W.I.P: Ribbon Rings

Hello Bloggers!

I've been working away with various exciting projects. I'm also trying to my hand at new bracelets. Some of which I haven't decided how to finish. So I thought I'd share with you what I have so far for what I'm calling "Ribbon Rings"

Let me know what you think =)






I have yet to figure out how I'd attach it to the other ribbon piece or even if I like it that way. I also thought about weaving an olivine green above the brown and below the brown just to give it a hint of something else. Earth tone bracelet--I seem to like those! We'll see what kind of inspiration comes =)

Thanks for viewing,

Leann

Moleskin Journals

Hello bloggers yet again!

I thought I'd share another project I've been exploring which is decorating Moleskin journals.

Decorating Moleskin journals isn't very hard. Some artists will draw and use white charcoal pencils. For me, the source of this inspiration is this artist's work:http://lily-fox.deviantart.com/art/Telescope-journal-159123408?q=gallery%3Alily-fox%2F12725567&qo=3

Some of us aren't that talented and I wouldn't know what to draw so right now I'm starting with simple. And when I say simple I mean stamps =)

They get the job done just as well. Although I do plan on drawing and seeing how that goes. Perhaps you'll see him in the near future. His name is Eli and he's a baby elephant =3

Below are me testing out the stamps and white charcoal pencil. There's also a speck of gold paint.








Thanks for viewing!

Take care,
~Leann

Charm Bracelet

Hello Bloggers again!

Here's another wire wrapping bracelet but more specifically a charm bracelet. This was done for a friend of mine who picked out the charms and chain while I added the ribbon, crystals, tear drops to dress it up some.

I'm very fond of this since I like the earthy colors and I'm tempted to make myself one but I'll probably never get around to it.

Maybe I'll snatch her's when she's not looking... jk!! =)









Thanks for viewing!

Take care,
~Leann

Flat Spiral in Grey

Hello Bloggers!

Here is the flat spiral done in grey beads. More spicfically called black diamond (but it's obviously not a diamond lol).

This color tone is one of my more popular ones having been the first type of bracelet I've sold. Not very many people like the pink version which is fine, my mom still wears it anyway =)

I'm not sure if the brown flowers work in these photos but here they are...






Thanks for viewing!

Take care,

~Leann

Victorian Wrap Bracelet

Hello Bloggers again!

This was my first attempt at making the Victorian Wrap Bracelet. My boss taught me a few days ago so that I can teach it at our second store. This is a different kind of bracelet than what I typically see but it has its own character and style. I think it's elegant. In the future I plan on making a silver one when silver plated round balls.

I hope you like it =D







Thanks for viewing! Take care,
~Leann

Nature Necklace

Hello Bloggers!

I made this necklace awhile back. I had some crazy ideas.

First of all, the shell pendant was originally white/cream. I was inspired to try something a little different and painted it with acrylic paints (with my handy dandy Q-tips). I then cut scrapbooking quote on transparent paper. I thought the word Nature was fitting, so the rest of the quote is floating around in some box somewhere =)

After the paint and gluing on Nature, I went over the whole shell with a paper glaze. I think about two to three coats. Afterwards, I decided to hang some charms through the center of it and made some free style wire wrapping.

Then for the rest of the necklace I had a piece of leather laying around which I kept from a pair of paints I bought (scraps are useful!) and used ribbon to bring out the green from the pendant. I felt it need a bit more extra sprucing so I added the freshwater pearls but I wanted it to seem like it was floating up the necklace so they're crimped on fishing line.

Then there's the shell beads on the necklace. I had those for a while and I liked how the brown one looked on top of the green one and thus I needed to figure out a way to not only attach them to the necklace but also to each other (without gluing). Somewhere along the way I had the crazy idea of wire wrapping and making zig-zags down the center, and ta-da! We have a finished necklace all of which I stumbled upon while playing with wire.

I made one like it for the bead store I work at so eventually I'll take pictures of that and show you =)

I hope you like it!












Thanks for viewing! Take care,
~Leann

Interesting Fact Number One: Potato Beads

Hello Bloggers!

At work I hear all sorts of things about what people do with their beads such as ceiling fan pull strings to garden decor, purses, book marks but what I don't hear much is what people find useful to use as a bead. And there's some things I would have never considered.

One of which is patatos. Yep! Potatos! They were dyed pink too! I didn't get to see these, sadly, but I was told by my boss at our second store. So I thought I'd google potato beads and here are my findings:

Basically you just cut the potato into 1/2 cubes, stick them on skewers, and then let them dry for about a week before painting them.

Of course they're going to shrink after drying so you may have to keep that in mind.

Below are photos I found on the internet for potato beads.





Take care,
~Leann

Bead Netting

Hello Bloggers!

Here is the new addition to A Creative Expression: the Bead Netting. At least that's the title it's been given at my work. Some call it pearl netting, honeycomb, or eggs in a nest. This here is a store sample I finished today which I'm reluctant to give up! But alas I have to depart with my love ='(

Ha, anyways. This bracelet is done with 15/0 tohos, 11/0 seed beads, 4mm silver plated rounds, silver plated bead caps, head pins, and of course the magnetic clasp.

