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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Sunday, April 05, 2009 - 10:30 pm
LOL, yeah I have a suggestion...grow two extra hands, and when you do let me know how you did it! A lot of times its a "we" project here too, I have Darren or one of the kids act as my second set of hands. If they're not around, Darren has these clamp tools I'll use. They hook onto a table and have a roach clip? attached to the end of a flexible arm. You just hook your wire or thread or whatever to the clip, but you have to be careful too, the clip will mar the wire and softflex and may not hold thinner thread real secure. If I'm using thread, I'll use a bit of tape to tape it down and with wire and softflex, I'll cut my pieces a little longer than I need so I can get rid of the bit that's been scarred by the clip. I've also on occassion taped one end to the table, but that's not always the best way cuz then you can't pick your project up and work with it well. I just read an article recently about all the ways you can wear a long necklace, I'll have to see if I can remember where the heck I read it at for you. Some of the ideas were pretty neat. I don't really use much of the harder wires (even the soft, harder wires) so I'm not gonna be much help with that. I did find this that might help. You can use the softflex wire for the three strand. You don't have to use a cone if you don't want too, you can buy clasps that are for 2 or 3 strand jewelry as well. That's mostly what I use and like em. But it will hang differently than if you use the cones. Yay for discount beads! I keep my eyes open when I go into stores with cheap jewelry, like Walmart. Sometimes you can find something nice and cheap that you can take apart and reuse for something else. I'm wanting to check out places like Goodwill too to see what they have but never really have the time to look around somewhere different. Heh, I'm pretty much the same with jewelry. Never wear earrings. Rarely wear necklaces and when I do they're fairly simple. Give me bracelets though and I'm quite happy! I had two 50% off coupons for Michales this week. Used one today for some memory wire. Haven't decided what to do with the second one, though I'll probably pick up some focal piece or charm that costs a bit more than I'd usually spend. I have 3 40% off coupons for next week and not sure what I'll do with those either though I will use them, even if it's just to pick up a pack of crimp beads or some crystals. Can't pass coupons like that up, lol! I didn't really get much beading done this weekend. I woke up the other night laying on my right hand and ever since then my wrist has been killing me. I did make two bracelets with the memory wire, but had to have Darren cut it and form the loops on the ends of the wire when I was done cuz that stuff is hard hard! I'll have to take it easy for a couple of days or won't be able to do anything!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 12:24 am
Fair warning Lum, lol, people see you wearing jewelry you made, and they want some too! I was wearing a spiral rope bracelet I made last week, the core beads are seed beads but the spiral is with swarovski crystal. My aunt saw it and the only thing she said was, "Ohhhh, it's so shiny!" She made the comment several times, which translates to, "Oh, I want one!" I speak aunt very well, lol. My aunt has a deep, deep love of costume jewelry and gets really tickled when people compliment her on it so I'll make her one sooner or later. My niece is much more vocal. She saw Kota's necklace (the blue spiral one) and asked me when I was going to make her one like it. I'm still spending most the day in my wrist brace so I won't be doing much yet. Tonight I did finally attach the clasp to the bracelet I redid for my aunt, the one she'd bought that broke, but that was it. Took me two tries, I shattered one of the crimp beads trying to attach it...not sure if the crimp bead was bad, if I had it set wrong in the crimp pliers, or if I squeezed the pliers too hard (had to use two hands and can't really tell how hard I'm doing it.) She'll be happy to get it though.
