Beaded Bead Necklace Completed, and a Feature

As promised, I will show you the necklace I made with the most recent beaded bead. It took so long because I  did the middle section, then tied it in knots and let it sit on my desk, waiting. I couldn't decide how to finish it.... couldn't even seem to just try something....finally I said, finish it dummy, and if it doesn't work take it apart.
It was done within the hour. I just had to get mean with myself. ;)

Here you go:

And -- here's a lovely collection which features moi -- my pendant is in the top row, second from the left:
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=27885

Yay! My glass tile "bat" pendant was featured in an ARTFIRE collection today.

Spooky White Hall...

  Curated By: antiquorama

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Paintings

Beaded Bead, Part 3

I finally got away from tile pendants (which are awfully fun) and ATCs (which are awfully addictive) and got back to beading. For this one, I purchased a pattern from JewelryTales at Artfire. The directions were blessedly clear, something I especially appreciate as I've been trying to follow so many bad ones lately!

Somewhere near the end of the bead, I panicked. It seemed that the last few rounds, which should outline the 4 pearls, were not going to outline them at all. I contacted the designer, who was very willing to help but didn't really understand the problem. Haha.

So I quit on it for awhile. Then I picked it up and looked one day, and said what if...... I just add in another bead or 2 in the bare spots, around the circle? So I tried it. Hooray! I'm so glad I did. The last two rounds, the ones that frame the pearls, make the whole bead tighter. It makes you able to see the crystals that are woven into the sides. I'm really excited with this one; it's the closest thing yet to a beaded bead that can take center stage. I've already started on the necklace it's going to hang on.......stay tuned.......

How to make a glass tile Pendant

I know there are already several tutorials out there showing how to make glass tile/scrabble tile pendants. I found them all lacking though; as I made my first ones, I had questions. So I'm going to show you "my way" of making them. Not necessarily THE way -- just a way. :D


First, you need a few supplies. Your glass tiles (I have some for sale on etsy, or you can even get them at Michael's).


Some glaze --try Judikins Diamond Glaze. It's great, inexpensive and readily available. For glue, try  E6000 (a jewelry glue you can find almost everywhere) or any old craft glue that you've already got. You'll need the pictures you want to put on your tile.... I buy mine from a favorite etsy friend but you can use just about any picture file, a part of a picture, or google "digital collage" and you'll find tons.

Here's my glaze (that's when I was using Sun and Moon glaze) and some other necessities: paper towels, a craft knife or razor blade for cutting out the picture, a straight pin (or you could use a paper clip) for when your glaze clogs up -- and it will. I also use a paint brush for spreading the glaze, though you don't have to. And I keep it all on a sheet of wax paper so things don't get stuck together. It's sort of a messy process.


Besides the picture I'm going to make into my pendant, I like to have a backing for the pendant. Sometimes I use a second copy of the same picture. Sometimes I just use craft or scrapbooking paper with a nice design.


It doesn't matter too much about the back, you're just giving it a finished look. (Or not!)




So the easiest way to make your pendant is to lay the picture down on the wax paper and pick up your glass tile. Wipe it off with a paper towel, then slowly turn your glaze upside down (the slowness helps prevent bubbles). Don't shake your bottle, like I did at first. You'll end up with a bubbled picture!


Put a thin layer of glaze on the tile -- the thinner the better. Using too much can make your picture become wavy, plus it runs down the sides, causing you more clean-up later. You're putting this layer on just the flat surface, the one that will touch the picture. Spread it around with a paint brush or (easier) just use the tip of the bottle. Wipe the tip often.

Once the glaze is coated on, flip the glass tile over and set it right on top of your picture, glaze side down. You might have to adjust it by moving it around some. I then press gently -- not hard -- if I can see any air bubbles. I find that, for me, this is what works. Otherwise the air bubble is there for life! Now let it dry for a couple hours.


When that layer is dry, you can add a backing if you like by glueing your backing paper on. Then trim around the whole thing with a knife or razor blade. It's easy enough just to hold it up and run carefully around the edge with the blade. There are lots of square and round punches that theoretically should cut the picture to the exact size of your glass -- trust me, save your money. You'll still have to do some trimming.


