Photography Day!

Well, I may have a new office, but I've now found my new photography studio and I don't have to go any further than our Meditation Garden.

It's an outdoor patio enclosed on all four sides by our house.  Perfect for my needs.  You see, bead photography is a difficult art.  Being glass and/or shiny, the reflective nature of the materials tend to obscure the color and form of the subject.  In addition, artificial lighting does the same.  It's imperative that natural light be used during the process, but in addition, if you're dealing with anything shiny, you don't want to be in direct sunlight.  A shady place is a good place to be.

Our garden fits the bill.  I discovered that today when I set up outside to take a few pics.

Actually, though, it didn't occur to me to shoot this picture until I had already broken down most of the essential materials.  That is, the props and the jewelry itself.  Even so, you get the "picture."  I was able to sit on the foot stool and use the bench as my table.  By adding different props and different colored place mats as background (as well as stones and other natural and artificial materials), I was able to get a whole bevy of what I would consider great shots!  Here are some samples:



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My pictures are getting better and better. Eric asked me how I was improving so much as he looked over the GIF files in this blog post and was impressed by their quality. "Lots and lots of practice." I replied.

The truth is that I have practiced... a LOT! And I've read article after article on line, and I've watched "How to" videos on You Tube, and I've read other artist's blog posts about how they achieve such great pictures, and then I experiment. A lot.

I've experimented with the various menu settings on my camera. I've experimented with locations and lighting. I've experimented with different kinds of props. Props too simple. Props so complex that they distracted from the centerpiece. Backgrounds of differing colors. And I continue to experiment every single time I pull my camera out.

It's work. Hard work, and hard work that i did not anticipate when starting to make jewelry. Work that I hated for a very long time because of the poor results I was getting.

But now, I'm actually starting to enjoy the process. Getting the right pictures is an art form in and of itself. I'm not rich enough or well known enough to pay for somebody else to do this for me, so I am going it alone. And as I keep improving, I'm enjoying it more and more.

I'm almost feeling ready to write a blog post of my own, explaining my own process of getting good pictures.

Get the pic?

Beading Anxiety

This is a necklace I completed last week for a client who also happens to be a friend.

I was commissioned to use heirloom beads that her family has been collecting since the early 1900s and "make whatever comes to my mind."

It's a task in which I am honored to take part in.


I hate to fail. Even when my failure is minor, I have a hard time accepting that I made a mistake. But upon delivering the necklace, the woman accepted it joyusly, but came back to me a few days later and wanted to know if it could be shortened. I almost went numb with shock. It wasn't good enough? How could I accept that out of myself? But I regrouped quickly and told her "Of Course!" Bring it back and I'll take care of it.

She returned it yesterday and, as it turns out, she would like about six inches taken off. Again, I graciously assured her that it would not be an issue and that I really wanted to make sure that she was happy with everything I delivered. Completely the truth. I'm sort of over having made it too long in the first place. At least kind of. My leg is still softly twitching with the desire to kick myself more, but I'm done with it. I took my best shot at the length, and that was it.

Now I have to consider the task at hand. The "chain" of the necklace is done in a modified herringbone stitch, and that is where I am going to have to redress the issue. Each stitch is made out of three beads... two Czech seed beads out of my stash surrounding a very sharp cut seed bead from hers. It was necessary to use mine because her beads pretty-much cut all threads on contact.

Additionally, this necklace is interesting because I made the chain in a tube. I thought the beads themselves would provide enough structure to sustain the tube, but in the end, it was collapsing on itself; not a pretty picture. I considered how to correct the problem; perhaps stuffing the tube with silk or wool or something. Then I thought that aquarium tubing would probably work better and be more durable. Then, inspiration hit. Why go out and buy aquarium tubing? From all the IVs I've received at home over the past year, I have tons of that tubing - still fresh in the package - sitting around in my condo. Using that would really put a piece of me... of my own life... into the necklace. And so it was threaded, and it worked well.

But now, I need to consider how to actually shorten the piece. When I first assured S- that it could be taken care of, I had no idea how to address it. All I could envision were tons of beads rolling around on my table and floor, and the necklace unraveling in an uncontrolled manner, never to be whole again. A nightmarish thought.

But of course reason took over within 24 hours. Of course it's do-able. I can meet pretty-much any challenge of making things given a little time and thought. So I thought and thought and thought, and I think I've come upon the method that I am going to use.

It's like when I make something knitted and I decide it's either too long or too short. First, I thread a safety yarn through a row of stitches above and below the selected point of extention (or reduction) to be sure the piece does not unravel beyond my intention. Then I carefully cut between the two rows. I knit (or unravel) until the piece comes to it's desired length, then I use Kitchner Stitch to bind the parts back together again. I've done this several times in the past and unless you know the issue was there and really look for the evidence, you'd never know anything happened.

