Weekend Activities

 

 FUN!

 

 

This weekend was a busy one. It started with the Science with a Mission Quilt show and Craft Fair on Saturday. It was a great day! Saw many friends and made some new ones. The other vendors near by were friendly and I made some new "connections"

 

 

I now need to make a trip to Two Guys Fossils to purchase some more gemstones. ;-)

 

 

On Sunday, I went to Auntie Zaza's Fiber Works here in North Easton. Leslie Wind, expert silversmith, was there and demonstrated how to make her shawl pins and other items such as tea stirrers, hair pins and cable necklaces (A necklace that has a decorative cable needle you can't loose while knitting).

 

 

 

 

Leslie took one person at a time and made or helped them make a piece chosen from the many examples she had there. Here is the one she made for me as I watched and asked questions.

 

 

 

 

 

It can be used as a book mark or as a scarf "pin" as shown here. It is made from copper wire, shaped, hammered then polished if you like the shiny look.

 

 

 

 

This is polished but doesn't show in the picture. I'm sure I will find other uses too. You can see more on Leslie's website.

 

 

 

A busy but fun weekend. Now to get back to the regular routine.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Bev

Wire wrapping and Kumihimo

Wire wrapping and Kumihimo

 

 Combining Techniques 

 

 

 

 

Last week I showed you some new gemstone pendants, including this one. A picture Jasper stone that I wire wrapped. However, the usual silver necklace I add to those pieces wouldn't work. I suggested leather as a possibility.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                Several of you agreed. But, the colors/size of leather available just didn't work. I did find some chain that would work. But then, I got to thinking about fiber Kumihimo.

 

 

Then a nice thing happened, I found I already had some on hand to use in a new piece. I've made several Fiber Kumihimo necklaces in the past and had some fiber left over. So, I pulled out the left overs - eliminated the blues and greens and had a nice pile to choose from. You need eight different cords and I found eight different strands that were nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I loaded up my Kumihimo disk and started weaving away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what I have finished so far.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I slid the pendant on and here is what it will look like. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chain will not go to waste because I have another stone to wrap. That way customers can have a choice. I really haven't made up my mind which one I like best yet. Opinions?

 

Bev, I think...

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those of you who live here in MA I'll be showing my wares on Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM - 3 PM at the annual Quilt Show for the benefit of Science with a Mission.   Come see over 100 quilts (all different from those you may have seen before) have a nice lunch, and browse over 18 different vendors that will be there.

 

The event will be held at

Covenant Congregational Church

204 Center Street

North Easton, Massachusetts

from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

 

 

You can see most of the new pendants on my website as well as read more about the individual stones. Pendant, Various

 

 

As usual, I like to know what you think about what I show to you. Click on the link below rather than using the reply button. That way it comes directly to my email address which works better for me than the one associated with this email. Thanks.

 

Bev, I think...  

 

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Until next time,

 

Bev

New Earrings

Earrings

 

I really used to enjoy the "A Team" and especially when John "Hannibal" Smith would say "I love it when a plan comes together."

 

Last week I gave you a hint what I was up to. (Making new earrings). One of you even purchased the ones I showed on Facebook.

 

 

These are really nice, aren't they?

 

Now I know many of you do not like long dangly earrings. These are 2 inches long BUT they are very light.

 

 

 

You will not know they are on.

 

So, what's this about a plan coming together? OK, I'll tell you.

 

I took a class at pflora beads awhile ago and learned how to make an earring design called "Twist and Curve" I made several pairs in that style.

 

 

 

Including this one:

 

Do you see the difference/similarity?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One more piece to the pie is another pair of earrings I made using a pattern from pflora beads. They are called "Balloon" earrings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were away on vacation 2 weeks ago, I took my drill and wire with me. I love twisting wire with my drill. mrooommmm....mroommmmm....  While away I twisted lots of wire and turned some into the above "balloon" shapes. Probably more accurately a "tear drop" shape.

 

After we got back home I was showing my friend what I had made so far. We played with the twisted pieces and some beads I had on hand. (This is the way new designs are made) The "what ifs" flew. And we came up with the top picture. It combines one of my Twist and Curve earrings and one of my twisted balloons aka tear drop shape. The plan came together!

 

 

While on a roll. I decided to make a different pair.

Even now, as I look at it, I'm thinking I would like the bead to be on the little longer curve. I'll have to try it.

 

 

 

How would you change it?   The choices are endless. There are blue stones, green ones, black ones, round ones, bigger ones and so on and so forth.

 

Do you have a favorite color or shape???

 

Would you like them a bit shorter, longer? What would your choice be?

 

I'm thinking I could make some square wire shapes too.

 

 

I've made some round wires and even a single tear drop that is only an inch and has no beads, just the tear drop shape. I like it.

 

 

 

OK, I've shown you some new designs. What do you think of them? Do you have a favorite? Would you like something different?

 

 

Check out the earrings on the Ring by Ring Designs website.Then:

 

 

Let me know what you would like and I'll do my best to make what you want.