Fiber Kumihimo Necklace with a Heart

Fiber Kumihimo Necklace

with a Heart

 

Last week, we were on Cape Cod for Thanksgiving week. We celebrated with about 15 family members with the usual Pinochle games, ping pong, Oh - Hell, Sequence, more Pinochle and of course eating.

 

 

I took along a bag full of jewelry projects and managed to make two - three wrap leather bracelets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My main project, however, was to make a Fiber Kumihimo necklace to go with a heart shaped pendant I had in my stash. Before we left, I made a trip to our local yarn shop, Auntie Zaza's Fiber Works.

 

 

I noticed, when I had visited before, that she had some long samples of yarn in various textures and colors. Perfect for my current project. I picked out two bundles and brought them with me to the Cape.

 

 

Our family did not arrive until Tuesday so I had time to "play". And play I did. It took five different tries to get a color mixture I liked.

 

 

 

 

Finally, I loaded up my Kumihimo disk and the first inch (my test patch) looked good with the Heart Pendant. I now had a project to work on watching TV or just chatting with family. I finished the length needed but I needed to add the pendant (that took some fiddling) and the clasp.

 

 

And the results:

 

 

 

It is hard to see in the picture but it is a combination of several violets and purple with a hint of green in both the necklace and pendant. I added several strands that I had from previous projects.

 

I have two more similar pendants and may make more like this one.

 

So, what do you think? Let me know.

 

 

 

Oh, yes the other combination. It may take longer to choose colors and find a pendant. I wonder what that one will look like?

It should be fun figuring it out though.

 

 

 

 

Kumihimo Gifts

Kumihimo Gifts

 

 

This week's "feature" is Kumihimo bracelets and necklaces. The discount will be 20%.

 

 

 

Click here or on the picture to see my Kumihimo video.

 

Here is a video of just the Kumihimo bracelets made with Magatama seed beads

 

 

I noticed that I used very different music in these videos. If you watch both, let me know which you prefer.

 

Kumihimo bracelets listed on my website can be seen here.

 

 

 

Kumihimo necklaces can be seen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember the catch. Well, not really a catch but some direction. Because my web cart does not allow me to give discounts, you need to send me an email if you have questions or want to purchase at the discounted price.

 

Let me know what you would like by sending me an email.

 

Jewelry Classes

Jewelry Classes

from Ring by Ring Designs (me)

 

Most of you are aware that in addition to jewelry designing and producing different pieces, I love to teach, especially Chain Maille and lately Kumihimo.

 

Lots of people ask me "Why teach people how to do what you do?"

 

 

 

 

Well, that is rather simple, well, sort of simple. First many people are not willing to pay the price, particularly, for the Chain Maille that I make. Showing them how will either get one of two results.

 

 

 

They love it as much as I do and are very pleased with their results or else, they now realize how much time it takes and how it is not as easy as they thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That response usually brings them to the appreciation of the amount of work that goes into Chain Maille (plus and maybe most important, the cost of the silver used).

 

 

 

Now, they will understand the prices I have to charge for a piece of hand made Chain Maille. Some have even said I don't charge enough. :-)

 

 

 

 

I've been able to share Kumihimo lately with the local Easton Library Beaders.

 

 

 

 

 

A very great group to teach who have taken the craft in many directions. I also teach Kumihimo at Beadcache, a local bead store in Mansfield, MA.

 

 

 

 

 

Kumihimo can have completely different looks depending on the choice of materials used. The bracelet above is made with seed beads.

 

 

This necklace is made with strands of fibers and has a shell pendant attached.

 

 

 

 

This bracelet used long Magatama beads and seed beads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've also taught at my home. Makes it easier for me.

 

 

 

Awhile ago (you can tell by the quality)  I made a short video of some choices for a specific Chain Maille Bracelet. Click here or on the picture to see the video.

 

 

 

Anyone interested let me know.

 

Gemstone Pendants

Gemstone Pendants

(new ones)

 

A few weeks ago I made a trip to my gemstone supplier, Two Guys Fossils.

 

 

 

This is the pendant I made for my friend who was looking for a gift for a friend (See this post awhile ago - Christmas already.)  This pendant is sold but I purchased many others and here they are

 

Some of my favorite stones, Picture Jasper and then of course Malachite and Lapis Lazuli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They come with an 18 inch silver plate chain. If you want a different length just ask. Here is a picture of a Malachite pendant with a chain.

 

 

 

 

 

These gemstone pendants make great gifts. They go well with different outfits and are one of a kind gift as no two stones are exactly alike.

