One of the classes that I really enjoy teaching is the wire crochet necklace. The best part is when students come in saying “that looks really complicated, don’t think I can do that!” and go out wearing a fabulous necklace that they made themselves. Also gratifying is when they tell you later that when they wear their necklace everyone comments on how good it looks and how proud they are to be able to say “I made it myself”.
I’m thinking of changing the class title though to “The doesn’t matter” necklace because I spend most of the class saying “It doesn’t matter”.
“This looks too tight” – It doesn’t matter just keep going and try to make it a bit looser, once the necklace is made up you won’t notice it.
“This looks a bit too loose” – It doesn’t matter just keep going.
“I forgot to slide on a bead” – doesn’t matter, you won’t notice.
“Mine doesn’t look right” – doesn’t matter, once the necklace is finished it will look great.
I haven’t yet had a student finish the lesson and not have a completed necklace that they are happy with. It is such a versatile technique. In fact at one class I had a 10 year old who came along with her mum, she had a lot of trouble managing the crochet hook, so in the end we abandoned that and I got her to finger knit instead. Worked just as well and she too ended up with a great looking necklace that she had made herself.
The other nice thing about the wire crochet necklace is that no two necklaces are the same, just by varying the beads – shape, colour, size – you end up with something unique. I think I’d be safe in saying that it is my most popular class!
With the cold weather now setting in I find it hard to get into my work room and create. It’s gets too cold and we only light the fire (that warms the whole house) occasionally. So I spend most of my time in the family room where the gas heater is and as the days get colder I get a yen to do some knitting. I don’t seem to have the time or the perseverance to complete a jumper or garment these days and so have been knitting small things. My ‘passion’ (if you can call it that) at the moment is tea cosies! They are fun to knit although a little bit kitsch! So far I’ve knitted two, and I’m on to my third. The first one is a Jo Sharpe pattern that I saw my niece knitting at Christmas and decided I had to have one! (that’s the one on the right). The second is from a great little Patton’s book that has lots of ‘little’ projects in it. So no jewellery to show this time just tea cosies!
Keep warm
Sharyn
Not a lot of fuss was made in our house on Mother’s Day but even so I had a nice day. All I asked was for some time to potter in my beading room and that is what I got. (I also had lunch and dinner made for me and didn’t have to do any housework so that was nice too). I spent the time playing around with some gemstones just making simple bracelets. It was really nice, good to just go back to basics. Of course I made a huge mess on my work bench, now if someone could just come along and tidy it all up for me I would be a very very happy mum!
Something else I have been experimenting with recently is Herringbone Stitch (or as it is sometimes referred to Ndebele). I decided that for too long I have been wasting my evenings veging in front of the TV with the computer on my lap (Facebook would have to be one of the world’s greatest time wasters!!) I’ve been trying to spend a couple of evenings beading (although the light can be a bit of a problem sometimes). Herringbone is a lovely stitch, especially when used to make ropes. I like how you can play with colours when working with this stitch, and I hope to have a few photos for my blog soon.
I’ve had such a great response to the profile and article that appeared in Australian Beading Magazine, lots of lovely comments and positive feedback. It’s lovely how many people have gone out of their way to let me know what they think. Thank you all.
Cheers
Sharyn
Apologies for neglecting my blog, my computer has been playing up recently and I only get little pockets of time on it before it shuts down. Not sure what the problem is but I hope I can get it fixed. The up side is that with less computer time I have been beading up a storm. I’ve recently been playing around with Herringbone Stitch (sometimes called Ndebele), which has been fun, and I’ve been trying out a few patterns from magazines that I’ve wanted to do for a while.
A couple of patterns I’ve tried recently.
I hinted at some exciting news some time ago and now I can reveal all. In the latest edition of Australian Beading magazine (the one that comes with a free CD tutorial featuring Jan Cahill) there is a profile on yours truly along with a project for a gemstone chip spiral rope bracelet. I’m really happy with how it all looks although realised that no where does it mention my blog or how to contact me. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. So far I’ve had a really great response from all that have seen it so that is good. To go with the project there are kits available and these are being sold through Yvonne at Crystal Flair (www.crystalflair.com.au). I’m also pretty honoured to have a project alongside the talented Bianca Vedler who is another beader that I greatly admire.
Gemstone spiral rope bracelet as seen in Australian Beader
This year I started a monthly beading group at Vanessa’s Wool n Craft – The first Monday of the month bead group, and this is going really well. We have up to 10 people coming each month and they have been learning all sorts of things. Most are new to beading although there are two or three who have learnt before. Sometimes it gets a bit hectic trying to teach more than one thing at once but we manage and it has been a lot of fun.
I’m a bit disappointed that I’m missing out on the Melbourne Bead and Gem Show this year, I’ve managed to attend every year up til now. Would have loved to go but time and finances don’t permit. However, I will definitely be going to the Sydney show and am already working on a couple of projects I hope to teach. I’m also working on another project for the magazine. So all in all lots to be doing.
