Pics of this week.

As Promised... Breakfast was good and I feel a lil better.
Here are some pics of this weeks works.

I made some Barrel Beads this week. Was just sitting there watching tv when i picked up the scrap clay I had sitting before me ont e table and just started kneading and twisting. I love barrels, they're fun, simple, colorful, and playful, most of all they are e-z, e-z. I have been practicing with the wire, using the copper craft wire before I buy the more expensive silver wire for stringing. I wired up a few barrels to try my hand...







Here is my Bucket-'O-Beads! I have been sanding and hand rubbing beads at night while watching TV and then tossing them into the bucket until I decide what to do with them. I may just end up selling the beads I f I can't find a comfortable design for jewelry..*SIGH* Sometimes ya just gotta leave to someone better then you....*SMILE*
Ok, Here is a Petal. ( or a leaf)
Here is another shot. The beads are strung 1,2,3,4,4,4,3,2,1 ~~6 of these Puppies give me one of theses.....
A Frong. or one leaf 6 times equals a petal..... I prefer a frong, thanx.




Yes it can be tedious , but the end results are beautiful and stunning, but it makes me practice my patience, something I am short of... ( I like instant gratifications).
If you want to see pictures or learn how to make these, go to this site....BEADED FLOWERS
I don't know the site owners name. She has this site in English and (dutch or german?) Click on Patterns.

A Bag 'O Frongs....


Here is a tray of Jump Rings. Everyone knows what they are, right? They hold your charms to your bracelets, and necklaces... Well how about a Bracelet made of Jump Rings?






It is Called Chain Maille. It is an Art stemming from emulating ( my word of the week...LOL) the ancients. When knights wore the silver neck coverings, and bracelets, sleeves, etc.
By connecting jump rings, ( alot of these are homemade) in a particular fashion, over under and thru as they say you come up with some really cool designs.
One sight I found here, has some good tuts, and pics. You don't have to be a member to browse the sight.
Jewelry making has jumped the chain maille wagon and these are popping up everywhere.
I used to love wearing the silver slave bracelets when I was younger, ( yes I rode with an MC, I so miss it too).
These can be made in similar fashion.
They remind me of the jewelry and chains we used to make using the can tabs...LOL. NOW that is telling my age. They don't have the removable rings tabs anymore. ( I remember stepping on them at the beach, OUCH!)
WE used to save them and interlock them to make chains and such..... Those were the days....*sniff*
There are earrings, necklaces, body coverings.... Try doing a search and see what you find.. It is Fascinating, very tedious, you need patience and the right tools, oh and a Good set of eyes too. ( Thank Goodness I have several pairs of glasses.)

Learning Chain Maille.

For starters, I found another Kraft Blogger. I have added her link to my Side bar..."TOO MUCH TIME", go and visit if you have time.

As for me this week?
Slow.

The temperature outside dipped quite a bit, perfect for claydays, but I am having a real mental block in my creative side.
I am inspired and wish to Emulate, but am uncomfortable. I want my own creativity to shine, Just isnt satisfying enough to copy anothers work. I am all for learning new techniques, and I love doing that, but then I want to take what I have learned and make it mine, and that is where I am having a problem.....

I HATE CREATIVE BLOCKS!

And this one has been going on for a while.

I cannot get my frame of mind right, I am too stiff.
As my youngest keeps telling me, I need to Relax..... But I can't, I try, but it ain't happening.
Not to sound whiney but perhaps dealing with all the pains my body has been experiencing has something to do with it.
I still have pain and pressure in my coccyx, and believe I may have broken it, which is not uncommon from what I read. In addition my lower back has been giving me real grief as well.
I am not supposed to be lifting anything over 20 lbs, and my gr.son weighs in around 25 lbs. Watching him 4-5 days a week for as long as 12 hours some days is taking its toll.
I don't complain, because I don't want to sound like some people we know, but If I don't say anything people get all surprised and even annoyed, and think I am just saying it to be mean or lazy. Ya know?

AHHHH, I didn't start this blog to whine and cry, thats what my rant blog is for, this is supposed to be my Zen place.

So I have been sitting on my butt this week and learning chain maille.
I love the look, but it is really frustrating to play with those lil jump rings with big clunky hands and poor eyesight...LOL.
I have also been pushing forward on the beading. I am nearly done making the petals for the Hyacinth flower.
I need 6 petals to make one frong, and approx. 30-35 frongs to make a plant.
You do the Math!
Yup thats why it has taken so long...Plus I got bored and I moved~ 2ce.
I will try to post some pics later on of the beaded petals/frongs, and maybe my chain maille bracelet in progress.
For now, I am going to have breakfast.