Venus in transit and other fun stuff

photo from
 www.space.com

So who saw Venus make her way across the sun yesterday?  While i can't claim to have watched this celestial phenomenon in its entirety, i did crush an exposed cannister of film, yanked the innards out, rushed upstairs to catch the sun before it set behind the trees, and actually spotted Venus on the face of ol' Sol.  Pretty freakin cool!  (i'm also proud of myself for having remembered in time!)

Back in bead land, stuff is still happening though, it seems (and it could be real) at a slower and slower pace.  I have been working on all the in-progress projects and am prepared to provide you with a pictorial update of a couple of them.

First, the kyanite necklace.  As you may remember, the consensus was to continue with links instead of beads and i had found some "mystery metal" beads to incorporate into the design.  Here's where we are with this project.  Quite time consuming to make each little link, i must say!  But lookin good, i think.

The next question is:  kyanite centered or off-centered?  The answer will determine where i place the clasp which will likely be a hammered hook and eye combo.  The final length will be about 18".





 


Then the beadpoint.  o.m.g.  This is gonna take a while.  In fact, this is probably gonna take so long that i will only. ever. in my lifetime. do this one project.  But what a project!  Check this out and tell me it's as cool as i think it is!

And, finally, i made another pair of earrings!!!  WOOT!  These are actually for my friend who had her 59th birthday last weekend.  Margie is one of the craziest people i know.  True to her own self.  Constantly in musical motion.  Party on, my friend!  And i hope to see you some day real soon!!






Supplies:
(2) small dyed magnesite peace signs
(2) 4mm Swarovski crystal beads - clear AB
(2) ball tip head pins

Thread 'em up and twist a loop at the top.  Peace!

beadpoint and more

We just got these in at the shop...Lucite flowers and leaves in complementary color combinations are too cute!  There are 60 pieces in each package.  (From the really nice folks at The Hole Bead Shoppe in Bartlesville OK) 

Anyways, onward.  I've been working fairly steadily on the beadpoint project and now have 6 entire rows completed!  woohoo!  .It's a s-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-w process.  And i'm limited to working during daylight hours because i can't see at night without cheaters AND the  handheld magnifying glass that comes with the OED (a teeny tiny print dictionary).  Total eyestrain.  But!  i can see the pattern beginning to emerge and i'll tell ya what it's pretty cool!  And i really like the frost opaque seeds for this project.  Just don't look too closely at the stitchwork.
eh. 

So while i'm waiting for daylight, i found these kyanite beads lying on my dresser amongst all the other beads and trinkets and dust. My first thought was to make earrings but that's so yesterday. (just kidding!) I picked out some 18ga NT brass wire and linked three or four of the beads with simple loops. That wasn't it. The brass and the gauge looked good with the kyanite but the loops were plain and uninspired. hmmm.

So i hammered them. Sweet! Now i just have to decide how to make this long enough for a necklace. I need about 8-10 inches. More hammered links? Seed beads? Small, like 4mm, kyanite rounds knotted on silk? Leather? wheeeee! the possibilities are ENDLESS!  Check back.  Maybe i'll finish this one!

well hello there

my it's been a long long time.  how'm i doin?  oh well i guess i'm doin fine.  it's been so long and now it seems that it was only yesterday.  ain't it funny?  how time slips away?

On the bright side!  i've had time to think about this here earring challenge and this here blog.  It's obviously obvious that i am not gonna meet the 365 Challenge and i'm okay with that.   <sigh>   We had it going on for a good little while! and it was great fun! and there will be more earrings!  But now, wander with us and let's see where the beading path leads.

One thing that has captured my beady attention is beadpoint.  Beadpoint is needlepoint with a bead on every stitch.  A little bead.  A little 11/0 seed bead.  A very little bead.  Little beads and little holes in the 14 count aida cloth.  Why am i doing this?

photo from TheStitchery.com

Because a friend gifted me with a needlepoint floor frame like that one in the photo here.  Beautiful oak with wooden knobs for all the adjustables.  I can't just let it sit there! but needlepoint is not my thing.  But beads are!  So i'll try beadpoint!  This'll be great!  And, you'd think, easy.  Got beads.  Aaaahhh.  Need pattern.  Need pattern that i like.  And that will work with beads.  aaaaahhh.  Took forever but i found something.  Got the cloth.  Prepared the cloth.  Attached it to the frame.  Hemmed.  Hawed.  Hemmed again.


And finally, tonight, i tried a line of beadpoint.

Took me long enough to do this one stretch that i estimate the project will take 232 hours.  Not counting any non-stitching time.  Just threading the needle will take countless hours.  Pulling out bad stitches will take countless more.

Anybody else really excited?

But it's sooooo cool!!!!!

However, i don't like the black nymo thread 'cause it darkens the beads which i thought would work but it doesn't.  So i'll be starting over with white nymo thread. <sigh>

And, yep.  That's the pattern to the right of the framed cloth.  92 by 116 beads.  Did i mention they are little beads?

I know.  Another big idea.  And we know how well i followed through with the last big idea, right?  But ima gonna start this because I CAN!!!  ha ha ha!  Hey.  i already have a second pattern.  And a plan to chop this first pattern into bite-size pieces if necessary.

Off we go!