Bead Chat

Boasting: loomed portrait

Kathy Kostinsky — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:05:45 GMT

I haven't shown my work here for ages, for I was a bit busy - last autumn I became mom again and now my fourth child, David, takes most of my time, arms and attention.

Though in February I started and last week finished and presented a beaded portrait loomed of 15042 Toho seed beads size 11. I used 10 shades of black, grey and white.

The portrait can be seen here:

http://katenkin-biser.ru/portret/Milaeng.php

What do you think of it?

So many seed beads, what to do?

murralis — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:43:09 GMT

What are the quickest, easiest, way to use up all---- these seed beads I have acquired? Their should be some projects that will use them up "easily".

Challenge Anyone? Accepted

SEllen 2 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:00:53 GMT

I've been hearing lately a common complaint about how slow things are around here. So, I thought maybe if we did a beading challenge things might pick up.

I have 2 thoughts one would be a Mother's Day challenge we could maybe do a common colors or theme. Like hearts and flowers or whatever. We could take a poll to see what ideas are most common.kwim?

For me Mother's Day is all about FLOWERS from the coursages that she'd wear to church to the ones she wanted to recive. In all colors reds, yellows, pinks etc.

My second idea was for a June Challenge. And the one thing most people think of in June is Weddings. So we could do a Wedding Challenge theme.

Let me know what you guys think of the idea of a challenge and what theme of the challenge you would like. Would you want to do something more general like just having an earring, challenge?( We could pick any type of jewelry earring,necklace,ring etc.)

Basically, let's see if we can't get the forums energized.

And since this is a member challenge I think it would be fun to have ANY of the Interweave staff join in on the fun. I think it would be great for the forums to see their enthusiasm and joy of beading as well as their presence on the forums. Providing that their work load would allow.

What do you guys think? Any ideas?

EDITED: Go to the sixth post on this thread to see the guidelines for this challenge. Look for the Bold lettered June Wedding Challenge

DebbieR@32 are you still here?

msbookite — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:43:13 GMT

i just found a post of yours from '09. i too live in chattanooga area and am looking for a place to buy loose beads. i will be heading to HL and michaels but would love another (better) option like a free standing bead store. figured if anyone knew of one, you would! :0)

Lara

Bracelet Length

carolee1945 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:57:10 GMT

I love making bracelets, because then I can see my handiwork, and it inspires me to make more. However, I am constantly in a tizzy regarding the length of them. Either they are too short or too long. I have finally started measuring, but sometimes the pattern is such that to complete one more unit makes it too long whereas one less unit makes it too short!! Sometimes I find just the right clasp, but then it makes the bracelet too long. Also, how the bracelet is constructed affects the needed length. Some bracelet types need to be 6 1/2 inches, some 7, some 7 1/2. Any ideas on this topic would be welcome.

Question about Kumi disks

Moonlytes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:15:47 GMT

Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or what. I have been using the Beadsmith kumi disks, both large and small, only with S-lon thread and after a few necklaces the slots don't hold the thread well anymore and the braid starts distorting. Has anyone else run into this problem with the disks seemingly wearing out? I even left my disks to rest for a month and a half, as hard as it was, and it didn't make any difference. Do I need to just start buying disks in bulk?

Pet Peeve: Sterling Silver

carolee1945 — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:15:01 GMT

Yesterday, I wanted to wear a necklace I beaded that has a sterling silver clasp in the front. The silver was tarnished and looked very ugly. It was hard to clean just the clasp part, and I did not do a good job.

Why does the sterling silver jewelry from the store not tarnish as fast?

Are there clasps that look as good as sterling silver that do not tarnish?

I do not want to keep my jewelry in a plastic bag, out of sight, out of mind. I like having my necklaces and bracelets be a decoration in my bedroom and bead room. All my items with sterling silver components look bad right now. I have used the dipping method but only when the item is all sterling silver. I have bracelets where every other bead is a little sterling silver ball. These beads cost a lot, and now they look ugly. How can they be cleaned without damaging the beads around them?

Any ideas?

