tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1897741446760216112024-03-20T05:48:42.450+11:00Nifty Creations O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-62703551384978646102015-04-16T16:13:00.003+10:002015-05-09T14:17:53.489+10:00Essential Beading Tools<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6522211229156287128" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 500px;">
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Every beaders' work space consists of a few things they think they'll need to get a beading project underway. But is what you have at hand, what you actually need? Some of the time, yes. But, most of the time, no.<br />
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Generally, you run out of things, or you can't find them, or you just don't have them. In this article, I will look at some essential tools that will make your beading journey a little easier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJA_lat3_uf8WVsGoAMhyphenhyphen-5SurpskeqibLYVItMjBcfMeZ0mf6LpD8Nw3zOl5h5ymFujV2Taohuhoig0YLhOvqUlVXEWTvWls9Gk8ZwS4_5V1ltAQj6QvvjCttRMnovT3HRtA6NIphjAA/s1600/Bead+Mats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJA_lat3_uf8WVsGoAMhyphenhyphen-5SurpskeqibLYVItMjBcfMeZ0mf6LpD8Nw3zOl5h5ymFujV2Taohuhoig0YLhOvqUlVXEWTvWls9Gk8ZwS4_5V1ltAQj6QvvjCttRMnovT3HRtA6NIphjAA/s1600/Bead+Mats.jpg" height="180" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Beading Mat</span></b><b> - t</b>hese can be different things but generally have the non-slip mat surface that doesn't allow the beads to roll. This makes it much easier to pick up with your beading needle.</div>
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The beauty of a bead mat is that it doesn't take up much room. Can be rolled for easy storage, or for travelling if you wish to bead away from your beading table.<br />
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It's also a good idea to have more than one bead mat. You'll find that sometimes you may get stuck on a project, and instead of packing it all up, you can put it aside and start on something else, on a different mat.</div>
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If you do stringing or would like to see the overall effect of lengths, then a bead board comes in handy.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Needles</span> - </b>have lots of them handy. They don't last forever. And you will find that different size and lengths of needles have their own purpose. It is not unusual to change from a regular sized beading needle in the middle of a project, to one of a different length and thickness.<br />
Also, your needles will bend out of shape. Don't panic! this is quite normal. The way you hold your needle is unique to you, so your needle will shape accordingly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubyhWcnEMbfREmwgWTg69_H4KG7lXOfePXtoho1Tb0H-fxuqkplb6r9MtjdaEYr28wd6_zMFP59CGR1GhJ5bIsfzdd8niLCStQnT_GrtQcloAuebRKXV28-hmtLF4fcxFRGmYw7UHFSnE/s1600/Thread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubyhWcnEMbfREmwgWTg69_H4KG7lXOfePXtoho1Tb0H-fxuqkplb6r9MtjdaEYr28wd6_zMFP59CGR1GhJ5bIsfzdd8niLCStQnT_GrtQcloAuebRKXV28-hmtLF4fcxFRGmYw7UHFSnE/s1600/Thread.jpg" height="176" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Thread</span> </b><b>- </b>There is quite a variety of threads for beading in the marketplace. I am often asked which is better. My answer is this: It depends what you are working on and also a personal preference.</div>
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I say, try a few, if not all different threads available, and see what works best for you. Obviously some will work better in certain applications. for example; If you prefer to use Nymo, KO, C-Lon etc, then it easy to match the thread colour to your beads. Fireline has a different strength and the 2 main colours available blend well with most beads.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktPnJP8RQWRB5Yy9sGVQtq8XIrhQKLvIYqQYlZZeZNNt28GsBECjsjOh40E-cn2wGPXNViXemeQ2padgJKmQbNo3qzs9cJEu3XTmn4tna2pK-_JN36MHMyCT5lTDmU0NYt1JXFtAuPiqU/s1600/scissors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktPnJP8RQWRB5Yy9sGVQtq8XIrhQKLvIYqQYlZZeZNNt28GsBECjsjOh40E-cn2wGPXNViXemeQ2padgJKmQbNo3qzs9cJEu3XTmn4tna2pK-_JN36MHMyCT5lTDmU0NYt1JXFtAuPiqU/s1600/scissors.jpg" height="224" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Scissors</span> - </b>scissors are an invaluable part of your beading project. You need to know though, that not all scissors are the same. Fireline will blunt your scissors, so it's best to buy a pair specifically for Fireline with serrated jaws. Nail scissors are also good if you are cutting small curved areas in bead embroidery. They will follow the contours easily without the struggle. Large paper scissors are useful for cutting out paper templates for embroidery pieces. A dressmakers unpick tool or a large pin will also come in handy when undoing work. As it will allow you to select individual threads in between the beads.</div>
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And generally, the more beading you do, the more you are likely to cut things up because they aren't sitting well, or it doesn't look like it's supposed to look. You will then join the 'Rippit' brigade.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzfUVUHKsH2knquiBtzsQ3BmUPpKxKHj1q4o5uB6Nr5kM5LpLkgajM1TE2l0fsgG8muWIHTeui35SBpcAVfVYYgQf0zszpMbKP43UDUyZS3SRrOYSa7_K2YsVSEpV1JZWc6gyfez5Yo3/s1600/glue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzfUVUHKsH2knquiBtzsQ3BmUPpKxKHj1q4o5uB6Nr5kM5LpLkgajM1TE2l0fsgG8muWIHTeui35SBpcAVfVYYgQf0zszpMbKP43UDUyZS3SRrOYSa7_K2YsVSEpV1JZWc6gyfez5Yo3/s1600/glue.jpg" height="187" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Adhesive/Glue</span> </b>- Whether you need to glue backing on a piece of bead embroidery, glue a cab or gemstone, Soutache threads, or beads together, among other things, you'll need the appropriate glue to do the job. There are quite a lot of glues on the market but the main ones that are used for beading are E6000. G-S Hypo Cement, Diamond Glaze, and Araldite.</div>
Remember when you use the glues, and it doesn't matter which one, to use them in a well ventilated area. Some of those fumes can be quite strong. Also, let the glue cure.... that way you can be sure that the piece won't move.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMzloqKzrEyXp1GYq8X4a4GO5RdTaRPfx55ULuThlJXanyYiDJTHiQz4i6cAObR19b0SKrz2Pn4FhJXPPebNL2_YiOWy-oIOpn-UVDt-bPl0ImNif3U9AvtCgBevflGcmZGKd8CeyQQ2y/s1600/Scoops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMzloqKzrEyXp1GYq8X4a4GO5RdTaRPfx55ULuThlJXanyYiDJTHiQz4i6cAObR19b0SKrz2Pn4FhJXPPebNL2_YiOWy-oIOpn-UVDt-bPl0ImNif3U9AvtCgBevflGcmZGKd8CeyQQ2y/s1600/Scoops.jpg" height="141" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Scoop</span> - </b>Scoops are an invaluable tool and take on many shapes.<br />
A scoop can be a teaspoon, a triangular tray with pointy corners, a long half tube thing, small flour/sugar scoops, measuring spoons.... or even a small piece of paper folded in two. Scoops will help you put your beads back in their tubes or containers. They will help you organise your beads into colour piles on the bead mat. They will scoop out beads from larger containers. they will help you pick up dropped beads... and the list goes on. If you have the triangular or dish shaped scoops, then they can also double up as mini bead trays.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjAIy5xTFh9i8JQU6KFLo_l3Li4cGbLlLLLnqL7eoHLFqb3Ab8orOhNNlBbs7PVj8IculoZJmUOXpZGFMZkoqry_Jw72me_0ZYArNNWJ0NuhdPjepC7f8GeNTDNl2IX73Dd7JyXm0l25P/s1600/magnifyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjAIy5xTFh9i8JQU6KFLo_l3Li4cGbLlLLLnqL7eoHLFqb3Ab8orOhNNlBbs7PVj8IculoZJmUOXpZGFMZkoqry_Jw72me_0ZYArNNWJ0NuhdPjepC7f8GeNTDNl2IX73Dd7JyXm0l25P/s1600/magnifyer.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Magnifying glass - </span>When the beads you work with are small, or you have poor lighting, then you will need something to make your work look bigger. One of the handiest things you can have is a desktop magnifyer. These come with or without light, but they make it so easy to see the beads. Magnifyers also come in other forms. You can buy magnifying glasses in different strengths. They can be bought in most shops these days and are relatively cheap, and easy to use. There are desk lamps that have a magnifying lens next to the globe. Also, there are specialty magnifying glasses. they're rather heavy duty, but if you do a lot of beading and your eyesight is suffering, then they may be a worthwhile investment.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45bGtWfArJ0roa5Z17Hc50idM992O439iq9UKpIil7uU0yITXDvBhFjlWsFzBLweq8ZZhw4O1SC6C0xqbXv3A7irEGjX5XG6JvIv3DzbwNv7ZmHOLvFcHtuU6_nzCrrQP_aelO7vCMTHC/s1600/bead+stopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45bGtWfArJ0roa5Z17Hc50idM992O439iq9UKpIil7uU0yITXDvBhFjlWsFzBLweq8ZZhw4O1SC6C0xqbXv3A7irEGjX5XG6JvIv3DzbwNv7ZmHOLvFcHtuU6_nzCrrQP_aelO7vCMTHC/s1600/bead+stopper.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b style="color: #cc0000;">Bead Stopper - </b>These cute little coiled things not only stop your beads from slipping off the beading thread, but they also help control your tension when you start a piece. They also come in handy for keeping those small bags of beads closed when they dont have a zip lock.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Light - </span>This is probably one of the most essential tools you will need. Without adequate lighting, your eyes will tire quickly, and become sore and irritated. Therefore reducing the amount of hours you bead. When you have the right amount of light, you can bead when inspiration hits you, that can be both day, and night.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Tape Measure/Ruler -</span> You need one.... dont think you dont.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4muk8PrLBrYW60RKnyvNMmldeVazFMZViJcOhyhc6W43BMvvYPDo6JPI0Y2SRIPDQ9XSvOjCeiWQ3w6y1buvoFxXuxCYSEtZG8IYNG2AS1mB6kk3DMjuHzN7ONuhF426ojVwLvUS3dYwK/s1600/ruler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4muk8PrLBrYW60RKnyvNMmldeVazFMZViJcOhyhc6W43BMvvYPDo6JPI0Y2SRIPDQ9XSvOjCeiWQ3w6y1buvoFxXuxCYSEtZG8IYNG2AS1mB6kk3DMjuHzN7ONuhF426ojVwLvUS3dYwK/s1600/ruler.jpg" height="118" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
How will you know how long to make that bracelet? or have you made the necklace the right size for an average neck? The list goes on. Sometimes you'll need to measure focal beads/gemstones to know how many beads will go around them. The tape measure will go hand in hand with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjtGqYqPeIHWuC5OpG7ir97bpafjAPB0K49hyUNastHehKVN0_YzRkOY0yFCRxSU0aoJczoAeyPTaSD3lEJK7ryi-FsySw6MgQP5d6zAGBhI5BGNUBLIGogPu_QJJyjOvzoN1w53zeyHF/s1600/Necklace+lengths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjtGqYqPeIHWuC5OpG7ir97bpafjAPB0K49hyUNastHehKVN0_YzRkOY0yFCRxSU0aoJczoAeyPTaSD3lEJK7ryi-FsySw6MgQP5d6zAGBhI5BGNUBLIGogPu_QJJyjOvzoN1w53zeyHF/s1600/Necklace+lengths.jpg" height="212" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #cc0000;">Thread Burner/Lighter - </b>A handy tool to tidy up the thread ends that poke out of your beadwork. Also the lighter comes in handy when joining 2 pieces of Firline together. (you can find reference to this in earlier articles)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Camera/Phone Camera -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Another one of those tools that isn't used as much as it should. Sure you use a camera if you intend to show your creations to the world. But what about taking progress shots of your creation?<br />
You dont need a fancy camera. In fact, even the camera on your mobile phone will do. You just need to create a record of what you create. It will also give you a date stamp, so in years to come, you can reference the photos to see when you actually created a piece.<br />
If you get more adventurous with taking photos, you can invest with a Macro lens which will take really close shots. Also you'll then need some good lighting and a good set up etc.... but again, you can find reference in a previous article here on the Bead Mavens.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Paper & Pencil - </span>This is a fairly obvious tool, but so many people dont use it. If you create Bead Embroidery pieces, then you may be some of the few that use it. Taking notes, and creating doodles of pieces you'd like to create is a great way of setting up a portfolio of ideas....<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Display Bust - </span>Display busts are another tool that make life so much simpler when designing and making jewellery. They're great, not only for displaying finished jewellery, but they're also handy to place your work in progress on, so that you may see if it all looks right and is balanced, or sits right. It is a good idea to have a few busts, in different colous and sizes. That way you can see what your work looks like on different backgrounds.<br />
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Display busts are also good for photographing your finished pieces on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnILLIJfgALgBUgz-HrOtCVpKwFO2pIptkCgXaf3Mg-1mDffWg3H6QvfpR8zpPPvC4XSCq8r9kODKQh3z7iDomr4XIRukr7oJPRwqyS1MVyvtBBwMV7gJrdxpcp_f9A_xFPKcj0NrJY1f/s1600/%2524_12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnILLIJfgALgBUgz-HrOtCVpKwFO2pIptkCgXaf3Mg-1mDffWg3H6QvfpR8zpPPvC4XSCq8r9kODKQh3z7iDomr4XIRukr7oJPRwqyS1MVyvtBBwMV7gJrdxpcp_f9A_xFPKcj0NrJY1f/s1600/%2524_12.JPG" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even though some of you may have other tools you use when creating, this list is a fundamental list for beaders who bead with a needle and thread. It is also a list for use when creating with Kumihimo and Micro Macrame, and loomwork to name a few.</div>
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I hope you find this article helpful and it helps build yout checklist.</div>
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Happy Beading!</div>
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Neva</div>
