Busy hands | Disquiet mind

Just existing right now seems to be taking quite a bit of effort. Some things I ordered have not even shipped yet. Other projects that are in progress are taking much longer than expected. And it is simply too hot to sew. So, instead have a poorly lit photo of some earrings I made from a 646 piece kit I got many years ago. I dip into it whenever I want to make something, but not think about anything. I replaced the brown beads with purples and pinks from a hair thing I bought at a convention, that almost immediately fell apart. There are the makings of another five pairs in the kit, and they only get more fancy. I'm sure I'll get around to them. Eventually.

Five pairs of jewellery kit dangly earrings
Photo by chebe

In Part Two I made a domed top for the Gemma Jewel Circuit. But I still needed to make the rest of the case.

( Details and pictures )

It is not tidy, but it is very secure. I had to BluTak the dome back to the ring, because even the hot-glue refused to stick, but it works. If I want to permanently attach it there are a few things I could try yet.

To review;

• There are no shadows in the dome from attachment mechanisms,


• The back opens easily to be able to turn on/off the lights, and to change the battery,


• But, it is a bit chunkier than expected, and protrudes forward more than is desirable.

On to the next iteration! (I'm thinking of, at least temporarily, replacing the dome with an unicorn horn for Neopixely unicorn horn magic.)

Current state of case; wire bezel and BluTak
Photo by chebe

I enrolled in Becky Stern's Jewelry Class on Instructables. The first couple of projects focus on beads, first with cord, and then with wire. Which are things I have done before but the projects looked cute. The second set of lessons focuses on sheet metal and soldering silver rings. Things I've always wanted to do but had no idea how to get started. I was so in.

Word of warning, while the class is free the materials are increasingly expensive. The sizes given in the materials lists don't always correspond to what's available here, so some of my details differ.

Beading
Round leather cord, 2mm, black.
Silk bead thread, size 2 / 0.45mm, black.
Round beads, 6mm, hematite.

Leather cord, silk thread, bead bracelet
Photo by chebe

Wire
Round beads, 6mm, hematite.
Round sterling silver wire, 0.4mm, fully annealed
Round sterling silver wire, 1.0mm
Sterling silver jump rings, 1.0mm thick, 4mm internal ring diameter
Sterling silver French hooks

Silver wire and bead earrings
Photo by chebe

I am haphazardly working on projects, and have just replaced my soldering iron, so I should have more to show soon. In the meantime I'm occupying myself with little things that I should already know. Like stringing some beads on some string. This is useful knowledge.


The first method to do this is simply wrapping a length of waxed cotton cord around an item (in the middle of the length of cord). Then passing the two tails through a single bead and knotting them so they don't fall back through. It is really simple, and works well. Except that the cord needs to be long enough to go over your head. And the bead needs to have a wide enough hole to fit the two widths of cord.

Simple single bead necklace fastening
Photo by chebe

To get a shorter necklace the length needs to be adjustable (or to open). Doing this is also really simple, once you've done it once. Take a length of cord in a circle, overlap the ends. Place one of the ends under the cord parallel to it, and then do an overhand (aka regular) knot to itself. Repeat for other tail. (Try it, it makes sense once you see it.) Now it can be long enough to go over your head, and tight enough for a choker style necklace. (And you can use thick nylon cord without having to worry about fitting through any beads.)

Adjustable double-overhand necklace fastening
Medallion by Coral Mallow
Photo by chebe

Next I have to acquire some crimp beads, spiral clasps, and other such fun findings. At least now I can wear my pretties.

The beading log I'd hoped to keep didn't work out. Needless to say the last couple of beading posts were a result of my frustration with a certain brand of beads and their inexact sizings. And I'm nothing if not exacting. Noting the other information, like what size needles, thread, and beads go together is helpful, but more something that can be summed up at the end of a project. Like now :)

First up we have the aforementioned Square Stitch[1] bracelet. I didn't like the design in the book[0] so I changed it a little. Inspired by my favourite terminal colours I went for green-on-black, with just two kinds of beads; the green metal-lined rounded cubes, and the plain glossy black seed beads. And because I spend a lot of time typing I've found bracelets can often get in the way or hurt, I want all mine to be as thin as possible. So instead of large round beads I've used flat diamond beads.

The seed beads are size 11, and two fit side-by-side to each of the cubes. Black Nymo thread, size D (0.012" diameter), with size 10 beading needle. You make each panel individually, and then string them together. You start in the middle (with the green beads) then add five rows, then start decreasing by two at each end. Repeat for other side. Make three, and two half panels. String together with the diamond beads, measure for fit, adding extra rows to the two half-panels as needed. Attach 5-bar clasp. (This is all the instruction given in the book. I attempted to Square Stitch it in, but don't think it worked too well. Will have to look up how to do it properly.)

( Pictures )

Second we have a simple little bracelet that uses both Ladder Stitch[2] and Brick Stitch[3], and isn't actually in the book. Black Nymo thread, size D (0.012" diameter), with size 10 beading needle (two needles are needed for doing the clasp). The bugle beads (~6mm) in gunmetal gray are done first in Ladder Stitch to the desired length. Then the black glossy size 11 seed beads are added as a trim. I started at the bobble-clasp end, worked down one end in Brick Stitch, added the loop-clasp end, then worked back up the other end in Brick Stitch.

I like this bracelet, the metallic bugles catch the light and seem to have a thick black outline as if drawn, kinda unusual. Yet it's very light and thin, and was made without any findings.


( References )