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Lumbele
Moderator
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 10:06 am
And so she should be; you're a good auntie, War. Thanks for the wire link. I printed a whole bunch off and found a few more sites with tutorials. Don't think there is too many ppl around here who would "want one, too", but I have the sneaking suspicion my mother might. Last fall at age 84, she bought her very first costume jewellry to fill the neckline of a new corral colour sweater. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I'll have to stick a magnetic closure on for her, though when I get back there. Yep, my mother is much more fashion-conscious than I am, always was. Have any of you browsed here yet? O-M-G, talk about beaders' heaven! Still waiting for my spare hands to hold still long enough to help with some more knotting, and Thursday/Saturday can't get here fast enough. What does one use when you have just a few pieces of stone, wood, porcelain eetc. on a piece and need to cover the rest of a wire. Seed beeds? and do they come in these materials as well? War hope those wrists of yours are recovering quickly. It sucks when our bodies won't let us do what our minds want to insist on. Ack!!!!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 1:26 am
Oh, you might be surprised by who might want something. I had a friend call a while back and ask me to make a bookthong and keychain. She's not into any jewelry or stuff like that, but she wanted a gift for her niece. LOL, my aunt loves her costume jewelry! She's been collecting it since before I was born. It's kind of fun to look through stuff she's had for many, many years especially since some vintage looks are starting to come back. Those magnetic clasps are awesome! Best thing ever as far as I'm concerned. Little jewelry clasps are hard to work with. I do use seed beads a lot for the girls necklaces. Er, not saying it's little girly, but most, if not all of the necklaces I make are for the girls. I've only used glass seed beads, not sure if there's wood or stone. I did see something in a magazine that might work too for a small amount of beads on a necklace (the mag pic was actually for a bracelet made out of one left over bead from a necklace.) They are these thin metal bars? rods? that slide over the wire, kinda curved. Not sure what they are called, but it was a very pretty looking effect. Wrists are still acting up. My aunts therapist did show me a couple exercises to try that might help, but I'm a little too sore to try them right now. Ok, more scared, lol, it hurts to bend them like that!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Thursday, April 09, 2009 - 11:27 pm
I am so mad at myself right now I could just scream. My aunt loved my spiral rope (the seed bead & crystal one) and kept commenting on how nice and sparkly it was. The kids and I decided we are going to put together an easter basket for her and I thought I'd do one to stick in it for her. So, first time in several days I've done any beading and I got right to it, so proud of myself that I actually remembered how to do it without the printed out sheet I have and really really proud with how nice and tight it was coming out. If I could have stopped with the beading part, it would have been perfect. I'd measured it several times and knew it was going to be just right when I was done with the clasps. But, then dummy me decided to use the end caps to hide my knots and all and I added a few extra seed beads to each end, knotted it all nice and tight, superglued it, then attached an eye loop pin, cut my thread and put on the end cap. Then did a simple loop and attached the clasps to each end. The damn thing is now about an inch and a half too big for me! For my aunt to wear it, she'd have to push it all the way up to her shoulder to keep it on! I've been pondering for the longest time how the heck I'm going to fix it and really have no idea short of cutting off the end caps, maybe running some wire through the whole spiral rope (or at least the core beads) and using that to attach the clasps to minus the end caps. I'm just disgusted with myself that I didn't check the size before tying, gluing, and cutting everything.
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Beekindpleez
Member
07-18-2006
| Thursday, April 09, 2009 - 11:33 pm
oh, no! Poor War. I can't think of any good solution for you. Maybe you could put it in her basket with the promise of one on the way, explaining that it would be too big for her?? I just hate when that happens! I made a new discovery today. Gerber baby foods come in little plastic boxes with lids that are just perfect for crystals, beads, etc. I love 'em. I'm feeding Seth as much as I can to get more of them. LOL ETA: I've been going through that big old stash of stuff I got at that bridal closeout and happily organizing them. wheeeeee
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 10, 2009 - 12:08 am
I may take it over to the bead store tomorrow if I have time and see what she has to suggest. LOL, I can't even look at it right now. Stupid thing is I really do know better, you measure and measure and measure again right up til you're ready to put the clasp on and then you measure again! You know what else works good for smaller things, Bee? The little clear tic tac containers. I've been buying them for the kids everytime I go to the store, lol. I didn't think about the baby food containers! I'll have to tell little "adopted" sis to save them for me. Don't you just love organizing beads? There is something about it that's so calming. Darren cracks up everytime he sees me doing it. Again???