Cheers
Sharyn
Has anyone been watching the series with Wendy Harmer on ABC called ‘Stuff’? I only got to watch a couple of the episodes. It was interesting, especially as lately I have been feeling very ‘loaded down’ with all the ’stuff’ we have lying around our house – especially in my beading room. I am what some call a serial crafter and have remnants of all my previous crafts salted away in the shelves of my beading room. Most I haven’t touched for years, but I can’t bring myself to dispose of because, well you know, “it’s so good and it might come in handy one day!”. Add to the ’stuff’ the fact that when I do create I tend to make an ungodly mess, as you can guess what is supposed to be my own little creative sanctuary tends to be a disaster area most of the time! I dream of having a studio that I can just walk into whenever the creative urge hits me and sit and create. Usually when the bug hits me I find that I have to spend half a day tidying up before I can even find room for the creative bit and by then the inspiration has done an Elvis “left the building”. I suggested to fellow beaders recently that it would be nice to have a ‘beading maid’, someone who would come in behind you and put all your beads, tools etc away and tidy up after a session so that next time when you come back it is already to go again. Wishful thinking!
I have decided that over the next few months I need to clean out some rooms in our house, lighten our load, declutter our space. We started last weekend on the office, which has mainly been the domain of our teenage son. It was in a rather disgusting mess however an afternoon’s work bought it into order. We still need to go through drawers and cabinets and sort out what to keep and what to throw but hopefully we will get back to it. I know I need to do this in my beading room as well, not sure how ruthless I can be.
On the beading front I have now posted my quest entry. There are some amazing entries so far and once again I am amazed at the creativeness and tallent of the people on our beading forum. This is my entry:
Cheers
Sharyn
So much for making goals for the year! Here we are half way through March and I’ve done nothing! Well, maybe that’s not totally true but it does feel like it sometimes.
The ‘First Monday of the Month’ beading group started in February and we had a really good turn up of 10 people. What surprised me the most was that six of those were new beginners! I had various kits made up – beginner, wire crochet, Spiral Rope, African Helix and again to my surprise everyone decided they wanted to try something new and so I was teaching three techniques at once! Possibly not the best thing to do but in the end it worked out well. Our second meet in March was just as good with most of the new beaders returning. We had nine this time and again everyone decided to do a kit! Most tried wire crochet and two the African Helix and it seemed to work out well. I’m hoping eventually people will bring their own work to do, otherwise I will have to keep one step ahead all the time creating kits! Not that that is a bad thing. Sometimes I need deadlines to get myself going.
On the home front I was feeling a bit lack lustre when it came to my beading and it was deadlines that got me going. Firstly, on the Beading Forum we had a seed bead Challenge which was themed “Bead a garden”. I had grand plans of making an amulet bag with a garden scene and lots of flower and leaves embellishment. I procrastinated for so long that I realised I didn’t have time for that and instead made a needle case. This is the first time I have created my own design (all my previous needle cases have been Jennie Might designs). I did graph it out but found I had to make changes as I went, definitely a good learning experience. To my delight my entry in the challenge won the popular vote, which considering all the other creative and fabulous entries was quite an achievement!
The other deadline I had was the latest Designer Quest (also from the Beading Forum). This is the one where everyone buys the same kit of beads and then creates. Usually I get the kit and then it sits there for weeks until I realise the due date is looming and I’m forced to ‘throw’ something together. This time however I had a bit of a play, left it out where I could see it for a bit and then it all just came together! I’m really happy with my design but now have to wait until after Easter for the posting date.
I buy lots of beading magazines (I love glossy Mags and beading magazines combines two great loves in one!). I always read through them and put lots of sticky notes on projects I’d like to have a go at. Usually that is as far as I get but recently I have made an effort to go back and try a few. It seems to have been the ‘push’ I need, after trying three new techniques my brain is buzzing with ideas on how to adapt these to designs of my own. Sometimes we just need a little push to get us going!
Finally, I was saddened to hear that the Perth Bead and Gem show has been cancelled due to lack of exhibitors. I was seriously thinking about submitting to do couple of workshops and going over but in the end time and finances deterred me. It must be so hard for the suppliers who did sign on to exhibit, I expect they would have ordered in supplies just for the occasions. I think as beaders it is important that we support our local Aussie suppliers, it’s so wonderful that we now have such a choice and range that is easily accessible here in Australia. Only by supporting them can we make sure that this resource continues to be available to us.
Cheers
Sharyn
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New year!
The silly season is now over and like most I ate too much, drank too much and did too little! Now it’s back to the grindstone! I didn’t spent much time beading over the break however while I was away I did have a go at a couple of patterns I was keen to try and spent some time beading with my sister-in-law which was lovely. Since getting back home I have been distracted by knitting! Yes I know knitting in Summer? Not usually the done thing but I had a pattern I was keen to try! Now that I have that out of my system (it was just a tea cosy so not so big) I need to get back to making jewellery.
