Day one of image improvement did not go well. I tried a few different fabrics as backgrounds. A couple of them looked pretty nice, especially the green satin. But the garnet crystals keep scanning as black.
Without a doubt, trying to get a good image is my least-favorite part about this business. Glass can be so tricky, with the colors shifting due to the light, not to mention glare and reflections and whatnot. I have many items that aren't on my site simply because there's no way they'd ever scan well enough to look like anything other than a blob.
Digital cameras, of course, have their own problems, too, but it might be time to move on to that set of problems.
Speaking of problems, my BFAC project continues to be one. I am not happy about all the trouble I'm having with it this year and I'm really starting to stress about it. Last night I lost a few of the leaf beads I'm using, and I need exactly how many I have. Maybe it's another sign that I need to try something else.
I'll leave you with this bad scan of last year's project. I really need to make something like this for myself!
Ever feel like you need a weekend to recover from your weekend? That's the kind of day today was. I didn't really accomplish anything major, because I was so caught up in doing everything that I didn't do over the weekend. I did make a crystal bracelet, and it's looking pretty nice.
However, I've come to realize that my photos need a lot of work, so I'm going to use that little bracelet as my guinea pig and see if I can't get an awesome picture before I post it on my site. The last time I used this color of crystal, it scanned terribly.
I'll try to have something more relevant and entertaining to say tomorrow, or at least I'll come up with something fun to distract you from the lack of relevance :D
Changes to my website abound! In an effort to make it more informative, I'm working on a section about the various materials that I use. It's up now, but I've only written about seed beads so far. Also, I've added a link section, which only contains a few links so far. I need to comb through my bookmarks and add everyone and everything that deserves linkage.
Meanwhile, my old News section has been replaced by this blog. Rest In Peace, News section. You served me well!
Unfortunately, there won't be any new jewelry until tomorrow, if not later. All of this website maintanence and usual weekend shennanigans have greatly cut into my beading time. I hope to get a few things made this week, including getting back to work on the BFAC project.
Yeah, about that. A lot of participants have been creating things along a similar theme as my original concept. I think I might try to come up with something else. The pink beads, however, are standing between me and inspiration. Curse their relentless pinkness!
Back to the beading board...
The necklace seen here on the left is the fruit of my labors from last night and today. It was inspired by Barbara L. Grainger's article in the most recent issue of Beadwork. I really loved her bead-chain bracelets and I thought that the technique would make an awesome base for a necklace.
A quick search of the beadroom turned up this great pendant. I have a real soft spot for the Chinese carvings, whether they're done in boxwood, stone, or ox-bone as is the case with this one. Really, it doesn't get much more Goth than a crow sitting on a human skull! I matched it up with some color-lined amber and matte black seed beads for a very tribal look. Because the clasp will usually be hidden under my hair, I just used a brass button, likely meant to adorn a man's jacket. It's choker-length, with the bird resting just below the hollow of my throat.
When I tried it on, my husband said it made me look like a pirate lass. Not really the look I was going for but hey, I can live with that!
I see a lot of possibilities in this chain and will be making an interesting bracelet with it soon, to be offered on my website.
It's about time for this bead-pirate to sail on to her Sunday roleplaying game. Got some Legend of the Five Rings samurai action in store. Unfortunately, I can't bring beads with me. Our hosts have an adorable young chihuahua who is hyper and full of love. I think I'd spend as much time keeping her out of the beads as I would making anything!
Tomorrow is the big blog and website update day! See you then!
Today I bought a belt made out of goat toe-nails. Well, that's not strictly accurate. It's a belt accented by goat toe-nails. The nails are hung in clusters, so that when you move, they rattle together. It's a much more organic sound than my coin belt, kind of like a rain storm. The strange and awesome things that you can find at the Folk Shop.
While I was out, I also went to JoAnn's for their big Memorial Day sale. Picked up a ton of awesome buttons for clasps. I also got the supplies to make a beaded-embroidered mandala that I was suddenly inspired for this afternoon. I've never made something like that before, so it should be a fun and exciting project. I'll be sure to post pictures as I'm working on it. Big surprise, it's going to be green.
I also picked up the latest Beadwork magazine, so I think it's time to go veg out with that until it cools down enough in here that I can dance and bead a bit.
Well, there's nothing like getting up in the morning and having your beloved PC not respond to the touch of your finger on the power button! There were a scary few minutes where I thought that my computer (which I've been using for about 3 years now) was dead. Now luckily, a few people have my book, so that wouldn't be lost, but I haven't backed up my progress on my second book, nor have I backed up the work I have on my beading book. Yikes.
Thankfully, it turns out that it was just the USB half of my USB/surge protector giving up the ghost. It's older than my computer, and the one that my husband got at the same time died sometime last year. I was able to plug my computer in to the surge side and everything is OK now. Later today, I'll have to back everything important up. It was a good reminder that my computer is not invincible and I shouldn't trust it with what amounts to my life's work.
My Beading For A Cure project continues to give me trouble. I've finally decided that it's time to start all over again. Something's just not gelling and it gets worse the more I try to force it. My favorite charity deserves better than this! That said, I'm going to spend the weekend working on some business-related things, relax, clear my mind, and be ready to tackle it anew on Tuesday.
Monday will be blog and website work day. Expect to see a lot of changes and new sections to my page, and maybe a big article here on the blog -- which will actually be linked to my site now.
Have a great weekend!
My second belly dancing lesson is tomorrow. I've been keeping in practice these past two days by dancing to Dead Can Dance's "Spiritchaser" album. Of course, since it's about 100 degrees today, I can't dance very long without getting tired, so I'm blogging. The problem is, even exhausted, my body still wants to dance. I blame and and all typos upon my uncontrollable urge to roll my shoulders and let the motion flow through my entire arm.
Tonight's plans include continuing to work on my Beading For a Cure project. It's been giving me some trouble. I think it's the pink beads. They know that I hate them. Evil plans of pink beads aside, after this project is completed, I'll be starting work on some new lines. Watch out for anklets and hair accessories -- as far as I'm concerned, your entire body deserves beautiful jewelry. Except for your eyes. Eye Jewelry just creeps me out.
Also on the agenda for creation in the near future is a lariat featuring some of the new Magic-Lined Beads from Miyuki. The sparkle of these seed beads has to be seen in person to really be appreciated! I only have one color and really need to add more to my collection. They look great with lampwork beads featuring dichroic glass.
That's about all for now!
Well, I finally decided to set up one of these new-fangled "blog" thingies. When they first came onto the scene a few years ago, I said to myself "What sort of silly person would want to post a journal on-line?" I guess I am one of those "silly person"s. This will really come as no surprise to those who know me. My husband calls me silly at least once a day.
This blog will serve as a fun and easy way to get news about my business, Erthe Fae Designs. It will also sometimes feature news about my writing, and my life in general. Knowing me, it will also contain the occasional rant or opinion piece.
I love to write and talk, so I look forward to sharing my thoughts and news with you!
