There's a First Time For Everything

Well, almost a first time anyway.  I've rarely had nothing to show of my efforts for a whole week but this time I sure don't.  I haven't had a chance to work on anything this past week plus my mojo seems to have disappeared.  No ideas coming to mind.  What others call their "muse" I guess.  I've never had a muse so I have no idea what that would do to help me.  Plus being busy with other things that need my attention.  I call it life getting in the way.  :) 

I do know I'm VERY anxious to get back to the torch and make beads so it could be that's blocking any creative flow in making jewelry ?  Or maybe I'm just bored ?  Or maybe it's time to start something new ?  I have just about everything I need to start etching on copper.  But if I'm that anxious to get back to the torch, that might be too much of a distraction to start something new.  lol !  I'll just have to figure it all out and get to it !  geesh..............

As for an absolute first time for everything - over the weekend DH and I went to the nearest outlet mall and I discovered a new to me shoestore !  The shoes actually FIT and are actually COMFORTABLE.  I was shocked because for me, it's always been a HUGE challenge to find both of those traits in a shoe.  I have a rather large foot.  The brand is SAS and yes, they are pricey but for me, who has so much trouble, the price is worth me not having that shoe shopping headache !  YAY !  I bought only one pair of shoes there but my goodness, are they AWESOME ~!  I also went into Easy Spirit which the tennis shoes will usually fit but they usually don't have my size and again had another first !  I told the sales lady the size I needed and she started pulling shoes out left and right !  That store NEVER had my size in stock the three times I had been there before !  It was a good shoe day for me.  I bought 4 pairs of tennis shoes at BOGO at 1/2 off.  I'm set for a VERY long time on shoes !  :))

Since I have no new beads or jewelry to show, I'm putting up a few pics of some older things I made.  I hope you enjoy the little show.  :)

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

 

 

Beaded Kumihimo - The Learning Continues

It's been one of those weeks that seemed to just fly by yet while going thru it seemed to move so slowly.  lol !  Does that even make sense ?  I don't know but that's how it felt.  :) 

I had time for only one beaded kumihimo project and that was a stretch.  Just so many other things happening.  At least some of those things were things I was able to accomplish something worthwhile.  ;)  So, on to the one bracelet I did make last week. 

I always wanted to do something in just yellow.  I love the color yellow.  It's a bright, happy color and has always made me smile.  Whenever I make bright color beads, yellow is the first color I reach for.  So it just made sense to do this bracelet.  I used yellow cording and clear beads.  I wanted the yellow color to come thru the beads.  A perfect match.  :) 

The second thing I wanted to do was add a slider bead as a closure.  This makes this bracelet adjustable to fit lots of different size wrists.  Pretty nifty idea !   This has been done before and I saw it on a forum I belong to and I've wanted to try it with a lampwork bead.  Evidently I didn't have the right size mandrel for that purpose so I bought some thinking they would work.  According to my calculations, they shouldn't work.  They measure too big but I will give them a try when I get back to making beads. 

 I decided to try something else for the time being - the little beads that fit onto those European bracelets.  That's the middle bead on the bracelet below with the tiny crystals in it.  The hole seemed big enough and sure enough they slide right on.  Problem is, they also don't hold tight enough.  That said, I began a search and found an insert that might help it to hold.   If that insert doesn't work then there is another one, different size and shape that might work.  So whatever ends up happening, I'll figure out how to make it hold.  Making a clasp type closure like this is pretty cool and less expensive than adding all the findings on the ends.  :) 

Two versions of the same bracelet.  First photo shows the bracelet with two of my lampwork beads on the ends.  The second photo shows it with what is called "stopper beads"  on the ends.  I didn't have any gold color stopper beads so had to use the silver color ones.  Both the lampwork and the stopper beads worked great ! 

So, what do you think ?   I love it.  :) 

That's all for now.  Thanks so much for coming by.  I hope you come back again soon for a visit.  Please leave a comment.  I love reading what you have to say.  :) 

A Week Later......................

Doesn't seem like it's been a whole week already but that's what the calendar says.  This past week sure went fast.  I've kept busy still playing with beaded kumihimo.  It's so addicting, alot of fun and can be very interesting too.  I explored using new to me types/shapes of beads.  Some fun, some not fun at all.  lol !  So without further ado, here's what I've been up to.................

The first photo is of the three bracelets that made it thru to the end.  lol !  On the left, glass pony beads.  Yep.  I didn't know they exsisted and the ones I used are not uniform in shape at all which makes that bracelet really cool !  I love the texture of it even though it's hard to see in the photo.  And CHUNKY.  Pretty big in diameter measuring in at 13 mm !  And yet it's not heavy at all.  The one on the right - those are tiny glass lentil beads in sizes 6mm and 8mm.  I can safely say and promise right now I will NEVER use those 6mm lentils EVER again. What a pain to string.  The 8mm, maybe.  And that bracelet measures in at almost 15mm and it's not heavy either.  My favorite of the three, the yellow, orange and red one.  LOVE it !  It has 6mm, 8mm seed beads and square seed beads in it.  Reminds me of fruit salad !  YUM.   

I wanted to showcase this lampwork bead I made long ago and never had a chance to use it in anything.  Finally came up with this beaded kumi necklace.  I'm not a lover of green anything but this necklace turned out pretty I think.  :)  I'm happy with it. 

The last necklace was more a test than anything but I think it turned out pretty ok.  It's got 3 different size seed beads in it again with 6mm, 8mm and square.  All are clear and it's braided on multicolor cording.  Enjoyable.  :)   

Not sure what this upcoming week will bring but am looking forward to doing more playing of course.  Today though, I am off to play on my torch !!!!!!!!!!!   YAY !  It's finally just cool enough I can make beads again.  At least for a little while this morning. 

Thanks so much for coming by.  Please come back again soon to see what's happening in my neck of the woods - literally.  lol ! 

Keeping it Fresh - Post Edited

Post removed.  It was time as it was a bit outdated.  As much as beaded Kumihimo was a huge part of my life for a time, it no longer is therefore the clean up continues. 

I am back to what I have always love doing - making glass beads - melting glass - lampworking - flameworking - torching.  Whatever one wants to call it.  It has been a part of my soul for over 10 years (on and off due to no torching in the summer) and always will be.  I even quit for about a 2 year period thinking that was it.  Uh uh, nope, it sure wasn't.  I've been back now for a while and LOVE IT just as much as I first did.  Only difference now is I'm back to simple, basic stuff.  My hands are older and can tolerate only so much.  lol !  Anyway, sorry this is not what you were expecting when you clicked on the link. 

Come on over to my Facebook page for a look.  There are beads that would be PERFECT for adding to your beaded or not beaded kumihimo piece.  Also have hand dyed silk cords there as well as in my Etsy shop. 

My Facebook page link  https://www.facebook.com/AllMyBeads

Thanks for coming by.  Please feel free to check out all my other Blog pages. 

Some eye candy for you.  My bellflower headpins/charms.  On my Facebook page for sale.

 

Bracelet and Earring set made with my own lampwork beads on my Facebook page for sale.

 

Silver and gunmetal beaded Kumi bracelet. Fits three sizes.  Contact me on my Facebook page or Etsy shop if interested in this bracelet.