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 10, 2009 - 3:23 am
Well, I decided to chop off the ends and run the flex wire through most of the core beads, then added on wire guardians, crimped it and put on the clasps. Now, the size is too small for aunt. I gave up at that point and decided it'll make a lovely Easter bracelet for my niece. I think from now on I'm going to run flex wire up the cord beads as I'm making the bracelets. I'm having absolutely no luck with the thread on the endings. I can knot them fine, just can't seem to finish them properley with the clasps or end caps. At least with the wire I can knot the thread and work with the wire to do the ends and I'm comfortable with that, lol.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Friday, April 10, 2009 - 6:44 am
Good morning beaders, (((Lum))) this is where you have been hiding. I have missed you. I haven't been in here in so long. Since I started working my beading time has taken a nosedive. Now that I am home with my elbow I have the time again. I'm not sure my elbow will let me do too much for too long, but I am going to try. Of course the first order of business is to clean and organize my beading table. I only made 2 bracelets though out the holidays. One for my boss's gift. Then, when her daughter saw it I had to make one for her. Bee, I came in here yesterday to post and saw the youtube you posted. I spent all morning watching them and never posted, lol. I think I am going to make the spiral bracelet too. War, when you made yours did you tie off and then add more "thread/line" or did you just make your original piece long enough to finish?
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 10, 2009 - 6:59 pm
I made the thread super long. I didn't really trust my own knots to tie in extra line throughtout the bracelet. Though the extra long line also has its draw backs, mainly knotting up on its own and sometimes fraying so you have to be pretty careful. Doing the beading on it is pretty easy, lol, I'm having more trouble with the damn thread and the clasps! I ended up taking apart the one I was working on last night and redid the entire thing, threading through the core beads with the flex wire and thread. That was a pain too but it did work. I think I just need a lot more work with the ends of them so I've been doing that this afternoon.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Friday, April 10, 2009 - 11:38 pm
Finished one more spiral rope bracelet for my middle niece. Her easter dress is pink so I did a couple different shades of pink seed beads then added a second strand of pink seed beads and a few crystals. It turned out cute, was much easier and no real problems with it. I need to do one for my older niece and one for Kota tomorrow and I'm going the easy route (no flex wire) since the pink one turned out good. Might be kicking myself by the time I'm done, lol.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 7:53 am
Thanks War, I tend to not like to tie off or knot things either, unless I absolutely have to. I placed a bead order yesterday and just about have my workspace set back up. I have it set up in my bedroom against the back window. I think one of my grand-daughters got into my beads because I found red seed beads all over the windowsill. I am thinking it may have been the oldest, since she didn't tattle on the youngest, lol. If it had been the baby I would have been told about it right away, instead of just discovering them on my own. But that's ok, Granny just cleaned it up and nothing will be said. She is safe in her secret....this time lol. One of the best things I ever bought for my beads are those small tool drawer things. I don't know what they are called, they are square with little clear drawers for nuts, bolts, washers things like that. I have about five now. A couple with larger drawers that hold the wires, small bags and stuff perfectly. The rest of the regular size hold the beads perfectly. I used the label maker and labeled all the drawers of what kind, color and size of bead, fitting or clasp. Now when I need something I just look at the drawers and pull whichever drawer I need out. I'll post a picture of them later today.
