Notes to Self – Bead Journal Project

I’m about to step onto my soapbox and get mouthy. You are forewarned.
I signed up for a year long challenge: Bead Journal Project 2008-2009. Each month of the year you make something that has beads in it. The size and style and methods are my own decisions to make. The only  rule is that beads [...]

Great News – Play for Change

A ‘busker’ is a street performer, paid in nickels and dimes. They ‘play for change.’
Change: noun, alteration; substitution of one for another (from Oxford English Dictionary).
I was listening to Bill Moyers Journal today, Sunday, October 26, 2008. I was entertained by James K Galbraith, author of The Predator State. How a propos to today’s monetary crisis.
Following [...]

Notes to Self – The Art of Gift Giving

We have no money. And Christmas is fast approaching. Already Christmas decorations are appearing in the shopping malls and Halloween hasn’t arrived yet. Every thing you see appears to be so ‘commercial.’
To avoid getting the wrong gift, gift certificates and gift cards are available at many stores, both in the ‘real world’ and in cyberspace. [...]

Around Town – Gift Giving and Your Budget

It’s that crazy time of year again when people forget their manners and spend way too much money. The buying of gifts at Christmas is meant to follow in the footsteps of the 3 Magi who brought gifts precious gifts to the baby, Jesus.
What’s so bad this year is the economy. Both Canada and the [...]

About Town – Handmade Jewellery

Look everybody and see what I’ve found!
 
Vanessa Glavac is a young entrepreneur who found a niche market; producing videos of basic techniques in beading. She breaks down each technique into easy to follow steps and, before you know it, you are creating your own artisan jewellery. Once you have these basic techniques you can do [...]

Technique – Flat Wire Coil

Here is another way you can coil wire and it doesn’t require a mandrel. Make one to use as a charm on a bracelet. Make a bunch of them and link them together to make a bracelet or a necklace.
 
  ToolBox
5in length of #22ga wire, round nose pliers, that’s it.
Technique
Bend the length of wire in [...]