Now you have a decorated tile but no glaze on the back.


The next step is to lay the tile back down on your wax paper picture side up and use the brush (or the tip of the bottle) to spread glaze on the back. You are doing this layer to preserve the picture. Someone gave me a cute photo of my daughter once that wasn't preserved -- it ruined pretty quickly. So this step is important!


Be sure to use a thin layer, but spread it carefully where the edges of the picture meet the tile. You want to cover them well. If you're using a paint brush, you might have brush marks:

I've decided I don't care too much; the brush seems to really "get" the edges. Also, you're going to apply a 2nd coat so you can go the other direction, which tones it down a bit.


After you have done at least  2 coats on the back of your tile pendant, let it dry a good while, preferably overnight. Then pick it up and inspect it carefully. If any glue has dried in the wrong place, use your knife or razor blade to scrape it off. Then wipe again with a paper towel. 


Now you are ready to add the bail or the magnet. Bails are for necklaces - use the smallest size you can get away with. Magnets can be fun too. Here are some of my bails:



Taa-daaaah! You're done! Congratulations on making your first pendant. String it on a simple ball chain, a ribbon necklace, or a leather cord. 


Use the link to the right if you need to email me with questions. ;)

Scribbling, Doodling, Zentangling

I have always doodled. I used to get in trouble at school; I'd finish my work, then illustrate it or doodle in the margins. So it was a surprise to me when I discovered that my doodling, or as my husband calls it Scribbling, is now a copyrighted art form. It's called Zentangle and you have to take a class in order to doodle exactly what I did in the 2nd or 3rd grade. Hah.

However, it's a lot of fun so I've tried to follow their rules. *My rule #1 is, learn the rules and then break them. That's what creativity is about!

So. Here are some of my first attempts at zentangle:

I'm not sure why I'm so into letters. I have others I'll share soon.....anyway I found an ATC (Artist Trading Card) group at Swap-bot.com that is currently trading alphabet zentangles. Aha! Perfect! So I drew the "E" above a little smaller and made a Trading card from it. I've been assigned a partner and I'm mailing it out tonight. I'm so excited! Here it is:

Tomorrow I'm going to show you how to make some cool Halloween jewelry. ;)

Creativity - where does it come from?

Someday I'll do a lot of research on creativity, and share with you the results. For now, this post is just about me and my musings.

I doubt seriously that creativity is in our genes, because I'm the only creative person in my family. They used to say "we don't know where she came from." In other families, it's considered a gift. In mine – I was just weird.I have creativity in droves.

Anyway, one thing I've come to realize lately is that I'm especially creative when I'm happy. If everything is good and well balanced, you can bet I'm painting, making jewelry, writing, making music, or trying to do all of them at once.

You can also get creative by listening to good music, like Bach, Beethoven or Mozart. For some reason these composers wrote music that has the effect of making you really think. You think deeply, as you must any time you're going to create something. Plus, by actually listening to the music you're calming your mind and probably your body as well. The added relaxation is another good benefit for inducing creativity.

I keep a notebook with me all the time, and jot down ideas or make sketches, no matter where I am. you never know when you might see or hear something you want to save for later.

If I'm feeling stuck, I might pull up Google images and glance at some pictures of flowers or something else that I like. Or sometimes I just read through other blogs that I follow, most of which are craft, jewelry or writing related. Usually by the time I've done, I've got an idea of what I want to make next – even though it might have nothing to do with what I was looking at. It's like my brain simmers an idea on one side while I'm reading with the other.

So that's how I draw in my creativity; how do you do it?

On My Desk Today....

First you have to understand: My desk serves a lot of functions. My husband has taken over the big, pretty office, so I have to 

• write
• make crafts
• make jewelry
• rehair violin (viola, cello) bows

All on my little upstairs desk. He would tell you he hardly has anyplace left, since I came along...anyway...

Here's my desk this morning, when I was doing bows:

Ahhh, but HERE it is in the afternoon, when beading takes over! This is my stash from the gem & jewelry wholesale show...

Look at all the great cabochons.....

Now sssssh! Gotta get to work!