Today was pretty productive to compensate for yesterday. I woke up early, dragged myself to Starbucks and finished my homework with an hour to spare. Then I went to my apartment and made earrings to go with the bracelet I'm wearing, see Day 22.
31 January 2011
Day 27
Hey all!
Today was pretty productive to compensate for yesterday. I woke up early, dragged myself to Starbucks and finished my homework with an hour to spare. Then I went to my apartment and made earrings to go with the bracelet I'm wearing, see Day 22.
Today was pretty productive to compensate for yesterday. I woke up early, dragged myself to Starbucks and finished my homework with an hour to spare. Then I went to my apartment and made earrings to go with the bracelet I'm wearing, see Day 22.
30 January 2011
Day 26
Hey all!
I had a really nice day today and was even semi-productive. I woke up early and had a group meeting to discuss a project that's due in a couple weeks. Then I went to the bookstore, planning to do homework. I did some homework for an hour or so and then, of course, got distracted by craft books. I found one book in particular that gave me ideas for the earrings I made today.
29 January 2011
Day 25
Hey all!
I didn't do all that much today, but I did fix the bracelet I broke yesterday. Renewed hope in a bracelet-making future! Today, though, was an earring kind of day.
I didn't do all that much today, but I did fix the bracelet I broke yesterday. Renewed hope in a bracelet-making future! Today, though, was an earring kind of day.
28 January 2011
Day 24
Hey all!
Alright, well I regret to inform you that today when I was changing for the gym I accidentally broke the clasp off yesterday's bracelet. Clearly I'm still working out the kinks of bracelet making. They take much more wear and tear than earrings do.
The clasp was attached with a jump ring. Jump rings are wire rings that are slightly open when you buy them, then after you use them to attach things you pull the two sides in opposite directions and they are supposed to stay closed. Sounds complicated? Let's just say it's a delicate art that I have yet to master.
So after that little snafu I decided to get back to earrings.
Alright, well I regret to inform you that today when I was changing for the gym I accidentally broke the clasp off yesterday's bracelet. Clearly I'm still working out the kinks of bracelet making. They take much more wear and tear than earrings do.
The clasp was attached with a jump ring. Jump rings are wire rings that are slightly open when you buy them, then after you use them to attach things you pull the two sides in opposite directions and they are supposed to stay closed. Sounds complicated? Let's just say it's a delicate art that I have yet to master.
So after that little snafu I decided to get back to earrings.
27 January 2011
Day 23: Another Bracelet!
Today I had class, then lunch with some friends. After pretending to do work for a while I had a couple friends over and we made snickerdoodle cookies. Delicious!
I want to be clear about my blog intentions before I continue. I named it "a year in earrings" and the point is to challenge myself to make a piece of jewelry everyday. Part of challenging myself is branching out and trying new forms, beyond just earrings. I think bracelets and anything else I'll make in the future fit very well within these guidelines. Don't get caught up in the title people! Thanks!
Without further ado... here is today's creation:
I want to be clear about my blog intentions before I continue. I named it "a year in earrings" and the point is to challenge myself to make a piece of jewelry everyday. Part of challenging myself is branching out and trying new forms, beyond just earrings. I think bracelets and anything else I'll make in the future fit very well within these guidelines. Don't get caught up in the title people! Thanks!
Without further ado... here is today's creation:
26 January 2011
Day 22: A Bracelet!
Hey all!
Today is a weird day. I don't have class until the evening so I have to entertain myself all day. What I should have been doing is reading for tomorrow's class, but I guess I'll do that after class because I had a very unproductive day. What I did do was go to the gym, and then I made....
Today is a weird day. I don't have class until the evening so I have to entertain myself all day. What I should have been doing is reading for tomorrow's class, but I guess I'll do that after class because I had a very unproductive day. What I did do was go to the gym, and then I made....
25 January 2011
Day 21
Hey all!
Today I had just one class. It's an Art History class about the city of Cairo. I think it will be a really cool class, because she's taking a different approach than I've had in other Art History classes.
Tonight I'm having dinner with some friends, and we're making pizza! So I'm thinking it will turn into a really nice day.