Fuchsia is as hard to spell as swarovski!!!

carolee1945 — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:10:30 GMT

Here is my latest project. The clasp is not right. I got a two toned button that I liked, but when I made the circle of beads, the beads showed on my wrist and just did not seem right. So, I put some crystals around the circle, but now the button does not lie flat. What do you think? (PS I think clasps and sizing is the hardest part of a bracelet)

bracelets as a photo models

armellamea — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:11:49 GMT

Sometimes I think that I'm crazy. I'm treating my bracelets as a photo models. As soon as I made it, I'm looking for a good posts for good photos, I emagine that I have my own photo session.

Is it crazy?

Marijana

http://armellamea.blogspot.com/

Is it my design or their design?

lerandia — Sun, 05 May 2013 02:12:45 GMT

At what point can you call a design yours?

Here is a familiar story. You are working on a fabulous jewelry design by another artist. At some point, through your own taste or as often is my case, you begin to make so many 'happy mistakes' that the end result looks like the original design in concept only.

So, you are wearing this hybridized design one day and someone asks, " Wow! Did you make that?" Normally, you reply, " Make? Yes. Design? No. It's a design by______." But now, you don't really know how to answer.

Do you claim it as your design inspired by the original artist's design? Do you explain that it was designed by ______, but you made 'adaptations'?

Here's an important one: Can you sell it as original art?

So, at what point does this become YOUR design? When there are 30% in deviations? 45%? 80%? What criteria for those deviations? Color? Materials? Additions? Subtractions? Layout alterations?

I'm really interested in what the community, particularly published artists, have to say on this. Also, what have other jewelry makers done in this situation? What were the results? Be as honest, logical, blunt, and brutal as possible.

Ps. I'm posting this in a few forums.

Emerald, the Pantone color for 2013!

Caroline king — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:34:25 GMT

Heard the news that the PANTONE Color of the year for 2013 is PANTONE 17-5641, emerald! I love the color desperately! With the symbolic connotation that emerald can bring us the feeling of clarity and recovery, the whim of rummaging my saved items occurred suddenly, then I got to find the frog finished by my cousin just two days ago, thought it worth a share here.

Come on, let’s have a share of the emerald crafts of any kinds, here is the frog:

Crimp Covers in colour?

TFMHSuperwench — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:49:59 GMT

Hi there,

Does anyone know if you can buy crimp covers in other colours - ie: not just silver, copper, gold and other metals - I'm wondering if they come in actual colours, like blue/red/white etc?

The reason for this is that I don't just use them for finishing and ends - I sometimes like to crimp beads into place with decorative or coloured beading wire showing in the spaces between beads, and it annoys me that I have to use silver or other boring covers on my crimps.

You can get metal jump rings in all colours, so I'm wondering why crimp covers don't seem to change other than basic metal colours?

If these don't exist - which I expect they don't - i think they should... or is it just me?

Thanks

Fire Mountain Gems ?

murralis — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:29:39 GMT

On page 102, of the Jewelery Makers Catalog of Best Seller's, 2012-2013, recommends Designaseal Clear Gloss (A38-3239TL) as something to be used to extend a seed beads life and protect beads with a metal coating. Has anyone used it and will it work? Also there is a website that it can order from FMG at the maximum items cost, Jet ???, I think. Well, has anyone tried it and is it a rip-off?

I saw this beautiful vintage slide clasp on ebay

tcwhit — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:52:33 GMT

I would never use it, but it's so great, I thought I'd share it. Not sure how to link to it, but this is the item description. The seller is pamtom96. and before anyone asks, I have no clue who it is, and have no financial interests in them. I just thought it could be awesome for someone that works in that style.

Vintage Filigree Bracelet Silver Tone Slide Lock Clasp EXC

Bead shops in Hong Kong

bwilcox — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:18:55 GMT

I'm traveling to Hong Kong soon and will be, of course, looking for bead shops. There are many places to buy beads, especially pearls.

Has anyone bought beads in Hong Kong? Any recommendations on a particularly good place? Things to look for, good and/or bad?

I always try to buy beads when I travel, so I'm excited about bringing some treasures home!

Paper beads

SueMay100 — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:41:41 GMT

I have looked a bit around the forum, and decided that this might be the place to ask.