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O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-33494573947358491942015-04-16T15:46:00.003+10:002015-04-21T22:15:42.040+10:00Where Do I Begin? - Challenges, Competitions and Inspiration<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8rQNyqt2Gk2JX4BRL_PTXIVQk6xvnHA3jMHe1lzLCPy82E8rSaFHVgi70Ytd7dlo4d6Zdk120uSO_O6KblAWAfohyphenhyphenqW3rJBxrguJ2IQVPw2vzOAeArYROL6Oknp5wOSYa6JQluJdo0mY/s1600/challenges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8rQNyqt2Gk2JX4BRL_PTXIVQk6xvnHA3jMHe1lzLCPy82E8rSaFHVgi70Ytd7dlo4d6Zdk120uSO_O6KblAWAfohyphenhyphenqW3rJBxrguJ2IQVPw2vzOAeArYROL6Oknp5wOSYa6JQluJdo0mY/s1600/challenges.jpg" height="226" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever looked at other designers' works, whether online or in magazines, and thought to yourself:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweAGjmgjA5IV6Keir5msPmw2XS_v83qzEv-H2-vVT8uX2qwPF1G073BV1bEDDeyDAs5vgXcfqwiLd9szfUDXeZ6gxiwXVQQAH9Ccdrr2lAPoSygY0QHvqProsjrtT2zCG_LpOoEIQipVU/s1600/thought+bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweAGjmgjA5IV6Keir5msPmw2XS_v83qzEv-H2-vVT8uX2qwPF1G073BV1bEDDeyDAs5vgXcfqwiLd9szfUDXeZ6gxiwXVQQAH9Ccdrr2lAPoSygY0QHvqProsjrtT2zCG_LpOoEIQipVU/s1600/thought+bubbles.jpg" height="235" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well all these thoughts, and the feelings that accompany them, are very normal.... and some that most designers have felt at some point, early in their beading journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So..... where do you start? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess the best way to start is to find like minded people that you can bounce ideas around with. But I hear you say.... "I live in an isolated area, I don't know anyone around here...." etc. Well let me tell you how easy it can be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraPYHibn1TOGx1THhuGjOFar5FnDSo57NtReGke8T9-_Z_1YxU3ReJCTbVZoXVaTgeWDUQHXpHAFKmT4EEjUzcYgeNOYV-9awnrYjVdQymH6dcETRD3FY1EHQ2ZX0h_FeIlND19NU4hcv/s1600/beading+mags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraPYHibn1TOGx1THhuGjOFar5FnDSo57NtReGke8T9-_Z_1YxU3ReJCTbVZoXVaTgeWDUQHXpHAFKmT4EEjUzcYgeNOYV-9awnrYjVdQymH6dcETRD3FY1EHQ2ZX0h_FeIlND19NU4hcv/s1600/beading+mags.jpg" height="254" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first started beading seriously, I too, found myself with no one around me that I could share this new-found passion. Sure, I had magazines that gave me inspiration, but really, I was on my own. Then when perusing in the advertisement section of the magazines, local to my country, I discovered an online Beading Forum. I soon joined and 'met' some lovely people. People with the same passion or liking for the beads. I discovered there were quite a number of people not far from me with the same passion. A few of us eventually met in real life and started to bead together once a month. We challenged ourselves, tried new techniques, and had a lot of fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Magazines have a lot of inspiration, and also also some worthwhile tutorials that can get you going on your journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are also very fortunate to live in the age of technology and cyberspace.... you can have a links to other people through the internet. Great friendships have been made through this medium, and a lot has been learned and shared. You too can be part of this trend. There are lots of people willing to help and share their knowledge. All you have to do is tap into it. Now you may think to yourself...'I don't have anything to contribute'.... but really its about a sharing. You do have things to contribute, even your hiccups in your creations is worth sharing, because in the discussion it creates, it not only helps you, but also someone else, who may have hiccups as well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLdA_Hh9PMsnVPmWew5ZNkXaFzM9eyLVxhrYU9Bvy4Y-gom0k0D_Tc-8J-_IKJOERz6EnZzow-6F2LJHjhWcGwutE3pbf_KDUK-3jq4nkp2JcxGmRogb7Stvw_M5NNfSCT9McaQHv0VHs/s1600/dont+limit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLdA_Hh9PMsnVPmWew5ZNkXaFzM9eyLVxhrYU9Bvy4Y-gom0k0D_Tc-8J-_IKJOERz6EnZzow-6F2LJHjhWcGwutE3pbf_KDUK-3jq4nkp2JcxGmRogb7Stvw_M5NNfSCT9McaQHv0VHs/s1600/dont+limit.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Challenges:</b> One of the definitions of challenges which I thought was quite appropriate is this:</span> </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><i>A test of one's abilities or resources is a demanding but stimulating undertaking.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One of the best ways to challenge yourself is to learn new techniques/stitches, and then create something unique using this new technique.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I know a lot of people feel daunted by what other people create. But you know what? You can create like that too.... all you have to do is keep trying. Keep experimenting. Keep pushing beyond your comfort zone.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1D5xzb2XshhcHMa_pWM3QqIWdWAuo-WBsW5M7CWDz6zU1S_1rC7anN45gSfC2HNlQ_IaODF8yB9Q-aeUWchSWm9Pr5_0KKgfzTG4i7JvAobMBATo4OLiMaOWfyj0qE7q7p_Kkx9g0A4G/s1600/I+can+do+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1D5xzb2XshhcHMa_pWM3QqIWdWAuo-WBsW5M7CWDz6zU1S_1rC7anN45gSfC2HNlQ_IaODF8yB9Q-aeUWchSWm9Pr5_0KKgfzTG4i7JvAobMBATo4OLiMaOWfyj0qE7q7p_Kkx9g0A4G/s1600/I+can+do+it.jpg" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone starts the same way. Basically knowing very little. The difference is your personal determination to learn as much as you can and to better yourself. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can do it! You have to want it badly enough, and you will do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember one competition I entered many years ago..... I was stuck for ideas, but I knew quite a few different techniques. Time was running out and life got in the way. The deadline was looming and as I had committed to participating, I had to produce something. So, I started to bead..... not knowing which direction it was going, I kept going. I used every stitch I knew at the time, and what evolved was a freeform necklace.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfLZrsllYRKXp9eWYagGxSzqOgE-A6RyzQNkhOrfBBFNky4sjd9f6BRXQT7Q7OUY5hAgnE3p5-SI0WUC8yJ7AVbQiAnqpuruNeGKxTNMv7p8gFC_3bykbBWUskaGckebN3wi87H8pcgPg/s1600/DQ17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfLZrsllYRKXp9eWYagGxSzqOgE-A6RyzQNkhOrfBBFNky4sjd9f6BRXQT7Q7OUY5hAgnE3p5-SI0WUC8yJ7AVbQiAnqpuruNeGKxTNMv7p8gFC_3bykbBWUskaGckebN3wi87H8pcgPg/s1600/DQ17.jpg" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="222" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took its own shape, as the beads guided me. At the end of it, it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot along the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing I'm trying to say here, is that you should always try to expand what you already know, and use what you know to expand yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This piece was quite admired by all who saw it, and was snapped up quite quickly. I'm sure it is enjoying being worn by a lovely lady.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Competitions:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can almost hear a lot of you shudder at the thought of entering a competition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are lots of competitions around the world today, that really get the creative juices going. And I know a lot of you thinking to yourselves that "You're not good enough"..... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvszWTSfM14Le2QCRz2ko4cC3vpVV8U21NYl0MOObJOfRLB2MARCfxSYpGrz0H2LQoLEXro9hSoR4creMVldSl4Zdn78HfBdScHnNtoBBdxbVMvC3JYq1MsGaQoqh-9-MgkM6JUl76irXk/s1600/tumblr_lz8s8boelV1qfwg0ho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvszWTSfM14Le2QCRz2ko4cC3vpVV8U21NYl0MOObJOfRLB2MARCfxSYpGrz0H2LQoLEXro9hSoR4creMVldSl4Zdn78HfBdScHnNtoBBdxbVMvC3JYq1MsGaQoqh-9-MgkM6JUl76irXk/s1600/tumblr_lz8s8boelV1qfwg0ho1_500.jpg" height="232" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly.... you need to get that thought out of your heads. Competitions are good. They help you grow. Yes, they can be frustrating at times, but just think of the personal reward in knowing that you've created something with a "Wow!" factor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one thing I will suggest though, is that you enter competitions, not necessarily to win, but to improve your techniques and composition. If you do place, or win, then that is a bonus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a little list that may entice you to enter a piece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beadingdaily.com/content/BeadStar.aspx" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">http://www.beadingdaily.com/content/BeadStar.aspx</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mylovelybeads.com/contest/2014/rules.php?year=2014" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">http://www.mylovelybeads.com/contest/2014/rules.php?year=2014</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading-contests/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading-contests/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/beaddreamsrules" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/beaddreamsrules</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/Events/Contests/2010/12/BeadDreams%20Competition.aspx" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/Events/Contests/2010/12/BeadDreams%20Competition.aspx</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://keiserdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/enter-fashion-colorworks-beading.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://keiserdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/enter-fashion-colorworks-beading.html</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure there are lots of locally run challenges that can entice you as well. If you're a member of any of the various beading circles on Facebook, see if any of them run competitions you can participate in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Inspiration: </b>Where does it come from? How can the mind be stimulated enough to start creating?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look around you. It's everywhere! People, things, places, moments, thoughts....... all you need to do is really look. Start up a journal of things you like. Things that take your breath away. Things that evoke emotions in you. Collect pictures and photos. Get yourself into the habit of really seeing whats around you.... and I don't mean just the big things.... I mean the little things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patterns in a kaleidoscope, colours in a soap bubble, waves of the ocean, the rippling of the sand. The veins on a leaf. The markings on an insect. The list is endless!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write on little bits of paper things that you like..... a movie, a favourite food, a famous or not so famous quote. Write them all down. One thing per piece of paper. put them in a jar, or a bag or something. Then, without looking inside the container, take out one piece of paper. And create something that will represent what is written down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll get the mojo going. And before you know it, you'll be creating pieces you never thought you could.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All I'm saying is don't be afraid of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. There is a whole world of creativity within you, just itching to get out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Beading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neva</span></div>
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<span class="hw" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4;">busi·ness</span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span class="pron" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(128, 158, 131); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #45818e; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial;">(b<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />z<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />n<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />s)</span></h3>
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<i style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: #45818e;">n.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>1. </b>an occupation, profession, or trade.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>2. </b>the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>3. </b>a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>4. </b>volume of trade; patronage or custom.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>5. </b>a store, office, factory, etc., where commerce is carried on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><b>6. </b>that with which a person is principally and seriously concerned: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span class="hw" style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;">hob·by<sup> 1</sup></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="pron" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(128, 158, 131); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial;">(h<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/obreve.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />b<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /><img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/emacr.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><i>n.</i> <i>pl.</i> <b>hob·bies</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of us start our beading journey as youngsters making items for our school friends, or as adults, making things we would like to wear. Mostly with bounding enthusiasm and a lot of trepidation. Enthusiasm because we can create something from these little components and trepidation because of the uncertainty of what others will think of it, or if it will be strong enough when worn, among other reasons we may think of. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We usually start out by creating simple items and often gift them to family and friends. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we become more confident with what we create, and delve into more complex pieces, our collection grows and we find it harder to part with pieces that have taken so much time and effort, used so many beads and materials, and has extracted some of our own essence into it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continue to learn new techniques, create more complex pieces, and before we know it, we have accumulated quite a collection. At this point we start to run out of storage space, and also of people we can gift to..... What now?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.infinitewealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/095196-5dd06d42-edb4-11e2-af7f-ad8cecfd760b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://www.infinitewealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/095196-5dd06d42-edb4-11e2-af7f-ad8cecfd760b.jpg" height="180" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have 2 options: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<b>1</b> - Stop creating.... not really an option if you're a devout beader.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*<b>2</b> - Start selling. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Probably the better option because it will give us back some dollars to justify buying more beads..... LOL... how many of you have thought that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK... so where do we sell though? What do we sell? How many items do we need to display? Where will the people come from? How much do we charge? How do we set up? And the questions go on and on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly though, we need to decide whether we will be selling as a hobby or a business. This is an important decision, because it will determine how much effort and detail you need to go into. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Sometimes it’s difficult to determine whether your activities constitute a hobby or a business. It’s important though, to understand and know the difference between the two because of the various tax, insurance, and legal implications.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is the difference between a hobby and a business?</span></h4>
