It’s WEDDING Time!!

How exciting! Everybody’s busy and focused on THE wedding. Emotions run high. You learn all over again how wonderful your friends are.
People are watching their spending closely. It’s no different for artisan jewellery being worn by this year’s brides. Try DIY ~Do It Yourself~ kits.  You’ll learn a new technique that may send you down [...]

Notes to Self: Music Hath Power …

I spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening last night. On our Bravo channel was 2 hours of song and dance by the Soweto Gospel Choir. I loved it! The performance celebrated the 10th anniversary of democracy, the downfall of apartheid, in South Africa.
The harmonies and dissonances sound different to our western ears and yet it was not [...]

Interview Questions

Please tell my readers a bit about yourself and where we can find you on the internet.
What is your mission statement? What best describes your work?
What is your chosen craft and how long have you been working in that media?
Why did you choose this over other crafts?
What, or who, inspires you the most? In life? [...]

Niki.Tasha – Follow Up

 

Black n Silver Amulet Bag Backside

Well. I did promise to add pictures of the finished amulet bags and I have been remiss in not doing so.
I’ve received a slap up the side of m’ head, figuratively speaking, so here they are.
You will note, I hope, that these pictures don’t quite match the graphs offered in [...]

Notes to Self – 9 – In Translation

On another blog, a problem presented itself. A translation from one language to another was wished for. And such a tool exists in Google.
No matter what language you use, written text in one language can be translated into another. And that is a big step to understanding cultures other than our own. And when we [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 14 – Amulet Bag Strap

Hiya, Niki. We’re almost done with the peyote technique.
A decision must be made how you intend to use this small amulet bag. Will you wear it attached to your belt? or around your neck? or as a cell phone strap?
If you choose to wear it around your neck, you must decide how long you want [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 13 – Flap

Hiya, Niki. This lesson is in Flat Peyote: if you used the simple bottom instructions and didn’t choose the round bottom to close up one end of the tube, then you already know how to do the flat peyote technique.
If you chose the round bottom technique, then good on you. You are learning all kinds [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 12 – Circular Peyote – Inside and Outside

Hiya, Niki.  This lesson is about putting a round bottom on your amulet bag.  Later you may decide to make a round top as well.  Regardless whether or not you make a round top, it’s a good idea to learn the circular technique from the inside out and the outside in.  I have taken some [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 11 – Sides and Bottom

Hiya, Niki.   This lesson brings your personal sense of style into this peyote tube amulet bag.  You have finished with the graph for a short time.  Don’t get rid of it:  it has your notes about the pattern on it.  Just tuck it away in a safe place where you can easily find it again.  [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 10 – A Tube and Tension

Well, Niki, I finally gave up my efforts to decipher my designing software.  Okay, not really ‘gave up;’  I’ll continue in my discoveries with the software but for now I did the work freehand.  Please excuse my work when you find minor differences in spacing and alignment;  my work is a representation of my human-ness:  [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 9 – Miscellaneous

I have just read your initial answers to my questions again.  You have the opportunity to work on a short artist’s statement and a bit of a biography.  While you are looking around your community, your country, your home and clothes closet, decide what you like and why.  You know,  I love the colour ??? [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 8 – Peyote Stitch My Way

Hiya, Niki;  here is my alternative Tubular Peyote Technique.  You will note that much of my method is the same as the traditional technique written out in Lesson 7.  I know a picture is worth a thousand words and I will add pictures once I figure out my new designing software.  I promise. 
These instructions relate [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 7 – Peyote Stitch

There are many good books that can give you the instructions of the Peyote Stitch.  My favourite is a small, spiral bound book by Judith Durant & Jean Campbell:  ‘The Beader’sCompanion” , printed by Interweave Press, Inc. ISBN 1-883010-56-X.  Here is a link to Amazon.com where you can pick up this great little book and at [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 5 – Colours

There are all kinds of websites that dedicate some space to defining the meanings of colours.  In Lesson 4 – Colour, we discussed colour theory and we explained cool and warm colours.  In addition to the theory, is the ‘feeling’ or reaction one has with colours. 
The warm colours of yellow, orange and red are gregarious, [...]

Niki.Tasha – Lesson 3 – Needles

Needles!  I have so much to say!
Once upon a time needles were an important part of a housemaker’s kit.  They were hard to come by then and were housed in elaborate needlecases; sometimes made of silver or gold and sometimes of wood and whalebone.  A valuable gift for  a sailor to give the sweetheart he [...]

Niki.Tasha Lesson 2 – The Goods

Let’s get started, Niki.  Tools and supplies you will need:
Beeswax or Thread Heaven which is a waxy substance that conditions the threadin a similar way to beeswax -
Needles – I’ll explain what you want in the following posts.
Needle Threader – How good are your eyes? How steady are your hands?  My eyes are still pretty good [...]

Lesson 1 – July 11 08

Hiya, Niki.  Welcome to your first lesson.  I need you to tell m:
1. What is your motivation to learn beading? 
2. Do you have a style in mind?  For example, beading on fabric, jewellery making, making a fabric with beads, something else not mentioned?
3. What tools do you have?
I will offer choices of equipment once I learn [...]