The earrings I made today started with the bottom beads. I really love them but had to figure out what the heck to do with them. This is the result:
Today I had just one class. It's an Art History class about the city of Cairo. I think it will be a really cool class, because she's taking a different approach than I've had in other Art History classes.
Tonight I'm having dinner with some friends, and we're making pizza! So I'm thinking it will turn into a really nice day.
The earrings I made today started with the bottom beads. I really love them but had to figure out what the heck to do with them. This is the result:
Day 20: After Midnight Still Counts!
Hey all!
I'm so sorry to have let you down. I know the timestamp makes it seem like I missed a day. But I am merely 20 mins overdue, so please please forgive me! I even have an excuse!
I was merrily making my earrings, sure that they'd be done by 12, and then a tiny shard of glass came off the Swarovski crystal and into my finger. Have I mentioned how bad I am with cuts and wooziness? Probably not. Needless to say, this little tiny glass shard made a teeny tiny cut which almost made me faint. I'm a wimp, but it's what happened. Better now!
I'm so sorry to have let you down. I know the timestamp makes it seem like I missed a day. But I am merely 20 mins overdue, so please please forgive me! I even have an excuse!
I was merrily making my earrings, sure that they'd be done by 12, and then a tiny shard of glass came off the Swarovski crystal and into my finger. Have I mentioned how bad I am with cuts and wooziness? Probably not. Needless to say, this little tiny glass shard made a teeny tiny cut which almost made me faint. I'm a wimp, but it's what happened. Better now!
23 January 2011
Day 19
Hey all!
Today was a lovely day. I got to see lots of my friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in months. I also got to do some cooking, so that was the cherry on top of a great Sunday.
Tomorrow is the first day of classes of my last semester of college. It's exciting, and I think my classes will be a lot of fun. At the same time it does have a beginning-of-the-end feeling that I don't much care for. I'll just push that to the back of my mind and enjoy.
The earrings I made today are really simple, but I went through a ton of trial and error before I settled on the final design.
Today was a lovely day. I got to see lots of my friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in months. I also got to do some cooking, so that was the cherry on top of a great Sunday.
Tomorrow is the first day of classes of my last semester of college. It's exciting, and I think my classes will be a lot of fun. At the same time it does have a beginning-of-the-end feeling that I don't much care for. I'll just push that to the back of my mind and enjoy.
The earrings I made today are really simple, but I went through a ton of trial and error before I settled on the final design.
22 January 2011
Day 18
Hey all!
Well, today I woke up at 8. For no reason. It's the third day in a row I've been up at or before 8 and class hasn't even started yet. Maybe my body is adjusting from college student to working person a little early. Such a mystery!
The bright side of waking up early is I can get my earrings done before I start my day. Beautiful! In addition, I can take lovely sunlit pictures. So here we go:
Well, today I woke up at 8. For no reason. It's the third day in a row I've been up at or before 8 and class hasn't even started yet. Maybe my body is adjusting from college student to working person a little early. Such a mystery!
The bright side of waking up early is I can get my earrings done before I start my day. Beautiful! In addition, I can take lovely sunlit pictures. So here we go:
21 January 2011
Day 17
Hey all!
Well I am starting to get back in the swing of things here at school. Classes don't start until Monday, so for now it's all errands and hanging out with friends. No classes, no stress, it's my favorite part of the semester!
I still haven't gotten my hands on a cardboard box so you'll have to excuse my pictures, but onto the earrings!
Well I am starting to get back in the swing of things here at school. Classes don't start until Monday, so for now it's all errands and hanging out with friends. No classes, no stress, it's my favorite part of the semester!
I still haven't gotten my hands on a cardboard box so you'll have to excuse my pictures, but onto the earrings!
20 January 2011
Day 16
Hey all!
Today I got a ride back to school for my last semester as an undergraduate! Crazy! The ride was nice and the trees along the road were beautifully snow-covered. I do love me some snow.
Now that I'm back at school I think I'll be scrambling a lot of times to post before midnight to make the post count for the day. You'll have to forgive me if I post at 12:30 or 1 am of the next day.... if I haven't gone to sleep yet, let's agree that I haven't failed my mission and it will count for the day before. Deal? Deal!
Today's earrings are pretty teeny tiny but bold enough to make up for it.