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The easiest way to find out if you are running a business or a hobby is to ask yourself a few simple questions. Here’s a quick test:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Is the activity being undertaken for commercial reasons?</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Do you have the purpose and prospect of making a profit?</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Are you regularly and repetitively undertaking the activities?</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Is your activity planned, organised and carried on in a business-like manner?</li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've answered yes to at least 2 of the above, then its most likely that you want to sell like a business. Later in this article, I'll outline some of the most important steps, that will make business life a little easier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are various ways to sell your jewellery. Party Plan, Consignment, Markets, Retail (bricks and mortar shop), and Retail (web based). In this article we will look at these in a little detail.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Party Plan:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The party plan is a direct sales method of marketing products through social events allowing you to start your own business for a very small investment. Party plan selling offers unlimited income potential and you can easily start part-time from your home without the risk of losing your present income. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the easiest ways to start, is to host a jewellery party. Invite your family, friends, work colleagues, neighbours... anyone you wish to tell really.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUBPu4pkQrJOu_PgXKebCQRbTKU9Tz_TR-YbS05rxwTUGQ6siqTLWFnmrC7nVtPCmn6IOt3PjrWGN4EPCZkRhSVK5jmiz6zVvP3etoaMC4QZjV4XakdNf5ytrEeQLslD5yqxIjArHGpXr/s1600/party02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUBPu4pkQrJOu_PgXKebCQRbTKU9Tz_TR-YbS05rxwTUGQ6siqTLWFnmrC7nVtPCmn6IOt3PjrWGN4EPCZkRhSVK5jmiz6zVvP3etoaMC4QZjV4XakdNf5ytrEeQLslD5yqxIjArHGpXr/s1600/party02.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hosting parties like this is relatively easy and has no ongoing overheads, apart from the initial set up costs of display items such as busts, bracelet displays etc, and maybe some refreshments. You need to keep in mind though, that only doing it this way, will eventually exhaust your immediate market, unless you have a system in place where guests can book you for subsequent parties, inviting their social networks, and so on. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offering hostess incentives will almost guarantee future parties. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Consignment: </b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">To sell your goods on consignment means that you get paid by the shop or gallery only </span><em style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">upon the sale</em><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">of your items - essentially, you retain ownership of your items until they sell, the store does not buy them outright. This is often the easiest way to get your products into a store and is a good first step if you're just starting out.</span><br />
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Consignment is beneficial for shop owners and designers alike: it allows shop owners to fill their shops with items at no upfront cost to them and lets them test out the saleability of your goods to their customers. For you, it's beneficial as you retain a higher percentage of the sales price on your items than you would selling via wholesale (or, you should!) while also testing your saleability in different markets, and getting exposure in retail shops.</div>
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You pay the shop a commission on the sale of your items, as they are working to help market, display and sell your items in the best way possible. You must be mindful though, to choose a store and its location, that suits your product, otherwise you'd be wasting your time and tying your stock up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ef7ZF4Rw2TZ7anfGw1Le_NLHAfSnDYjjuey3V74tLjVGgaU3u_M8GCVFPkeVhbI-U7H4GIbkGR89y_TCjOaQGBiUVFXGIUb5J4o-q6o00nYE5tpSOcEHbDJ5Ai5Ug7T4FhVQk37-Yb_/s1600/img_9376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1ef7ZF4Rw2TZ7anfGw1Le_NLHAfSnDYjjuey3V74tLjVGgaU3u_M8GCVFPkeVhbI-U7H4GIbkGR89y_TCjOaQGBiUVFXGIUb5J4o-q6o00nYE5tpSOcEHbDJ5Ai5Ug7T4FhVQk37-Yb_/s1600/img_9376.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Galleries: </b>Another way of giving yourself, your business and products exposure is to find galleries that have seasonal showings, and see if your product is in line with their artworks and vice versa. The general costs involved are relatively low - usually for the hire of the table. Most of these venues will take a commission of your sales, but generally it is a low cost, and very effective way of not only selling your product, but creating public awareness, and a following. I have been doing this type of show for a couple of years now, and find it very profitable. I am humbled that they ask me to be involved in their seasonal art shows.<br />
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Remember, it is still important that your customers experience the whole package though. When they go home to open their purchases, they should be reminded of how special they were made to feel, just by opening up their parcels.</div>
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<b style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Markets: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Selling your</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wares at craft markets is completely brilliant... you are surrounded by handmade goodness all day, you chat to like-minded people, meet customers face to face and hopefully make a little money too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111;">Every market is also about you advertising and marketing your business, getting your name and products in front of people's eyes. You never know who will pick up a business card and contact you later. Many shop-owners go to markets to seek out new and original wares for their store and may contact you about becoming a stockist. </span><span style="color: #111111;">T</span><span style="color: #111111;">here's a lot more to your stall on market day than the sales you get. So when you don't think you've had a good day, count how many business cards have been taken.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/iqoncept/iqoncept1006/iqoncept100600052/7256667-one-store-stands-out-in-a-crowded-marketplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/iqoncept/iqoncept1006/iqoncept100600052/7256667-one-store-stands-out-in-a-crowded-marketplace.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">R</b><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">etail Sales (bricks and mortar):</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">If you want to enter the world of owning a shop, then this is for you. If you like the idea of having a shopfront where your customers come to you, and you have this face to face interaction, then this is perfect..... but it does have some drawbacks. Having the right customers who are cashed up and ready to spend in your store, is not always easy. There are overheads to meet, such as rent, electricity, wages, insurance... just to name a few. You have to make sure that the stock you carry suits the location of the shop or its demographic. You need to ensure that you display different stock regularly to keep prospective customers interested. You need to maintain marketing and advertising. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">If your shop is in a shopping center (mall), then there are the added costs that are determined by center management.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Retail Sales (Web Based):</b> Selling online seems to be the way a lot of people and companies are doing business these days. Although there are a lot of benefits there are also some pitfalls that can consume your time and in some cases some funds. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is important though to analyse your business, to see if selling online could work for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people jump in feet first into an online selling avenue without doing too much research. Just because it's online, doesn't mean it will automatically work. You still have to research the market to see if your product will sell, and also to find out who else is selling a similar product. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Four points to consider when starting your online store</b></span><br />
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Do your research. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and exactly what you want.<span style="font-style: inherit;"> </span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Carry out an online transaction at a store that has inspired you, detail their pros and cons and pass on an even better experience to your customers.</li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"> Have a marketing plan to get people to visit your site, whether it be new or current customers.</li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Make sure your website design matches what you are actually selling. </li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Some of the many benefits to online selling:</b></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reduced overheads in general, as an online shop costs less to set up and run than a physical store, although it's important to recognize that making eCommerce work requires continuing investment, not only in upgrades but also in your time.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Lower marketing costs with better targeting: online promotion can be more precisely aimed at potential customers than using conventional media. It's also much cheaper, for example, to send a marketing message by e-mail to 1,000 customers than it is to send 1,000 newsletters by post.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Expanded geographical reach: a local business can become nationwide or even international, just through having an effective eCommerce strategy. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Being open for business 24/7: with automated order and payment processing, sales can be made at any time, and customers can buy when it suits them.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Greater flexibility: an online store can be updated instantly and as often as you like, for example, to promote a 'deal of the day' on your front page, without the need for expensive printed display material.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Broader potential customer base: an eCommerce business is an additional buying channel, capable of attracting customers who have not bought before.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Improved customer profiling, with the opportunity to target products and services at specific groups based on buying data.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt 36pt; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Increased visibility for your business: with investment in search engine optimisation and online promotion, an online shop becomes more accessible to customers searching for your products.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(Information readily available on the internet)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other avenues for selling online are sites like EBay, Etsy, MadeIT, Amazon, Artfire, to name a few. These sites are relatively easy to navigate and even easier to set up your online presence to start listing things. All you have to do is register your name or trading name with them (provided it hasn't already been used), and start uploading your product. Make sure though, that you have accurate descriptions and sizes, including postage. You will have to maintain this site as well.</span></div>
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<a href="http://comps.fotosearch.com/comp/CSP/CSP824/my-hobby_~k8246072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Stock Photo - my hobby. fotosearch
- search stock
photos, pictures,
wall murals, images,
and photo clipart" border="0" src="http://comps.fotosearch.com/comp/CSP/CSP824/my-hobby_~k8246072.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hobby:</b> If we decide that business is not for us... that's OK... business is not for everyone, and don't let anyone make you feel like you should be doing it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creating for the sheer pleasure, or to gift, or to sometimes sell to recoup materials cost is very heart warming. It keeps our minds and hands active, and tends to connect us to many people around the world with a shared passion. Many friendships are made this way. Hobbyists still go through the learning curves of their art, just like someone in business. they just don't focus on the profit side.</span></div>
