Woven Bead Cap Earrings

 I wish I posted these woven bead caps several weeks ago when I made them.  I see a lot of designs with wire weaving and I've always discarded the idea as 'not my thing'.  With these earrings, it may have become something I'd like to make 'my thing'.

I received the long drops in a bead assortment from Fire Mountain Gems several months ago - probably as part of this shipment, but I didn't write about them.  I think they are a dyed 'jade', also called serpentine.  I love that they are drilled lengthwise, not as a briolette.

I have been interested in making bead caps for a while, and this simple weave seemed like a good thing to try on the long drops.  I don't think I have a tutorial on this exact weave, but this one is pretty close.  Instead of multiple wraps around each of the sides, I just made one loop around the frame wire and continued to the other side.  

Here's the really sad part.  I didn't write about these when I made them, because I wasn't sure how to finish the drops - i.e. make them into earrings.  Now that I've finally come up with the design - I'm not exactly sure how I made them!  Grrrr.  

I'll just have to wing it.  I know the weaving wire is very fine gauge wire - probably 28 or 30g from this huge spool my Dad gave me.  The frame wire around the side of the bead is 20 or 22g.  

The most unique thing about this design is the wire in the center of the bead.  Typically, you use a head pin or paddle pin - but lately I've been experimenting with using a folded wire down the middle.  That gives me the opportunity to make a closed loop as the bottom - or to just use it to fasten the bead to the frame.  Obviously, I thought these drops would have dangles at the time I made them. so I left a loop.

Here's where my memory fails me.  I can't remember whether I started at the bottom (i.e. widest part) of the bead and wove up to the tip or vice-versa.  I'm pretty sure I remember weaving down from the narrowest tip of the bead.  I know I left extra space for the wire to slip between the bead and the frame wire, and that I didn't make the close loop at the top of the bead until I was satisfied with the cap.

I also remember really enjoying the weaving part.  It was very meditative and relaxing.  Obviously, I'll have to try this again some time, and hopefully, I've left myself (and you) enough bread crumbs to do that!  

From now on, when I learn a new technique, I'll try to post it right away - before I forget what I did!

A Little Thing Called Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my day to host the families.  This year, there will be a larger than normal crowd.  About 20 people.

This year, my oven is broken.  Dead.  Nothing.  Not even a flicker of life.

It just went that way last night, but has been acting up for about a month.  I honestly thought it would make it through the big day.  Ah well, I tested the oven gods and they were not with me.

A lesser mortal would panic - how will I cook the turkey, the yams, the biscuits and keep the mashed potatoes warm?

But I have the best resource anyone could have - my Mom - who lives only 15 minutes away, who will cook the most amazing turkey, stuffing and gravy and bring it to my house.  Of course, she lives with my Dad, who with my brother, will try to repair the lifeless oven at the nth hour because that is who they are.

And I did panic when all this occurred.

I was ready to crawl under the covers and cry - but instead I called my Mom... like I have so many times in my life.  And I was met with a reassuring and calm voice that said 'It will all be OK' and we started to make a plan.

And I still cried... but it was because I am so grateful to have such wonderful parents who live close by and who are able and willing to help me in all situations, and always have.

And there is so much more that I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving.  My husband and kids, great friends, good health, and really - great abundance in all things.  I'm not very good at expressing my thanks and gratitude, but I hope I've done well enough.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you also have many good things in your life to be thankful for.

Lisa

P.S.  After replacing an oven temperature sensor, re-wiring the oven and replacing a circuit breaker for the oven, it is working.

But... the guest room shower now has no hot water.  Amazing!

Daisy Chains: I'll Never Outgrow Them!

I'm working my way through the stitches in Beth Stone's Seed Bead Stitching book, and I've jumped ahead to daisy chain.  Yes - that simple daisy stitch we all learned when we were kids is what I'm playing with now and I'm loving it!!

I love flower motifs anyway, but until I started the projects in the Seed Bead Stitching book, I don't think I gave enough credit to the simple daisy chain.  The projects in the book show so many ways to use it!!

In all fairness though, the inspiration for this project comes from Beth Stone's second book on bead stitching called More Seed Bead Stitching: Creative Variations on Traditional Techniques.

There's a bead soup daisy chain on the cover that I fell in love with - right in the middle.  The stitch technique I used for mine is in the first book though.  Using bead soup is not the easiest way to do this stitch, but I'm very happy with the results.

If you're interested in trying daisy chains again, but don't want to get the book, here's a Free Tutorial from Sandra Halpenny's blog.  This is very similar to the stitch that I've used for my bracelet, but mine varies the number of petals based on the size of the center bead - thus making you have to think each time you start a new flower.  

Ah well - live and learn.

What is Craftsy and What Does It Offer Jewelry Makers?

This post is my own opinion of Craftsy based on my experience taking their classes, but I may receive a commission as an affiliate for any products you purchase.  I may be compensated $5.00 for this post (woo hoo!), but if you haven't heard of or tried Craftsy, I really do recommend you read my experience and check it out.

It's hard for me to believe that I signed up for my first Craftsy class almost one year ago, and how much the site has grown and changed since then.

I've never been a fan of learning new techniques from YouTube videos, since the quality isn't usually very good.  When I heard about Craftsy, I was skeptical for the very same reason.  I didn't want to pay for an online jewelry making class where the camera is shaky and the focus isn't good - and all of those other problems that can make the online learning experience less than optimal.

But my experience with Craftsy has been excellent!  When I first signed up, there were mainly sewing or needle work classes - and only one or two Jewelry classes.  Now there are many more, including classes in wire wrap, seed beading, metal clay, and soldering - and probably others too.

I used a free mini class to learn how to make these copper stacking rings and then signed up for the complete soldering class - which I haven't finished yet. But that's one of the great things about Craftsy - that you can go back and repeat parts of the class or continue a class at any time.

The classes are reasonably priced, but I recommend you always wait until they are on sale to purchase one.  They go on sale often.  This link will take you directly to their jewelry classes and a banner up top will tell you if any classes are currently on sale. The Epoxy Clay class in currently on sale, and I think now might be the time for me to try it.

Craftsy sent me the  information below to help you understand what their site offers and why it is different, but you can also follow a link to explore the site for yourself.   Enjoy!!

What is Craftsy?
Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, jewelry making and more. 

  What IS the Craftsy experience? 
Craftsy classes are designed to have all the benefits of an in-person class, with none of the drawbacks. Available online and on-demand, you always have world-class instructors at the tip of your fingers. You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right. 

Watching a Craftsy class is like having a first-row seat with some of the best instructors in the world. Even better, classes have a 100% money-back guarantee. 

Try online learning today with a free mini-class from Craftsy! Choose from 23 Free Craftsy Classes to give it a try.