Today I got a ride back to school for my last semester as an undergraduate! Crazy! The ride was nice and the trees along the road were beautifully snow-covered. I do love me some snow.
Now that I'm back at school I think I'll be scrambling a lot of times to post before midnight to make the post count for the day. You'll have to forgive me if I post at 12:30 or 1 am of the next day.... if I haven't gone to sleep yet, let's agree that I haven't failed my mission and it will count for the day before. Deal? Deal!
Today's earrings are pretty teeny tiny but bold enough to make up for it.
19 January 2011
Day 15
Hey all!
Alright, well today is sort of the last day of break as I am going back to school tomorrow (for my last semester of college!). Technically, once I'm there, I have a few more days until class starts. Once I am back into the swing of things, I'm really hoping I can keep this blog afloat. It may end up with more pictures and less chit-chat from day today. Although in reality the earrings take much longer than my blog ramblings. Fingers crossed, I'll keep the blogging up!
Today was another day of cooking and tv watching. I made rice pudding with some leftover chinese food rice, and I'm about to go make some meatballs. The earrings I made today are wire-wrapped and used a color combination I have never experimented with before.
Alright, well today is sort of the last day of break as I am going back to school tomorrow (for my last semester of college!). Technically, once I'm there, I have a few more days until class starts. Once I am back into the swing of things, I'm really hoping I can keep this blog afloat. It may end up with more pictures and less chit-chat from day today. Although in reality the earrings take much longer than my blog ramblings. Fingers crossed, I'll keep the blogging up!
Today was another day of cooking and tv watching. I made rice pudding with some leftover chinese food rice, and I'm about to go make some meatballs. The earrings I made today are wire-wrapped and used a color combination I have never experimented with before.
18 January 2011
Day 14
Hey all!
Well, I've hit the two week mark! Only thirty more to go.
Today I sat inside and watched the beautiful huge snowflakes fall, which was great. Then they turned into raindrops, which was not as much fun. Then I made cookies! They came from this cookie book published by Gormet Magazine where they picked a cookie recipe from each year they were in print-- starting in the 40s!
This recipe was from 1951. They're called shuttle cookies and they're supposed to look like the part of the loom or sewing machine that holds the thread. They taste kind of like pie crust, delish!
For today's earrings, I did a little wirework and used my beloved hammer.
Well, I've hit the two week mark! Only thirty more to go.
Today I sat inside and watched the beautiful huge snowflakes fall, which was great. Then they turned into raindrops, which was not as much fun. Then I made cookies! They came from this cookie book published by Gormet Magazine where they picked a cookie recipe from each year they were in print-- starting in the 40s!
This recipe was from 1951. They're called shuttle cookies and they're supposed to look like the part of the loom or sewing machine that holds the thread. They taste kind of like pie crust, delish!
For today's earrings, I did a little wirework and used my beloved hammer.
17 January 2011
Day 13
Hey all!
I'm sitting here, on the couch, enjoying my last few days of winter break. Downside: the couch is pretty boring. Upside: I finished my daily earrings during the daylight hours so I actually got some good pictures. Wahoo!
Here they are:
I'm sitting here, on the couch, enjoying my last few days of winter break. Downside: the couch is pretty boring. Upside: I finished my daily earrings during the daylight hours so I actually got some good pictures. Wahoo!
Here they are:
16 January 2011
Day 12
Hey all!
Today I cooked up a storm: asparagus risotto and nondairy creme brulee! The creme brulee was not such a success, but the risotto was great! Now I'm watching the Golden Globes and relaxing.
Today's earrings are kind of the lazy man's way out. But I can explain!
Today I cooked up a storm: asparagus risotto and nondairy creme brulee! The creme brulee was not such a success, but the risotto was great! Now I'm watching the Golden Globes and relaxing.
Today's earrings are kind of the lazy man's way out. But I can explain!
15 January 2011
Day 11
Hey all!
Today we took a family trip to Ikea. It was really busy but enjoyable because of all the fun gadgets all over the place. Highlight of the trip: we got a milk frother so I can froth my coffee with soy milk, and it was only $2. Man, I love that place!
The earrings I made today are a little weird and different. Sometimes I like experimenting with wire, seeing if I can sculpt it a little to come up with something different. I used the gold discs I used a couple days ago, some gold colored copper wire, triangle shaped beads, and some freshwater pearls.