<i style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Marketing:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been asked on numerous occasions how I get my commissions and also the shows I do. One simple yet complex answer I guess..... You need to put yourself in the market place.... you need to show your wares to people who can either buy from you, or most importantly guide you to a selling venue. You need to create a following. You need to wear your own product, that way it evokes conversation from people you meet. You need to be prepared to donate items. You need to <b>market</b> yourself, your goods and your passion. You need to remain humble, because always talking about yourself doesn't make people want to be in your energy field. You need to learn to listen, for in listening will you understand what people are wanting, even if they don't say the words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had many students in my classes think that to market themselves, they just needed to advertise. Marketing is so much more than just advertising. It is one of the biggest players in this thing we call commerce. It is a branding. Whether it be online or bricks and mortar. Without marketing it would be an uphill battle and a very expensive one. Although you will have to invest time and also some dollars in marketing, it will almost guarantee you ongoing success, alongside hard work and tenacity. <span style="line-height: 22px;">It is the promotion and selling of products or services which includes market research and advertising with a view of helping reach a wider customer base. It also involves the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are building a brand and every contact must reinforce what you want to say about you, your business and its product. This includes everything from how you answer the phone to how you use promotional materials. Business owners who have little experience of marketing do not always take this broad a view of marketing.Typically they think that advertising equates to marketing. But it involves a whole lot more than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If marketing is not your strong suit, find a small business coach that specialises in marketing. It's easy to learn about marketing from a book, but it takes years to master, so it may pay to initially invest in professional help. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is by no means a conclusive body of information. I could sit and write more information for you, sadly space is limited. But I hope I have given you enough to enable you to research these components of business, as well as much more for yourself. To help you grow your businesses, and to become profitable</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Whatever that may mean to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, however you wish to pursue your creative endeavors, remember one thing - enjoy it. Enjoy the process of learning and doing. You may not like it at the time, but learn to embrace it, because it will not only give you knowledge, but it will give you strength and freedom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Beading!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neva</span></div>
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O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-62410485818003269302015-04-16T15:42:00.003+10:002015-04-17T20:12:47.959+10:00Composition: It's In The Details<h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<span class="hw" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px;">com·po·si·tion</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="pron" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(128, 158, 131); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">(k<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/obreve.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />m<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/lprime.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />p<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/schwa.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />-z<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />sh<img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/prime.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /><img align="absbottom" src="http://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/schwa.gif" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" />n)</span></h2>
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<b>a. </b>The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.</div>
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<b>b. </b>The manner in which such parts are combined or related.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many times I've been asked about composition, whether in bead embroidery or bead weaving. I guess it really comes down to the materials you choose..... the main focal/s, the seed beads and their sizes, the size of the piece you want to create and also the intended wearer and the occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdffed;">The composition of a necklace firstly starts with the length and size of the piece. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdffed;">Here are some perfect/ideal </span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #fdffed;">length</span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #fdffed;">s</span><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> for jewellery.</span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><br /><b style="background-color: #fdffed;">Collar </b><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(12-13 in./<b>30-33 cm</b>)</i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> This style fits snugly around the base of the neck and is normally made up of several close-fitting strands. The </span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #fdffed;">necklace</span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #fdffed; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdffed;">may be enhanced with jeweled spacers or a large centerpiece. The look is very formal and is perfect for evening wear.</span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><br /><b style="background-color: #fdffed;">Choker</b><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(14-16 in./<b>36-41 cm</b>) </i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;">The choker has slightly more drape than collar length and usually falls above the neckline. The look can be made more casual by mixing accent beads — such as crystals and semi-precious stones — to bring a more eclectic style to the classic pearl design.</span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><br /><b style="background-color: #fdffed;">Princess</b><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(17-19 in./<b>43-48 cm</b>)</i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> A popular style for graduated pearls. This versatile length looks great with high or low necklines. </span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><br /><b style="background-color: #fdffed;">Matinee</b><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(20-24 in./<b>51-61 cm</b>)</i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> Slightly longer than the princess. Measure carefully when fitting this style as it should fall just above the bust line. This length works best when paired with a high neckline.</span></span><b style="background-color: #fdffed; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdffed; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Opera</b></span><span style="background-color: #fdffed; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(28-36 in./<b>71-90 cm</b>)</i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> Think formal for this style. Elegant and refined, this piece can be worn single or wrapped as a double strand depending on the outfit it is paired with.</span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><br /><b style="background-color: #fdffed;">Rope</b><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> </span><br style="background-color: #fdffed;" /><i style="background-color: #fdffed;">(36 in./<b>90 cm and longer</b>)</i><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> Long and lovely ropes of pearls may be looped around the neck to create any length. Leave it long or wrap it several times around the neck. This </span><span class="highlight" style="background-color: #fdffed;">necklace</span><span style="background-color: #fdffed;"> makes the wearer shine in the spotlight.</span></span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZXYZa5IwJigJnSwr1ZoZpyA_g3LaNReckqmth8X-RDslqJkOx7Knw2qAaj3iEqrZ_oSyDc489mdQX_ZKlBdCeCNWskAq8mZvY_4wc-plKeiWQJAcd9nE7iJjdbJWbgb6I9oe3cRxCqNh/s1600/necklacelengths2.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When delving into the world of beading, jewellery is made with various components and different layers, but they will still conform to the guidelines above. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Composition in beading, when looking at the 'layout' of a piece can be symmetrical, asymmetrical or freeform. In this article, we'll be looking at these in more detail. Plus a few other things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Symmetrical</u></b>: An object that has two (2) identical sides, that are divided by a line of symmetry</span>. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This symmetry can then be divided again and again to create the desired pattern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This type of design, whether single or multi-level, is relatively easy to construct because it is about balance. You can create an image on paper first to see what your overall piece will look like, or you can start by making the components and moving them around on your beading mat to see what works for you. Either is fine. Everyone works differently, so don't bog yourself down with how other people do this, you do what works for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you've settled on a layout, you can see what extra bits will be needed. Then you have to work out how to put the components together. This step is crucial in giving the overall piece, uniformity. It's in the detail of joining components together, that will show the wearer/buyer that every detail was taken into account.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_HnOQmmJCgWz1Kk4gsLvUNIglJz9NySaCvOicNH7FOyKjFz0Hw5yMocP_Wsi-J6ATp_YCAkpyBcp_t1L8cz07UYDITkv_J9EHayOSaQ3hvg4TuITF8kNpKXOnIbHB7qIuow1vGxoa5/s1600/Graphic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_HnOQmmJCgWz1Kk4gsLvUNIglJz9NySaCvOicNH7FOyKjFz0Hw5yMocP_Wsi-J6ATp_YCAkpyBcp_t1L8cz07UYDITkv_J9EHayOSaQ3hvg4TuITF8kNpKXOnIbHB7qIuow1vGxoa5/s400/Graphic1.jpg" height="400" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="282" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_HnOQmmJCgWz1Kk4gsLvUNIglJz9NySaCvOicNH7FOyKjFz0Hw5yMocP_Wsi-J6ATp_YCAkpyBcp_t1L8cz07UYDITkv_J9EHayOSaQ3hvg4TuITF8kNpKXOnIbHB7qIuow1vGxoa5/s1600/Graphic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfy_HnOQmmJCgWz1Kk4gsLvUNIglJz9NySaCvOicNH7FOyKjFz0Hw5yMocP_Wsi-J6ATp_YCAkpyBcp_t1L8cz07UYDITkv_J9EHayOSaQ3hvg4TuITF8kNpKXOnIbHB7qIuow1vGxoa5/s1600/Graphic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stitches/techniques used will determine how a piece will be finished most of the time. So once you've settled on a design, you then have to work out a 'rope'. As you all know, there are a myriad or ropes to choose from, but not all ropes will work on every design layout....you need to remember that. Your rope will make your piece outstanding or simply 'just ok'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you look at the example on the right, there are curves (ovals) and triangles in the overall design, and the rope I decided on, needed to be an extension of this. So I chose a flat spiral weave because it had the roundness with the pearls and the pointiness of the triangles by the use of bicones at the middle of the spiral sections. This therefore became an extension of the focal front section. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your rope also has to have a soft drape on the wearer, that way it not only supports the whole piece, but is also comfortable to wear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a <i><b>bead embroidered</b></i> piece, the principle is still the same except you're sewing your beads onto a base or foundation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKwSmJTCzr4_q2noGa7CoX2HnrHQWbFb8TTn3j9sm9Cfef5u_8QVEjmRxylhOXmypKhfaf0jMUwv5VUJj4xyhc0vi_3qJ5qRoP635akDbeTmQftoS2BN3iuK_oO6edf7DKWzTw-eXnXZm/s1600/checkmate+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKwSmJTCzr4_q2noGa7CoX2HnrHQWbFb8TTn3j9sm9Cfef5u_8QVEjmRxylhOXmypKhfaf0jMUwv5VUJj4xyhc0vi_3qJ5qRoP635akDbeTmQftoS2BN3iuK_oO6edf7DKWzTw-eXnXZm/s200/checkmate+collar.jpg" height="200" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Firstly</i> you decide the shape of the collar </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">and whether it will be whole or have negative spaces. Feel free to use the template above, or alter it to your design style - print it out, and enlarge it to suit your neck size.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Secondly</i> you'll need to select the focal crystals, cabochons or whatever you're intending to use, and then the seed beads that will work up the piece. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVJS3U63TN0ZKIM2wOtXElutt2X75rUGreb3_G8jsZtm1sAD0-BNzGrs6Af2szzqcZut6po_f_SNvSs4Dlfprjk1PfoNXtTo5deM3gJbOXezhn7AKWOExyewXKZRLWI7DjijfpBkvGJ4/s1600/DSC04044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvVJS3U63TN0ZKIM2wOtXElutt2X75rUGreb3_G8jsZtm1sAD0-BNzGrs6Af2szzqcZut6po_f_SNvSs4Dlfprjk1PfoNXtTo5deM3gJbOXezhn7AKWOExyewXKZRLWI7DjijfpBkvGJ4/s320/DSC04044.JPG" height="240" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once you've made your selections, you'll need to draw a rough placement of the focals on your foundation material. Then the direction or movement of the seed beads and their groups. When you're happy with the layout, then its time to start. At this time, other beaders have said to me that they have a multitude of concerns that make them not start. Their concerns are 'what if it doesn't look good?' What if it doesn't work?' 'What if I make a mistake?' And this is before even glueing anything on.... ! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hsP-l8gozmZHUc-kYGAmosljErhJlfaeyBqDl__uALg1eJcZm7Kl73tky0hpPJt6zoVNpqdXbgtv6YrPIMqcueayhGinDOmSW0OjRnr5DffDdPbx4gutMK3ynRQ1Swwb5yGfn6XTTbSs/s1600/DSC04074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hsP-l8gozmZHUc-kYGAmosljErhJlfaeyBqDl__uALg1eJcZm7Kl73tky0hpPJt6zoVNpqdXbgtv6YrPIMqcueayhGinDOmSW0OjRnr5DffDdPbx4gutMK3ynRQ1Swwb5yGfn6XTTbSs/s320/DSC04074.jpg" height="320" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="288" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">My reply is usually, 'Start'... if you don't like it, it doesn't work, or you've made mistakes, you can unpick or start again. You really wont know till you start, so go ahead.... glue your focals in place, and start beading. It's that simple. Once you've drawn your design on your foundation, you start sewing. There are plenty of books on Bead Embroidery in the marketplace, plenty of inspiration, and technique. But in reality, i</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">f you can sew, then you can create a collar.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asymmetrical:</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Is the absence of symmetry. Its more about creating a <i>complete</i>picture as you would find in nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When creating a piece that isn't symmetrical, most people freeze. I know a lot of beaders tell themselves, they cant do it. My suggestion would be to let the beads talk to you. What do you see them doing? Asymmetry is about creating a picture.... not about having a mirror image for half of it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF0vD9JuawXErXj06-zvebsnx3a7ZzhYXGBh7AlEzwEjj0ejfFOWLxSaof6lCGvabOp_PXu_3CTjG3gRg9NZ_h-a1G_lqW6SDkZzc2q_HvDLGPpeqYB-wWmo8yMZEykasHtrT-on892Mh/s1600/Rock_Pool___Point_Village660x480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF0vD9JuawXErXj06-zvebsnx3a7ZzhYXGBh7AlEzwEjj0ejfFOWLxSaof6lCGvabOp_PXu_3CTjG3gRg9NZ_h-a1G_lqW6SDkZzc2q_HvDLGPpeqYB-wWmo8yMZEykasHtrT-on892Mh/s200/Rock_Pool___Point_Village660x480.JPG" height="145" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll tell you what I've told them.....walk out into the garden, or go for walks along the beach or wherever you find peace. Look around... what do you see? what inspires you? what materials are around you? Rocks.... twigs, leaves, sand, shells.... whatever really...how has nature placed them?... When you find something that attracts you, how can you then translate it to beads. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08AYOGYQzLbKXSLhoht7deMYX2fgHFy2nEYuB772_T4jHzsWhCgrOE7i6PrZoZmEVGsKtCEGUL4Rf4Pru916FBxu6sd7JfE4z2UIPstlQO4upsFyvfhIyip6iZH-94ifrvc2I9cTSMg7b/s1600/Icelandic+Swirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #888888; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08AYOGYQzLbKXSLhoht7deMYX2fgHFy2nEYuB772_T4jHzsWhCgrOE7i6PrZoZmEVGsKtCEGUL4Rf4Pru916FBxu6sd7JfE4z2UIPstlQO4upsFyvfhIyip6iZH-94ifrvc2I9cTSMg7b/s400/Icelandic+Swirl.jpg" height="400" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="237" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Icelandic Swirl' to the right, is representative of a Rock Pool like the photo above. It is a combination of bead embroidery and bead weaving. The large focal represents the pool itself with the swirling water that enters it as it cascades over the rocks. The smaller pearls and shells are things that may be found in and around the rock pool. The glass domes represent pockets of still water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The piece you create doesn't have to be whole, you can have negative spaces which add interest and also add to the asymmetry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, if your piece requires a rope to finish it, the rope doesn't have to be the same on both sides. That's the beauty of asymmetry, you can do something different on both sides. In this example, I have used twisted Ndebele on one side and Russian spiral on the other. I chose these to represent the different ways that water swirls and travels towards the rock pool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Free-form: </b>I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s mainly done in Peyote stitch. Although in my freeform creations I bead a piece a couple of ways.... #1 create a base on which I embellish in free and random ways. This is usually good for bracelets as it gives the whole piece, sturdiness. or #2 start beading and swap and change beads and bead sizes as I go - this is mainly how I do it. Bead, in all and erratic directions. There are generally no rules other than make sure the piece is sturdy, and has enough passes of thread so it doesn't</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> come apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhT25olRLWI4lLu-rhjpyyrU5SO_n5q_mo4gRRHgiVzxJ5GfLwwsRtwL6aDztPetSxctQHKGVbpB877nR24NJZCU1vfE7pm4yfY3fCn_Ok1R7am6GqYunbkwxGqSfhhuQ2INn8hiwdaj/s1600/DQ17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #888888; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHhT25olRLWI4lLu-rhjpyyrU5SO_n5q_mo4gRRHgiVzxJ5GfLwwsRtwL6aDztPetSxctQHKGVbpB877nR24NJZCU1vfE7pm4yfY3fCn_Ok1R7am6GqYunbkwxGqSfhhuQ2INn8hiwdaj/s400/DQ17.jpg" height="400" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="279" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally, I find the beauty of free-form, is you can do whatever you like, in whatever stitch you want and in whatever direction, and it will be fine. the one thing I would advise though, is to have a basic size and shape in mind. You can bead 'blindly' or you can, believe it or not, draw out a basic shape and direction of your design, and follow it. Either way is fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another crucial element in freeform is the colour palette. Although it may be tempting to use up that bead soup that seems to be ever growing, it is always better to minimize the colours used, to a palette that is complementary.... maybe 4 or five colours in the same tones. Have a few feature beads or elements that create interest. When you use larger beads as features, don't forget you can also bead over them, you're not confined to beading around them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make your piece looks full of life and movement, have areas that are high and areas that are low, and don't forget that negative space also add to the intrigue, which will lead the viewer's eye around the piece. My first freeform piece, was haphazard in its commencement, as i really didn't know what to do.... so I decided to incorporate every stitch I knew at the time, and see what would come out of it. It worked out beautifully, and was bought immediately the first time I displayed it at a show.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you are still hesitant about trying freeform beading, I say give it a go.... but you need to be relaxed, and not try to control your piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Colour: </b>Colour is a major part of the overall composition of a piece. If you don't have a complementary palette, your piece will, although look fine in design, will have something 'not quite right'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately I have been teaching the 'Principles of Colour' and its foundation for over 25 years, and have devised formulae to help people see more colours than they are conditioned to see. Unfortunately, not everyone has done my classes, so here I will tell you, that if you are not comfortable selecting colours, or putting colours together, then it would be helpful to you, to use colour wheels, both secondary and tertiary wheels. Make sure the wheels have a complementary or contrasting section to each colour. This will not only help you see what colours work with what, but it will also start to condition you so it will become second nature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the best place to find excellent colour schemes is in nature. The hard work is done for you. When you go for walks, or picnics, or out and about.... always have your camera with you. With today's technology, a camera is a s close as your mobile phone. Take lots of photos of things you see.... build a library of images that are bountiful in colour.... they will come in handy... not only for colour schemes, but also as subject matter for your next creations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Feature Items: </b>Collect collect collect.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't have a collection, you need to start one....LOL. You need to have lots of feature pieces available in your stash, to give you inspiration. Not saying you cant buy anything new for a piece, Gosh! that's what beaders live for! but its really good to have items available at your fingertips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And don't limit yourself to what is most used.... step outside the box and collect things that will make your work unique to you. If I cant find a particular feature item, then I will make it from polymer clay, or PMC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a multitude of other things we can look at.... but I think I shall close this article with clasps....LOL... pardon the pun :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether you choose on of the many prefabricated clasps that are in the marketplace, or make your own, the thing to remember with clasps, is that they need to be secure enough so they don't come undone, and in saying that, they need to be easy enough for the wearer to do up and undo, on their own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For necklaces I like to either use magnetic clasps, as they are easier for the wearer, or I make my own to suit the piece I have just created. It is really lovely to create a clasp that is an extension to the front of the piece and makes a statement on its own. Clasps also don't have to be at the back of a piece, they can also become a feature at the front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take your time in selecting the perfect clasp, it will definitely make your piece worth seeing from the front as well as the back. Above you will see 2 types of clasps that can be used at the front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So when you create your next piece, do take into account the composition of your piece, and the intended wearer. The colour palette you're going to use. The subject matter. And most of all, just go for it... don't be afraid to try something new. It isn't set in concrete. Its OK to make mistakes and change your design as you go. Or to simply change your design half way through if you think there is a new direction you'd like to take or there is a better way of doing something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But mostly, enjoy playing with composition, whether it be in bead weaving, bead embroidery, or freeform beading, and enjoy the process. If you don't push yourself beyond your comfort zone, you will miss out on so many possibilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Beading!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neva</span></div>
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O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-63610479354171873192015-04-16T15:41:00.003+10:002015-04-16T16:42:44.305+10:00Lost In Life - but lets have a catch up with some Beading Articles<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it definitely looks like I have too much on my plate.... sad that I haven't updated this blog for just over a year now. Please forgive me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let me update you......My second last entry, a wrote that I had been invited to become a Bead Maven. For the duration, (The Bead Mavens has now been disbanded), it was a lot of fun, and part of my role was to write a few articles about beading. I shall be posting the articles here, so that I don't lose them, and also so you can have a quick reference, right here at your fingertips. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will post them up as individual blog posts, so that they are easily referenced. You'll be able to find them in April.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neva</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-77695684715593850262014-03-29T13:33:00.001+11:002014-03-29T13:33:55.972+11:00Featured Articles.Life has been a roller coaster at the moment. My beading has taken a bit of a hiatus due to continual ill health, but lots of people have taken an interest in what I do never-the-less. I am honoured to have been selected as the very first featured artist for the new Bead Show here in Australia. If you'd like to read it, and I hope you do, just follow <a href="http://thebeadshow.com.au/featured-article-where-do-i-begin/" target="_blank">this link</a>. Bead shows have been lagging dreadfully here in Oz, so much so, that for the last couple of years they have been cancelled altogether. This was very sad news for all the bead artists locally.<br />
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Two days ago, I received an email from Beads Perles, and they too have been following me, and asked if they could feature me and my creations in their blog. How could I say no? I couldn't, with such illustrious company before me. If you'd like to read that blog, follow <a href="http://beads-perles.blogspot.com.es/2014/03/nifty-creations.html" target="_blank">this link</a>.<br />
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This years' Battle Of The Beadsmith starts on the 1st of April, and I am pleased to say that I am participating again this year. I think I have an idea formulated in my mind.... lets see if it will manifest itself. Its going to be an epic journey, this battle, and I hope my ails don't interfere too much with my beading.<br />
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Till me next entry, and hopefully not too far away..... :DO_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-32542217131802415602013-11-16T12:57:00.001+11:002013-11-16T12:57:38.721+11:00Life has been hectic.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh dear, I've done it again... haven't updated this blog for quite a long time..... I will be better at this.... I will.... I hope I will...LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let me update you since the last post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was asked by the very talented Mikki Ferrugiaro to become a Bead Maven. Quite an honour really, as she an innovator and trendsetter. You can read more about her <a href="http://www.mylovelybeads.com/internal.php?act=guide/displayMake.php&MakeID=272" target="_blank">here</a>. The Bead Mavens is a blog involving Mikki and 6 bead artisans sharing their knowledge. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now I'm one of them :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in August 2013, we were introduced, and we've been sharing ever since. You can read a bit more about my achievements </span><a href="http://beadmavens.blogspot.com.au/p/neva.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a>. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there there was the introduction interview:</span><br />
