I've created some new squidoo lenses.
http://www.squidoo.com/craftcove
http://www.squidoo.com/hair-fascinators
http://www.squidoo.com/free-star-tutorial
http://www.squidoo.com/beginners-jewellery-making-
http://www.squidoo.com/free-beaded-flower-tutorial
http://www.squidoo.com/beaded-wedding-flowers
Some people seem to like squidoo more than other places. This is for you
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
HAIR FASCINATORS
The word “fascinator” is often defined as “a fine, crocheted, knitted or lace triangle that was used as a shawl
worn around the shoulders or as head covering”.
 |
| Frilly hair fascinator |
But in this case a “hair fascinator” actually refers to the extravagant hair adornment, that sits somewhere
between a simple hair accessory and a small, fancy cocktail hat. It can be attached with a clip, a hair comb
or headband.
 |
| Pink Feather Hair Fascinator |
These elaborate headpieces can be found in a variety of shapes, styles and colours and are generally made out of a combination of feathers, beads, flowers or netting. They can incorporate beaded flowers, fabric flowers, bows, feather flowers and bows, tulle, netting, and much more.
 |
| Beaded Flower |
There are many types of looks and styles, from simple bows to completely outrageous and fun designs with huge feathers and decorations.
 |
| Blue Ribbon and feather fascinator |
The hatinator is another type of headpiece that is very similar to a fascinator, yet a hatinator has a much larger base, and can often resemble a tiny hat with a fascinator attached.
Fascinators are particularly popular at many horse-racing events, such as the Melbourne Cup, in Australia, and other special sporting events. They go well with the often extravagant and flamboyant outfits that are commonly worn. Subtler fascinators can be worn with a more elegant dress, or a lot of trimming on the fascinator can be used to enhance the whole outfit of a more understated dress.
 |
| Beaded Feather Fascinator |
They are generally worn to rather formal events and have become a very popular accessory for younger people at formals and proms, and even at night clubs.
Weddings are another place these accessories are seen more and more. Often the guests choose to wear them as a more unusual or interesting accessory for the hair. But they are also commonly seen in the wedding party, both by the bride, and the bridal party. They can be worn with veils, or without. They look great with a cage veil or with just a subtle piece of tulle surrounding it, or even a full length veil.
 |
| Bow Fascinator |
The bridal party can choose out of huge flowers or feathers, or something very delicate and elegant. Hair fascinators can also be a wonderful alternative to the more traditional hat for the mother of a bride.
 |
| Bead and feather fascinator |
Fascinators have been around since the 17th century and perhaps even earlier. It was the height of fashion
during the late 17 hundreds to wear huge fantastic scenes on the on top of powdered wigs. They were a statement of a person’s prestige and wealth.
Fascinators were often worn with the towering super-high hairstyle, called the pouf., at a time when fashion
itself was very flamboyant and over the top with bustles and very full sleeves They were very outlandish and
garish and commonly had themes such as bird’s nests or even model ships. Although very elaborate back then, they still typically consisted of feathers, beads and/or flowers just as they do now.
It seems fascinators went out of vogue for a very long time, until they became popular at the horse races in Australia and the UK.
 |
| Daisy Hair flower |
They’ve now become so fashionable that celebrities are often seen wearing them to all sorts of red carpet events, and although, sometimes they can be just as elaborate as in the 1700s, they are often much more toned down, so they can suit anyone’s tastes.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
New Look Web sites
I've been busy making changes to both Craft Cove and Flower Cove. I'm changing every page over to photo gallery elements. This will take me a while to do. But once it's done it will make it a bit quicker for me to list things. The way it is now, I have to individually add heaps of elements for each and every item, then fill each one individually. This new method means I just add the images of the jewellery then add the descriptions.
It will also be easier to see all the handcrafted items, there won't be so much scrolling down the page to see everything. They're small thumbnail images at first, but you can hover or click on an image to see the item larger and the information about it.
I will no longer list when an item is sold, because I can always make a new one from scratch anyway. So I will let you know if it's sold when you add you're order, so you can either have a custom one made, or choose another item.