Today we took a family trip to Ikea. It was really busy but enjoyable because of all the fun gadgets all over the place. Highlight of the trip: we got a milk frother so I can froth my coffee with soy milk, and it was only $2. Man, I love that place!
The earrings I made today are a little weird and different. Sometimes I like experimenting with wire, seeing if I can sculpt it a little to come up with something different. I used the gold discs I used a couple days ago, some gold colored copper wire, triangle shaped beads, and some freshwater pearls.
14 January 2011
Day 10
Hey all!
I don't have much to tell you about my day because, well, it hasn't been a very exciting one. What I did do, though, was take a whole bunch of earring pictures. I took them during the day, so I got to use natural light which made them clearer, wahoo! There's really no replacement for sunshine.
Today I found some thicker wire in my bag of beads, so I'll be able to make some better earring hooks. With that in mind, I present to you today's earrings:
I don't have much to tell you about my day because, well, it hasn't been a very exciting one. What I did do, though, was take a whole bunch of earring pictures. I took them during the day, so I got to use natural light which made them clearer, wahoo! There's really no replacement for sunshine.
Today I found some thicker wire in my bag of beads, so I'll be able to make some better earring hooks. With that in mind, I present to you today's earrings:
13 January 2011
Day 9
Hey all!
I am speed blogging trying to get this pair of earrings posted before it becomes tomorrow and I miss a day. Hope I make it!
Today I had another fabulous day in Boston. I took my friend who came to visit to the Museum of Fine Arts. They recently added a whole new wing for American art and it was fantastic. Then I went to the Institute of Contemporary Art in the evening, with another friend. Needless to say, I'm pretty tired out from all the museum hopping. Worth it? Definitely.
Today's earrings are small and a little different.
I am speed blogging trying to get this pair of earrings posted before it becomes tomorrow and I miss a day. Hope I make it!
Today I had another fabulous day in Boston. I took my friend who came to visit to the Museum of Fine Arts. They recently added a whole new wing for American art and it was fantastic. Then I went to the Institute of Contemporary Art in the evening, with another friend. Needless to say, I'm pretty tired out from all the museum hopping. Worth it? Definitely.
Today's earrings are small and a little different.
12 January 2011
Day 8
Hey all!
Today I spent a fantastic day inside with some friends, safe from the snow. We got so much snow, it was beautiful. We spent the day cooking and baking, and ended up with delicious soft pretzels and butternut squash gnocchi, so so yummy!
Now we're curling up watching some Wednesday night tv. It's been a really good day.
Today's earrings are fun and have lots of movement.
Today I spent a fantastic day inside with some friends, safe from the snow. We got so much snow, it was beautiful. We spent the day cooking and baking, and ended up with delicious soft pretzels and butternut squash gnocchi, so so yummy!
Now we're curling up watching some Wednesday night tv. It's been a really good day.
Today's earrings are fun and have lots of movement.
11 January 2011
Day 7
Hey all!
Today I spent my morning looking on the fire mountain gems website trying to order some new supplies. If everything goes according to plan, I will soon be ordering some silver Precious Metal Clay which I can use my brand new blowtorch to fire. Once it's fired it will act like a piece of silver. This new material will open up a huge realm of new possibilities and it's so exciting!
I'll also be ordering the sterling silver wire I spoke about yesterday (Argentinium wire), which will be practically tarnish resistant and which I will use for both wire wrapping and making earring hooks. I'm excited about all these new possibilities and potentially never buying earring hooks again!
Today I had another fabulous day in Boston... my favorite thing to do while I'm home for break. My friend and I found a nice cafe at a building that turns out to be the headquarters of the Boston Society of Architects. Architecture is one of my favorite things, so much so that it was even my future plan at one point. The cafe discovery was meant to be!
For today's earrings I used more of my holiday gift beads.
Today I spent my morning looking on the fire mountain gems website trying to order some new supplies. If everything goes according to plan, I will soon be ordering some silver Precious Metal Clay which I can use my brand new blowtorch to fire. Once it's fired it will act like a piece of silver. This new material will open up a huge realm of new possibilities and it's so exciting!