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<a href="http://beadmavens.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/introducingneva-brown.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Introducing.....Neva Brown</i></span></a></h3>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second of the Aussie contingent and another fellow Battler, Neva does some very cool pieces using bead embroidery and bead weaving. Neva was one of a small group of beaders who took me up on wanting a FB group for an honest critique and formed "BEad Honest" which she pretty much runs. I'm thrilled to have her aboard the Mavens so, let's get to know....</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #666666;"><i>Neva Brown</i></span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #666666;"> <b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What did you do before beading?</b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All my professional life I have been an Interior Designer and Graphic Designer, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">having had my own business since 1979. My work has taken me to most corners of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the world to design, and all my work has come to me by word of mouth referrals. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have been very fortunate in this way. Whilst travelling to China, I came across and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">studied Feng Shui, and subsequently incorporated its principles in my interiors. In </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2002 I set up a design School, teaching not only Design in various forms, Colour, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and also Small Business Management as well as being business mentor to this day.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What brought beading into your life?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had been playing with beads from an early age, making ‘Surfie’ necklaces for</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">myself and my friends whilst at school. As I matured, I would design my own</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">jewellery and had a jeweller friend, make the pieces for me. Beads came back into </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my life around 2003 when my health took a downward turn, and after life saving </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surgery, I wanted something to do during my rehabilitation.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_v6PvOi2OkfCbJcsCaVG1-5xg8ka-aA0Y-L63z3GVomy9UFv3yzmfgrkVDZlKyLr8vvjbAEdsPVCjYFBRBckJGUke1US9pHywdno0BI-cezuGfdATfDGWstTlfox4dGcecaytpL44i0/s1600/DSC05074+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><i><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_v6PvOi2OkfCbJcsCaVG1-5xg8ka-aA0Y-L63z3GVomy9UFv3yzmfgrkVDZlKyLr8vvjbAEdsPVCjYFBRBckJGUke1US9pHywdno0BI-cezuGfdATfDGWstTlfox4dGcecaytpL44i0/s320/DSC05074+%25281%2529.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></i></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What is your comfort zone?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Comfort zone...hmmm....is there really such a thing? I like using seedies of all sizes,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I prefer 11’s and 15’s and also 18’s but really enjoy incorporating other things in my </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">work. I guess I’m really comfortable creating collars with bead embroidery, once an </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">image/design is firmly in my mind, it’s “All Systems Go!” I am also comfortable bead </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">weaving, and really enjoy the challenge of a new design and technique.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What aspect of beading do you find most challenging?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading tutorials, or should I say deciphering tutorials. I simply can’t do it. Give me </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">an engineer’s drawing any day. So I no longer try. I am now writing tutorials though, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">strange as that may seem.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What would you most like to bead if you had the time and supplies?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to a complete jewellery line for a fashion runway show, collaborating </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">with a couple of high end fashion designers. Or design the jewellery for a theatre </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">production.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Who, if anyone, has influenced your style of beading?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Initially Sherry Serafini and Heidi Kummli, their collars were intriguing, so full of life </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and movement. Also Laura McCabe was an influence with her precise style and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">attention to detail and of course those ‘eyes’. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you could only use one bead weaving stitch which one would you choose and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">why?</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Probably CRAW, it is a versatile stitch and lends itself to being very sculptural. You </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">can create both delicate pieces on its own and also good bases for embellishing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Do you have a favorite place to buy beads and supplies?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I primarily like to support local businesses, so my preferred supplier in Australia </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">would be Cranberry. They have an amazing range of Miyuki, Matsuno and Toho </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">seed beads as well as Czechs rounds and shapes. Not to mention all those little </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">extras and unusual beads and gems. If I can’t get what I need from there, there are a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">couple of other places I frequent.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-OIPzXuXmjdji_3dKbhNxE6XLHZUAMzYwLX9vaxF2bb1odTfN2sXOX3bbLGddNUxHklWmGGD8_vkvT2GNgndoZUmpFTOnkTyVFfior0GvybxzLkmyAjaYw3-ctVfodYyKJ0pxLNkpr4C/s1600/Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><i><img border="0" height="320" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-OIPzXuXmjdji_3dKbhNxE6XLHZUAMzYwLX9vaxF2bb1odTfN2sXOX3bbLGddNUxHklWmGGD8_vkvT2GNgndoZUmpFTOnkTyVFfior0GvybxzLkmyAjaYw3-ctVfodYyKJ0pxLNkpr4C/s320/Me.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="300" /></i></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What Neva says about herself</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As my friends know, I really don’t like talking about myself.... but if I need to say </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anything it would be that I am a very passionate person. I love to immerse myself in </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the task at hand and give it my all. I am a perfectionist, and won’t let things just be </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">unless they are perfect. I love to be at one with nature and find my inspiration comes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from my surroundings. I live just out of Sydney Australia, and enjoy escaping to the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">solitude and serenity of the country. My beading is not just a piece of art but often an </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">insight into me, something I take joy in creating and pride in sharing. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a mother of one amazing young man, and he is now engaged to a wonderful </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lady who also shares my passion for beads. I love to sit and bead with her, teach </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">her new techniques and watch her soar in her creations. It’s very satisfying for me to </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">know that I can help someone else develop their interest and watch her share what </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">she has learnt from me with others. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am and have always been very health conscious, and attentive to what goes in my </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">body. We, my husband and I love to grow our own food produce, and we have quite </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a lovely and extensive food garden which feeds us both, and sometimes our friends </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and neighbours’ quite well. I have been writing a cook book for quite a while now, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">developing my own recipes, and one day I will publish this, if only to leave it as a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">legacy to my son.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My long term goal for my jewellery journey would probably be to buy a small disused </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Church/Chapel and convert it into a gallery, to display and sell not only my work but </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">also that of other aspiring artisans.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess that would be me in a nutshell. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">In September I had to write my first article for the Mavens, and instead of </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">clogging</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> this blog, you can read about it <a href="http://beadmavens.blogspot.com.au/2013_09_15_archive.html" target="_blank">here</a>. I quite enjoyed writing it as I love to impart knowledge to others, and I really like to watch people blossom because of something I've shared.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">In </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">September I </span><span style="line-height: 1.4;">donated a couple of pieces of jewellery to the Retina Foundation </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Fundraising</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22px;">Auction</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;">. I am pleased to say that both my pieces raised some good funds for a worthy cause. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">One piece was created specifically for the event..... The Jez necklace. A beautiful Paua shell focal surrounded by beads, hung from a necklace made with crystals surrounded by more beads and </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">crystals. It was quite well recieved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My second piece was donated from my stock. A lovely and large Swarovski focal crystal, hung from a crocheted Artistic wire necklace adorned with more Swarovski crystals. This too was well received.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am now frantically in my studio creating more items as it is under six weeks till Christmas.... so I better sign off for now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will post pics in the next week or two.</span></div>
O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-21324420432329310232013-07-24T16:04:00.002+10:002013-07-24T22:43:35.667+10:00Its been a while.....WOW! its almost a year since my last post..... can you tell I dont like talking about myself? LOL.... I guess I should get over it.... so let me fill you in.....<br />
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In a nutshell.... I have had 4 exhibitions/shows, and they were all successful to different degrees. 3 at my usual haunt of Oatley 101, and one at St Gregory's College. <br />
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I entered the Royal Easter Show here in Sydney, and my piece 'Bianca' received a 3rd Place.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiXt8ERP3684SgM3COx0QKd6hARWqb6CpOkZWG2_FpL1bp7bMT_AfI63328jCx8RfjQZxTxwioaD03HqXMw6bhms2Si6sRQcMbaeC1lSqcHh31NeqgGAiI7-k2GcUs-Z04RctrW8tGyRK/s1600/Bianca1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bba="true" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiXt8ERP3684SgM3COx0QKd6hARWqb6CpOkZWG2_FpL1bp7bMT_AfI63328jCx8RfjQZxTxwioaD03HqXMw6bhms2Si6sRQcMbaeC1lSqcHh31NeqgGAiI7-k2GcUs-Z04RctrW8tGyRK/s320/Bianca1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bianca is part of a bridal collection I was asked to create. I soon hope to be involved with a Bridal Fair, creating beautiful things for today's brides. Already my pieces have been featured in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/Citigraphica?fref=ts" target="_blank">Citigraphica Photography and Event Planning</a>'s promotions.<br />
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Again I was a participant in this year's Battle Of The Beadsmith international contest/battle, and my piece 'La Bohemme' made it to round 2. The piece is made up of clearly fabulous Swarovski Crystal focal elements and lots of Miyuki seed beads. It is extremely light once worn, and drapes the lines of the neckline comfortably.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8zavo1Ll-HMA7cQU5MnZsCEB1zDmJS5UzmgFlyPd0iFMiYJxf5oMHx1qFDswVsZiuq0MLdzxAJIMtYtO2E473jouzQxOH9zHI62Or2eEy86Jd9HKLqwkXPeOtOQxxO4HskvDdQ9VDvIO/s1600/front+on+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img bba="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8zavo1Ll-HMA7cQU5MnZsCEB1zDmJS5UzmgFlyPd0iFMiYJxf5oMHx1qFDswVsZiuq0MLdzxAJIMtYtO2E473jouzQxOH9zHI62Or2eEy86Jd9HKLqwkXPeOtOQxxO4HskvDdQ9VDvIO/s320/front+on+logo.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
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Here is also a photo so you can see the actual size of the piece on my beautiful model.</div>
