llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 15, 2005 20:12:50 GMT -5
OOPS, no, it's still there and probably a bit bigger from sitting on it so much since Sunday. The beading mood hit me, so here is a preview of my latest projects. This first one is a boot bracelet. The boot bracelet is just what the drugstore cowgirl needs to jazz up her cosmic cowgirl boots! Purple and lavender dunk beads with silver plated beads.  These boots are not drugstore cowgirl boots and even my cosmic cowgirl boot bracket can't spruce them up!  This is a choker type necklace made of imitation red jasper, black and copper beads. Thought I had a copper clasp, but discovered I didn't, so had to make my own. My first attempt at something like that and I am really not happy with it and it will be replaced after I go to the bead store Saturday. I will get better at that with a bit more practice!  This I call RandomRed. These are cheapie red glass beads I bought a couple of years ago for a project I never got done. When I found them I decided I would do something with them, although had no idea what, so I just started randomly laying them out. Right before I found them I was looking at a beading book and saw how to make a loop bead unit, so I grabbed a spool of gold wire, my round nose pliers and tried my hand at it. And, this necklace, bracelet and earrings is what I ended up with.  This next one is the combo in red and purple I made for the lady who wanted a boot bracelet, hatband and earrings. I say combo because the longest piece will serve as either a hatband or necklace. The other piece will serve as either a boot bracelet or two bracelets for her wrist. I beaded two 7" lengths using a barrel clasp. The pieces can be screwed together for a length of 14" for a boot bracelet, or separated into 7" pieces. It's not finished yet - I didn't have any sterling silver barrel clasps, so substituded what I had so I could show her and adjust the size, if needed. The oval, nuggets and round red beads are red coral, the purple is 8mm and 5mm amethyst with sterling silver. The hatband/necklace is strung on wire right now, but will restring on thread when I get the barrel clasps. The hatband/necklace looks really good on her red hat. She and her husband were bowled over. They loved them. She can't wait to go back home to Michigan and show them off at her next Red Hat Society meeting. Wants me to give her a business card because she is sure her Red Hat Friends will want some similar. I have to admit I am delighted with this creation. The picture really doesn't do it justice.   Thanks for looking and hope ya'll like them! You are my critics - good or bad! And any advice and/or suggestions will be appreciated. I want to sell some stuff at the crafts market in Kerrville starting next month and I need ya'll to be honest with me. I sure don't want to take some crappy lookin' thing over there and try to sell it! llana |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Mar 15, 2005 22:03:22 GMT -5
I think you have fine work there. I especially like the 'Random Red' design. I'm finding out you gotta have earrings, and you have that base covered nicely. Very good, can't see anything to criticize  |
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 15, 2005 22:06:38 GMT -5
Those are fantastic - I can't even afford 1/10th of the beads you have there
But I like what I see
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 15, 2005 22:27:30 GMT -5
Those are really nice.
Tami
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Post by Cher on Mar 16, 2005 1:25:21 GMT -5
Llana those are awesome, I can sure see why the red hat lady liked that set, it's super. Not a bad job at all for a first clasp, those things take a little getting used to but you're right, it wil get easier each time you do it. Love the ideas for the boot bracelet too. You definitely have a talent for laying out the beads. What are those long dangly things on the second necklace, I really like the looks of that.
Cher
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Rose
Cave Dweller 
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Mar 16, 2005 4:21:03 GMT -5
Very nice Llana !  |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 16, 2005 10:11:12 GMT -5
Banjo, I really like the RandomRed too. Much more than I expected to when I started it! And, yep, everybody likes earrings. And they are so easy to make. I am probably going to make up a batch of earrings by themselves. Easy to make and I think they will sell at the CraftsMarket.
Tweety, most of the beads I buy are the least expensive I can find. The coral beads and the chrystals I used in the purple and red combo are the most expensive ones I have bought. Got the coral ones on sale for 1/2 price at the bead store and that's the only reason I could afford them. She's having another 1/2 price sale this weekend, so I hope I can grab up some good stuff.
You definitely have a talent for laying out the beads.
Only when I am in the mood to bead, I've discovered. The times I have pulled out the beading stuff when I thought I should do something but really wasn't in the mood for it, I couldn't do anything except move beads from spot to spot.
Of course, having an idea (or an order!) for something helps get me in the mood!
