Sunday, July 11, 2010

Nature's Bounty! I came home to one ripe tomato (delicious!) on my topsy turvey plant and today picked 1/2 cup of blueberries right in the backyard, first harvest (of many I hope). Of course, I realize all that together is not enough to keep a bird alive but there's something satisfying about eating food fresh from the "garden".

Hey, bam, how's the jewelry making going? I found my little kit of tools. The girls and I bought some woven friendship bracelets (they change color in the sun) in Alaska and I was thinking about making some of my own - just for fun, the girls and my nieces - and wondered how you were doing. I might have to put in some orders for Christmas presents if you're ready to sell.

Hey... I hope you enjoyed your trip!

I've made quite a few different things, but I haven't taken pictures of it all yet. Some of this is quite experimental and looks like it - lol! Other things I've done I'm quite satisfied with.

I'll have to get my act together on that.

Ooo... I bet those bracelets are fun to make.

I didn't get them all up there yet, but here's what I've posted so far: Bambits

Oooh, those are great! My favorites: the guitar picks (Brett's wife would love those), the copper dangles, and the Amethyst - but all of them look great, totally professional.

I don't buy many colored beads for myself as I find it too hard to match them with clothes and end up not wearing them much. I try to go all silver or silver with a touch of black - I can usually wear those colors with anything. And I do love copper. But I think the girls would like the colors more. You'll have to let me know if you're willing to sell because if I can afford you I'll get some for sure.

I work cheap!

If there are certain colors you're looking for let me know.
As many different beads as there are out there, it's amazingly hard to find the right mix for a specific color in the size one needs.
Most of the ones I like best I've ordered online, and sometimes it takes a while to get them.

The findings are even harder if a particular design is wanted. I made a cute little bracelet and earring set (which I'll try to get posted this evening), and I'd like to make more using the silver filigree spacer beads for the bracelet. I've been searching for days for something similar and haven't found them yet.

I'll see what I can come up with in a mostly copper design for you.

Hey, could you make a silver ankle bracelet? I'd love one for myself - the one I used to wear constantly finally gave up the ghost. If so, I'll send you the length I need. I'll have to measure the remains of the one I had - need XL to fit my cankles, lol.

Hey, I sure can. I'll need to have an idea of what you'd like. I have been working with base metals mostly (nickel- and lead-free), but I can get sterling if you'd like. Also, would you like a charm or several charms? Delicate? Chunky? Medium?

I haven't made an ankle bracelet yet, so I'd really like to.

Let me see. I'd lean more towards delicate and away from chunky but sturdy enough that I could leave it on 24/7. Maybe a charm by the clasp, but only a tiny one. The one I wore forever was made of tiny beads over a silver wire. The beads were clear so it looked more like a sparkly silver band. I think it had black heart bead(s) near the clasp.

But I'm not looking for exactly what I had, only giving you an idea of the style I liked. You mentioned filigree spacer beads - I love filigree but you'd have to decide what was durable enough. If you have time, send me some examples of beads/charms/whatever you'd like to work with.

Great - that's just the kind of info I need. I'll start looking around for stuff.

I finally added a few more jewelry pics to the blog. I keep falling asleep right after dinner. Work has been very nerve-racking this week.

Sorry about work but at least Friday is near. You've been busy - that's a lot of different styles! I feel like such a slacker.

I did manage to put some Alaska stuff up in the pics section. Lots more to go, though.

Rose wrote:

Hey, could you make a silver ankle bracelet? I'd love one for myself - the one I used to wear constantly finally gave up the ghost. If so, I'll send you the length I need. I'll have to measure the remains of the one I had - need XL to fit my cankles, lol.

I've got some beads that I think would work great (finally)... so I just need to know how long you want me to make it.

The broken one I have is 10 inches. Have you been making a lot of stuff?

I found out that the friendship bracelets are tedious work, especially the prettier patterns. It's very important to maintain the same level of tension in every knot while juggling a dozen or more long threads...well, after a few practice ones I started this pattern...



...weeks ago. I'm using blue/purple on black instead of blue/green.

But I wanted to ask if you had some ideas on fasteners that would work instead of just tying the end threads together which makes the life of the bracelet kinda short. I bought a pack of cheapo "cord and craftlace closures" which are little coils and clasps. I looked briefly at Michaels but most clasps seemed too small - most bracelets have a dozen or more embroidery threads which are 6 threads each, so yeah...bulky. I have yet to try the coils...and they may be adequate for nothing more than a friendship bracelet....but since you are into the jewelry making I thought you might have some alternative solutions.

Hey, btw, how are you?

I haven't really made many things recently. I had to get some beads, and that always seems to lead to needing other beads. And I'm getting a lot more particular in putting these together. If I don't like it, I take it apart and do something else. Frequently.

I looked high and low for some kind of Christmas light charms and couldn't find anything conventional. I did find some ribbon with a beaded fringe that includes some tiny Christmas light charms which are ok. They are plastic, but fairly good looking. The metal-looking screw in part is gold tone, and I don't have any gold findings. I've got silver, copper and brass, but not gold or gun metal. And this is the way it goes - lol.

I really like your bracelet pattern. That's going to be a great looking bracelet.

Fasteners... hmmmm... there are connectors that have multiple connections loops on one side and just one on the other that would probably work well. I'll see what I can find and post here.

Hey -- I'm doing ok. Busy at work. Monday I had to report for jury duty, but I was #52 and they filled the jury before they got to #30, so I'm safe for another 2 years. Everything else is the same old, same old. How are you?

From what I've read, the coils or a fold over connector should work for that. The articles I read said to put glue on the cord end before you put the connector on. What I first thought of when you posed the question were these 3 to 1 connectors, but I'm not sure if it would be secure enough just tying the ends to one. Maybe if you put a crimp bead under each knot. There are a lot of different styles and sizes. Some are simply a bar with 3 loops on one side and 1 on the other.