Passing The Test: The Importance of Wearing New Designs

Protection/anti negativity earrings, using gemstones of black tourmaline, garnet, pyrite and black spinel, set in sterling silver, special order from GoodnessInTheCosmos.etsy.com

Rummaging through my gemstone beads, I came across some unexpected pebbled garnets that were mixed into a string of garnet chips. They were the size, shape and look of those special garnets that one might discover ‘in the wild’, in rivers, or ground. And so my inspiration was peaked. I snagged these six stones from my chips stock and began working on a new design.

Artist’s go through all sorts of processes once the inspiration spark is lit. Personally, when I am working with gemstones, cut, size, color, wearability, are all important factors, but often take secondary importance to gemstone significance. I want everything I make to have a reason, a purpose, a point to be. Because in my mind, if there is no point or purpose, well then I have no reason to make it.

So in this piece, I went with the protective, grounding energies of garnet, and matched the rest of the stones based on that purpose. The final design I came up with used: 1 black tourmaline at the base, followed by three garnet pebbles, sparkly yet extremely fragile stabilized pyrite and finished with three faceted black spinel stones, per earring post. The choice of stones gave me a fairly long and heavy earring, which is not really what I like to show in something that will be hanging from my dainty ears. I knew i might have to make some modifications with this one from my initial ideal version. because let’s face it, sometimes the greatness of our plans does not align with the practicality of our result, which is being able to wear a fabulous comfortable piece of jewelry.

With the gem design being pretty important, I knew I wanted to keep all or most of the design initially planned.  Some modifications that I took in account to keep the weight down , I used a very thin gauge solid sterling silver head pin for the gems to be on. By using a lighter metal, I was not going to get the durability, but because of the weight of the stones, this helped to keep the stones strait and in place. What I mean by durability here, is that sometimes a thinner gauge wire will bend out of shape easily. Since I wanted a nice strait piece, the weight of the stones compensated for what would usually be a deal breaker in design.

Because of the thinner gauge of the choice of headpin, I also lost a bit of length capabilities and had to take out one of the stones. Originally I had planned on two black tourmaline stones for the bottom. not only was this impractical from the view of gauge capabilities, but it didn’t look right when put together. Sometimes a design will look better on the board than it does on the wire (or thread). Another great reason to test before settling.

Keeping in mind the weight of the stones, in my first version I used a heavier gauge ear wire. Notice I said first version, I’ll get back to that in a bit. But here is why I initially chose a heavier gauge earwire, logically to support a heavy material, you would assume using a heavier metal support would be ideal. This is where wear testing a piece is essential. because that perfectly created visual first version which looked spectacular, did not wear that way. If I never had the piece wear tested (by yourself or a trusted friend), I wouldn’t have realized they were uncomfortable and unwearable design.

Wear testing new designs is a great way to work out the ‘bugs’ or problems in a piece before they get associated with your name and reputation as an artist. After wear testing you might find that a piece is too heavy to be worn comfortably, as in this case.

Some other issues wear testing helps us jewelers avoid: too clunky, does not move well, moves to much, snags on something, has a sharp spot, needs more filing, stone not set properly, too small, colors not as imagined, balance is off on a necklace, does not lay right, clasp not workable, ring is too thick, stone used too large or small, etc. Basically all those little ‘details’ that you personally notice when you buy and wear jewelry, others will notice while wearing your jewelry and judge you and your jewelry on.

Be a professional in your workmanship. Whether jewelry design is your hobby, profession or solely artistry, it is always best to test your jewelry designs before selling or giving away as gifts.

So getting back to my story, what did I do in version 2 of the design to make it a success? I changed the ear wire gauge to a lighter gauge. Sometimes reality defies logic. In actuality the lighter gauge in metals matching was more important than the bulkiness of the stones matching the bulkiness of the metal gauge.

Wear testing also helps us more efficiently make our creations. What was a problem in the past, becomes easily avoidable in the future.

I hope this has inspired you to get out there, create, don’t be afraid to get messy and fail, then fix your mistakes. 🙂

Support a Vegan Artist, visit my handmade jewelry webstore at : https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Christmas Jewelry Rocks! Giving the Gift of Handmade, Goodness In The Cosmos Jewelry

GoodnessInTheCosmos.etsy.com seed beaded Christmas earrings, gifts. Wreaths and Snowflakes in Sterling Silver

What’s better than an ugly Christmas Sweater? Classy and elegant Christmas Jewelry that’s what! Shown above some seed beaded glass earrings I’ve finished up. This week is special gift making time. Seed beading is such a precious gift. Tiny colors of glass all woven together with bits of thread, and this is what you get! Handmade Earrings,with lots of time, energy, intention and love becomes art on your ears. Seed beading is the best jewelry gift I can give to anyone, truly. A very meticulous art of love. And with earrings, you get all that goodness twice.