It will also be easier to see all the handcrafted items, there won't be so much scrolling down the page to see everything. They're small thumbnail images at first, but you can hover or click on an image to see the item larger and the information about it.
I will no longer list when an item is sold, because I can always make a new one from scratch anyway. So I will let you know if it's sold when you add you're order, so you can either have a custom one made, or choose another item.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Basic Jewellery Making
Basic Jewellery Making
This basic jewellery making article is a wonderful place to begin to learn all about the art of working with beads. It explains types of beading, and tools needed, perfect for a beginner.
Types of Basic Jewellery Making
Stringing: beads of all sorts of types and colours are strung onto a beading thread using pleasing designs and colours.
Beadweaving: this is sometimes known as seed beading. This includes a wide variety of weaves, including herringbone weave, brick stitch, peyote, netting, pondo stitch, right angle weave and square stitch. With the exception of two-needle right angle weave, these all require a needle and thread, and you weave in a similar way to sewing. Two needle right angle weave is usually not done with needles at all, a stiff thread is used, and the beads can be strung onto it without the use of a needle. There are also a huge range of spirals that can be made in all of the above weaves, as well as a few particular to spirals only. These include: Spiral rope, double spiral rope, triple spiral rope, flat spiral, Russian spiral, Dutch spiral, herringbone spiral, embellished right angle weave, Cellini spiral, Aussie spiral, netted spiral and African Helix.
Loom Beading: seed beads are woven into fabric using a loom. Some very intricate designs can be made.
Wire work and wire wrapping: This is where wire is used to created pleasing shapes and designs using wire.
Victorian Beading and French Beading: these methods ore often used to make beaded flowers. Wire is used, as well as seed beads. Victorian beading, also known as Continental Beading, is worked horizontally with both ends of the wire going through the row of beads. French beading is worked vertically with rows of beads worked around a central row of beads.
Chainmail: also known as chain maille. This is created by joining jump rings into intricate patterns.
What is a Bead?
Basic jewellery making usually includes beads. Basically a bead is a small decorative object that has at least one hole in it for threading. Beads have been used for jewellery for hundreds of thousands of years.
Beads can be made from all sorts of things, including: natural materials- such as bone, coral, seashells and nuts. They can also be made of synthetic materials such as: ceramics, glass, crystal and plastic.
Bead Types
Seed Beads: seed beads are the very tiny beads used in basic jewellery making and beadweaving. These are usually measured in either mm or aught sizes, eg. 11/0, which means number of beads per inch.
There are three main types of seed beads available:
* Japanese: these have a cylindrical shape and are very uniform in size. They have a large hole.
* Czech: these have more of a rounded shape with smooth edges. They’re sometimes described as being donut shaped.
* Chinese: these are the cheapest type of seed beads, but can be very uneven in shape and size. They are usually more Czech-shaped.
Bugle beads: these are long cylindrical beads, made in a range of lengths.
Shaped beads: these are made in any sorts of shapes.
Faceted beads: these have been cut and polished to give lots of reflection and shine.
Tools and Materials Required for Basic Jewellery Making
The tools needed for basic jewellery making vary with what is being made and the technique used.
Some basic tools and materials are:
Thread: some available types are: tigertail, aculon, monofilament thread and Nymo.
Crimp beads: these are small soft metal beads with a large hole that are used to squash the thread together to hold the finding in place.
Findings: these are all the components used in basic jewellery making to make things into jewellery, includes clasps, earring hooks and key rings.
Pliers: these are need for many things in basic jewellery making, including closing crimp beads. Two are usually needed to close jump rings.
Specific tools and materials:
Stringing: generally you don’t need much at all. Just your beads and thread, you’ll also need a couple of crimp beads and a couple of jump rings. You’ll need pliers to close the crimp beads and jump rings. You’ll also need clasps or other findings for your basic jewellery making, depending on what you’re making,
Beadweaving: For this you’ll need fine thread, beading needle, seed beads. You’ll also need the crimp beads and other findings the same as with stringing, depending on what you’re making.
