Rainy and wet, what else do you do but bead. I set myself a challenge and decided I would give a wirework project a go. I mean, after all, I did have a buying frenzy a while back and now find myself with wire, hammers, cutters and an anvil so why not.
Having been advised of a simple tutorial - "3 Bead Hammered Ring" by Natalie Pierce I looked at my stash and decided I could manage it. Armed with all the "doings" I sat down to create. As recommended by Natalie, I have used 14 and 22 gauge wire, 6 mm and 4 mm beads.
The first one I tried was a bit rough. Mainly due to the fact I couldn't find the nice new shiny hammer I had purchased a while back and had to use my husband's old work hammer. It left a few marks and didn't look nice and smooth. Mind you it was kind of rustic looking.
The next one was better. Having seen my plight, my husband kindly found me a smaller hammer and ground it down until it was as smooth as glass. This time there were no hammer marks and the beader's grin was plastered across my face. Well wasn't I just the bees knees!! Acting like the professional wireworker, I wielded the hammer with confidence making a third ring.
Sometimes I think we hold back from trying new things, telling ourselves we are not up to it. If the truth be known my rings are probably pretty basic but it did give me the confidence to consider trying something else. And that is what it is all about isn't it?
I am a member of the Beading Forum and each month the Brisbane & Surrounds members meet up. We have a wonderful day of beading, eating and chatting. What more could you want? A day out with friends and the chance to bead to your heart's content. Quite often we set a "Meet Challenge" and members can learn a new technique or use a medium not familiar to them. One such challenge was freeform peyote using wire and seed beads. We each meandered along the wire with our seed beads creating very individual bracelets. Magazines such as Beadwork and Bead & Button provide the inspiration for these challenges. A few samples are below.
Just a quick look at some of the seed/crystal stock. Hmmmmmm, there are still some empty spots there!
My journey into beading has been up and down. I watched my sister string a necklace one day and thought "I'd love to do that". Not seeing myself as creative in any way, I asked her to show me how to do it. The words, tigertail, crimps, flat nose pliers etc were alien to me. I was all fingers and thumbs but after ruining a number of crimps and tigertail lengths I finally got it! I had an illusion necklace in front of me and was beaming from ear to ear.
Not having the money and, I suppose the knowhow, I haunted the op shops looking for old necklaces I could pull apart, another suggestion from my sister. I found it impossible to walk passed an oppie without going in and checking out their beadie wares. Soon, however, I needed more.
Totally obsessed by this stage I found a wonderful site www.beadingforum.com.au
It opened up a whole new beading world. I suddenly realised that stringing was not the only thing I could do with beads. I could weave them too. With a lot of help and advice from fellow beaders I launched down a new path and into another world. The world of seed beads! I am still totally obsessed with them. Next came crystals. Such beautiful sparkly little things. I can't live without them.
I have since dabbled in wirework and polymer clay but my heart will always lie with beadweaving.
Over the last 7 years the bead and I have become one.
Thank goodness I have a patient husband although sometimes I think he must tear his hear out with my obsession.
I've finally ventured into the world of blogging. My New Year resolution is to be more visable on the web. Here's hoping I live up to it.....
