Sunday, August 26, 2012

I Heart Macro


MY brother and I spent almost 5 hours today of lugging down heavy stuff for the trash guys to pick up at the old apartment. Dish washer, gas range and oven, freezer, dryer, our parents' old wardrobe, among other things. Down and then back up the stairs to the third floor. This is precisely what my legs felt afterwards – jello. So I went ahead and made some:



studio waterstone

IF you are here to look at my BSBP entry, it's one post further down. :D

Saturday, August 25, 2012

BSBP: REVEAL!


GOODNESS, this really was a last minute effort ... I just moved, and I pulled off most the pieces during the past three days in between going back and forth between my new apartment and the old, which needs to be fully renovated by the end of the month, or it's: bye-bye, deposit. XP Before that I renovated my new apartment together with my sister, and in turn helped her refurbishing my niece's room who inherited some of my old bookshelves. It really feels like I've spent the whole month painting walls, lugging heavy stuff about, and disassembling and reassembling IKEA furniture. XD;

ANYHOW! Onto the Bead Soup Blog Hop Reveal, that is what you're here for after all. As a reminder, this is what my partner, Susan Kennedy, sent me: 

"Bwuh," I thought. "Purple." It's a color I used to like a lot. Way back. In my teens. Like, two decades ago? Now you wont find it anywhere in my apartment, including my bead stash.

OF all these, especially the sparkling labradorite beads with the AB coating caught my eye. And there was a pair of them, so ... "earrings" I thought, naturally. And, as I just finished Deryn Mentock's BoHo Bliss Hoops class, I thought I'd try my hands on the Lodestar Lantern Hoops, using up some of the pearls Susan sent me as well:

Alas, I misjudged the wire thickness for these (over here wire is sized by the diameter in mm, not the gauge) and these turned out way too big and way too heavy – for me at least. They weren't comfortable to wear at all, and while they were pretty to look at, I was disappointed. But, hrm, with that size and weight, they actually might make an okay focal? Only, I now had a pair of focals. Duh.

Now, can you guess what I came up with?

Can you?

Can you?

That's right, my first ever lariat~! And, unlike the earrings, it's got just the right weight, drapes beautifully, and is very comfortable to wear! I used two of the faceted agate beads in this as well. And, what can I say, purple is still far from being my favorite color, but I LOVE how it looks combined with the rosy gold of bronze and copper.

STILL, the third BSBP reveal was only a few days off, and I had used neither the focal nor the clasp yet. Nor did I have any idea what to do with them. My problem with the focal, partially, was it's length. Had it been only half an inch shorter, I would have used it horizontally. It would have become a bracelet, or a choker. I kept turning it over, thinking the beautiful pattern with the swirls kinda reminded me of a pretty fish pond with floating plants ... and suddenly I remembered a mixed bag of blue beads I got on last the Kreativ Welt fair, from Creative Beads – containing beautiful crackle beads, faceted beads, and ... itty bitty tiny fish-shaped beads! So this is what happened:

I decided to keep it simple, to let the focal have the spotlight. Luckily I happened to have a mix of faceted Czech beads around in just the right colors to use as accents. I love it for its length, it's something I can wear in winter with a turtle neck sweater, and it wont be all covered up by my scarves. Oh, and, lookit, I even created a pair of matching earrings on the very last second:

The earwires I used were purchased some time ago from Unkamen Supplies, one of my favorite Etsy shops.

NOW I still had to use the clasp ... And I don't usually use toggle clasps. They tend to be a tad bit bigger than what I prefer (I like my jewelry all fine and delicate), and I tend to be suspicious of their ability to really keep necklaces and bracelets closed. I really wanted to do a bracelet for this soup, and there was stuff scattered all about on my desk I had recently ordered, waxed linen cord in a variety of colors, and also copper beads and findings from Bali Beads (the ones I got for the Bead Soup I sent to Susan were so pretty I had to place another order right away, heheh), the farfalle/peanut beads I used for the lariat (from Perlen Paula) and ... looking at the linen cord, and the copper jump rings, I remembered I had been itching to try out Lesley Watt's Double Strand Seed Bead And Jumprings Bracelet tutorial. Check out her Etsy Shop THEA too as well, she creates the most beautiful bronze findings. Anyway, I wasn't sure the technique would work with farfalle beads, but I'm quite pleased with the outcome:


I used up all the purple lampwork spacer beads Susan sent me in this one.


I still got some leftovers, I pulled off these with the remaining pearls and the enameled bead caps on the very last second:

I wanted to show off the pretty color of these bead caps, so I had them point to the front instead of down.


SO, yay, I did beat (bead?) the evil purple mojo. I just realized, purple and blue are colors I usually only ever think of combining with silver. But I really rather like what they look with copper, brass and especially bronze. 

What I didn't use (yet) are four more agate beads, the beaded bead, and the sari ribbon. I've got plans though, so hopefully there will be "seconds" at some point. ;D

Thank you for stopping by, and please take some time to take a look at what the other participants of this Blog Hop created with the bead soup they received from their partner.




Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming
Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones
Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'
Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage
Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads
Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations
Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog
Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash
Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents
Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory
Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen
Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle, Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're

Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry
Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure

Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation, Art Food Lodging
Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier

Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs
Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads

Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen
Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home
Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz

Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show
Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities
Laurie Lalonde, HourGlass Studio
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN
Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops

Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio
Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival

Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi
Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs

Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry 
Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe

Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads

Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo 
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs





Sunday, August 05, 2012

These Keys Mean The World To Me – Diese Schlüssel Bedeuten Mir Die Welt



THESE are the keys to my new apartment. This post is scheduled, by the time this is posted my computer will already be unplugged and ready to be moved. Yes, I'll be moving today, from a (way too) large airy four room apartment with super high ceilings into a tiny one room attic apartment where I can touch the ceiling if I reach over my head. Talk about changes. 

But! It'll mean considerably less cleaning and lower heating costs.

And, even more importantly, for the first time in my life I'll be living all alone on my own. 

I do think, I'll be the happiest person in the world.

That being said, my internet access will be spotty at best throughout all of August, what with my move and having to renovate not one but two apartments, old and new. Though it's the old one which is giving me headaches and nightmares.

My internet access wont be set up until the very end of August, and due to my ISP changing things around I will be required to purchase a fancy new router/modem because my old one will no longer work. Le sigh.

I do hope I'll be somewhat settled in by September, and that all the unhappy stuff will be dealt and done with so that I may relax and focus on my RL job in retail as it gears up for the holiday season.



DIES sind nämlich die Schlüssel zu meiner neuen Wohnung. Dieser Post wurde vorgeplant, um die Zeit um die er automatisch ins Blog gestellt wird ist der Computer schon längst ausgestöpselt und zum Abtransport bereit, den ich ziehe um – von einer (viel zu) großen Vier-Zimmer-Wohnung mit superhohen Decken in eine klitzekleine Ein-Zimmer-Dachwohnung in der ich mit meiner Hand locker an die Decke reichen kann. Na, das ist doch mal ne Umstellung.

Bedeutet aber auch viel weniger putzen und niedrigere Heizkosten.

Wichtiger aber noch, ich werde zum ersten Mal in meinem Leben ganz alleine wohnen.

Und ich denke, ich werde der glücklichste Mensch auf Erden sein.

Das mal so stehen gelassen, ich werde im August leider nicht all zu oft online sein, so mit Umzug und nicht nur einer, sondern zwei Wohnungen die renoviert werden wollen, die alte und die neue. Ist allerdings die alte die mir Bauchschmerzen und Alpträume bereitet.

Internet werde ich nicht vor Ende August wieder haben, und dank der Einführung von DSL RAM muss ich mir dann gleich auch noch ein neues Modem kaufen, weil das alte dann nicht mehr funktionieren wird. Na super ... Und ob dann mal so alles glatt geht, da hab ich meine Zweifel.

Im September werd ich mich dann hoffentlich einigermaßen eingewohnt haben und allen Ärger aus den Füßen so dass ich mich auf die Arbeit konzentrieren kann. Weihnachten geht im Einzelhandel ja schon im September los ...


Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Summer Lovin' Kit Challenge Reveal




TODAY is the reveal day of the Summer Lovin' Kit Challenge. All participants start out with the same kit of beads put together by Amy, and featuring a lovely polymer clay focal from Penny's Lane. While lovely, that kit is So Not my color palette, that focal is also way beyond the size I'd usually use.

So, for the longest time that kit was sitting on my desk, and I didn't have the slightest idea as to what to do with it. Eventually I figured I might try messing around with sari ribbon. I didn't have any around (I don't "do" fiber, usually), but what I did have, were some lovely sari scraps. One of these was of an intense magenta, with an intricately woven golden pattern, and when – seeking inspiration – I held it against the bead kit, it "clicked" and I knew where I was going. Shiny gold and pink.

Shiny silver too, and as luck would have it, I came across some shiny silver plated chain with very large links in the craft store. Perfect.

The dangles, the cloisonne beads, the hand made s-clasp, all of this pretty much added itself once I knew where I was heading.


HEUTE ist der Enthüllungstag der Summer Lovin' Kit Challenge. Alle Teilnehmer erhielten die gleiche Perlenmischung, zusammengestellt von  Amy, mit einem wunderschönen Polymer Clay Anhänger (hierzulande kennt man das eher unter dem Markennamen "Fimo") von  Penny's Lane. Ein wunderschönes Perlenset, aber So Gar Nicht meine Farben, und auch der Anhänger war deutlich größer als alles womit ich normalerweise freiwillig arbeite.

So saß das Set den die längste Zeit auf meinem Schreibtisch, und ich hatte nicht die geringste Vorstellung was ich damit bloß anfangen sollte. Naja, vielleicht was mit Sariband? Hatte ich zwar nicht, aber dafür Sari Stoffreste, eines davon in einem satten, schönen Magenta mit einem goldenen Muster. Als ich das neben das Perlenset hielt, auf Inspiration hoffend, machte es "Klick" und ich wusste was ich zu tun hatte. Glänzendes Gold und Pink.

Glänzendes Silber auch, und wie der Zufall es wollte, glitzerte mich im Bastelladen eine Silberkette mit extra großen Ösen an. Perfekt.

Die Anhängerchen, die Cloisonneperlen, die S-Schließe, all das hat sich dann praktisch selbst gemacht nachdem die Richtung feststand.




Bollywood makes you happy!
Bollywood macht glücklich!


THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS – DIE ANDEREN TEILNEHMER

The Hostess, Amy: Amybeads
Lori B. (no blog as of the time of this post)
Lucy K. (no blog at the time of this post, but see Amy's blog for her creation!)
Debbie Beechy Beetique