Show some winter love by gifting to others. It feels good to give handmade, and hopefully to receive that love too 😉

Beaded Christmas Ornaments, Vintage Style: 3 Simple Tips On Beading a Perfect Stiff Ornament.

GoodnessInTheCosmos.etsy.com Hand Beaded Christmas Ornament with Vintage Beads

I feel very fortunate to have been passed on Great Grandma’s beads to create with. Even though Gma didn’t invest in quality, she invested in quantity which has come in handy over the years

Gma’s beads are pulled out every Christmas and Advent season. Due to the quantity there is plenty to share. Family and friends, Scout troups and students alike, all enjoy gathering around to create with the large assortment of vintage beads.

I use Gma’s vintage stash of beads to try out hand beading designs and practice innovative and new techniques.  Pictured above is my most recent hand made beaded ornament. Because I wanted a stiffer quality ornament, instead of using the materials which are many beader’s best friend, the very practical needle and thread, this project was made by hand without a needle using clear monofilament (Beadalon).

One advantage of using monofilament cord, besides the obvious advantage of the stiffness, is that a beader only has to go through each row once and can knot in the same row to achieve the desired stabilization that many passes with the N&T achieves. This saves both time and materials.

Even with these advantages, difficulty with the needle free beading technique is not unheard of.  At times the filament could come out at the wrong place or fall within the piece. All you need are a couple extra tools to help.

Tools to Have on Hand

1. A blunt plastic yarn embroidery/sewing needle– Use this to press beads down that you are skipping in the pattern. By pressing the skipped beads down with the needle, this technique will help the filament come through and out of the intended correct bead.

2. Bent nose pliers– This is great for easy grabbing of the filament cord as well as a knotting assistant. My personal favorite are the professional micro-variety bent nose plier with smooth ends.

With these helpful hints and tips you should be good to go 🙂 Victoria

Post a picture of your creations in the comment section, I’d love to see how they turn out.

GoodnessInTheCosmos.etsy.com A view form the side of this vintage beaded 3-d Christmas ornament.

Support a Vegan Artist, Please visit my handmade jewelry webstore  https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Express Your Creativity, Enhanced Living Through Art

Goodnessinthecosmos.etsy.com Chandelier Earrings, Apatite, Moonstone, Fluorite Sodalite, Sterling Silver Earwire, Custom Order

I just finished this intricate pair of chandelier earrings. Although quite lovely, it is not a style I usually have time to work with. All that twisting, measuring, shaping, gemstone color,size, and energy property matching, then wrapping, pinching, and weaving the wire…it’s tedious and time consuming labor!

But taking time to be attentive to those unusual extra details, really pausing in the stillness of the moment while creating, is liberating in so many ways. Our lives are enhanced. The creation of art changes us and circles us around to another new awareness.

Whether it is a drawing, sculpture, jewelry making, or even food preparation, gardening or our day to day chores, being in the moment of creation gives us space to become the most beautiful we can be. And what a fantastic moment to capture, potential actualized through art.

When things are too hectic and busy for us to feel like ourselves, take time out of the ordinary routine. Do something hard and tedious in the name of art. It’ll bring the mind’s attention back to the moment, and enhance our lives in ways unforeseen.

Support a Vegan Artist, Visit my handmade jewelry webstore: https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Treasure! Gemstone finds via Lake Huron

Gemstones rocks, and fossils found on the shores of Lake Huron

I had the great fortune and permission to rock hunt on a private beach of the shores of Lake Huron during a vacation of much needed ‘spiritual renewal’. For me this was an experience in treasure hunting. Imagine my delight to see quartz, moonstone (feldspar), jasper, chert, petoskey, various fossilized corals, agate, micah, muscovite, unakite, (I could go on and on) all laying about on the shores.

The first time I saw the beach it had just rained and I followed the rainbow to the lakeside, and there my pot of gold lie, an entire shoreline of perfectly polished shimmering stones. You see the wetness of the storm revealed what the stones could look like in their polished beauty. Without storm and rain, this ‘treasure’ would have been disguised. It would have appeared as washed out beach stone, to be passed by and ignored. But in radiant light, shinning through sunset and double rainbow, the perfected beauty in wetness was revealed.

I’m so glad I could take time out to gather, collect, and contemplate through this experience. The ritual of gathering helped me reflect, and meditate.  It helped me think of all the ‘ordinary’ beauty and goodness in my everyday life that I could be passing by and ignoring. In light of every color, hearing sounds of gentle waves, I physically bent over to pick up stones, while my body reached a meditative awareness, a prayer state of consciousness. Each gem discovered sparked another affirmation of goodness revealed.