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This year's Battle was a challenge in itself, just prior to it commencing, I was involved in a car accident, which totally aggravated my existing neck injury/disability., and the week after that, I commenced a work contract... which again played havoc on my neck, so commencement on my piece was waylayed till I could sit long enough in my studio without excrutiating pain. So my initial design idea, although not what you see above, was quite elaborate and complex in construction, didn't come to fruition. I had purchased all the beads needed for its evolution, the piece was complete in my mind's eye. Sadly it was not meant to be..... but it will happen in my future.</div>
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I have also been writing tutorials, or should I say trying to write them... I have 4 or 5 on the go at the moment.... I love drawing the pictures but dislike adding the words. probably because I cant read a tutorial to save my life, so trying to write text for one, is proving to be a trying thing. I will persevere, as I have had quite a number of requests for tutorials of my designs.<br />
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My work contract ended, and I have been beading in small quantities, and producing some lovely pendants, and generally having a bit of fun, with no pressure.<br />
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It's winter in Australia at the moment, and I just love to sit in the sun and crochet. So as the next show is next weekend, I have decided to produce some lovely and warm neck cowls, with matching brooches to have for sale. I do hope people like the idea, and make some of them their own. <br />
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I promise I shall try and post here more often, hopefully every week.... but if I don't, please send me a reminder :)O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-21978330639906826172012-08-06T15:03:00.003+10:002012-08-06T15:03:53.977+10:00Oatley 101 SUCCESS!What a fantastic weekend I've had at The Oatley 101 Artists exhibition. Shared some laughter with some fabulously creative people, admired magnificent artworks and sold a fair amount of jewellery. I am well chuffed. It was such a success that they've asked me back for the November exhibition. YAY! I shall have to sit in the studio and create some more wearable art, as well as Christmas goodies. I'm so looking forward to it.O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-26893981446998834842012-07-21T21:14:00.001+10:002012-07-21T21:25:27.803+10:00ArabellaI've been invited to exhibit my jewellery at the Oatley 101 Artists Exhibition, the first weekend in August. I think I am looking forward to this.....it'll be fine once I set up...hehe.<br />
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So I thought I would make some simple things to add to the collection. I made a couple of bracelets last night, but one is yet to have its clasp completed. One is finished though, named and photographed, and here to show you. I've named this one Arabella.... dont ask me why....its the name that came to me as I was taking the pics.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDkbIBReHhXXmZMXtRupc3WRdb9X2RSqy6fgRoniAo_hiNcXQ45yP1hWw3kEpEbgZ_2rIAe5G0FYVbjX-3-vdy7GExgPsj_pU0qCZkpl25qHRg2Dg01fqSpQf5W0_qtle5rS7O07dDp5K/s1600/DSC05225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDkbIBReHhXXmZMXtRupc3WRdb9X2RSqy6fgRoniAo_hiNcXQ45yP1hWw3kEpEbgZ_2rIAe5G0FYVbjX-3-vdy7GExgPsj_pU0qCZkpl25qHRg2Dg01fqSpQf5W0_qtle5rS7O07dDp5K/s400/DSC05225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I thoroughly enjoyed creating this bracelet, it was a nice change from the labour intensive piece for the Tournament.<br />
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If you would like to come to the exhibition, just follow this <a href="http://www.oatley101.com/galleryexhibition.html" target="_blank">link</a> and it'll take you to the promo page. Please pop in and look at some amazing artists and dont forget to come and say 'Hi!'O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-61335460498425192472012-07-19T16:06:00.003+10:002012-07-21T21:23:36.512+10:00Coralline - My Battle of the Beadsmith entryFinally I am able to show you my entry piece into the Battle of the Beadmisth Tournament. I would have a few days ago, but my computer decided it wasn't going to play nice.<br />
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I named this piece Coralline. As a reflection of what happens in the depths of the seas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_GNtAZwCRzcekfVBjYepkrTl3-1pYWfBWaCZzgxVMY3cPus6mGeoWkj6uctVlLz7EnB6cI9oUI0ZIbD4NnQQ4xws0P1YH8GXOmR9kcRQqSfmkt26SPmJTFa5mulegYVwOP9PrHlbHS8t/s1600/DSC05203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_GNtAZwCRzcekfVBjYepkrTl3-1pYWfBWaCZzgxVMY3cPus6mGeoWkj6uctVlLz7EnB6cI9oUI0ZIbD4NnQQ4xws0P1YH8GXOmR9kcRQqSfmkt26SPmJTFa5mulegYVwOP9PrHlbHS8t/s320/DSC05203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyRcSFl8fDhVf4bFBBIbwiebh26fYSU3F_fPyjgqmoRbwoMkO7ns9bn8ovuSnDdgXQxysO9X5tCfLNqVgmBTQStYg8GO59XCLuQLi-yPXdeGO5BcadEPr8286xPWE9wiLHQBr77My1S98/s1600/DSC05204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyRcSFl8fDhVf4bFBBIbwiebh26fYSU3F_fPyjgqmoRbwoMkO7ns9bn8ovuSnDdgXQxysO9X5tCfLNqVgmBTQStYg8GO59XCLuQLi-yPXdeGO5BcadEPr8286xPWE9wiLHQBr77My1S98/s320/DSC05204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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From the moment I started this piece, the beads guided me to where they needed to be. I thoroughly enjoyed creating this collar, and I hope you enjoy looking at it.</div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-70591725893541276732012-07-07T22:51:00.002+10:002012-07-07T22:51:13.964+10:00Wow! its been quite a while since I last blogged. A lot has been happening in the creativity sector after joining the Battle of the Beadsmith. For the first few weeks, my mind went absolutely blank. I lost my beading mojo, and just couldnt bring myself to create anything of substance. I had a fabulous idea and my visual was as clear as day....a 3D collar..... I doodled my design, gathered my materials, and after 4 false starts, unfortunately I had to re-evaluate how I was going to execute this wonderfully macabre design. By this time, I was running out of time.<br />
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So I played around with some different beads, hoping to jog the ol' mojo.... I created things I didnt really want to do. I made lots of components and thought to myself that maybe this was the direction I was meant to go in. So I continued.... started to put it all together... looked at it, and thought NUP! this isnt me.....its too pretty. I dont do pretty ...LOL.<br />
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I decided that sitting at my desk with beads in front of me and 3 pieces started, but not seeing an end, I went out for some inspiration. Four weeks to the deadline, and I'm back to square one.<br />
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After a few days... I started a completely new piece..... these beads spoke to my inner self....they guided me... and I was liking where they were taking me. YAY! I was on my way with my Battle piece...<br />
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I think when I was just over half way, someone saw my piece, at the stage it was at, and was mesmerised by it.... He asked me if he could buy it !!!!! Of course he could.... how exciting! So I had this renewed energy to finish it because someone had loved it! and I wanted to finish it for him before he moved interstate, so he could present it to his wife. I finished it last week.... I still had to photgraph it to enter it in the Tournament. 40+ photos later, I had enough to select from. So I took the piece over to them. Needless to say they were both over the moon. She was ecstatic to finally have a Nifty Creations original... and I was very honoured and humbled.<br />
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I would love to be able to show you photos....but the Tournament hasn't finished yet....so you will have to wait just a little bit longer.O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-73923832255290846842012-04-26T13:07:00.002+10:002012-04-27T17:48:54.791+10:00Battle Of The Beadsmith 2012<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4f98b92588c586078365980">
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I have been invited to participate in a worlwide super challenge with 64 extremely talented bead artists from around the globe. To say this is an honour would be an understatement. To bead beside these creative people is daunting, but a challenge that I look forward to with many butterflies to spur my creativity on...LOL</div>
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Here are the guidelines:<br />
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<b>Beadsmith Elimination Tournament</b><br />
<strong></strong><br />In an effort to create more awareness of some of the incredible bead artistry being executed by bead masters worldwide, I thought it would be fun to set up a beading "tournament" where original works can be viewed, shared, and celebrated both by the participants, and the beading public alike.<br /><br />64 seed bead artists have been invited to participate in an elimination "tournament" to determine which piece of their original beadwork best captures the imagination of 101 of their fellow designers, specialty bead shop owners, and members of various beading magazine editorial staffs.<br /><br /><b>On May 14th, random artist pairings will be created</b>, establishing a first round of competition, consisting of 32 artists vs. artist "contests". (For example, round one might have the work of Californian Linda Roberts paired up against the work of Vermont's Nancy Dale, and so on.)<br /><br /><b>Artists will then have Seven weeks from the announcement </b>of the first round pairings to create, a single piece of original beadwork, and submit four photos best highlighting the works most important elements. The 62 competitors not involved in a particular round one "contest", plus 41 invited judges, will vote for the piece that best captures their imagination. A majority of at least 85 of the possible 103 total voters will be enough to determine a winner. All necklaces, bracelets, earring, brooches, headpieces, belts, handbags, or any other wearable adornments are acceptable for submission. <b>The deadline for all of the submissions, by the artists, is July 10th, Tuesday</b><br /><br />The 32 winners of round one will be randomly paired again in one of the 16 new "contests" in round 2 and the voting process will begin again. <br /><br />The 8 winners of round two are again randomly paired in 4 new round 3 "contests" to determine the final four competitors.<br /><br />The 4 winners of round 3 are randomly paired in two "contests" to determine the final two competitors.<br /><br />Round 4 determines the winner.......<br />
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And here are the participants:<br />
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<strong>Olga Petterson-Sweden, Sigifredo Contreras-Mexico, Linda Roberts- USA, Heather Kingsley Heath- England, Sharayah Sheldon-USA, Helena Tang-Singapore, Nancy Dale-USA, Cynthia Newcomer Daniel-USA, Patrick Duggan-Australia, Marsha Wiest Hines- USA, Carol Dean Sharpe-USA, Annie Hatvani-Hungary, Christina Neit-USA, Sue Horine-USA, Ann Braginsky-Israel, Lea Palickova-Czech Republic, Alexandra Sydorenko-USA, Betty Stephan-USA, Callie Mitchell-USA, Christian Rodriguez-USA, Eva Dobos-Hungary, Katka Vaclavikova-Czech Republic, Misan Tejre-Sweden, Kinga Nichols-USA, Melissa Ingram-Australia, Anneta Valious-France, Mikki Ferrugiaro-USA, Miriam Cielo Shimon-Israel, Amy Katz-USA, Elke Leonhardt Rath- Germany, Irina Chikineva-Russia, Edgar Lopez Disenos-Dominican Republic, Kassie Inman-USA, Orsolya Füzesi-Hungary, Jill Thomas-England, Ibolya Ingesné Barkóczi-Hungary, Éva Csizmadia Lajosné-Hungary, Nausikka Dahllof-Sweden, Nella Moskvichjova-Russia, Julia Turova-Russia, Alla Vizir-Ukraine, Lynn Davy-England, Dini Alves-USA, Guzialia Reed-Japan, Alla Maslennikova -Russia, Sandra Dokter van Esveld-The Netherlands, Olga Haserodt-Germany, Joanne Browne-Australia, Jennifer Chasalow VanBenschoten-USA, Rosita Pisarchick-USA, Roxan O'brien USA, Christine Boyer Maj-USA, Kathy King-USA, Susan Brackett-USA, Olga Shumilova-Russia, <span style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000;">Neva Brown-Australia</span>, Ella Des- Belgrade Serbia (and wherever her boat takes her), Katherine Gezey-Ukraine, Lauren Macgregor -Australia, Hannah Rosner-Ohio, Ekaterina Kalinina-Russia, Marta Koudelova-Czech Republic, Terri Richards-USA, Marina Nosova-Russia</strong><br />
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<strong>The Judges:</strong><br />
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<strong>Sabine Lippert-Germany, Smadar Grossmann-Israel, Maggie Roschyk-USA, Adele Rogers Recklies-USA, Diane Hyde-USA, Jean Campbell-USA, Patrizia Tager-Israel, Zoya Gutina-USA, Jana Tarhala-Finland, Kerrie Slade-England, Laura Boudloche Zeiner-USA, Cath Thomas-Switzerland, Heather Collin-South Africa, Claudia Schuman-Germany, Chloe Menage-England (Bead Magazine Editor), Laura Andrews-USA, Kathleen Mccabe-Elsey- USA, Julia Gerlach-USA (Bead and Button Magazine Editor), Diane Fitzgerald- USA, Verena Greene-Christ- Germany (Perlen Poesie Magazine), Jean Power- England, Ana Garcia-USA, Paulette Rosner Baron-USA, Amy Blevins- New Jersey, Kelly Nealon-Australia (Australian Beading Magazine Editor), Melinda Barta-USA (Beadwork Magazine Editor), Karin Nilsson-Sweden, Jo Lochhead-Scotland, Kandra Norsigian-California, Kenj Katsuoka-Japan (Miyuki Company), Juliet Browse-England, Jamie Cloud Eakin-USA, Pamela Hawkins-USA (Bead Design Studio Magazine Editor), Marjon Donker-The Netherlands ( Editor Polymer To Art Magazine), Kate Bannister Tracton- USA, Deb Moffet Hall-USA (Bead- Patterns The Magazine & Quick Stitch Peyote Card), Barbara Conrad-USA, Lea Avroch-USA, MaryLou Holvenstot-USA, Anna Elizabeth Draeger-USA, Galina Pchelkina-Russia (Editor of Чудесные мгновения Magazine)</strong><br />
