Two Posts in one day: Operation Share

Oh My Goodness....Two posts in a day! I have decided to add another element to Operation Promise and Operation De-Stash...Operation Share. I want to share the process (I was going to say my thoughts but that is scary) of design, the way that I do it. So most awesome designers I know have an equally awesome way of coming up with their designs, pictures, samples etc. I am impatient and indecisive, my designs start out in my head and rarely ever go to paper. In this process there are sometimes mistakes. In the picture on my last post, you can see the cross is wonky. I had a thought about how to fix this, if I wanted to fix it, and then asked the experts at Beading Forum Dot Com Dot Au I came to the conclusion to fix it. I cracked the extra bead I had put in the RAW (note to self: beads actually shatter!). I love to bounce ideas off others during the process and I love the uncertainty about how a piece may look that comes from being a "fly by the seat of my pants" designer.

As you can see from the picture below is that I may at times using graph paper (this one came from Fire Mountain Gems) so that I am able to see the size of a piece.

Operation De-stash and Operation Promise

As a criminologist I thought I should use some CJ terms to describe what I am currently doing (I knew I could find a way to mix beads and criminology some day!). I am embarking on a combined operation, Operation De-stash and Operation Promise. My objective is to make all those things I promised my friends (well they asked or admired something and I said, "I can make that") without having to purchase a copious amount of new materials. I need to sort my beads big time.

This is the first piece of the operation in progress: a rosary style necklace.

I am thinking of doing a tutorial for this. I have never tried a tutorial before because my style is a little ad lib but this is simple enough for those beginners that ask me questions about the hows and whats to get started. For now you can see some of the materials I use:

• size 10-12 beading needles 
• Nymo (I need to get my hands on O because the D is a little thick for some of my projects). 
• Here, in the spirit of de-stashing I have used some size 9 Gutterman rocailles but I would like to try it with 11 Delecas as it is not as neat as I want it to be. 
• I have a quick unpick there but this is not a regular thing (I put it away when I snagged the Nymo on it by accident). 
• You can't see it here but I use Thread Heaven thread conditioner to prevent fraying.
•  I also use a bead mat which you can pick up cheaply from bead suppliers, they help those slippery little suckers from rolling away. 
• I like to transfer my beads to the little pallets as they keep neatly and   I can see colour combos but I usually don't store them long term here because they are a little fickle in whether they are going to have a really tight lid or a really loose one but while they are on the tray and not travelling, they are fine.
•  I use a tray for portability because I have no space...waaaaahhhhh. 

So that is it for now but a proper tutorial may follow after a few test runs, if I don't get bored and move on hahahaha.

Oops

Okay so remember me excitedly writing about the Toho competition? Well this is the supposed entry...Hey it is only about four months late I believe? I had much bigger plans for this but it looked so good on when I tried it at this point that I decided that it was done. So it consists of a RAW chain and a sculptural peyote flower, made with mostly 11 Tohos.

So many ventures, so little time

So my whole big idea to do Toho Treasures and Design Quest never eventuated. I just don't seem to have time to create these days and when I do I rush things and they don't work out. If only there was a way to combine my love of criminology with my love of beading lol.

Toho Treasures competition

I've decided to enter my first competition. I have dusted off the seedie stash in the past few weeks and they are beckoning me again. Although I love the satisfaction of bashing around with metal. Seedies are my true passion. They are portable and help me to focus when my life is chaotic. I think that I will have to find a way to do mixed media that is unique but for now I want to concentrate on the Toho competition. I have chosen and purchased my first lot of beads for the competition from http://www.cranberry.net.au/store/index.php the awesome store that is running the competition. As per competition guidelines I can't show any of the work until it is judged but I can say it will be in lovely purple hues and inspired by years of admiration of seedie beaders such as Kerie Slade: http://kerrieslade.co.uk/ but of course with my own personal style. My work is a lot more freeform than Kerrie's but her flowers and colours are amazing and very appealing to me. I am even serious enough to plan this piece (to an extent). I am itching to get started. I have until April 2012.

A bracelet inspired by Notre Dame in Paris...I haven't been there, I wish! It is for a beadingforum dot com dot au challenge.

The start of something?

My first order. A bag tag for a young girl's camp bag.