 

Here is a link to all the various pendants available.

 

 

I will send a picture of the exact gemstone to make sure you will like what you order.

 

 

Spiro Pendant Revisited again

Spiro Pendant

Revisited again

 

Awhile ago I showed the new Spiro Pendant I had made. It was available in several colors and I showed a picture of the crystals but not made up.

 

Since then I was able to make up three more. Well, one is in the same color, one in green and one in Golden Shadow.

 

Here is the original color I showed, Bermuda Blue:

 

 

 

and here is Green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bermuda Blue shown on a chain

 

 

 

 

OK, where is a picture of th Golden Shadow?

 

Well, I hate to admit it but my comfy chair ate it! I'm not kidding. We turned the chair upside down and looked in all the crevices, flash light in hand and it is no where to be found. Darn! I dropped it while sitting in the chair, on the left side and abracadabra it disappeared.

 

I did find several missing beads, a dime, and some legos but no Spiro. Go figure.

 

Well, I've added these two to the website. Hope you will enjoy having them available.

 

 

Pop on Top Bracelets

Pop on Top Bracelets

(new ones)

 

When we lived in Hemlock, NY I used to teach several different sewing classes at a fabric store in Honeoye. One of the perks of the class was that I was always making shirts for my family to show how it was done.

 

 

 

I demonstrated how to cut, sew and finish, usually shirts with ribbed necks (above) or the more popular collar and placket 3 button openings. My husband still wears some. (He never throws out anything - but that is another story)

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I taught Kumihimo for the Beading group at the Ames Library recently, I found a similar perk. I now have 3 new bracelets.

 

 

 

 

It took me awhile to actually finish them with clasps since I really only showed finishes and did not do it in the class time. Now I've finished them!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I used the pattern from Sally Battis that she calls "Pop on Top".

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've made Kumihimo bracelets with the long Magatama beads before and I really like them but sometimes they seem a bit thick and bulky to wear.

 

 

 

 

This pattern uses seed beads for the bottom part

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and the Magatama beads to "Pop on the Top" of the bracelet. You may notice that I used different beads in this example and not Magatamas. Good catch!

 

 

 

 

 

Now that these are finished, I've added them to my website. You can see/purchase them here.

 

Where's Waldo?

Where's Waldo?

or a pair of earrings?

 

 

 

 

Not sure about you but I have a habit of removing my jewelry after I sit down in my comfy chair and putting the pieces in a dish on the table next to me. It works well until I want to put on a pair the next day. That's when I'm reminded of "Where's Waldo?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really, can you see a pair of earrings in that dish? I keep picking an earring, one at a time, until I find a pair. (Most are silver but have different designs. So, they do look almost alike)

 

 

 

 

 

Which reminds me of the question "In the dark,if you have 6 different color pairs of socks in a drawer, how many pairs do you need to pull out to make sure you have a matching pair?"  (I'll post the answer at the end)

 

 

So, I decided to pull everything out of the dish and just see what's what.

 

 

 

It was easy to sort out the bracelet and two necklaces and yes the rings were easy too. The earrings, not so much. The pearls kept rolling for more fun.

 

 

 

Here is a picture after I matched things.

 

 

 

 

I know, looks about the same because it is hard to see in the picture. I will tell you that some did not make a pair. See the lonely copper earring on the top left?

 

 

To be fair, I must admit that in addition to the dish, there is a pile of jewelry next to the dish. Mostly heavier necklaces and bracelets but I found a few earrings hiding in the pile. Here is a picture, with the additions, sorted out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't find the missing copper earring but I did find another pair of copper earrings, plus several other pairs. The pearls kept rolling even though the surface was fairly flat. One pair ended up in the rings.

 

I would love to say I did something "smart" once they were sorted but I put them back in the dish, a little more organized. I know, they are still in the "Where's Waldo?" mess.

 

I discovered something else, they need to be cleaned. Next project.

 

 

I've been busy making other things and the cleaning will come soon. I usually have a fall cleaning of all my silver pieces. The humidity is gone and they'll stay clean longer.

 

 

Oh, to answer my question about the 6 different colored socks, you need to pull out 6 pairs of socks to make sure you have a matching pair. Did you "get" that?

 

So, am I the only one with "messy" jewelry storage like this?

 

Until next time,

Hooked on Leather

Hooked On Leather

(new bracelet)

 

 

One of my favorite on-line suppliers is Jamie North of Glitz 'n Kitz.  She has great supplies of seed beads, magatamas and leather.

