Statement Heart Bracelet

This is another bracelet that I made using supplies that a friend of mine purchased and asked me to make something out of.  A lot of the pieces that I have made lately have been for her utilizing things that she has asked me to be creative with.  I started with the blue porcelain hearts and green porcelain rounds.  I decided that some silver stardust would be a nice touch with them, so I started laying out my beads.  

While I sometimes like to use bead boards, I've also been known to just lay out my beads on a board or my desk to see what they would look like.  Sometimes using a bead board won't show me what the completed piece will really look like, while laying out the pattern in the correct shape will better help me.  I definitely recommend bead boards, but sometimes they just aren't the best tool for me.  

Due to the weight of these beads, as well as the fact that they could have sharper edges, I used two strands of Powercord.  These beads are hollow, so getting the cord to cooperate and go strand through the middle can be a challenge to say the least! While you don't need to use a needle with Powercord, it can really help when using these types of beads.  I chose to use a wide eye needle so that I didn't have any difficulties using it with the Powercord. 

I wanted to use a single heart in the design and thought that it would be a piece that would lay over the top of your wrist well.  I then spaced the green porcelain beads with silver stardust beads, which provide a nice sparkle and contrast (in both colors and size) to the bracelet. Using a bead stopper to hold the end of the Powercord is a lifesaver as it keeps your beads from falling off the cord as well as leaves your hands free.  Can you imagine holding onto that end while stringing on the other?  I would probably drop it multiple times and have to start over.  If you don't have bead stoppers, don't worry! You can use a piece of scotch tape on the ends of the cord for the same effect. 

As planned, the heart bead lays really nicely on the top of the wrist.  After testing it for a while I discovered that it did not turn and stayed in place pretty well.  I have enough beads leftover that I am thinking of making a necklace to go with this bracelet, as I really like the combination of beads and colors.  I just hope the person I made it for feels the same!

Double Take?

This bracelet may look familiar, but I promise it is different than the one featured in a previous post.  Using leftover beads from when I made the first Halloween bracelet I decided that I had enough to make another.  These beads feature creepy eyes, a ghost, spider web and spider.

I used the same technique when making this bracelet as I did with the last bracelet.  I love the look of this bracelet as the beads are more uniform in shape and size, so even though the colors and theme are similar I really feel it can stand apart from the other bracelet.  Like the last bracelet I did this on Powercord.  I ended up adding a second strand of Powercord to the original bracelet because the weight of the lampworked beads did make the single strand stretch a bit too much. Knowing that I did that with the previous bracelet I immediately went about creating this bracelet with two strands from the beginning. 

I knotted each strand separately and in different places.  This way if one of them is worn or gets cut, it can easily be repaired without having to completely restring the bracelet, or deal with the beads flying everywhere if one strand does break.  Both knots on the bracelet are sealed using Loctite get glue, which not only secures the knot nicely, but dried relatively quickly.  Even though it does dry quickly I do try to hold the knot for a few minutes to give it a chance to cure and so that it doesn't immediately stick to the other strand or the beads.  After I feel it has dried enough I then shift the cord to hide the knots within a bead.  Now, with natural shifting the knots won't always stay hidden, but it gives it nice presentation. 

Hearts All Around

A while back a friend of mine gave me a scrabble tile pendant that had been given to her and asked me to make a necklace around it.  At first I thought, ok, no problem - but this one gave me some challenges.  

I started creating with it and had a piece halfway made some time ago, but then I just wasn't happy with it.  I ended up taking it apart and starting back at square one.  After quite a while of debating what I was 

going to do with this piece and how I was going to create something with it, I thought of some of the heart shapes available from Swarovski and how the Devoted 2 U heart shape so perfectly fit the shape of the heart on the pendant.  So, using that I went forward and looked at the colors available to see what would work best.  This ended up being my starting point and finally allowed me to create something that I was happy with.  

For this piece I knew that I wanted to go with an illusion style, because it is one of my favorite styles to work with.  I enjoy the fact that you can do a perfectly symmetrical and intricately spaced style, or it can be completely random in the spacing and still look beautiful.  For this design, I decided to go with rose and jet Swarovski crystals as they were pretty close to the colors on the pendant.  

After I had this direction, I knew where I wanted to go, so I started constructing it.  For this necklace I definitely wanted the spacing to be even and match on both sides.  I worked with bicones, wild hearts and one Devoted 2 U heart.  Sometimes these can be tricky, especially when you are working with multiple strands, because you want to make them match, and when working with wire it can move and shift without you knowing.  Scotch tape is great to utilize here.  I usually use it to mark the middle point where the pendant will go, and then once half done I will use it to keep the strands in place so that the spacing is easier.  