I'll also be ordering the sterling silver wire I spoke about yesterday (Argentinium wire), which will be practically tarnish resistant and which I will use for both wire wrapping and making earring hooks. I'm excited about all these new possibilities and potentially never buying earring hooks again!
Today I had another fabulous day in Boston... my favorite thing to do while I'm home for break. My friend and I found a nice cafe at a building that turns out to be the headquarters of the Boston Society of Architects. Architecture is one of my favorite things, so much so that it was even my future plan at one point. The cafe discovery was meant to be!
For today's earrings I used more of my holiday gift beads.
10 January 2011
Day 6
Hey all!
I finally did some etsy updating! Lots of new earrings for sale, many of them from this blog endeavor.
Today instead of spending the day on the couch, I went shopping and then to the library. At the library, I found some really great beading and wire books. I guess this is me nerding out a little but I found some awesome new techniques and I just want to try them all! I learned about this type of sterling silver wire that doesn't tarnish (sounds like a godsend!) and that if you point a blowtorch at a piece of it for 3 seconds it will melt to form a small teardrop, which is perfect for holding a bead.
I got a blowtorch a few weeks ago but keep putting off getting the gas to fill it. I guess I'm a little worried about burning the house down. Sometime soon I'll get the gas and start working with it. With the torch I'll also be able to use this material called Precious Metal Clay (PMC), which acts like real silver or gold when it is fired. I'm SO excited to begin working with that.
Now for today's earrings:
I finally did some etsy updating! Lots of new earrings for sale, many of them from this blog endeavor.
Today instead of spending the day on the couch, I went shopping and then to the library. At the library, I found some really great beading and wire books. I guess this is me nerding out a little but I found some awesome new techniques and I just want to try them all! I learned about this type of sterling silver wire that doesn't tarnish (sounds like a godsend!) and that if you point a blowtorch at a piece of it for 3 seconds it will melt to form a small teardrop, which is perfect for holding a bead.
I got a blowtorch a few weeks ago but keep putting off getting the gas to fill it. I guess I'm a little worried about burning the house down. Sometime soon I'll get the gas and start working with it. With the torch I'll also be able to use this material called Precious Metal Clay (PMC), which acts like real silver or gold when it is fired. I'm SO excited to begin working with that.
Now for today's earrings:
09 January 2011
Day 5
Hey all!
Yet again I have procrastinated posting new earrings for sale on my etsy shop... but I had another great day! I went into Boston for brunch at this cool restaurant/ bar called the Living Room. It has couches and armchairs in addition to its regular seating, which is a lot of fun. After brunch my friend and I went to see "The Social Network" at this small movie theater I had never even heard of before. Ah, the wonder of phones with internet!
On the train home I got a nice treat when some French girls sat right next to me. I'm minoring in French in college and I really love it, so my train ride home was infinitely nicer with a little eavesdropping.
When I got home, I vegged a little and then it was time to make my earrings. I decided today was a wire-wrapping kind of day. Here is the result:
Yet again I have procrastinated posting new earrings for sale on my etsy shop... but I had another great day! I went into Boston for brunch at this cool restaurant/ bar called the Living Room. It has couches and armchairs in addition to its regular seating, which is a lot of fun. After brunch my friend and I went to see "The Social Network" at this small movie theater I had never even heard of before. Ah, the wonder of phones with internet!
On the train home I got a nice treat when some French girls sat right next to me. I'm minoring in French in college and I really love it, so my train ride home was infinitely nicer with a little eavesdropping.
When I got home, I vegged a little and then it was time to make my earrings. I decided today was a wire-wrapping kind of day. Here is the result:
08 January 2011
Day 4
Hey all!
I must admit, today I sort of cheated. I completed some earrings that I had half-made a week or so ago. I figure that it's pretty legitimate though, given the fact that the other day I made two pairs of earrings.
I took a bunch of pictures today in my brand new light box. My goal was to put those pictures up in my etsy shop but my day got very busy and I didn't have time. It will happen soon, I promise!
In addition to taking pictures, today I saw "The King's Speech" and went to a great bookstore. The movie was fabulous. In the bookstore, I looked at some jewelry books. I love looking at other people's designs and getting ideas, but I try to make absolutely sure I'm not copying anyone. I like to keep my designs unique, or at least as unique as I can make them.