Ritual is one way to transcend the regular and reach a cognizant level of appreciation and awareness. What rituals can you incorporate into your daily life to help you find the ‘treasure’ that might otherwise be overlooked? Are you too tired and stuck in the trials of storm to transition to the new awareness avaiable after life’s storms, an after which may lead to following rainbows, rest, and a new perspective?

Gemstones rocks, and fossils found on the shores of Lake Huron

On another level, this is my favorite way to acquire gems and supplies for my art of jewelry making. I feel that the loving meditative energy I held while collecting my materials is reflected in my art, design and work. I hope my patrons can feel that when they wear my creations.

Thanks for reading my blog. Support a vegan artist, visit my webstore for handmade gemstone jewelry: https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

For the Artist or Designer: Creating by Request, Finding Success Through Communication and Integrity

Custom Bracelet by https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Historically speaking, the patronage system and artists go hand in hand. That is to say, an artist creates what a customer requests. Creating by request can be a challenge, but I like to think of it as an adventure. After all, we all come from different ‘communication’ cultures and can have varying ways of communicating our needs, wants, desires, and ideas to eachother.

The best advice I can give in regards to creating successful and, well… LOVED, custom order is to work on your communication. The more specific your correspondence is before you create a custom order, the better the results of product and customer satisfaction.

Here is a quick checklist:
Inquire to specifically what the customer is looking for. This is an important step, by using the guidelines below you will help the patron (customer) and yourself. I find sometimes those who’d like a custom order, aren’t sure exactly what they even want. The artist can help shape the concept from ‘imagination and desire’ into concrete reality.
* Listen, listen and listen some more. The customer might have a great idea you’ve never even thought of. Don’t go in there with your big plan before finding out what their ideas are.
* Find out what final ‘item’ is being requested. Most customers will know this right away.
* Find out what materials you need to work with.
* Find out any specific artistic “image, theme, or purpose” the item will represent.
* Find out how the item is to be used. Usually this is clear, but just in case…
* Find out how much the customer is expecting to spend.
* Find out if your time frame of completion matches the customers expecations.
* Always check your stock before making promises on time or cost.
* Be ready to fulfill any ‘promises’ you made.

The last one especially is important. If you do not think you can finish an item in time, or with the cost or style your customer would like, do not promise to make it.

Personally I have turned down custom requests on several occasions.
Sometimes a customer’s needs do not match my style, or even can be completely unrealistic into what can be created. Sometimes I do not have the materials on hand, or the materials needed cannot be easily acquired for the time or price expected. It is always important to be honest with you’re potential customer and turn down the order if you need to. If you want to be helpful, you can even refer them specifically if you know of someone else who would be a ‘better fit’ for their needs. I have no issue giving others business for those projects I won’t be able to’take on’. This frees me to work on other things,and helps satisfy the customer and other artist. Help is a good thing 🙂

Having good communication skills, and artistic integrity is a way to differentiate yourself as an honest, easy to work with artist. Being a skilled artist is only ‘half’ of what you need to be a successful artist.

Happy custom creating!

Visit my original handmade jewelry webstore: https://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Up-cycling and Vintage Bling, Set Your Creativity Free Through Light and Community

Up-cycling vintage bling

Many times I come across a pattern and love the idea of it, but not the results or details. If this happens to you, there is only one thing to do, change the details to suit you. The above is a recent bracelet I created based off of a pattern called “Splash bracelet”, which can be found in Bead and Button’s Beaded Bracelets.

This was a perfect opportunity to re-use a broken vintage component. I’m not sure what this component originally was, but I used it as a sort of button and stitched it to the middle in place of the beaded focal point the pattern suggested. Since it was to be in the center of the piece, I wanted it to be something special and different, to draw the eye. Just a ‘regular’ bead spread wouldn’t do for my purposes. When I mention ‘regular beads’ I’m referring to the type of beads you could easily get from somewhere else and repeat the exact project all over again. I’m kind of anti mechanistic this way. I mean, what’s the point of going through all the tedious labor of ‘hand making’ if someone else could make/get or easily have the same exact thing, but I digress…

In the details of the piece I worked the fringe with beads of the same green color family but with different finish/texture/size and cut. It’s something you can see repeated in my other works. If I am making a piece fit to sparkle, I like it to catch the light in every type of lighting and angle available. Sunlight, fluorescent light, incandescent light, dim light, bright light, candle light, etc. will all effect the interpretation of bead color and shine in various ways. By using different types of beads (satin, hex, twist, ab finish, trans, silver lined, etc.) the beads can take full advantage of light, thus enhancing the beauty of the piece. For example, some beads will capture the light within the bead. Some beads will bounce the light at an angle. Some will shine the light outward. I could go on.

