TRUE TO FORM 

 

The clasps from Claspgarten are both functional and beautifully designed.  The ones, enhanced with Swarovski crystals, sparkle like a queen's tiara.  Both the artisans using these clasps and the purchaser of one of their creations would be the recipient of something very special.

 

I have been invited to participate in a juried exhibition "Maturity and It's Muse."  My design consists of a series of 11 aught Miyuki seed beads in 22 kt. gold.  Claspgarten has provided me with many wonderful choices for closures.  Even though the clasp will be at the back of the neck, I am tempted to design the piece so one of the exquisite clasp becomes the focal point.

 

Are you tired of the same old peyote toggles for your beaded bracelets and necklaces?  Claspgarten has solved the problem.  Their site has an exciting selection of perfect clasps for your beaded projects.  These rectangular forms have a concave section where one can glue in seed beads to finish off their jewelry concept.  

 

Hopefully your local beading and jewelry supply stores sell these unique clasps.  If not, please share this information with them so everyone will have an opportunity to avail themselves of these "true to form" lovely products.     

 

 

 

 

ARTISAN'S DE-LITE

 

ARTISAN'S DE-LITE

The expression "there is lite at the end of the tunnel" is true.  Like many in the beading and jewelry making community, working with small links and beads really was a challenge.  My labors of love, became tortuous.  The small holes in the 15 and 11 aught beads tumbled about on my mat board as if to say, "I dare you to enter."  Their bright colored surfaces beckoned me, but the small holes daunted me.

 

Recently a lite in white shinny armor appeared, delivered by UPS. This was the answer to a handmaiden's dream.  The Ottlite 13w Slimline Task lamp seduced me.  It enabled me to see clearly and comfortably as I approached each new bead design.  I discovered that it projected a natural daylight illumination and help reduce glare and extreme eyestrain.

 

The above model is quite reasonable in price as are many of the other Ottlite products.  In fact, I was contemplating hiring an electrician to put in additional lighting fixtures in my studio.  Saved myself a lot of money and many of my beadwork projects have been completed. 

 

Many thanks to the Ottlite at the end of the tunnel. 

 

 



 

 

SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON THE TOP

 

 

When I first received this book, I was reminded of the Rogers and Hammerstein show "Oklahoma."  The scene where Curly invites Laurey to a box social in a fancy rental carriage was delightful.  The imagined surrey with its undulating fringe captivated me.  At the end of the production, the surrey became real as they rode to their honeymoon.

 

The fringes featured in "Bead Play with  Fringe" are real.  Jamie  Cloud Eakin is an excellent teacher.  She shows examples of the various fringes, illustrates how to make them, and then displays projects using the myriad of wonderful delica and seed beads in a rainbow of colors.  Nothing is left to chance.  Right from the beginning you are given a list of supplies and taken down the path of "how-to."  The illustrations are very explicit which made me feel as though Jamie was in front of me and guiding my way.

 

I can now envision the surrey further enhanced with Jamie's delightful beaded fringes, can't you?

 



 

 

Stringing Along with LAY3r 3D DOODLING PEN

 

 

I am into meditation.  Not that old kind of chanting a mantra, but the whole immersion of mind and appendage to paper.  The official terms for this absolute form of relaxation and loose as a goose creativity is an art form called "Zentangle."  No need to go into it at length with this posting, but this is where my review of the 3D Doodling Pen comes into play.

 

In essence, these Zentangle patterns are normally created on a paper after drawing a series of "strings" - lines which divides this paper tile into different sections.  I immediately thought that with the use of this pen, I could add an extra dimension to my patterns.  It worked just as I had envisioned.

 

The process was simple and the pen adapted itself to my experimentation quite easily.  Following the Quick Start Guide, which came with the pen, it was ready to go within a very short time.  My filament strings could be extruded long or short, and I could manipulate them to be curvy or straight.  There was an ample selection of black ,white, and red, but inasmuch as my paper tile was white, I used the black filament for the first meditative drawing.

 

I place a thin line of Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue over the pencil drawn strings and then affixed the filament to same.  The three dimension impact was a "pop" happening.  The patterns enclosed within these strings took on a life of their own.

 

Thank you, Lay3r 3D Doodling Pen.  Maybe the art world will recognize a Warhol incarnation.