This year is shaping up to be a special year with something very exciting happening in April, but you will have to wait to find out what that is! I am also planning to start a new beading group, which will meet monthly at our local wool and craft shop. This group will cater for all level of beaders – those who have never tried but would like to learn, those who have learnt but still need help and guidance and those who are experienced but would like some beady company. On a personal level it will be nice to have a regular session with other beaders. To go along with the beading group I will develop kits for new projects and techniques that members can try and maybe sold through the shop. I hope to teach classes at the Sydney Bead and Gem show and maybe Melbourne as well - I’d love to do Perth but haven’t quite worked out how to swing that one yet!
Goals for 2008?
To get the beading group up and running
To stretch myself and try some new techniques with seed beads and do a bit more PMC.
To participate in a few more challenges/competitions to keep my momentum going.
To be more focussed on selling my jewellery
But most of all to continue enjoying doing the thing I love!
(Oh and of course, write in my blog more regularly!)
Happy New Year!
Sharyn
I’ve been very remiss and have neglected my blog. I’ll play the Christmas card and say it’s just the crazy festive season! It always takes me by surprise how time just barrels along at this time of the year. One minute it’s the beginning of October next thing you know Christmas is two weeks away and you haven’t put up the tree, bought a present or sent a card! Or is that just me? Oh well.
I’ve been busy making things and selling things. Had my first ever jewellery party at someone else’s house this week which went really well. I’m planning on having an open house at my home next week but need to stock up so things will continue to be busy over the next week. I’ve been having fun making up ’stocking fillers’, bookmarks, mobile phone dangles, tablecloth weights and bag jewellery and they have been very popular.
Anyway, no rest for the wicked! I’d better get back to my beading room and do some creating!
Cheers
Sharyn
It’s hard to believe, but I actually started making jewellery back in around 1988 (and yes I’m aware that this might date me some what). We were living in the Snowy Mountains, NSW back then and I sourced my meagre supplies on our fairly regular visits to Melbourne (no internet shopping back then!). The jewellery I made was very simple, strung necklaces and drop earrings made with pearls and crystals and as for tools, well I just raided the husbands shed! I sold a few items through a friend’s hairdressing salon but when my babies came along I packed it all away. I still have a couple of pieces that I made for myself back then and as you can see they are very simple, but I like them!
About seven or so years ago my interest was rekindled. We were on holidays and I ventured into an embroidery/beading shop in Morpeth and felt like I’d found heaven. I purchased a couple of kits and well, the rest is history! I haven’t stopped since.
My first foray into the public arena was exhibiting at a local art show, encouraged by friends I set up a display which consisted of mainly beaded needle cases, square stitch bracelets and amulets (I was very into delica’s and bead weaving back then). I was very nervous before hand but was buoyed by the encouraging feedback and a few sales as well.
I had no idea back then where that path would take me. If someone told me then that I would make friends all over Australia (and the world) through beading and end up teaching in Melbourne and Sydney I would have said “get out of here!” It is amazing where life takes you. Of course I wouldn’t have got anywhere if it weren’t for the encouragement of my family and friends who have been a great support.
For me beading has been a life line, but it has also opened up so many possibilities!
Cheers
Sharyn
Over the next couple of weeks I am going to be involved in two events to raise funds for the local Cancer Patient Assistance Society (CanAssist). This is a group who raise funds to support local people who are suffering from Cancer, helping with transport, accommodation etc. Firstly on Saturday night a friend is holding a ladies night at her house which will include fashion parades from a couple of local boutiques. When I was invited I offered to donate a piece of jewellery to be raffled on the night. I have made a necklace which is to go with a Fiorelli bag that was donated by one of the boutiques. The bag is quite funky and modern, black with a big round shiny silver buckle. I had no idea what to make to go with it (I don’t really do funky very well), but after looking through my supplies I came up with this.
I bought the sliders last year with plans to make a watch but I think they look quite good as a necklace! They have a bit of an Art Deco feel as well which I love. Here’s hoping everyone else loves it and wants to buy lots and lots of raffle tickets!
In a couple of weeks I’m having a stall at a day which is being run to celebrate the anniversary of the Can-assist group so will have to be focussed and get some stock made up. I’m really pleased to be able to help this very worthy cause!
Cheers
Sharyn
Well, today I spent most of the day working on something for myself. I bought a beautiful strand of Garnet Briolette’s at the Melbourne Bead and Gem show with some garnet rondells and tiny silver spacer beads to make into a necklace. I’ve been thinking about it for awhile and had a bit of a design in mind. I finally found some wire thin enough to go through the holes in the briolettes at the Sydney show so today was the day. What I ended up making was quite different to what I was planning. It sort of just “evolved” however I was quite happy with it. Finally got it finished late this afternoon and set it up on a necklace bust on the table.
In came the darling husband and I asked “what do you think of it?”. He looked at it and said, “mmm don’t think it works”. I was devastated! I think I might have to get a few more opinions! Watch this space, as soon as I have some good light I’ll take a photo and see what people think!
Sharyn
PS. Well here it is, I took it to work for some feedback from my colleagues and made a couple minor alterations. I’m happy with it even if ‘he’ isn’t!