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</div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-84530292038632245052012-02-21T18:58:00.002+11:002012-02-22T14:30:39.116+11:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009 I was involved in a challenge titled 'The ladies of Camelot'. It was the challenge I needed to push me in the direction I have evolved in. So I found the poem by Lord Tennyson tilled "The Lady Of Shalott'. and it held so much imagery for me that I created my first collar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is an excerpt from that poem: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'On either side the river lie </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Long fields of barley and of rye, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That clothe the world and meet the sky; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And through the field the road run by </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To many-tower'd <span class="highlight"><span style="color: black;">Camelot</span></span>; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And up and down the people go, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gazing where the lilies blow </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Round an island there below, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The island of Shalott. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Willows whiten, aspens quiver, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little breezes dusk and shiver </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Through the wave that runs for ever </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">By the island in the river </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flowing down to <span style="color: black;"><span class="highlight">Camelot</span>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Four grey walls, and four grey towers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Overlook a space of flowers, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And the silent isle imbowers </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Lady of Shalott. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lying, robed in snowy white </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That loosely flew to left and right -- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The leaves upon her falling light -- </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thro' the noises of the night, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She floated down to <span style="color: black;"><span class="highlight">Camelot</span>: </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And as the boat-head wound along </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The willowy hills and fields among, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They heard her singing her last song, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Lady of Shalott. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heard a carol, mournful, holy, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chanted loudly, chanted lowly, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Till her blood was frozen slowly, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And her eyes were darkened wholly, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turn'd to tower'd <span style="color: black;"><span class="highlight">Camelot</span>. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For ere she reach'd upon the tide </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first house by the water-side, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Singing in her song she died, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Lady of Shalott. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From these 2 stanzas I derived the image of Elaine, as she floated down the river, dying, and having her energy, life force and blood drain from her body. As she passed the flowers by the towers, her blood drained down to the depths.</span></div>
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<br /></div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-79875904233009528692012-02-15T23:12:00.003+11:002012-02-15T23:12:31.548+11:00I'm trying to add my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NiftyCreations1" target="_blank">Etsy Store</a> gadget to this blog and it wont let me. So I've added it as a link.O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-43945558240503355502012-02-15T16:50:00.003+11:002012-02-15T16:50:43.997+11:00So the challenge piece has been posted to the Beading Forum, so I can now show you. I've named it Aurora..... a selection of Light Ocean Agate NiftyGems (gemstones made by me from polymer clay), Swarovski Rivolis, seed beads and Chinese Crystals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWz75m3ihOfMfhkxgqe_iukFPA6MS-EtkKrN6uT6U2IKmExtkKPtgJk5lyqJIw7EmPXT0itNKJtEaofDACby0kG77sdiQceeIyM_09eRlsQxwNvs1aLENx8-e7heAznp5YRsYNn9TLzhI/s1600/DSC04912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWz75m3ihOfMfhkxgqe_iukFPA6MS-EtkKrN6uT6U2IKmExtkKPtgJk5lyqJIw7EmPXT0itNKJtEaofDACby0kG77sdiQceeIyM_09eRlsQxwNvs1aLENx8-e7heAznp5YRsYNn9TLzhI/s320/DSC04912.jpg" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxbEd3vWTFvcZPX4_ULbgXpi0qlSHqq1G9wCcVUpq-XKq__rpL62c_35Xzpgfiag03iLpTxQy6_STO2gOIwyNQvo7FM2pwGIIXKNqxYTvO6zept0geRIPZq4psQdaH-U6Y17yVel5JMg/s1600/Twistin+BTP+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYxbEd3vWTFvcZPX4_ULbgXpi0qlSHqq1G9wCcVUpq-XKq__rpL62c_35Xzpgfiag03iLpTxQy6_STO2gOIwyNQvo7FM2pwGIIXKNqxYTvO6zept0geRIPZq4psQdaH-U6Y17yVel5JMg/s320/Twistin+BTP+Group.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>
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</div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-60851992833318735312012-02-06T22:21:00.002+11:002012-02-06T22:21:35.661+11:00I think I've finished my Twisting By The Pool Challenge piece.....I'm pretty happy with it too. But I can't show you guys yet....viewing date is the 12th.O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-2282858531354880942012-02-01T23:42:00.003+11:002012-02-01T23:47:31.623+11:00I'm currently working on a challenge found on the <a href="http://www.beadingforum.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=41070" target="_blank">Beading Forum</a>. Its called Twisting By The Pool..... its designed to be a mixed media challenge where we have to create 2 of the mediums used.....you can find more details via the link. Anyhoo.....my piece is well under way I think.....I have made the major components, and just need to work out how I'm going to join them..... I've unpicked quite a few times till they were just right, and have also bled for my art...LOL....guess I'm on the right track. Hopefully I'll be finished this weekend and then I post pictures up. Until then...heres a snippet (doctored of course)<br />
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<br /></div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-29151765929128523072012-01-28T21:30:00.002+11:002012-01-28T21:30:50.400+11:00Today I submitted my entry forms for the Sydney RAS Show.... also affectionally known as the Royal Easter Show. The event is held during the Easter period. More details can be found <a href="http://www.eastershow.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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These are the pieces I'm entering: And hopefully someone will love them enough to buy them and take them home.<br />
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<br /></div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-70953341061345684912012-01-26T00:48:00.004+11:002012-01-26T00:48:56.228+11:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEJ9xHQgPGwKuVHvVF7fQwfTCtzqapHC6qtByLcO2ECMPNWY0wKpGFF4irsoUjzVPdLE4O3KUYpyHAfsM4racUGS6mEfY47ikTxEbczumnQvzQOqtqVpjTSUy84mqOGXUwPDn9u2SMX-4/s1600/Oz+flag.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEJ9xHQgPGwKuVHvVF7fQwfTCtzqapHC6qtByLcO2ECMPNWY0wKpGFF4irsoUjzVPdLE4O3KUYpyHAfsM4racUGS6mEfY47ikTxEbczumnQvzQOqtqVpjTSUy84mqOGXUwPDn9u2SMX-4/s200/Oz+flag.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Happy Australia Day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lets all join together and become united. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let not one person be better than another, instead let us all be equal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May your day be filled wih love and joy!</span></div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-14127982364446318332012-01-25T19:35:00.000+11:002012-01-26T21:59:12.963+11:00I dont really know how I'm going to manage the chronological thing so what I'll do is show you what I've started this year and then work backwards and forwards....does that make sense? I guess you have to be in my head to see it..LOL...<br />
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The thoughts at the beginning of this year was to create a few series of styles and designs. So I started with simple pendants, and named the group The Stellar Series.So far there are 7 pieces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVwNAeJeFNtBxV4R8s4XMTk9E0V4YbZP-OnJdsguCbJmrGEVvxdwSV01EhxvbIvcxsJOKjl6cATOUyf1t8XAHrxQLnsqs_wVzRnP1fe9raXKWqPZBDbLImewBM8DH50K165UsvCnoEQr/s1600/DSC04809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFVwNAeJeFNtBxV4R8s4XMTk9E0V4YbZP-OnJdsguCbJmrGEVvxdwSV01EhxvbIvcxsJOKjl6cATOUyf1t8XAHrxQLnsqs_wVzRnP1fe9raXKWqPZBDbLImewBM8DH50K165UsvCnoEQr/s200/DSC04809.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Indigo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7624_FYpCCWwThZYUwUrSTKYMWVoKeXHra8S1qHQInu5D8TDJu2iKYShybDYcJ-Ne6TQlXpMa8anM8fsaAosQ0hBjdpnZI2VrPGKtA7Qfbi1-S6EJNWyEfOyuh2625pz_9wCC0siugju/s1600/Midnight+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7624_FYpCCWwThZYUwUrSTKYMWVoKeXHra8S1qHQInu5D8TDJu2iKYShybDYcJ-Ne6TQlXpMa8anM8fsaAosQ0hBjdpnZI2VrPGKtA7Qfbi1-S6EJNWyEfOyuh2625pz_9wCC0siugju/s200/Midnight+Fire.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight Fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSls77RsaQs3rU23lLzmLd21XOkzsNZ-b5dZwPVNBq6iSPHO32_QJSZxgtKj-Sq7tPFchv-gFY_76Uz-nKcu9IGnR9GxtFMyHW9hPEMJfSbJZu_zhcScRwxg71fZZd6kRj6wuwjQmfvCVP/s1600/Astrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSls77RsaQs3rU23lLzmLd21XOkzsNZ-b5dZwPVNBq6iSPHO32_QJSZxgtKj-Sq7tPFchv-gFY_76Uz-nKcu9IGnR9GxtFMyHW9hPEMJfSbJZu_zhcScRwxg71fZZd6kRj6wuwjQmfvCVP/s200/Astrid.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astrid</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0V0JRvFN80zWS8Y0qt_DZQ0D96qRU2Oo2Pa3O53tL80MFjd7f311Z_9umY9Vwb7-2qYXhyphenhyphenC11jesm8cGT_UUtf5Rg_6VjWW1w2RpP-H5g-rYTJKJR5R51MpaW9X9FfIDQ0nXrAELe37O/s1600/DSC04840+-+Haley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0V0JRvFN80zWS8Y0qt_DZQ0D96qRU2Oo2Pa3O53tL80MFjd7f311Z_9umY9Vwb7-2qYXhyphenhyphenC11jesm8cGT_UUtf5Rg_6VjWW1w2RpP-H5g-rYTJKJR5R51MpaW9X9FfIDQ0nXrAELe37O/s200/DSC04840+-+Haley.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Davina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ4KT1WL4vRLlUFBRfgkLTwqrTXMelNUGi9WJTRK8988z48hfgy0z5B2Ye0MvPztXrR9XHXC0OvKoNglKtDZcaPXhd0xp7geq1ZBl62qTaUYhdC4-XAIPaZqVqYld6I59NVxDpylk7S0L/s1600/DSC04855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZ4KT1WL4vRLlUFBRfgkLTwqrTXMelNUGi9WJTRK8988z48hfgy0z5B2Ye0MvPztXrR9XHXC0OvKoNglKtDZcaPXhd0xp7geq1ZBl62qTaUYhdC4-XAIPaZqVqYld6I59NVxDpylk7S0L/s200/DSC04855.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nashira</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSVEoMrg6yfcoGNzoQfzmuBh59KiFSkoaL_ZIHBq9Tr7g8oPAgUsYwVK1vc2x2aaU3yC8m9f7I1c9ooeHV3-B2Y21A4qb1_xFv7L27zISbfoQAwW6dqrQcEyt3nqnXu1bnW09RvQNHZm1/s1600/DSC04860+-+Aspidiske.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSVEoMrg6yfcoGNzoQfzmuBh59KiFSkoaL_ZIHBq9Tr7g8oPAgUsYwVK1vc2x2aaU3yC8m9f7I1c9ooeHV3-B2Y21A4qb1_xFv7L27zISbfoQAwW6dqrQcEyt3nqnXu1bnW09RvQNHZm1/s200/DSC04860+-+Aspidiske.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carina (Aspidiske)</td></tr>
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There are a few left in me....they just have to be created......soon.</div>
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I am very proud to share that Nashira is now on her way to the UK to her new home, where she will be well looked after.</div>
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</div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189774144676021611.post-11901412676896419072012-01-24T18:12:00.000+11:002012-01-24T18:12:40.776+11:00My first post.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSMc8VGk6eSGQ0Jm5GGJE3QhZcNWKkxS3Ux3SabXbWMO9ZGP8cAvJgxn4NlMlByJVrcXw0ecgy1CYRVhVgIHhK7NuP42wE-uOixxtBVnCqHz3qa04VUr3Xu_7bayNTg34_YXkbBx33Aah/s1600/thumbnailCANOWJS6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSMc8VGk6eSGQ0Jm5GGJE3QhZcNWKkxS3Ux3SabXbWMO9ZGP8cAvJgxn4NlMlByJVrcXw0ecgy1CYRVhVgIHhK7NuP42wE-uOixxtBVnCqHz3qa04VUr3Xu_7bayNTg34_YXkbBx33Aah/s200/thumbnailCANOWJS6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After much deliberation, and a lot of friendly persuasion....here is my first ever blog entry on January 24, 2012, I'm not really sure how all this works, but I guess I'll learn it as I go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm not one to talk about myself, but I will talk about this journey that I'm on. It started seriously early 2003 after dabbling with it since I was a child, making beaded bracelets and necklaces. Jewellery is one of those things that depicts thousands of years of self expression. How we look, often determines how we feel. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think jewellery is and should be a unique adornment. The same piece shouldn't be seen on several people, let alone two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been designing my own jewellery since I was quite young, and have always had it made by a professional jeweller friend. Then one day in 1990, I was in his studio and wanting to restyle a ring, he passed over his torch and told me to have fun. Oh my.....didn't that send the butterflies scurrying in my stomach.....but....as I held the torch to the ring, and melted it...I was overwhelmed by the feeling of release. What was left? a tarnished gold nugget. It was sheer joy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I have dabbled in metalsmithing jewellery since then. And in early 2003 I rediscovered beads, and the beauty that I could create with these little fiddly things. Friends and their friends started to buy my pieces and then the commissions started to happen. I learnt to design and create for someone else's style - a part of the journey I really enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Today, I dabble in many mediums to create jewellery and jewellery components, and this blog will show some of those pieces and where this journey is taking me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I hope this journey inspires you as much as it will help me in my self expression and experimentation. You will also see frogs pop up every once in a while as they inspire me, and I may have a huge fascination with them.</span><br />
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</div>O_Nifty1http://www.blogger.com/profile/10654662306025536502noreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.873651 151.2068896-33.8868345 151.1871486 -33.860467500000006 151.22663060000002