Often times I relate grand ideas of life and theory to beads, and in this instance it’s also applicable. In my parallel, people are like the different beads, each cut and finished in a unique way. Similar to how a bead interacts with the light available, We processes and assimilate light through our lives in our own perfect ways. And like beads, It’s when we work together that we can create a stunning representation of the light no matter the quality of, or type light available to us. The light in a ‘person’ perspective meaning: all that is good, harmonious and beautiful.

So to me, beads in a beautiful stitched arrangement of detail, are like the woven communities around us. We seek light, beauty and goodness through interaction, just as the beads represent beauty in tangible form. That’s why it is so much easier to be reminded of the light, and goodness when are in positive community. We are reminded of the light by seeing it within, reflected, bounced and shining out in others.

Be the light, Shine your goodness, and set your creativity free through community.

Victoria

Visit Victoria’s webstore at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodnessinthecosmos

Signs of Productivity, small motivation to move forward

Signs of a productive day

Signs of a Productive Day

While immersed in long projects, sometimes it is hard for me to remain upbeat and positive in my ‘progress’ I think it is easy to get down logged by all that has to be done still, without appreciating all that has been.

One thing that helps me is “look for signs of progress”. The picture above is one of my ‘progress markers’. It is a bunch of string ends from an assortment of beads. For some people even putting away and organizing your ‘tools’ can be a project. I’m actually one of those people who enjoys organizing beads and such, but a friend of mine is the exact opposite. She gets so burdened by the decisions of even putting her beads in a specific spot that she’ll often times forget where her ‘new beads’ have gone off to. This can get her so down that she’ll even avoid starting a project altogether.

So I told her to cut off a piece of string from each strand of beads that she puts away. For me this is practical so they fit well in the storage containers, for her is it a sign of progress. Holding all those threads in hand symbolizes a great task that has been completed.

The technique of looking for “signs of progress” can be applied to any project. Take time to assess and look back before diving forward. Acknowledging the progress helps propel the motion of completion.

Inspiration from the Aged: On Using Antique/Vintage Beads

Old beads, and sometimes new, need to be washed before handling to remove dust, residue and chemical. Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is a great gentle wash. What do you use?

The excitement of creation doesn’t just come from the new.  Creating with old beads is a huge thrill and can fuel the fires of imagining inspiring designs.

Personally, there is just something so thrilling about an old short hank of pre-war seed beads.  Here are these museum quality antiques, generations older than myself, never been used.  They come from a time before wars, before plastics, and computerized industrialization.  In my nostalgia I imagine this as a more peaceful time, can practically feel those peaceful energies emitting from the beads.  It’s almost like they are calling out to be used.  I know some would argue they belong in a museum, but to me that would be a waste of supply.  They were created for an artful purpose, to be beauty.  Being a part of that process is so uplifting and rewarding.

Not all vintage beads are in pristine un-used glory.  Many can be found in already made older pieces.  I often encounter broken pieces of nostalgia that people just give me over because they know I make jewelry, and to them it’s useless.  In these cases, an artist needs to weigh the options in any older piece : Fix, re-make or pass on.

If it’s a beauty or indicative of a unique time in history I will repair the piece as much to the original as possible (and usually try to give it back to the person who handed it off to me in the first place).  Sometimes the ‘broken’ aspects of an item are minor, and things can be easily cleaned up and repaired.

Sometimes a piece uses very lovely beads and components, but is just not pratical for wearing.  When this is the case I salvage the beads and re-make them into something new.  Now adays this is referred to as “up-cycling” or “re-purposing”.

Lastly, there are those cases when things just need to be tossed to the re-sale store.  I say that because I am not a fan of throwing things out, and you never know my ‘trash’ could be another’s treasure.  Things are ‘trash’ to me if :

1.  The beads are damaged too heavily to be of use (chips along stringing line, cheap metal tarnish, paint coming off, etc)
2. Damage from perfume/lotion.  Some things are just too ‘smelly’ for my tastes.  This is always an issue with repair work for me.  I wash everything in Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap (liquid and mint are my faves) before I even touch it.  Some of those perfumes are toxic, people, and the sensitive will easily break out when encountering them,
3. Cheap material.  If the piece is a natural gemstone It will always be re-used.  It has value.  But plastic beads, eh, I don’t care what era they are from, to me this is junk and only holds ‘sentimental’ value.  Think about it, when you don plastic you’re wearing ‘oil’ products.  ICK!  I feel the same way about created crystals (yes that includes the ever popular Swarvoski).  That is made with lead people.  So gross in SO many ways.   Enameled beads and jewelry are not that much better, as they are mixed with adhesives, but at least there is a bit of artistry in that. If you want to make or give a wearable keepsake, choose glass, or natural stone jewelry.

I suppose my best advice for working with old jewelry pieces and components is, “know what you are working with”, know what you are buying.  Know the materials, the style, and the history (if possible).  They say knowledge is power, and to me it’s also inspiration.