I'm thinking that the same approach will probably work with the necklace, modified of course. I am going to double my stitching through the already-in-place beads up to the point in question, knotting regularly to be sure that the thread does not come out. Then I will cut the piece and unravel back to my thread. Re-sew the ends and the clasp back on and the necklace will hopefully be better than new.

It should probably work. I can't think of a reason that it wouldn't.

Of course, I did tell S- that I needed a week for the process when in fact, the whole thing can probably be accomplished in an hour or two. But that does not account for the several days that I will need to agonize over the project before just doing it.

All That Glitters is not Gold, Sometimes it's Beads, and Sometime's it's a Campfire

Leading campfire songs:

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple eater to me

Singing along:

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)


Story Teller. I'm not sure whether this one was about "The Hairy Man" or "The Duck." But the story teller asked the audience if we knew what the only thing the Hairy Man was afraid of. Eric responded "The Barber." The correct answer was dogs.


Miles appers to be enjoying the tale:


Gabby and Ian were transfixed too:


After the show was over, we all went out to Islands, a restaurant chain in our area.
Adele demonstrated something that, to me is just wrong. She ordered Thousand Island dressing for her salad, and had the request turned down because they do not make it in their restaurant! And no, our waitress could neither confirm or deny the fact that they don't have it on their menu because there are not 1000 locations in the chain yet.

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My haul from the Bead Society of Los Angeles semi-annual bazzar. I will talk more about it later.

Size 11 Czech and Japanese Seed Beads:


Unusually shaped Japanese seed beads. I don't know what I'm going to use them for yet, but they were beautiful:


Size 15 Japanese Seed Beads:


Hand blown decorative beads by Suzanne. I had the good fortune to meet her today. I have some ideas what I will use these for although the prices will force the resulting finished jewelry to be a bit higher in price than I would have hoped in today's economic times. Ah well. I'll figure it out in the end.

Finished!

A very short post tonight; I've just finished the Cabechon necklace that I showed you yesterday. It was very labor-intensive, and I'm proud of it. 30" of chain, and in the chain - excluding the fringe, three different kinds of beads and four colors. Click on the picture for a larger - and more focused - image.

I'm going to put my beads aside for a short time in deference to knitting. I have a very special challenge that needs to be started. Stay tuned for details on that. ;)

Making Even More

Even as I felt like Road Kill after my trip to Slimmons, I know things are better because I was, from bed, able to continue on with my jewelry. I managed to finish up several pieces in the last day-and-a-half, and get another what will be "large" piece, meaning very labor intensive, started.

Necklace (was originally going to be a bracelet but I mis-measured and it was too big, so instead of taking some of it out, I just went longer. Matching earrings. Another Bracelet.

Another Necklace.

And finally, a beaded bezel - with fringe - Cabechon. The Cab is a piece of art in and of itself, made by a woman named Karen Lewis, owner of a bead store called The Spirited Bead in Tehachapi. That is about a two hour drive north from where I live. I purchased this and one other cabechon w/ adornments (separate, I'll bead them into the piece) last Christmas. Karen is amazingly talented and kind, and her store is so unique that I will need to plan another trip out there when I feel better. Hopefuly soon.

I should check her class schedule out before I decide to go, though. Since it's already a full day's worth of driving and shopping, and there's very little else out there of interest to me, it wouldn't hurt to make my visit a learning experience too.

Step by Step

Recovery is very slow. Just last night, my fever was over 102 degrees. But the fact is that slowly, ever so slowly, I think I am getting a little bit better. My crafting time had diminished to zero a few months ago, and about a month ago, I could sit for maybe five minutes at a time and work on some brainless-style beading. But when I am careful about how much energy I expend at any given time, I find that I can sit up for an hour or a little more now and that I am recovering creatively.

I had my first bracelet blank on hand, then realized that a button that I had beaded a long time ago coordinated and put the two together. A little more embelishment and I had a semi-completed piece.

Then I had an idea for another of the blanks. I started working on it a few days ago and it is taking shape. (Click on image for a bigger picture.)



It is comforting to see that I can still create finished items from an evolving thought process.

What is less comforting is checking my e-mail and blogs - which I can do now as I can sit at my computer for 10 to 15 minutes at a time - and see what my friends have been facing. Sick families. Oh such sick family. Hurricanes. Accidents. Their own illnesses.

I feel terrible that I cannot be of more support to them right now, but I am hardly up to taking care of myself. Yet.

I did accomplish a real home made meal last night. Grilled Salmon. Steamed Broccoli. Baked Potato. Heirloom Tomato.

When I can fully cook for myself again, I will be back in your lives, gals. Just hold on a little longer. I'm trying to gather energy.

Filling In a Blank

Even as I feel like my creativity has deserted me, it apparently still resides within. Early today, I was moving some beads and some completed cabechons around and found a button that I had beaded during a class last year given by Myra Wood and hadn't a clue what it was going to be used for. Bingo! I realized that I had used some of the same green beads in the button that I had used on one of the blanks.