My daughter has been doing quilling for a few years, and just started making paper beads. I am looking for ideas to help her take them to the next level. Do you know what kind of sealer is the most durable, and what kinds of patterns work well with a combination of paper beads and glass or metal beads?

So far she has made one necklace, but she has already got questions about the strength of the beading threads, and the durability of the paper beads.

Also, since she and I are true crafters and we can't just work on one project at a time, we are looking for hints on 3d beading.

Alternative to lacys?

tcwhit — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:26:29 GMT

Has anyone ever tried using regular old interfacing instead of lacys stiff stuff?

What is this and What can I do with it?

Maduka — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:26:10 GMT

Please help me I found this with my beads I don't no what it is. can any one tell me what is it and what can i do with it. thank you.

bracelets

noelohwell — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:01:28 GMT

just started making bracelets recently and here is my question...the heaviest part of the bracelet, the pretty part, tends to make it way to the underside of my wrist, and the clasp is showing on the top. I hate this. how do you weight the bracelet to keep the clasp underneath?

thanks!

Noel

Cheaper alternatives to Fireline?

redclover9418 — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:02:11 GMT

Hi everyone - I'm so proud of myself - I just bought a 125yd spool of Crystal Fireline 6lb .15mm (which = .006 for the BeadSmith equivalent) in the sporting goods section of Walmart for $15.96! (As a comparison, I paid the same for a 50yd spool at my LBS a couple months ago). I can get the same for $14 at Jet Beads but I figure the shipping cost (not to mention the llooonnngg wait to actually get it in the mail) makes it a little more than that.

Anyway - while I was practically jumping up and down with glee, my husband kept picking up other boxes of fishing line and asking me "why can't you use a cheaper kind? They all look the same but cost way less than Fireline?" And, while I didn't get the cheaper kind I thought I'd ask if anyone here has tried using a different brand of fishing line with all the same characteristics as Fireline... I'm all for buying the best products that will go into items I will eventually sell, but if I can save money and get the exact same thing, why not?

Anyone?

RAW question

tcwhit — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:12:54 GMT

Is Double right angle the same thing as Cubic right angle?

Cute Cats Wearing Jewelry Beads

Caroline king — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:15:03 GMT

Though animals cannot prefect illustrate fashion at extreme, they would not in inferior to supermodels in the “interpretation” of jewelry and accessory, especially those made with beads. This season the Christmas theme of Juicy Couture was about two cute cats to combine the vivid and interesting feature of the jewelry and the warm atmosphere of the incoming festival together. Let’s have a look at the happy or frustrated expression of the two cats, and figure out which one are their favorite items together.

What can I do with this?

windyislandacres — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:18:58 GMT

I bought this from fM 'cause it looked pretty. Five feet of "lantern" chain. 4mm. Tiny holes. I need some creative ideas!

I'M BAAAAACK!

Emma.J — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:24:12 GMT

Hi everyone!

It has been aaaages since I have been in the forums, I have just had so much crap happening. Had to move house a few months ago due to arguments with the room mate and just yesterday my car has now been considered a 'total loss' due to excess water getting into it over the Australia Day long weekend and now has a MAJOR mould problem.. drama drama drama!!! But, a new place, a new car, a pay raise and a holiday plan in progress and it's only just gone February.. who said 13 was an unlucky number?!

But that doesn't mean that I haven't been keeping up with my beading! Au contraire, I have been doing heaps. My friend opened up a shop a while back and has put my stuff in, asking only for commission on the items that sell. I had a few orders over Christmas and recently made a heap of beaded roses for the upcoming Valentine's Day, so hopefully they shift I have also been doing alot more work on my beading loom.. I am not sure whether I showed you all my HUGE project from Halloween, I kight have to troll the showcase section to see if I did..

But I did miss you all dearly! Now I am getting back into the swing of things, I can get back into socialising with you all Talk soon!

Emma
xXx

Where can i find these beads?

saabaru92x — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:37:34 GMT

Hello every1, I have been looking for a certain type of bead for an art/service project at our church camp, IF anyone knows what they're called or where to find them i would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Here's a link to what I'm thinking, the beads with two holes so it wont flip around: http://www.holytrinitystore.com/icon-bracelet-sc186.html

Thanks again!