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Crzndeb
Member
07-26-2004
| Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 12:37 pm
Ice cube trays and egg cartons are great for storing beads too and can be stacked. I have those in my 3 drawer rolling plastic containers in my spare room closet.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Saturday, April 11, 2009 - 10:51 pm
Darren bought me a tackle box for Christmas with those little clear box drawers. Love it. Besides the boxes/drawers with compartments, it has space on top for all my tools/wires/etc and I can't pick it up and carry the whole thing. I'd really be scared to use ice cube trays and egg cartons, I'm too clumsy and would drop them everytime I grabbed one, lol. Without lids it's an accident waiting to happen for me! I finished the spiral rope bracelets for Easter. I was going to do a cutesy, spring one for Kota, but don't think I will since it's almost 11 already. She has a couple I made a few weeks ago to choose from, lol.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 7:22 am
I am so happy I have my workspace set back up. I forgot it was Easter weekend when I said I would take a picture of it. I will get one today. I still have some beads I need to store. I bought some pearls I forgot about. I might go to Lowes today and see if I can get another tool drawer thing. I do want to get one of those rolling containers with drawers for in there. Like War, I think me keeping them in egg cartons or ice cube trays would be a big mess waiting to happen. I have been known to flip my beads to the floor a time or two, even in their little drawers. Knock on wood it has never been seed beads, other then what grand-daughter spilled on the window sill. I am hoping my order gets here in the next day or two. I ordered them from Artbeads and they have shipped quickly in the past.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 1:05 pm
Do you like artbeads, Biloxi? I haven't checked them out yet. I ordered from fire mountain gems last month...like their prices mostly, but it took forever to get my order. I've usually ordered from auntiesbeads and they're super quick (I'm surprised everytime to see the package in the mail so soon, lol.) I need to get some supplies, mostly findings, or else I won't be able to do anything else, lol.
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Crzndeb
Member
07-26-2004
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 1:20 pm
The beads in my ice cube trays and egg shell cartons, are beads that I never use (and bigger variety), but don't want to part with. I rarely even go in there. Most of my gemstone beads are in little ziplock bags in bigger zip locks arranged by color or still on strands in an old dresser that was my daughters. All of my seed beads are in vials or hanks in another rolling cart in closet. I could never put little beads in trays...yes, I would drop them too...LOL!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 1:36 pm
LOL, don't ya just love the ta tink tink tink sound of a gazillion little beads hitting the floor all at once?!? In one of my magazines, I saw these really cool bead pens and they look like fun. And simple. But dang, they're pricey. Kinda wondering if I can buy a regular pen but right off the bat, I think the biggest problem would find one you can take the body part off but still leave the cap on the end so the beads don't fall off.
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Lumbele
Moderator
07-12-2002
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 5:34 pm
Well, I was gonna tell y'all that I was keeping my beads in those bottles from the pharmacy. Figured swallowing all that poison should have a good side, too. But this thread was still in the tray when dh comes home from his fave store with a tackle box. Who am I to say "no thanks". Haha! So far I still have loads of space. At Michaels on Thursday and Saturday, I stocked up a little, but mainly findings and charms, a few beads. Got several 40% off one reg. item for next week, with 2 of them, you have to spend 5 bucks, though. No problemo! We are gonna go broke via my expensive bead taste. The last few days, I have been all over the net, checking out bead suppliers. I want more choices than Michaels. Can't wait to get back to Germany to go shopping there. Some nice stuff on offer across the pond. Hoping for some beading time tomorrow. I'm itchin' to get going. Wish me luck!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 7:46 pm
Heh, I took Kota to Michaels earlier to spend her gift card (she spent it on a pottery wheel craft set) and I stocked up on my findings too. Also bought some lampwork beads and a couple other things that were on clearence. The only coupons I got this time were for 15% off your entire order (even sales items) on uhm, I think April 26th during certain hours. Oh man, I'm jealous you get to go shopping in another country for beads! I bet you'll find some really neat stuff too. Good luck on getting some beading time tomorrow Lum! I have a couple projects on my tray to finish up today/tomorrow and then one of my nieces has a birthday later this month and I'll probably do her some jewelry. She'll be 6 so nothing too fancy, but unlike sis' girls, I don't see this niece all that often so she doesn't get as much jewelry as the other girls do.