Loom Beading: loom, thread and seed beads, and findings as required.
Wire work and wire wrapping: The wire can be craft wire, artistic wire, copper wire, or sterling silver wire. They are available in different gauges that measure the thicknesses. You will need pointy nosed pliers, and round nosed pliers to create spirals and loops. Wire cutters are required to cut the wire.
Victorian Beading and French Beading: Seed beads and wire are required for these. Pointy nosed pliers will be needed. If it’s going to be a flower, you’ll need a stiffer wire for the stem and some floral tape to wrap it.
Chainmail: This just requires lots of jump ring available in different sizes and gauges, as well as 2 pairs of pliers to close the rings. You’ll also need the findings as required.
A good beginners tutorial can be found here:
http://craftcove.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-star-tutorial.html
This basic jewellery making article is a wonderful place to begin to learn all about the art of working with beads. It explains types of beading, and tools needed, perfect for a beginner.
Types of Basic Jewellery Making
 |
| Beaded Reindeer |
Stringing: beads of all sorts of types and colours are strung onto a beading thread using pleasing designs and colours.
Beadweaving: this is sometimes known as seed beading. This includes a wide variety of weaves, including herringbone weave, brick stitch, peyote, netting, pondo stitch, right angle weave and square stitch. With the exception of two-needle right angle weave, these all require a needle and thread, and you weave in a similar way to sewing. Two needle right angle weave is usually not done with needles at all, a stiff thread is used, and the beads can be strung onto it without the use of a needle. There are also a huge range of spirals that can be made in all of the above weaves, as well as a few particular to spirals only. These include: Spiral rope, double spiral rope, triple spiral rope, flat spiral, Russian spiral, Dutch spiral, herringbone spiral, embellished right angle weave, Cellini spiral, Aussie spiral, netted spiral and African Helix.
 |
| Bugle spiral |
Loom Beading: seed beads are woven into fabric using a loom. Some very intricate designs can be made.
Wire work and wire wrapping: This is where wire is used to created pleasing shapes and designs using wire.
 |
| wire work jewellery |
Victorian Beading and French Beading: these methods ore often used to make beaded flowers. Wire is used, as well as seed beads. Victorian beading, also known as Continental Beading, is worked horizontally with both ends of the wire going through the row of beads. French beading is worked vertically with rows of beads worked around a central row of beads.
 |
| Victorian beaded spider |
Chainmail: also known as chain maille. This is created by joining jump rings into intricate patterns.
 |
| Chainmail |
What is a Bead?
Basic jewellery making usually includes beads. Basically a bead is a small decorative object that has at least one hole in it for threading. Beads have been used for jewellery for hundreds of thousands of years.
 |
| Beaded Bead |
Beads can be made from all sorts of things, including: natural materials- such as bone, coral, seashells and nuts. They can also be made of synthetic materials such as: ceramics, glass, crystal and plastic.
Bead Types
Seed Beads: seed beads are the very tiny beads used in basic jewellery making and beadweaving. These are usually measured in either mm or aught sizes, eg. 11/0, which means number of beads per inch.
There are three main types of seed beads available:
* Japanese: these have a cylindrical shape and are very uniform in size. They have a large hole.
* Czech: these have more of a rounded shape with smooth edges. They’re sometimes described as being donut shaped.
* Chinese: these are the cheapest type of seed beads, but can be very uneven in shape and size. They are usually more Czech-shaped.
 |
| Beaded Brooch |
Bugle beads: these are long cylindrical beads, made in a range of lengths.
Shaped beads: these are made in any sorts of shapes.
Faceted beads: these have been cut and polished to give lots of reflection and shine.
Tools and Materials Required for Basic Jewellery Making
The tools needed for basic jewellery making vary with what is being made and the technique used.
Some basic tools and materials are:
Thread: some available types are: tigertail, aculon, monofilament thread and Nymo.
Crimp beads: these are small soft metal beads with a large hole that are used to squash the thread together to hold the finding in place.
Findings: these are all the components used in basic jewellery making to make things into jewellery, includes clasps, earring hooks and key rings.
