Rivolis, not Raviolis

Hello, Everyone! I just want to thank you ALL for the wonderful comments and emails that you've posted or sent me. I truly appreciate it and it has really given me such support and solace in what has been a crazy few weeks.

I have been actually very busy! I've still got a lot to sort through with all of my "stuff" and believe me, it's a lot! I may be having one of my famous, or "infamous" stamp sales at my house down the line. You won't believe how many stamps I have. I didn't realize how many I'd brought to the office over the past 8 years. But it will be a good deal for anyone who wants to make a trip to see me in NJ! But that will be later this summer.

In the meantime I have been doing a lot more beading and I wanted to share some of what I've been doing. I had shown in an earlier posting some of the necklaces I had made with a Swarovski Rivoli. Many have been beading with these lately and I just love the look and sparkle of them. Using Laura McCabe's book as an initial reference, I've been having a blast and have been getting back to my bead crochet necklaces as well. I used some awesome Designer Bead Mixes from the Beadwrangler.

The color of the first photo's Rivoli is called Volcano, which has reds, purples...it's absolutely amazing when you see all of the color and sparkle that is one crystal! The small 3mm Bicone Swarovski Crystals are Fuchsia in color and have been incorporated into the spral necklace, using both matte black, silver and some other colors what work together. I just sit down with my beads, separated by color and just keep pulling and comparing to see what looks good. I definitely use my Ott-Lite to see what I'm doing! I don't know what I'd do without it.

The next necklace is with one of the Beadwrangler Mixes...a color that I don't usually go to, but loved....Coral Sea. I created a crochet necklace and then used the colors for the bezel and Padparadscha (I can't say the name, but I sure like the color!) Swarovski Crystals. The Rivoli is Crystal AB (Aurora Borealis), one of my favorites, because it goes with everything!

For this focal Rivoli I used another Beadwranger Mix, Sea Foam and Jet Black AB2X Crystals. It doesn't look Jet Black, but with the magic of the various coatings they put on the crystals, it's perfect with these colors. This particular bead mix has some really fun small beads with green stripes on them, which make the mix all the more fun. I've got the finished necklace now, but didn't get a chance to take a picture of it.

I've had so much fun making these and have a few more finished but have just not had the chance to take the pictures...I'm actually busy, busy, busy working on samples for CHA Summer.

I'll continue to keep everyone posted as to what I'm up to. I've got so many idead in my brain, and not enough time.

Wishing everyone a great week!

Robin

What I did during my Recovery..no idle hands here!

Hello, Everyone! I know, I know, I've been remiss from posting, but I'm getting back on my feet, almost ready for getting back to work next week. My knee looks like it had a huge staple removed out of it, but is healing! The doctor is pleased with my recovery and I started physical therapy today. I'll be gimping back two more days this week and will then follow up after work next week. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments and thoughts. It is much appreciated!

So, what does one do when stuck in bed with a knee connected to a Polar Care Knee Brace? Well, inking is not in the cards. Also, being on the computer is also not practical when the knee has to be up and your computer is on a desk. Thus, we head back to what can be done in bed between naps...beading and crocheting, both yarn and crochet. So, needless to say, I'm on a bead kick again.

My mom was always a knitter and I was able to do some basics...then she learned this crochet stitch and has been making blankets like a madwoman. So, like mother, like daughter. This is my second go; the first one I made was for my friend Danielle's absolutely adorable son, Kieran. My mom picked this Country Basket colored yarn up for me and I've been working on this blanket from time to time. it's fun to do when I don't need much to think about.

I also got in some new bead mixes and finished up one of my bead crochet ropes. I'll then be ready to put something on it for a necklace down the line. Can you see a blue theme here? Many have asked me about the bead crochet. It's actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it. It just becomes whether you want to do a more intricate pattern, which involves stringing them on one at a time in a certain order, or just going for the bead soup. For a wonderful reference and coolio bead mixes, check out the BeadWrangler!

I also finally got to work on some of my Swarovski stash. I worked with my C-Lon cord that is in a bazillion colors and works great for macrame and some top drill Bicone Crystal AB Swarovskis that have been burning a hole in my crystal horde. A super reference for some jewelry macrame is from Sherri Haab, Beaded Macrame Jewelry. This resulted in an anklet for me, one for my mom (Happy Mother's Day), a bracelet for my niece as part of her First Communion present...now with requests for more!

Rivolis are the latest rage and before my surgery I picked up this wonderful book from Laura McCabe. The instructions are clear, the graphics understandable and most of all, blingy! The first one I made was using various matte and shiny black seed beads, Jet Black 3mm Swarovski bicone crystals and a Crystal AB Rivoli. The Montana (denim-y blue) one is still a work in process. I'm working on the necklace still, but am so psyched as to how the hanging dangly rivolis turned out! I also totally agree with Laura's recommendation to use Fireline wire for beading. because the crystals can sometimes end up cutting event the toughest beading threads, this stuff will really hold up!

So, between naps, doctor's visits and icing, icing, icing of my knee, I've been keeping my hands busy while my knee is healing. Since my knee is really showing good signs of recovering, my keeping my a*$ in bed was with a very positive result!

Once I get back, it will be non-stop-Ranger U and Summer CHA! No rest for the weary, my friends!

Inky Hugs, Robin

The End of the Tunnel...I see it!

Hey, Everybody! I know I've been MIA lately, but it's just been too much to do prep for CHA and then blog...I've had blog guilt! I'm going to try and get some sneak peeks out of some of the jewelry I've been making for Amate and Ranger.

On the knee front, I had the MRI of my right knee. It's been a few years since I had the left one done, and for the most part, I've been lucky in not having to have many tests, etc over my 45 years. The funny thing is that you're not supposed to move your leg. So, what is it that you want to do? Move your leg! I have to say I was a good girl and that darn knee did not move a bit...but not for my brain wanting to make it move just to f&*$ with me. All I think of is that I'm listening to a science fiction movie from the 50's with all the weird sounds. Needless to say, I'll be seeing the doctor Thursday and will get the results. I think I learned from my mistakes of the past by seeing the doctor right away and not letting it go.

Here's one of the necklaces that I put together. I go hot and cold with bead crochet, but I do love when it's finished! I learned from my friends in MA and when I see what they've created I always want to go back and crochet, crochet, crochet! The pendant is a stamped image from Hero Arts, one of my favorites. The background is Wrinkle Free and "bandanna-ed". It was sealed with Glossy Accents(tm)! I made the crocheted necklace so long it was no problem to double it, but then I needed a larger bale. Thus, I twisted the wire and made the double loops and then the smaller one so the pendant would hang properly. I can't wait to bring it to the show!

One of the things that I always want to "perfect" but have not yet done is to make an invisible join with bead crochet. When I have patience, I'll do it for a bracelet, but when it comes to these necklaces, a Bali-Style magnetic closure works great!

I've got more necklaces finished that I'll try and get photographed, tweaked and blogged!

I also wanted to thank everyone for their supportive thoughts...I so appreciate it.

Have a great evening!

Robin