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Biloxibelle
Member
12-21-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 8:24 pm
I do like artbeads. That is where I get 99% of my stuff from. They ship fast and it is free shipping, also with every order they throw in a couple of tootsie rolls. I have no idea why, but I think that is the funniest thing ever. We have a Michaels 2 counties over. I have a bought a few things from them. It just doesn't seem to keep a good stock of beading. Hobby Lobby seems to have more, but I hardly ever get over to either. We have a real cute beading store in town. I will go down there if I need or want a few things fast. I never buy much in there due to her markup. One neat thing she has there is a work table. Her employees are always making something there. If you want to make something they will either make it for you or you can do it yourself with them showing you how.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, April 13, 2009 - 9:13 pm
2 tootsie rolls? LOL, how odd! I'll have to try them out. I read somewhere, and sorry I really can't say where, probably one of my magazines (I'll look through them and see if I can find it) that Michaels is trying to expand their bead sections and offer more stuff you might find in bead stores. I have noticed a bigger selection at ours and things that are a little more uhm, pricey? higher quality? and that they have been trying to get rid of some of the cheaper stuff (which is what I bought on clearance today, lol.) I'm going to have to try to find where the heck I read that. Heh, you have the same thoughts about your local bead store that I have about mine. I love going in there, it's a great store, but she is kinda expensive and there's always someone working on something and willing to help if you need help with a project. Even though I prefer to shop at smaller businesses, her prices prevent me from shopping with her exclusively. If I need a lot of beads, buying online is better. If I need a lot of findings, it's cheaper at Michaels.
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Lumbele
Moderator
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 9:49 am
War, I got a few links to online German bead suppliers. If you want to have a look-see and tell me approximately what you would like, I can bring them back and send them on down, but that could take well into winter, if not next spring. Here are the links: dawanda perlenpaula juwela Just put away something into my nightstand and decided to have a quick peek in my jewellry box. Found a few charms and chains etc that I haven't worn in decades. Great new beading supplies! I knew I didn't chuck them for a reason.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 12:28 pm
Oh, that's one of the advantages of seeing your little girl grow up (one of the few, sigh.) She's constantly outgrowing little girl jewelry, usually something plastic but with metal charms and stuff that can be taken apart and reused. I should actually do that with my aunt too, go through her jewelry boxes and see what she has that's broken or she hasn't worn in years and do new things with it for her. Lum, have you thought about checking yard sales and thrift stores? From what I've heard from other beaders and read, you can really score some good stuff for great prices. I keep saying I'm going to go to the thrift stores in town but haven't gotten around to it yet. Darren and Caleb are going camping in a couple weeks and I think I'll take Dakota on a thrift store shopping spree, lol. Thanks, Lum, I'll have to check out those sites. I'm more curious than anything what prices are like elsewhere and if you can get things that are pretty different than what we get here in the states or Canada. I ran into the bead store on the way home for one tube of seed beads (and actually walked out with just the one tube!) The owner was very excited about some square wire she had got in asked me if I was into working with wire, like the wire wrapped beads and all, and I said no, that's something I really haven't learned how to do and I'm not very good at. She told me she had a class coming up on wire wrapping techniques, but unfortunately it's on a Tuesday morning and I can't do that with my aunts therapy. Anyways, she told me Thursdays is all day bead day, and if I wanted to to bring in my stuff and she'd sit down and show me some tricks to do it. She's always pretty helpful and willing to stop and show you how to do something or give advice, but I guess on Thursday's she brings in extra help so she can take as much time as needed to show people how to do stuff. Told her she shouldn't have told me that, lol. Besides the wire wrapping which I really do want to learn how to do properly, I'm really struggling with the right way to end the spiral ropes and there's several other techniques I'd love to learn as well. If I have time I'll try to get over this week.
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Lumbele
Moderator
07-12-2002
| Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 4:04 pm
War, no I haven't thought about thrift stores and yard sales, but dh is keeping an eye on local auctions. Well, if you see something you want from the German places, or something like it, let me know. I am hoping to get to a few bead stores over there. Just lifted the jar with all the chips for that 3 strand necklace and realised it would be waaaaaaaayyy too heavy. So I am going for a 3 strand bracelet instead and maybe a one strand necklace. I bought a baggie of those closures with 3 rings on them, but then I checked out multi strand bracelets online and they all seem to be threaded through the same crimp covers or cones. What do you experts suggest?
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