 

 

 

 

I've shown several bracelets I've made from her magatamas before. (Available on-line)

 

Very popular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This time I tried one of her "Hooked on Leather" kits. It is hard to find things to make for guys. (I have 4 grandsons and two sons-in-law - I know)

 

 

 

 

So, when I saw these, I had to try them. Here is one in Blue leather with a nice open star slider.

 

 

 

 

And one in an orange/brown multi color leather with a dome slider.

 

 

 

There are many choices of leather (some more masculine than these) Black, brown, green, etc and different slider shapes.Stars, buttons, X's, skulls, butterflies and many more.

 

 

I've added these to the website and you can see/purchase them there.

 

 

If you are interested in different colors please send me an email so we can choose a bracelet you will love.

 

 

Christmas already?

Christmas already?

(I need some help)

 

We all hate the stores that start stocking Christmas items already. I heard a new term the other day. "Hallothanksmas"

 

 

 

It implies what we all know, that fall holidays are coming faster and faster each year.

 

 

So this request may seem just like the stores but I really need your help.

 

I'm planning items I need to have available for your shopping pleasure. ;-)

 

 

 

 

I was surprised the other day when someone was asking to purchase a gemstone pendant and I didn't have any in stock. I had given them as gifts myself this past summer. Not only that but I was low on gemstones and also did not have any bails to make the pendants. Wow!

 

 

 

 

 

So, this week I've scheduled a trip to Two Guys Fossils for gemstones and the local bead shop for bails.

 

I'd rather not have to turn away business but need to have some ideas of what you might be looking for in the future holiday shopping season. (I didn't lose this business but I might have)

 

 

So, what kinds of things might you be looking for in the upcoming shopping season?  Bracelets, earrings, pendants?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And probably, most important, do you have a price point that you like to use for holiday gifts? I know I do. Let me know what works for you.

 

 

 

 

New Rings

New Rings

 

 

I've never made many rings to sell. I like to make them for myself, however. The main reason is that there are so many different sizes. Of course you can always wear a small ring on your pinkie or a large ring on your pointer finger.

 

I'm going to make some new rings now and forget about the problem of many sizes. :-)

 

You may remember the Chain Maille ring I featured in January called "The Perfect Ring" I featured it on a post you can see here

 

 

 

 

You may order by clicking here. I still suggest we talk about sizing first. Email questions to me

 

 

 

 

One of the easiest things to work around the sizing problem is to make them adjustable. I made a few wire rings that fill that bill.

 

 

 

 

Then I made one when I was learning about  "Playing with Wire".  You can see that post too. This one is slightly adjustable.

 

 

 

 

 

So, I'm on to Chapter 2 of ring making.

 

I've mentioned that I have been teaching Kumihimo at the Ames Free Library Bead Group. At our last meeting we discussed future things we would like to learn or teach. I thought about the adjustable rings I mentioned and they liked the idea. We were able to come up with 10 different projects so that  everyone could share their skills. What a group!

 

 

 

 

 

As things will, the very next day I found a reference in an email to "making easy wire rings with beads" A YouTube tutorial. Wow, just what I needed. So following the tutorial I made these rings.It isn't hard and I decided it would be fun to make more. This is made in my size, of course, but sizing didn't seem to be a problem and the variations would be endless. Different colors, bead sizes etc.

 

Let me know your ring size and color preferences and I'll make one just for you!

 

 

Need a quick gift?

Need a quick gift?

(I have them!)

 

The other day I had a call from a friend. She needed a quick gift for a co-worker. Did I have any thing that would fill the bill? I asked her price range and when she came over, I had two drawers of suggestions.

 

 

We decided on earrings. I asked her the color she would like. Blue. So, I pulled out any that had blue in them or would go with blue.

 

Success! My customer liked the earrings and I was told later, that her friend did too.

 

 

 

 

I've posted about earrings before. You can see the "Lots of Earrings" post here.

 

 

Of course, there are other things available for quick gifts. One of my favorites is the Glass Dome Pendant collection.These can be a very personal gift. The person's initial or a specific favorite flower, location, sport, hobby etc. The music G-Clef is a popular choice.

 

 

Note: these pendants do have a glass dome that doesn't show in the picture due to the extreme shininess and glare. See more in the video on the right hand column or on the website.

 

If you live close enough to come over, that is a great way to choose that special gift. Not only can you see items in person, you can walk out with your purchase.

If not, email me your request and I can send pictures that will fill the bill.

 

 

 

 

 

An other idea Pendants

 

There are many styles to choose from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For other gift ideas check out the other videos on the right or the Ring by Ring Designs' shop on line.