What are those long dangly things on the second necklace,
That's imitation red jasper I got at the local cafts store. Real expensive stuff ;D I love copper and thought those would work with it. I am happy with it. It hangs well and looks good on. It even looked good with one of my nasty, stained work T-shirts!
llana
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Post by rockyraccoon on Mar 16, 2005 10:25:10 GMT -5
boot bracelets! i love that llana. photograph the hat one on a hat - i'd like to see it. it doesn't have to be a red hat, i'll still get the idea ;D.
now i like your handmade clasp! what's wrong with it? i wouldn't change a thing.
kim
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 16, 2005 10:57:26 GMT -5
I agree with Kim on the clasp I like it - it adds a homemade touch as well. Did you do that on a jig? I've tried my hand at making jewellry but so far only my Mother in law & her mother have bought some (I used a jig and some without - my best favorites is a pair of earrings that I could never sell even if I wanted to, they are beaded Harry Potter earrings - they look exactly like him - maybe I could say they were created with my son in mind - NOT) I love beading - I do it in front of the TV in the evenings & it stops me from munching - I have to keep busy - beading, stitching - wire work anything to keep my hands out of the popcorn bowl)  |
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 16, 2005 12:56:22 GMT -5
Llana- WOW- I love your work- You keep inspiring me to try my hand at some beading- My local 5 and 10 hase a nice selection of bead kits- And last time I was there I was Soooo tempted- But my wife put the ole hand on the hip and said- yea right like you got time for that! Someday
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 16, 2005 13:23:43 GMT -5
great stuff, llana, i especially like your handmade clasp and findings. i got to try that!
KD
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Post by hermatite on Mar 16, 2005 15:28:52 GMT -5
hey llana...did you invent the boot bracelet? I love that idea ...I may steal it and use it as my own! great job on all the pieces and I know exactly whta you mean about having to be in the mood. I'm like that too...the muse strikes when she will and will not be forced!
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 16, 2005 16:45:19 GMT -5
hey llana lookin good they all came out great but my fav is the last set very nice
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 16, 2005 19:30:20 GMT -5
Thanks all! I am truly inspired by your compliments and the fact that I got orders today for 2 hatbands/necklace and earring sets from a couple other Red Hat ladies here at the RV park. AND, an order for a boot bracelet, bracelet and earrings. The lady I worked for today gave me a string of torquoise she picked up somewhere and wants me to use them and whatever else I want to use to make it up. She also asked if I would be willing to make up a half dozen or so that she could take to Arkansas next month when she goes to the Bluegrass Festival. She said everytime she goes, everybody asks her where she got her boot bracelet and is sure she can sell them. So, I am going to whip up some for her to take. Got a couple of cool ideas for them. The lady I worked for today is certain the lady I work for tomorrow will want a boot bracelet. She's a red hat lady, plays bluegrass and wears boots alot! If I would have had a price in mind for everything, I could have sold them all today! But, I haven't even thought about pricing yet! Guess I best do that, huh? Herm, the boot bracelet has been around a while. It's kinda like everything else - gets really popular for a while, then fades, then makes a comeback. There are a number of websites with bootbracelets. Apparently they are making a comeback. So, make some up and strike while the iron is hot! ;D RE: my handmade clasp - the hook half I am happy with. It turned out really good considering that's the first time I tried to make one! It's the eye part I am not happy with. It probably would have turned out better if I wouldn't have been so tired when I made it. Hands and back were hurting from beading all day! Sands, I love the red and purple too. Those are two of my favorite colors and I really like how that turned out. The Red Hat Society is booming everywhere these days and I think if I can turn out some more things as nice as these in red and purple, I can actually make enough money to pay for the beads! LOL! As soon as I get the necklace/hatband completely finished and take it to Bonnie, I'll have her model them all and post pics. Being a red hat lady, she has a red hat! I have been thinking all day - since the Red Hat ladies went ga-ga over the combo - I might buy me a trademark red hat and name my little beading biz Red Hat Creations. Sure hate it that my red Stetson went down the creek in the 2002 flood! Now that was a good lookin' hat! It has been a GOOD day! llana |
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Post by sandsman1 on Mar 16, 2005 20:03:37 GMT -5
glad you had a great day llana we all deserve one once in awile ---and i like your name ---Red Hat Creations
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 16, 2005 22:52:56 GMT -5
Hey Llana, You have definitely been busy ... and your work is gorgeous! My favorite is the choker  Thanks for sharing ... those are very nice indeed! John |
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Mar 19, 2005 20:02:19 GMT -5
Here's pics of the hatband/necklace on the hat and the boot bracelet on the boot.   I'm not happy with the connection of the two bracelets to make the bootbracelet. Wanted to make some sort of do-fongy to cover the clasp that would be on the outside of the boot, but Bonnie (and her hubby) like the connection showing. She's the customer, so whatever makes her happy is A-okay with me. Got the money in my hot little hand! My first sale! YIPEE! Bonnie is wearing it tonight to a jam session where some other Red Hat ladies are going to be. She is certain somebody will want at least a boot bracelet, if not the whole set! So, here's me crossing my fingers! Bear, I really like the choker too! I love copper. Wish I wasn't allergic to everything and could wear jewelry. I'd look like a walking jewelry display! ;D llana |
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