As you can see, it was the start of the year when I last posted. I don't want to get into why, because this is supposed to be a positive blog!
Saying that, I do have a bit of frustration... which is that I have taken photos to put on here, but my PC has decided it doesn't want to read any memory stick that's plugged in! Seems to be an issue with the USB ports (or drivers) but it's a real pain.
Anyway, my intention is to post here more often. I think what slows me down is getting images on here... it's an arty blog, I should post my own pics, but it seems to be a fiddle to do that! Must try harder :o)
Sale purchase
A trip to Hobbycraft this afternoon may have brought the best sale bargain I'm likely to find this year.... I bought this book for only £3.90!
I have admired this book on a few occasions in bookshops, so when I saw it in their sale I fell upon it. OK, so it's not entirely related to my 3 targets of bead embroidery, soutache and bags, but it is full of very inspirational images inside, and who knows, some of it could be added to jewellery or sewn on to bags?
Another step in the right direction
I have found work annoying enough lately to have become motivated to get a move on with creative business ideas. So to make some progress I have bought myself some domain names: www.isobelhamilton.com and www.isobelhamilton.co.uk. These aren't up and running yet, but eventually they will be the portal for my craft sales.
today's craft thoughts
The problem with the crafts I choose is that the materials are hard to find locally. So yet again I find myself online, browsing for things to buy :o/
I have found somewhere which will sell me soutache cord, though I'm going to have to buy from 2 different places to get all the colours. I've decided to try and copy a necklace I've seen online to see how easy it is to do. I'm sure it's not easy, but there's not much in the way of instructions anywhere so this seems the best option.
I've also found somewhere to get some more nice beads; from the US (again!).
My brass findings arrived!! Thank goodness they didn't get stuck at customs and cost me another £20. I'm quite excited about trying a project, but knowing me I'm going to have to ponder for a while before I start.
I've also been looking for places to buy 4mm faceted glass beads for a bracelet - I seem to do this every 6 months or so but never buy any... we'll see.
I've been doing more of my flower garden bead embroidered necklace. I just have the background to put in on the main section so I'd love to get that done this weekend. I mean, it's only been a project on the go for a year or so :o/
I've also changed the background of this from pink to green. Definitely better!
I have found somewhere which will sell me soutache cord, though I'm going to have to buy from 2 different places to get all the colours. I've decided to try and copy a necklace I've seen online to see how easy it is to do. I'm sure it's not easy, but there's not much in the way of instructions anywhere so this seems the best option.
I've also found somewhere to get some more nice beads; from the US (again!).
My brass findings arrived!! Thank goodness they didn't get stuck at customs and cost me another £20. I'm quite excited about trying a project, but knowing me I'm going to have to ponder for a while before I start.
I've also been looking for places to buy 4mm faceted glass beads for a bracelet - I seem to do this every 6 months or so but never buy any... we'll see.
I've been doing more of my flower garden bead embroidered necklace. I just have the background to put in on the main section so I'd love to get that done this weekend. I mean, it's only been a project on the go for a year or so :o/
I've also changed the background of this from pink to green. Definitely better!
These are amazing!
OK, sometimes it is best *not* to browse too much. I have come across a new style of jewellery making, rather like bead embroidery but not quite. It's called 'soutache' and seems to involve twists of cord combined with cabochons and seed beads.
Isn't that wonderful? It's from the blog here:
http://myveryownrainbow.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
It looks like it's a bit like macrame... this piece has even less beads; it seems to use a type of braid in place of the rows of beads:
This is by the artist Dori Csengeri, more of her work here http://www.dazzleandshimmer.com/dori.html
and also at her own website here http://www.doricsengeri.com/ which has some really amazing stuff.
The work of Anneta Vallious here: http://www.mylovelybeads.com/php/newsletter/200811/anneta1.html
And yet more here (in Russian) http://rinamor.ru/shop/
I think I came across a pic of Dori Csengeri's work a while back, but had no idea how it was made. I suppose while the internet gives you too many ideas, it does also let you find out how it's done!
http://cs.beadandbutton.com/bnbcs/forums/t/21339.aspx
OK I'll stop now :o)
http://myveryownrainbow.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
It looks like it's a bit like macrame... this piece has even less beads; it seems to use a type of braid in place of the rows of beads:
and also at her own website here http://www.doricsengeri.com/ which has some really amazing stuff.
The work of Anneta Vallious here: http://www.mylovelybeads.com/php/newsletter/200811/anneta1.html
And yet more here (in Russian) http://rinamor.ru/shop/
I think I came across a pic of Dori Csengeri's work a while back, but had no idea how it was made. I suppose while the internet gives you too many ideas, it does also let you find out how it's done!
OK I'll stop now :o)
new links
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I've been spending some of my break times at (dull) work looking for bead embroidery inspiration, and I've found a few new websites which I'm adding to the link section on the right.
I also made it to my local bead shop in Partick. Wow that shop is expensive for gemstone beads! Yes they're lovely, but far too pricey for me. However they have a great but small section of muyuki seed beads. And I was hugely pleased to find the perfect colour to use on my flower collar necklace as the background! This is what I've been looking for for quite some time... it has been sitting unfinished because I've not been happy with the options. No excuse now :o)
I also bought some more green colours so I can get on with my bag/purse experiment.
The links really make me want to try out other things though! I also wish work wasn't so draining, because I feel like I desperately want to get on and try out ideas, yet when I get home I just want to slump in front of the TV and it's hard to get my brain going :o/
I also made it to my local bead shop in Partick. Wow that shop is expensive for gemstone beads! Yes they're lovely, but far too pricey for me. However they have a great but small section of muyuki seed beads. And I was hugely pleased to find the perfect colour to use on my flower collar necklace as the background! This is what I've been looking for for quite some time... it has been sitting unfinished because I've not been happy with the options. No excuse now :o)
I also bought some more green colours so I can get on with my bag/purse experiment.
The links really make me want to try out other things though! I also wish work wasn't so draining, because I feel like I desperately want to get on and try out ideas, yet when I get home I just want to slump in front of the TV and it's hard to get my brain going :o/
findings ordered
Ok, continuing the spirit of getting on with things, I have placed an order with Designer Findings in the US for a whole selection of fun things to use in bead embroidered jewellery. I spent a lot ($90!) but I think it is worth it - I just need to make sure I experiment with everything rather than just admiring it and then putting it away in a box. I guess it makes me appreciate having a job at the moment, because it let's me afford to place a $90 order; I might not be able to otherwise....