Pliers: these are need for many things in basic jewellery making, including closing crimp beads. Two are usually needed to close jump rings.
 |
| Flower Brooch |
Specific tools and materials:
Stringing: generally you don’t need much at all. Just your beads and thread, you’ll also need a couple of crimp beads and a couple of jump rings. You’ll need pliers to close the crimp beads and jump rings. You’ll also need clasps or other findings for your basic jewellery making, depending on what you’re making,
Beadweaving: For this you’ll need fine thread, beading needle, seed beads. You’ll also need the crimp beads and other findings the same as with stringing, depending on what you’re making.
Loom Beading: loom, thread and seed beads, and findings as required.
Wire work and wire wrapping: The wire can be craft wire, artistic wire, copper wire, or sterling silver wire. They are available in different gauges that measure the thicknesses. You will need pointy nosed pliers, and round nosed pliers to create spirals and loops. Wire cutters are required to cut the wire.
 |
| Saint Bernard |
Victorian Beading and French Beading: Seed beads and wire are required for these. Pointy nosed pliers will be needed. If it’s going to be a flower, you’ll need a stiffer wire for the stem and some floral tape to wrap it.
Chainmail: This just requires lots of jump ring available in different sizes and gauges, as well as 2 pairs of pliers to close the rings. You’ll also need the findings as required.
 |
| Chainmail earrings |
A good beginners tutorial can be found here:
http://craftcove.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-star-tutorial.html
Monday, July 26, 2010
Wedding jewellery
I'm not a very social person, so when I received an invitation for a wedding, I had absolutely nothing to wear! Finally I found a nice black dress with a tiny black jacket over it. The jacket has a lovely sequin trim, so I found a small clutch bag with sequin trim as well.
Of course even though my business is in selling jewellery, I don't actually wear jewellery very much. I'm usually at home crafting, gardening, parenting, housework and looking after pets, this stuff just doesn't lend itself to jewellery. So I decided to make something new for the jewellery. It took a lot of thought, but I finally decided on a beaded bead necklace with a chain. The beaded bead being all white and silver, with crystals, pearls and seed beads, to offset all the black. Then I decided a tassel of chain would also look nice hanging off the bottom. Here's how it looked.
My next issue was the earrings. I thought it would be great to make earrings to match, but the same beaded bead would be a bit big for the earrings. I tried using less beads and using small beads and a couple of variations until I came up with a design I liked. I put the same tassels on the bottom, and used the same colours. I was quite happy with the design, it's wuite a bit narrower, but about the same length as the pendant.
Of course I could have made a new dress as well, but since I'll probably never even wear this dress again, it wasn't worth the time and expense. It's much more costly to make your own.
While I was at the wedding I saw another guest with the most beautiful crocheted handbag. I thought "why didn't I think of that?" I could have incorporated some beading into the crocheting as well, and I love crocheting!
Of course even though my business is in selling jewellery, I don't actually wear jewellery very much. I'm usually at home crafting, gardening, parenting, housework and looking after pets, this stuff just doesn't lend itself to jewellery. So I decided to make something new for the jewellery. It took a lot of thought, but I finally decided on a beaded bead necklace with a chain. The beaded bead being all white and silver, with crystals, pearls and seed beads, to offset all the black. Then I decided a tassel of chain would also look nice hanging off the bottom. Here's how it looked.
 |
| Beaded Bead |
My next issue was the earrings. I thought it would be great to make earrings to match, but the same beaded bead would be a bit big for the earrings. I tried using less beads and using small beads and a couple of variations until I came up with a design I liked. I put the same tassels on the bottom, and used the same colours. I was quite happy with the design, it's wuite a bit narrower, but about the same length as the pendant.
 |
| wedding jewellery |
Of course I could have made a new dress as well, but since I'll probably never even wear this dress again, it wasn't worth the time and expense. It's much more costly to make your own.
 |
| wedding set |
While I was at the wedding I saw another guest with the most beautiful crocheted handbag. I thought "why didn't I think of that?" I could have incorporated some beading into the crocheting as well, and I love crocheting!
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