It always amazes me when serendipity strikes. About 30 seconds of thought and I knew what I was going to do with that particular bangle. A couple of hours worth of work and, with the exception of the closure, it is done. Odd color combination, but then again I am known for that.

I additionally now know what I am going to do with the pinkish purple blank. I'll need to work on it before the idea vanishes from my mind.

It's comforting to know that the fever didn't completely burn my brain out.

Settling My Mind

With all the medical activity in the past couple of days - test in which I feel violated followed by other tests in which I feel violated, it's been difficult to work on the book. Fortunately I have my crafting to fall back upon.

It's funny... others say that they could not stand to do what I do. Sit hour after hour, day after day, beading or spinning or knitting or whatever. "Too boring." is the universal response. But I love it.

I love the tedium that goes with it. It settles my mind. And in the end, I have a wearable piece of art that others envy.

I'm currently working on a new purse for myself. Starting with a skin of buffalo, I constructed the purse, glued assorted scraps of leather down in a mosaic, and am embellishing them with beads. The beads are not only beautiful, but are functional too. On my last purse, they were simply for beauty, but did nothing structurally. Over time, the leather peeled back and had to be reglued. On the new piece, I am sewing them directly to the base leather, then freeform (and sometimes not so freeform) peyote stitching more of them in such a way that the embellishment leather is secured.



Time will tell whether this process works as well as I think (hope) it does. It may be a month or more before the purse is even done. But irrespective of time, the work is doing it's job well right now. Between issues and visits of medical, I have a process into which I can meditate and relax.

Creativity

I'm known amongst many of my friends as being very creative. Last year, I learned how to use beads and found a new passion in making jewelry. Surprisingly to me - but apparently few others, my 'wearable art' found an immediate audience and I sold some pieces. Not enough to call it "making a living," but in numbers enough to make me feel validated as an artist. A REAL artist, not just a wannabe.

Last December, I decided to take a short break. After delivering the last few sets just before Christmas, I decided to take a little time to rest and concentrate on me. That break lasted longer than I would have envisioned.

At the turn of the year, it was time to get back into the production groove again, but somehow I had lost momentum. Between not producing on a daily basis and snowballing health issues (primarily the knee and foot although some of my other recurrent chronic issues are back too), I just couldn't get going. I had clients waiting on me, patiently I will add, but nothing. Nada. I just couldn't find it within me to complete anything.

I suppose in a sense, making jewelry is like any other business. The "go to" people are the ones that are already busy. They know how to put themselves out. Get a job done. I worried that I had left their ranks and had become one of the unproductive dreamers.

Fortunately, my state of lethargy seemed to abate a couple of days ago, and voila! I have completed my first set in two months!!!!!

This is a bead embroidered amulet bag of my own design. The backing and lining are lamb skin. The picture unfortunately does not adequately capture the glow that it puts off.

I think my favorite part is the partial fringe. Irregular in nature, it reflects nature itself which rarely sticks to a single pattern. It's a consignment piece and my intentions are to deliver it to it's guardian this evening.

My next piece is already designed in my mind. I need to get a draw-down done and I'll be at it tomorrow. Thank goodness. The lethargy is gone. I'm back.

Valentine's Day

Eric is such a romantic! Where those things that I lust after are purely functional, he's always looking for little luxuries to make my life easier. He says he's made it his personal goal to get me to be comfortable in accepting less than practical gifts.

He has a long way to go to achieve it, though. I live a somewhat spartan lifestlye at this point, offset by some very nice pieces that I managed to obtain while I was still a member of the traditional working world.

All the same, during our trip to Costco last weekend, I saw something that I wanted. Lusted after. A combination of form and function, it would be perfect to store the piles of beads that were out of control in my living room.

A seven drawer organizer cart. In chrome!

I really wanted that cart but knew that, with my impending surgery, that I didn't have the finances to buy it on the spot. But Eric, ever sensitive and generous, offered to buy it for me as a Valentine's Gift! And although I would normally turn him down because he is way too good to me, my sense of greed took over and I accepted. And so I became the owner of a shiny tower of baskets!

Eric offered to help me assemble it, but I made the correct assumption that any idiot could do it, so we went off to do other things. But that didn't stop me from immediately pulling it out of it's box immediately upon his departure.

A quick count of the parts enclosed, determining that everything that was supposed to be there was, and I was off. No thanks to my dogs, though. Sunny laid directly by the project and slept.
Cosmos at least kept his eyes open, but had parked himself on the sofa to silently supervise. I suppose I should at least be grateful for the silence.
The basic assembly was completed shortly.
I attached the wheels. Yes, on top of everything else, this cart can be rolled around! (Sorry about the sideways picture.)

Baskets inserted, it was ready to be put into service mode. It's now parked in my living room. The beading table is much more managable for this organizational system, and I'm trying to figure out when I can afford a second.

And, with my beads organized and accessible, I found the motivation to complete the front of an amulet bag that I have been working on. I still need to stitch (with beads) the lining to the back, attach the front to the back, and then add fringe and a necklace, but the major and detailed work is done.