the Akamai Knitter

This weekend the bead show (I can’t remember the name) rolled into town. Not only did this crazy person go on Saturday, this crazy person also went on Sunday.

It was so busy and hot on Saturday, I didn’t get a chance to see everything. Nor did I get a chance to spend my full allowance. Now that just ain’t right, right? That’s why I had to go back on Sunday.

Lisa has been hollerin’ to see photos of my haul. Who am I to deny her?

Semi-precious gemstones and a strand of copper beads sprayed or inlaid or something with silver.

Sushi beads! Mankei Neko beads!

And the ultimate prize(s), Green Girl Studio loot.

I kind of forgot include all of the beads I got from Green Girl. Maybe I’ll photograph them for another day.

I went a little crazy at her table. I really can’t resist her beads and pendants and her buttons. They’re just so inspirational. I’m also something of a collector when it comes to her products.

Of course standing at her table and talking with her delightful brother, Andrew, doesn’t really help. All the pretties are just sitting right in front of me while we talk, just begging to be adopted.

I also went a little crazy with the semi-precious. This is because I do the bulk of my shopping at the bead shows. There are only two bead shows a year, so I really need to stock up!

All this exposure to beads and the lovely people in the bead world has really inspired me. Necklace ideas are percolating. Bracelet ideas are popping.

It looks like the shawl might take the backseat for a spell.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Once a year Janice Berkebile travels to Hawaii to teach a class or two at The Bead Gallery . Last year I took two classes from her. This year I took one class from her and it was called the “Steampunk Bracelet”.

Even though it was a 6 hour class, I wasn’t able to finish my bracelet. But I finished it last night!

As you can see, I didn’t work with my usual sterling silver. Instead I experimented with oxidized copper, bronze, and regular copper wire.

That bracelet took a lot of hard work. Each disc was textured with different hammers. Then they were hammered again to give it a slight domed look.

You can see the texture and the slight poof in this disc the best.

Each disc has a different decorative technique used. I think this one is my favorite.

Of all the things we learned in the class, the hardest part of it was the invisible clasp. I think the clasp took about 4 hours to make. Mostly because this was where we were taught the rudiments of how the bracelet was made and this was when we hammered all of our discs.

The  wire manipulation was no treat either. Even though copper is much softer then sterling silver, at the gauge we were using it was still hard on my hands. Having said that, I’m hoping to make another bracelet in silver anyway.

You can see the clasp here and here.

I think these techniques would also be great in simpler bracelets and as pendants. The only problem is that I don’t have all the equipment to make them. Hopefully everything will be back in stock at the shop soon. I’m just itching to experiment on my own.

Not that I need more projects to do. After all, I still have a shawl to knit.

Sammy says, “Oh no! Not that evil camera again!”

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

After much deliberation, I came up with a design that used my little wire flowers.

See it morph into a necklace!

I chose a Green Girl Studios bead as my focal piece because there’s a bead show rolling into town this weekend. If you wear one of their beads to the show you get a free bead! That’s motivation for me. ;-)

Not that I needed that extra incentive. Her work is quite inspirational.

Detail shot.

All in all, I’m pleased with the design. I like the balance and it hangs nicely.

The hardest part was blackening it. I always hover over the piece as it sits in the baggie with the crushed egg. I’m such a worry wart.

On the home front, there was one boy who never stopped loving me. It might have to do with the fact that I wasn’t shoving my camera in his face as much as I was with the other boys.  I think it has more to do with his sweet disposition.  So I think he deserves some face time on the blog.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Hopefuly tomorrow I’ll have something to show for what I learned over mine. :)

One day at Wire Play Day I learned how to make Wire Flowers. I’ve been fooling around with different ways to use them. So far I have nothing to show for it, but I thought I’d share the flowers anyway.

I thought of making earrings, but it’s really hard to make two identical flowers. So I’m thinking bracelets and necklaces. In fact, I have a necklace design floating around in my noggin. I just need to find the time to work it out.

Unfortunately I have a weekend packed with activities, a shawl that needs to be knit, and a cross-stitch* project that keeps tugging on my attention tails. I also promised my mother a bracelet.

My head is dizzy just thinking about it all.

I think I need to zen out with the Scheyer.  As you can see he’s not only got the right idea, but he’s also forgiven me some.

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

*I didn’t spend that much on the kit for that fairy. I got it years ago when it was half that price. I can’t believe how much it costs now!

The other week, Cookie suggested we knit a shawl together.  We dithered between two different patterns, until we brought Megan in who decided up on the Oyster Bay Shawl. For the yarn, Cookie decided that I should use the Malabrigo Laceweight (Whales Road) she got from me many eons ago.

I have much love for it.

The big dilemma is how the yarn is working out with the pattern.

To me, it’s obvious the yarn is drowning out the pattern, but I love the way the yarn is knitting up so much that I don’t think I care.

Another look.

I think as long as I love it that’s all that matters, but I’d still like to hear your thoughts.

In the interest of personal safety, I’ve kept the camera away from the boys for the past few days. Instead I give you my blooming Kalanchoe plant.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!