Let me tell you about my working boxes. At the moment, I have more than one unfortunately.
There are times when I'm terrible about organizing my beads. Not in general. I have storage boxes and drawers for my bead and sort by type.
The problem is that beads that make it out of those for a project don't always make it back in there when I'm done. Instead they move to working boxes. For example, there's one box with a headless Barbie in it that I have started beading an outfit for in spring. I was struggling with one part, so I had to take a break from it. As outfits are beaded directly onto the dolls, I have to hold the whole doll - that's why the head has to come off to avoid neck splits from handling - and that can be very awkward. So far I haven't mustered the motivation for a new attempt.
A working box can be around for a while. Maybe I pick beads for another project and afterwards they end up in the box. Eventually, I make it a challenge to make something just using what's in the box now which can be big fun. More often than not a piece starts out as a vague idea and then changes completely.
My current box is actually the storage tin for the cube beads. It also holds a few other bead types that came with the same surprise order and didn't get put away. Among them are large bugles.
I don't use bugles often. There are some in Christmas ornaments and I used up a big batch on my first bead embroidered sneakers, but those were shorter ones.
These twisted bugles are 12 mm, though, and I hadn't even intended to use them because I had no idea how.
What I wanted to make were some simple bead triangles and add a charm in the center. I have never beaded a triangle before, not a flat one, not a 3D one, so I went to YouTube to get an idea ... and once again walked off the path when I saw a tutorial using Delicas, but also 6 mm bugles that looked like fun.
It's one of those graphic 3D tutorials, and as I'm terrible with tuts in general, I had to get used to that format first and therefore went through a few mistakes and ripping.
These are some big triangles, over 2 1/2 inch on each side.
The way the twisted bugles catch the light is really beautiful and once again I like the contrast of matte and shiny in the cube beads. Nothing inconspicuous about these babies!
3D peyote triangles of two layers that are connected in the last row. What that second layer taught me was that I'm terrible at working clockwise. Note - don't do that next time.
Maybe I should try the same design with smaller bugles and Delicas? Say goodbye to the cubes for now and start a new working box? Spoiler alert - smaller design yes, new box no.
There are times when I'm terrible about organizing my beads. Not in general. I have storage boxes and drawers for my bead and sort by type.
The problem is that beads that make it out of those for a project don't always make it back in there when I'm done. Instead they move to working boxes. For example, there's one box with a headless Barbie in it that I have started beading an outfit for in spring. I was struggling with one part, so I had to take a break from it. As outfits are beaded directly onto the dolls, I have to hold the whole doll - that's why the head has to come off to avoid neck splits from handling - and that can be very awkward. So far I haven't mustered the motivation for a new attempt.
 |
| Storage box turned into a working box for now. Bead tubes tend to fall over one one another if you move the box. And there's always thread in it and sometimes little test pieces, but they are hidden under the lid here. |
A working box can be around for a while. Maybe I pick beads for another project and afterwards they end up in the box. Eventually, I make it a challenge to make something just using what's in the box now which can be big fun. More often than not a piece starts out as a vague idea and then changes completely.
My current box is actually the storage tin for the cube beads. It also holds a few other bead types that came with the same surprise order and didn't get put away. Among them are large bugles.
I don't use bugles often. There are some in Christmas ornaments and I used up a big batch on my first bead embroidered sneakers, but those were shorter ones.
These twisted bugles are 12 mm, though, and I hadn't even intended to use them because I had no idea how.
What I wanted to make were some simple bead triangles and add a charm in the center. I have never beaded a triangle before, not a flat one, not a 3D one, so I went to YouTube to get an idea ... and once again walked off the path when I saw a tutorial using Delicas, but also 6 mm bugles that looked like fun.
It's one of those graphic 3D tutorials, and as I'm terrible with tuts in general, I had to get used to that format first and therefore went through a few mistakes and ripping.
These are some big triangles, over 2 1/2 inch on each side.
The way the twisted bugles catch the light is really beautiful and once again I like the contrast of matte and shiny in the cube beads. Nothing inconspicuous about these babies!
3D peyote triangles of two layers that are connected in the last row. What that second layer taught me was that I'm terrible at working clockwise. Note - don't do that next time.
Maybe I should try the same design with smaller bugles and Delicas? Say goodbye to the cubes for now and start a new working box? Spoiler alert - smaller design yes, new box no.
Wow, those sneakers look amazing! And those earrings.........gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Nancy!
DeleteIt's a pity that I never managed to capture the sparkle of the sneakers the way I see them.
Beautiful sneakers, ❤️ Cat.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda! I can't say how many needles I broke on those.
DeleteYou are obviously very talented!! Those sneakers are amazing - I would be prancing around the grocery store, showing them off.
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind, Gina, thank you! Not sure about me prancing, though 😆
DeleteCat, please tell me you wear those sneakers!!! And, you say you have no fashion sense! Those sneakers and those earrings say otherwise!!! I purely do wish I lived closer because I'd have you beading me some sneakers, or at the very least, teaching me how to do it!
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
Alas, I don't, Marsha. When I made them, they still fit, now they don't, so they are just on display.
DeleteI have worn my HeatherCat sneakers before, though.
The bugle/seed bead sneakers are not difficult to bead, it's all done in backstitch as several thread passes are safer, but you need a LOT of patience, needles and it helps not to have wonky thumb joints (which I didn't have at the time).
Thank you!
I remember those tennis shoes! Incredible. And I’m totally loving this new pair of earrings! Stunning and elegant. I have confidence you’ll return to the Barbie eventually.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem. Beads are organized until I take them out for a project….
Thank you! ❤️I was really happy with the color combination (that goes for the sneakers and the earrings).
DeleteAnd I will absolutely return to Barbie. I really like how well an unplanned experiment on her dress worked out. The shoes were often the hardest part for me because of the foot shape.
Those sneakers are fabulous! I am the same way with many of my craft supplies. I have them all organized and a space for everything but I'm not nearly as great as putting everything back when I'm done using it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne!
DeleteWhy is that, I wonder? I'm completely different about my books.
I'm going in the wrong order now - I'm finding all yours and some others' to comment on from my PC as my laptop won't work logging in to Google to place comments! These twisted beads are beautiful and this work very dramatic, I love it!
ReplyDeleteGoogle is being weird these days, especially with Blogger.
DeleteThank you, Liz!