Without further ado... today's earrings!
I must admit, today I sort of cheated. I completed some earrings that I had half-made a week or so ago. I figure that it's pretty legitimate though, given the fact that the other day I made two pairs of earrings.
I took a bunch of pictures today in my brand new light box. My goal was to put those pictures up in my etsy shop but my day got very busy and I didn't have time. It will happen soon, I promise!
In addition to taking pictures, today I saw "The King's Speech" and went to a great bookstore. The movie was fabulous. In the bookstore, I looked at some jewelry books. I love looking at other people's designs and getting ideas, but I try to make absolutely sure I'm not copying anyone. I like to keep my designs unique, or at least as unique as I can make them.
Without further ado... today's earrings!
07 January 2011
Day 3
Hey all!
Well I officially wasted my day on the couch watching wedding shows and 16 and pregnant. The day was salvaged when I went out for a nice dinner, made my light box for better photography and, of course, made my daily earrings.
I also made some french onion soup, which was nice and simple. I know this isn't a blog about food but I must admit that food blogs are my guilty pleasure. A friend just introduced me to tastespotting, and that introduced me to many other blogs, and now I can assure you I will never be without a recipe.
So back to the jewelry... Today's earrings are gold, because I only have gold earring hooks left and because I have lots and lots of my favorite gold chain.
Well I officially wasted my day on the couch watching wedding shows and 16 and pregnant. The day was salvaged when I went out for a nice dinner, made my light box for better photography and, of course, made my daily earrings.
I also made some french onion soup, which was nice and simple. I know this isn't a blog about food but I must admit that food blogs are my guilty pleasure. A friend just introduced me to tastespotting, and that introduced me to many other blogs, and now I can assure you I will never be without a recipe.
So back to the jewelry... Today's earrings are gold, because I only have gold earring hooks left and because I have lots and lots of my favorite gold chain.
06 January 2011
Day 2
Hey all!
Today I spent a lot of time going through all my beads, trying to come up with ideas and trying to organize a little. I've come to realize that the actual production of a piece of jewelry doesn't take very long, but coming up with ideas sometimes takes forever. There is also a lot of trial and error, making one earring and deciding it doesn't work, that sort of thing. Luckily, by the end of the day I ended up with 2 pairs of earrings.
I also went to an antique store today, which is so much fun and tends to be filled with jewelry. On this mission I was particularly interested in finding odds and ends that I can use to display earrings. I also always look at the jewelry, brooches, and hats whenever I go to antique stores. It is just so cool to know that everything in the store has a story behind it, a history. Maybe it's the art history major in me, but I find it fascinating. I ended up with 2 picture frames that I'll put some mesh in and hang earrings from. They're nothing too crazy but I wonder who the people are that owned them before me!
Now onto the jewelry! Here are the 2 pairs of earrings I made today:
Today I spent a lot of time going through all my beads, trying to come up with ideas and trying to organize a little. I've come to realize that the actual production of a piece of jewelry doesn't take very long, but coming up with ideas sometimes takes forever. There is also a lot of trial and error, making one earring and deciding it doesn't work, that sort of thing. Luckily, by the end of the day I ended up with 2 pairs of earrings.
I also went to an antique store today, which is so much fun and tends to be filled with jewelry. On this mission I was particularly interested in finding odds and ends that I can use to display earrings. I also always look at the jewelry, brooches, and hats whenever I go to antique stores. It is just so cool to know that everything in the store has a story behind it, a history. Maybe it's the art history major in me, but I find it fascinating. I ended up with 2 picture frames that I'll put some mesh in and hang earrings from. They're nothing too crazy but I wonder who the people are that owned them before me!
Now onto the jewelry! Here are the 2 pairs of earrings I made today:
 |
| This one uses green leaves that I got yesterday and my absolute favorite gold chain. I don't know if the picture fully captures how funky the chain is. |
05 January 2011
Day 1
Hey all!
Technically I have already missed a day of posting, woops! But today is day 1 of my 365 pieces of jewelry in 365 (or at most 400) days challenge, and I am determined! I hope that through this challenge I will start exploring new techniques and even new materials. I will also try improving my jewelry photography skills. I was planning on making a light box for photography yesterday or today, but that task has become more complicated since I misplaced my x-acto knife. It will happen soon but until then I am improvising. What does that mean, you ask? Well today it means taking photos in a white casserole dish and a metal mesh file holder.
