the finished product, I just don't have the time or patience for it right now.  Too many other things on my plate, so to speak, at the moment. 

I guess you could say I've gone back to arts/crafts I've already established myself in and still love to create/play with them.  Some things, I just never tire of nor do I intend to give up ever.  I might walk away for a time but I always come back.  Lately, the bead muse just isn't calling to me so I've backed off a bit.  I did have some torch time recently and enjoyed my time there but it was enough for the time being.  I've come back to Kumihimo too and LOVE what I've been doing with that as well.  In fact, so much so I've made at least 4 regular flat braids in just the past week.  Beaded Kumihimo is a lot of fun however the age old tradition of regular kumihimo, with no beads added, using my wonderful Maurdai, also turns out lovely pieces.  Pictures below are the few I did make this past week.  I LOVE the colorways of these pieces so much so that I've used up the hand dyed satin cording that's in the first photo.  I'm hoping I can get more.  All of them are made with hand dyed satin cording I've had for some time.  The colors in all three braids are stunning !  And really, the pictures do the colors no justice at all !  They are must see in person to truly appreciate !  All three of these braids are in my Etsy shop now.   

 

Ok, wanna see some beads too ?  No problem.  I did do some torching on and off for a couple of weeks and the outcome is several bouquets.  Photo's just below.  I won't be posting much if anything over the next month so better put these up now.  The first bouquet is now in my Etsy Shop.  These were "extra" flowers after making the other two bouquets.  Those were special order bouquets and are now happily with their new owners.  The second photo is missing a white rose that came with it.  I just forgot to add it when I photographed it but it looks like the orange one in the top photo.  Enjoy ! 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the eye candy !  Thanks so much for coming by !  Please come back again soon ! 

      

The Old of it and The New of it

It has been a busy couple of weeks here and I've dabbled in some new and some old crafty/artsy things along with getting a couple made to order orders in the works. 

I wanted to venture into something new and decided to find that cheapy beading loom I bought a long time ago.  As it's known here I have made jewelry using the peyote stitch and made a couple of beaded dolls using bead embroidery.  Figured it was time to give the loom a go.  I really love the look of seed bead embroidery and stitching.  Found the loom and began.  Eye, eye eye !  Warping that darned thing drove me INSANE !  The key word to using that loom is cheapy and it sure made life difficult -  but I pursued !  Used the cheapy beads that came with the kit and wha la, I FINALLY finshed this "piece".  It's nothing in particular, just wanted to give it a go to see if I wanted to continue. 

 The really hard part of using this loom I have is it is too flat.  I had to sit one end of it up on a box of tissue.  lol !  Made life much easier.  Also, I started this piece at the wrong end of the warps !  lol !  When I got to the end of the loom, I had to work backwards to be able to keep going.  lol !  It worked but I wouldn't recommend doing that.  

Once I finished this piece, I decided I have to try one more just to see if I really wanted to continue pursuing this new venture.  I picked out some of my own seed beads this time, found a pattern I wanted to try and got started.  It was still difficult to warp the darned thing but after a fight I finally got it done and began.  The pattern was super easy to follow and I just got on a roll.  The outcome is just below.  I like how it turned out but made it too long to use as a bracelet and too short for a hatband which is what the pattern is for.  lol !  I didn't warp enough thread.  Oh well, such is life.  Maybe one of these days I'll figure out what to do with it.  lol !

 

So the question is:  Do I want to continue with this beading on a loom ?  I'm on the fence about it.  If I do, I will buy another loom before giving it another go.  There are a couple of looms I have in mind.  I have enough seed beads that's for sure.  This shall be continued at a later date.  :)

 

So that's the new of it.  The old of it, I made a couple kumihimo braids !  It was fun !  These are flat braids, no beads in them.  I used my Marudai for both and enjoyed making those movements again.  Might have to make more.  These are in my Etsy shop now.  These would be GREAT for handfasting.  I made them with hand dyed satin cording.  LOVE the colorways of both.  :)  I left the ends unfinished that way the purchaser can finish or decorate the ends as they wish.  These are LONG too measuring 48" and 43" long.

 

 

That's all for now.  Thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again soon. 

 

  

Finally - A Little Something

It's been a very long couple of weeks with little to do - or so I kept telling myself.  A broken foot can be prohibitive afterall !!  lol !  Finally I've come out of the "funk" I was in.  Figured I could sit and mope about being bored or do something about it.  lol !  I did something about it and am having fun again !  I can't make beads right now but I sure can do other crafty things. 

I dug into my seed bead cabinet and decided it was time to start foolin' around with the long magatama's again.  They look so darned nice in jewelry any way one uses them.  I am fascinated with their shape to begin with.  This is an ingenious shape in my opinion.  lol !  Right now, I can think of a few ways to incorporate them into necklaces, bracelets and earrings and that's about it however,  I'm thinking they would look great in some bead embroidery as well.  I haven't tried that but it certainly would add some dimension to a piece.  I'm guessing someone somewhere has tried it although I haven't seen it yet.  If anyone out there has seen them used in a embroidered piece, please drop me a note and let me know cause I'd LOVE to see it ! 

Anyway, so far, I've put together 3 pieces using these little seed bead gems.  One is a finished necklace I think I'm going to wear at a wedding.  The other two are waiting to be finished.  I need a couple of supplies I had to order and am waiting on.  I found a new way to finish off the ends I want to try and need those supplies to do it.  I'll talk more about that in my next post.  :) 

In the picture below, the gold and silver necklace is finished and the perfect length for me.  It took me a little longer than "normal" to braid it because I hadn't made a beaded kumihimo necklace in a VERY long time.  lol !  I think it turned out very pretty.  I've always wanted a piece with silver and gold in it.  I intend to make earrings to match and possibly a bracelet that I'd wear separately.  

The other two are also necklaces but as I mentioned before, they're unfinished.  Don't ya just hate waiting on parts ??  lol !  I love the way both have turned out !!  I'll post full pictures of everything when they are finished and give details.  :) 

 I must say, it feels GREAT to be productive again !  I am enjoying beaded braiding again too after a LONG hiatus.  Thankfully, I had just about all I needed to get these necklaces up and running.  :)

Time to get my day started.  Thanks so much for coming by !  I hope you come back again very soon !