Another thing I make sure to do when I know that both sides will match is to plan carefully.  The last thing you want to do when 3/4 of the way done is discover that you have run out of a certain color or size of bead.  I will usually make a small section, then before moving on I will set aside the beads for the other side.  This way they are already set aside so I won't use them by mistake.  If your illusion style design is more random, or doesn't match then you don't have to worry about setting aside these beads, because you can just play it by ear.  

I'm really happy with how this necklace came out.  In fact if I had another of the pendant I would probably make one for myself! :)  Sometimes having one piece to build something around can be so inspiring and sometimes it can be a road block.  This one proved to be a little difficult, but in the end I am SO pleased with the path that it took me on.  This is definitely one of my favorite pieces that I have created.  

Halloween Stretch Bracelet

So you may remember in my last post that I was talking about creative blocks and possible ways to get past this.  I decided it was time to break my own creative block and get back to work! I have a friend who likes to buy beads and other items, then pass them on to me to make items for her.  In the last month, she gave me two ghost beads for a piece for Halloween.  I remembered that she had also given me some other glass Halloween beads that may correspond well with these beads.  After mulling over these items for some time, I decided that they may be best used in a stretch bracelet.  

I remembered that I had purchased some powercord in black a while back so decided it was time to experiment.  This was not only my first time using stretch cord, but also my first time using a surgeon's knot.  I definitely recommend using glue on the knot and letting it dry suitably before stretching or testing the piece.  Surgeon's knots can be very secure, but you definitely want the added protection from the glue. 

This piece went by relatively quickly, but I did have to remake it a couple times.  Figuring out the length with a stretch cord can be hard.  I finally used my own wrist as a template to figure out how all of the beads would lay, especially when the cord was stretched. 

I think the finished piece came out pretty well and my friend likes it.  So overall I would say it was a success!

Creative Block - How Do You Deal With It?

I haven't been creating many pieces as of late, though I have some works in progress that are on their way.  There's a horrible thing that affects most artists, whether it be writers, creators or any other arts - an inspiration block. It's awful, especially when you want to create things and you have so many ideas, but they just won't flow like you want them to.  Sometimes working yourself out of this block can be relatively easy, but often it can be a struggle.  Here are some methods I use to try and break free.

1. Find new sources of inspiration: Photographs, books, surroundings - this can be anything! A lot of my color combinations can come from nature, so a way to break a block could simply be to immerse yourself in the items or images that inspire you.  

2. Walk away from it! No, I'm serious - really! Sometimes you just need to put your project down and walk away.  Take a day away from it, then come back to it with fresh eyes.  Many of my own moments of frustration have been cured using this method.  You can get so immersed in it that you lose sight of the design that you wish to create, or you simply can't make any progress. 

3. Start working on something else.  This is another version of number 2, but it can also work.  Switch from a labor intensive project to some quick earrings or fun bracelets.  The change in pace and type of pace could re-energize you or inspire you to start working on your more detailed piece again. 

4. Clean your work area! This can be my least favorite of the different techniques I use, but it often can work the best.  Often your workspace may become covered in supplies, cast offs, or simply items that need to be put away.  Organizing and cleaning your area can not only help you to get refocused on your project, but you can discover items that you forgot you had, or find points of inspiration for a piece in the future. 

These are some of the techniques that I use when I am having trouble focusing or continuing a project.  Since I've been experiencing a little bit of creative blocking lately I should hurry up and employ some of them! :)

Exciting News!

Guys! Guys!! GUYS!  Big news!

Just Another Symphony has been chosen as a Friday Spotlight artist on Peacock's Roost (simplycherise.net)!  I'm probably a bit over excited about this, but it's the first time I have been featured anywhere.  Please take some time to wander over and take a look!

A big thank you to Cherise over at simplycherise.net for giving me this opportunity.  I truly appreciate it! :D

Update

So...it has been a while.  I really didn't intend for this span of time to pass in between blog posts, but alas, life throws things at you.  Nothing drastic has happened, but between my day job, freelance jobs, boyfriend, parents, health issues and the like - I haven't had many spare moments.  What can I say? There are only so many hours in the day and lately it doesn't seem there are enough.  There are a number of things planned for this blog, as well as for my etsy store and facebook page. Some exciting things that are to come? Oh alright, I'll share some with you. 

• A post dedicated to the wood pendants I make, as well as info on how I create them.
• Posts on inspiration
• Posts on breaking creative blocks
• More new stuff listed and shown
• And much more!

This blog is still very much in its infancy, but I hope as I get more used to the format I will be able to share experiences and knowledge with any who read it. I look forward to creating these posts and hearing from anyone who reads them!