I live in the Boston area, and yesterday I went to the Boston Bead Company (formerly Beadworks) in Harvard Square. Harvard Square is a really great area with lots of shops, great restaurants, and obviously Harvard University. It's one of my favorite areas in the Boston area and it has a great atmosphere. I bought some great beads at the store, and got inspired. Bead stores are such a great environment. They are not only filled with colorful beads of varying shapes and sizes, and friendly staff who are happy to answer questions, but they are filled with handmade jewelry and always give me tons of ideas. I leave them with new beads in my bag and new techniques in my head.
Technically I have already missed a day of posting, woops! But today is day 1 of my 365 pieces of jewelry in 365 (or at most 400) days challenge, and I am determined! I hope that through this challenge I will start exploring new techniques and even new materials. I will also try improving my jewelry photography skills. I was planning on making a light box for photography yesterday or today, but that task has become more complicated since I misplaced my x-acto knife. It will happen soon but until then I am improvising. What does that mean, you ask? Well today it means taking photos in a white casserole dish and a metal mesh file holder.
I live in the Boston area, and yesterday I went to the Boston Bead Company (formerly Beadworks) in Harvard Square. Harvard Square is a really great area with lots of shops, great restaurants, and obviously Harvard University. It's one of my favorite areas in the Boston area and it has a great atmosphere. I bought some great beads at the store, and got inspired. Bead stores are such a great environment. They are not only filled with colorful beads of varying shapes and sizes, and friendly staff who are happy to answer questions, but they are filled with handmade jewelry and always give me tons of ideas. I leave them with new beads in my bag and new techniques in my head.
Check out the great beads I got yesterday!
03 January 2011
First Post: Prologue
Hey all!
My name is Eve, and I make jewelry. I started about 3 and a half years ago after a friend saw me doodling earrings all over my notebooks and suggested I actually make something of my designs. Since then, I've been both teaching myself and gathering ideas from books, websites, other people's jewelry, basically anywhere i can find them. I work mainly in beads and wire, occasionally using findings like buttons or watch gears. I am a poor college student so I can't afford all that much else, but it's time to get creative!
A couple days ago my friend suggested I start a blog about my jewelry-making, perhaps even making a piece a day. I'm a little wary to commit to doing something every single day. I'm giving myself a little leeway: if my 365 days of jewelry are completed 400 days or less from now, I will consider it a success.
I'm hoping that through this, I will be able to hone my skills while also increasing my productivity. Along the way, I guess I'll talk about my day, my life, etc. I'm a graduating senior in college, by the way, so the future is near! That should make for some interesting reading.
In order to be truly proud of my jewelry I need to be able to take nice pictures of it. Therefore, project number one starts tomorrow. I am going to make this, which is basically a box that will distribute light evenly and make for some beautiful pictures. Once that happens (hopefully tomorrow!) I'll get this show on the road!
Love and Beads,
Eve
My name is Eve, and I make jewelry. I started about 3 and a half years ago after a friend saw me doodling earrings all over my notebooks and suggested I actually make something of my designs. Since then, I've been both teaching myself and gathering ideas from books, websites, other people's jewelry, basically anywhere i can find them. I work mainly in beads and wire, occasionally using findings like buttons or watch gears. I am a poor college student so I can't afford all that much else, but it's time to get creative!
A couple days ago my friend suggested I start a blog about my jewelry-making, perhaps even making a piece a day. I'm a little wary to commit to doing something every single day. I'm giving myself a little leeway: if my 365 days of jewelry are completed 400 days or less from now, I will consider it a success.
I'm hoping that through this, I will be able to hone my skills while also increasing my productivity. Along the way, I guess I'll talk about my day, my life, etc. I'm a graduating senior in college, by the way, so the future is near! That should make for some interesting reading.
In order to be truly proud of my jewelry I need to be able to take nice pictures of it. Therefore, project number one starts tomorrow. I am going to make this, which is basically a box that will distribute light evenly and make for some beautiful pictures. Once that happens (hopefully tomorrow!) I'll get this show on the road!
Love and Beads,
Eve
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