It seems like I’m always looking for writing implements at work. The abundance of pens and pencils have dwindled down to just a few sitting around the office. While I try not to write anything by hand, it’s sometimes necessary. So, I finally made a pen of my own to use.
I won’t really have much to say about this piece. I made the glass components and sewed them onto the cording. I found this one a bit harder to do than the one I made earlier with the thicker cording. This cording is thinner and longer so I was able to make it into a lariat type necklace. Here’s two different views of the same necklace:
I haven’t decided whether to dye the cording. I like the different colors I get when I dye them but the dye tends to make the cording a lot darker. Not sure if all the glass components will show up very well on a darker cording. Still thinking about it….
Of course I can’t go a weekend without making beads. I’m cleaning up all my short ends of glass again and I made these simple encased beads.
And I couldn’t go without making a few buttons. I’m still working on flower implosions.
Okay, this is it on the little people figures. They are fun but I don’t have the time to play around right now. I need to be making things that I can sell at the next craft show.
And I’ve finally made enough buttons for the button swap that I joined. I only need 10 for the swap but I must have about 30 of them left. Some aren’t so nice, others I don’t want to part with. Here’s the ones I made this weekend.
More floral implosions. I’m still working on the petals and the left one doesn’t show up that well. It’s the frit I used on the back of it. I think I’m getting better with the petals. Still need practice but I’m getting there.
Some more striped buttons. I really like making these in all different colors.
Lisa Fletcher on Lampwork Etc posted a picture of her little people sculptures. They are so cute!! I had to try to make some. I finished two of them and plan to make another one. I ran out of components. I’ll finish the third one tomorrow after making a few more components tonight. I’m not selling any little people. They will be just for my enjoyment.
I used steel wire for the armature. It’s so stiff it’s a killer on my hands. The components are fun to make and a great way to use up all my short rods as I can use whatever color. Anything goes on these.
I got an order for a ladder bracelet. I decided to use my new flower implosion button on it. I used a bunch of leftover semi-precious gemstone beads from previous bracelets I’ve made. I thought about doing them in some kind of order or pattern but went with the easiest way – to mix them all up.
At least for me. These are based on what’s called an implosion. It’s where the decorations get pushed up into the clear glass when it’s melted in. These are supposed to be floral implosion buttons. They don’t look too much like flowers to me but I got the implosion part (should have taken the pictures from the side) and they are fairly centered.
I use striped stringer canes and dots to make the petals. I probably should try to draw the flower on so it looks more realistic. That will be my next attempt. I wanted to make sure I could do the implosion part before getting all crazy with making the flower and having the implosion part turn out crappy. Many thanks to Morgan (Baywinger) on Lampwork Etc. for posting a blurb on how to make them.
I’ve been working on making the glass components to use in some necklaces and I finally got one assembled. It took me all morning to sew on all the components, then when I went to glue the end caps on, I got glue on the fabric cording. Yuck. The only way I could think of covering the glue up was to dye the cording. I used Ranger’s Adirondack Alcohol Inks. They are supposed to be permanent. Guess I’ll know once I wear it.
I make the components on the ends of copper wire so technically they aren’t really beads but more like decorative head pins that I make a loop on the back so I can sew them onto the cording.
These will be it for a while for the animal beads. At least I hope so. I need to move on to making more buttons since I signed up for a button swap last week.
Another kitty. I can almost make these with my eyes closed. Good thing I like making kitties.
A few more toads and bunnies.
A chicken and a couple of bats.
Kissy fish. I like making these. I can use up all my short glass rods on these.
My cousin’s quilt club is participating in another show and she asked me to make more beads, especially the animal beads. I need to give them to her next weekend so I tried to make as many as I could on Sunday. That is after I weeded through all the junk emails I got when I as gone on vacation.
I’ve made the birds and bunnies before. Since I don’t really have any time to be experimenting I’m going with the beads I can make fairly quickly and know are already successful.
Hey!! What’s that interloper doing in there? It’s a toad that wants to be a kitty. Good thing kitties like to play with toads.
Chickens. I didn’t make any of these for my cousin’s last show. Not sure how popular they will be.
I have one more torch day to make as many animal beads as I can. I’m hoping I will be able to give my cousin about 30 animal beads. I’ve got my work cut out for me.
Mewkittie Creations 