Therapy beading

The Ladder is the first in a series (tentatively titled Back Off - Get Your Own Body, although on more meditative days I think of it simply as Therapy). I found out this summer that I have breast cancer, and for a while I was rather unhappy. Visualization doesn't usually work well for me, but I was talking to my husband about how I felt like I had fallen in a hole, and couldn't get out - couldn't get happy again - and that I thought I might need to find a physical representation of the hole in order to deal with it. He said that I didn't need a representation of the hole - I needed a representation of the ladder. He was right. In the grand scheme the unhappiness didn't last very long, but the image of the ladder helped me climb out of that hole.

Mostly done improvisationally, this is my first completed bead embroidery piece. Miscellaneous seedy-beads, some Swarovski crystals, and one special (to me - thank you Sander!) faceted hessonite garnet.

I'm having camera & photo editing software problems, but I didn't want to wait any longer in posting this. Please believe the colours are much richer in person.



I recently started working on jewellery again too. Just stringing for now, but at least I'm pulling out my stash and playing! This extra-sparkly three stranded bracelet of faceted tourmalines has a tube clasp for added security. Now I just have to decide if I can part with it.

Update

I know, no-one wants to read an "I haven't posted for too long" post, but I'm posting this anyways. I am going to have to drop out of the Year of Jewelry. Especially frustrating because I would have completed a whole year if I could have stuck it out for this one quarter. Hopefully I'll be able to rejoin next time.

I still owe two pieces for the last quarter. I've done some - just earrings, nothing exciting - but I haven't got my photo setup up right now and probably can't take photos for another couple of weeks. I will get them up eventually.

I'm going to keep this journal going. It'll be updated infrequently, but I'll at least be posting my new work.

YOJ week twenty-four

A not-quite-finished piece of fingerweaving here! I originally thought I might take photos of this piece at various stages of development, but then didn't. I'm not sure I'll get the gluing of the knots done today, so I decided to photo & post this now, and I'll finish it later.

This lush bracelet combines such a wide assortment of beads that I feel compelled to list them all.
-carved shell flowers in brown
-flattened shell discs in purple
-effervescent boro beads in brown
-multicoloured boro beads in a shape I've seen described as "teardrop swoops"
-Swarovski bicones in 4 different sizes and two different colours
-Czech firepolished beads in 4 different sizes and 3 different colours
-an assortment of seed beads, mostly in purples, ranging in size from 6/0 to 15/0

I'm thinking this series might have to be called "Medley"...

I love these toggle beads as clasps, although they are a little tricky to use as both ends of the bracelet end in a loop. Previously I shaped the loop part of the clasp first and then had to deal with finishing at the toggle end; this time I switched them around and did the toggle end first. I don't know if it was any easier, except that I didn't have to guess how big the loop end needed to be. I'll do it this way again next time.

YOJ week twenty-three

Another finger-woven multistrand bracelet, this time in a metallic mix of browns & bronzes. I just love doing these, although I am becoming fixated on getting them to twist in different ways. This one was an attempt at a tighter twist but ended up with different strands twisting in different ways and different amounts. I like it anyway - adds interest!

I have made minor decorations on previous clasp loops, but this time I made the decision to put beads all the way around the loop. I like the richness it adds - I'll be doing it again.

The clasp bead is one of my own lampwork. There is no metal in this piece. I almost kept this one (and still may), but listed it on Etsy today.

YOJ week twenty-two

I've had a productive week, but I'm not caught up on photography. I wanted to get this week's entry in on time - I've been late a lot lately - so I'm putting up these simple summery earrings. Dyed shell, iridescent glass beads, and sterling. Fun, simple, and lightweight - perfect for hot summer days.

YOJ week twenty-one

Another multistrand finger-woven bracelet, this one combines chartreuse with gold-green and cream. I like the way these feel on, and I'm working on the next one already. The closure bead on this is palmwood, which has very interesting markings.

I was tagged on my last post. I shall try to get to that this week.

YOJ week twenty

I had the opportunity to spend several hours in the garage today, so I decided to tackle my first bezel. I knew I didn't have any appropriate tools to set the stone, but I didn't actually expect to get to that point and thought I could just get the piece ready for setting.

It turned out that I've misplaced my file too, so I had to sand the bezel down. I thought it might be a bit high, but I was tired of sanding, so I stopped too soon. The first time I thought I soldered the bezel to the back plate it actually didn't, but the second time worked just fine! Woo hoo!

I didn't have anything that let me strike the tube rivet on the front without damaging the bezel, so I basically didn't. That worked okay, but isn't ideal. And the lack of a file meant that finishing the edges of the piece wasn't done as well as it should have been. Oh, and when I soldered the jump ring I almost undid the solder on the bezel... But aside from that I thought it was all going well!

So I foolishly decided to try to set the stone. I had read that you can use a cut-off old toothbrush to bezel set fragile items so I thought I would give that a try. I couldn't hold the piece steady, and although the toothbrush worked, it didn't work easily. I ended up using my hammer to push over the bezel. This created a very rustic look that I almost like, but it does need some refinement.

All in all this was an entertaining and educational experience, even if the piece is far from perfect. Very far...