I intend on making more espcially since my mom wants one of her own =)












Thanks for viewing, take care!

~Leann

Earrings

Hello Bloggers again!

I wanted to show one of the chandelier earrings I helped my mom make. I picked out the color combination and she did the handy craftsmanship of wire wrapping. I also intend to show more earrings I've made soon!

These are 6mm and 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones. I always get comments about them when I wear them. My poor mother... we tend to fight over who gets to wear them =)








Thanks for viewing!

Take care,

~Leann

Dangle Mania

Hello Bloggers!

Here's some examples of a dangle bracelet which is sometimes called Dangle Mania. This bracelet can be done with any beads and can vary on the amount of dangles depending on how much of a mania you want =)

Generally it's done with 6mm beads because it's not too big or too small and for my Dangle Manias I tend to put a small (11/0 or 8/0) seed bead on the bottom to add a bit of a flare to the bracelet.








Thanks for viewing! Take Care,

~Leann

Flat Spiral

Hello Bloggers!

Here are some pictures of a flat spiral. This particular one I may end up doing for breast cancer awareness. I've made three others like it. But those were in a black diamond/gray color which I sell most of after my mother wore her bracelet into work. I intend to make another and actually take a picture to show you! I seem to give them away before I get around to snapping pictures =)

This bracelet has size 11/0 seed beads, 6mm and 4mm rondelles, a silver plated magnetic clasp, and was done on Dandyline thread.










Thanks for viewing! Take Care,

~Leann

Basic Beading Bracelet

Hello Bloggers!

I'm over due in posting. But I'm rather excited with how things have been going in these past few weeks! I have more orders for leather wrap bracelets and I've taught a friend of mine how to make them which is always exciting to see different takes of the same bracelet =)

On a side note, things to put on my mental list of duties: business cards.

Needless to say, I'm very close to getting this on the road--well the online road version.

So, to fill up empty space, here's a basic beading double wrap bracelet. This bracelet was done with shell beads, sterling silver rounds 3mm, and stringing wire (49 strands--18 gauge)










Thanks for viewing! Take Care,

~Leann

Mystery White Powder

I was going through some blogs today and came across one that talked about the mystery white powder you find on some beads. It washes off--I know because I've had to do that on some of the beads we sell.

The curious blogger said that her coworker "asked about some white dust coming out of the bracelet beads from the glass bead kit."

Nathalie, a Metalsmith and Lampwork Glass Artist, replied:

The white powder residue inside those beads is what we call "bead release" - it's what we coat our metal rods with (you dip your rods in this liquid) so that when you melt glass on the rod to create a bead, the bead will "release" from the rod once it has cooled down.

Without that coating on the rod, the glass would be permanently fixed to the rod. We would not be able to remove it.

This said, however, this white powder is dangerous to inhale. You should not purchase beads that have not been cleaned thoroughly, and you should not be making jewelry with these beads without them being totally cleaned out of any residue.

Most beads that are sold with white residue inside are inexpensive mass produced beads. They don't take the time to clean them out and they ship them out like that.

I would suggest that you equip yourself with an electric bead reamer (if you have a lot of those beads, it will be faster), or a regular manual bead reamer, run the beads under hot water (you do not want to be breathing in those particles!) and use the reamer to clean them out properly.

Also, often, these mass-produced beads are not "annealed" properly (i.e. once you take the glass bead out of the flame, it has to go in a kiln for the glass to be properly annealed - a proper heating and cool down to avoid cracks, etc), but most of those commercial beads are not annealed.

What does it mean? It means that these beads will often break more easily.

If you purchase handmade artisan lampwork glass beads from serious glass artists, their beads should be totally free of this white residue/totally cleaned out.

Here is more detailed information and explanation on this whole process:

http://www.self-representing-artist.com/about.htm

--

This was a rather insightful and informative response and I have to add that sometimes beads do get a buildup of oil, perfume, or hairspray products. There's yet another form of powder used on the beads when they're shipped. I've been told it's a powder they use to keep away insects when shipping the boxes from out of the country. This particular powder coats the beads enough to make them look frosted. Once washed, it’s a complete transformation. I don't know if this is "bead release" considering it covers the whole bead and not just the holes. So it can potentially be the spray they put on beads for pests.

That's my two cents!

Take Care,
~Leann

Leather Wrap Bracelet

Hello Bloggers!

Here's a completed project that I'm excited for! It's a gift for my friend's mother. This leather wrap bracelet (sometimes I call it a Chan Luu after the jewelry designer who has been credited for the design) has glass pearls size 6mm, black leather, and copper wire. I think the charms are rather cute.I might make a dangle bracelet similar to them, we'll see.

On a side note, ott-lites are amazing. I should have taken my other photos (which are on facebook) with the ott-lite. It's a learn as I go process =)





Take Care,
~Leann

P.S. I'm watching All About Steve and even though it's rather distracting... it's actually really good! =)