Artisans In The Courtyard!!!!

It is less than 12 hours before Artisans In The Courtyard is open for business!  One day only!  May 11, 2013, 11 am - 7 p.m. (PST) local artists will be showing their work.  So if you love original art, handcrafted jewelry, home decor, bags, gifts, and more - stop by!  It's going to be up to 12 vendors in a homey, boutique-like setting. 

It's going to be fun with drawings for goody bags throughout the day, and bags will be given to the first 20 who walk through the door.  Don't miss out!  I've seen the goody bag contents, and they're great!  I'm really excited to be participating in this event.

So if you're interested, here are the links to more information:  https://www.facebook.com/artisansinthecourtyard#!/events/141425226028291/?fref=ts

https://smore.com/d7au

Hope to see you there!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com
TerahsClassicCreations.blogspot.com
Facebook.com/TerahsClassicCreationsStudio

A Viking Knit Journey

This project utilizes viking knit - an ancient technique used by the vikings, according to some sources as early as the 8th or 9th century.  Some people also call it Trichonopoly.  This technique is still used by modern artisans to make men's and women's adornments.

A customer of mine recently requested a special piece - one in a thicker gauge - fit for a man. In stainless steel too! With a challenge like that I just couldn't resist! So I documented a little along the way. Here is my journey. . . .





I start by creating a three-loop "cast-on".  Then wrapping
the wire with the aid of  a mandrel.  In this case I like to use
 a 10 mm size.  I also prefer a plastic mandrel - it seems to be easier to
work with.


 

Here you can see that I'm using the double viking knit technique.
I loop the wire behind the second loop above the row I am
working on. 


 


This is really where the magic happens!!!  These are called draw plates.
They have varying sized holes through which the knitting is pulled (Of course
after it has been taken off the mandrel. ;-D)  This evens the stitches, elongates
the woven rope and decreases the circumference.  This is the step that makes
it into what most of us recognize as the intriguing, beautiful, historical - Viking Knit!!!!
(In the case of this necklace, because of the large gauge of the wire, I had to enlist my husband's
manpower to help me draw the rope through the holes.  It's kind of a fun tug-of-war!!!  :-D)




 

This is something I've started doing for my own reference. I take notes of the starting size and materials, and the corresponding results after using the draw plates. Why? Because each "knitter" can come up with their own results depending on the tension they use when pulling the wire. Also, I can duplicate my results if I desire to make the same necklace again. Ironically, after making this note, I found I had to decrease the size of the viking knit by pulling it through the draw plate one more time, which changed the diameter & length - but only very slightly. I was happy that it needed to go through one more time. I believe the more compressed the knitted rope becomes, the more beautiful it becomes!

 

 

 

 

I trimmed the ends to the desired length and affixed the end-caps

that included the ring, and voila!!!!  A necklace fit for a Viking!!!!

 

 

 

 

 The end-caps are stunning and really add the wow-factor!  I hope it's new owner loves it!!!  I know I had a great time creating it!!!

Thanks for following me on this Viking Knit journey!!

As always, have fun!!!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com
Facebook.com/TerahsClassicCreationsStudio

 

Vice or Virtue?

Lately I've been sucked into the vortex of the wide and wonderful world of internet shopping!  I must admit I never thought of myself as much of a shopper.  When I was young my Mom would take me shopping, and what I mostly remember is marathon days and tired feet at the end of it.  During which time I would have to try of tons of clothes, most of which never fit right.   Then, there was the peculiar smell the hangers would leave on your hands.  Suffice it to say, I thought I was the odd-ball girl - the one who didn't like shopping.

Then I discovered beads, books (anything I didn't have to try on), things that let me take a mental vacation, a place to go to create!!!!  Okay, so I learned I liked craft shopping!  That brings me to today.  Now that I have an on-line shoppe (TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com), I find I spend more time on the computer than I used to.  NOW I can shop without the wierd smell of hangers on my hands, without the tired feet at the end of the day.  I can just browse the endless virtual aisles of EYE-CANDY everywhere!!!!!  Wooohoooo!

So my question is, is this a good thing or not? 

Pro:  1.  I have bought many supplies lately that will hopefully (soon) become many beautiful creations!

Con:  1.  I have bought many supplies, that haven't yet become finished creations.

Pro:  2.  I can shop from the comfort of my home, and have direct contact with the shop owners (if I'm shopping on Etsy), without the wierd feeling you sometimes get when your in a small shop in person.  You know, when you feel like you HAVE to buy something because the owner has been watching you the whole time. 

Con:  2.  I feel so much more free to browse a LONG time!  So I find MORE stuff to buy!!!

Pro:  3.  It's fun!

Con:  3.  It's fun!  (Yeah, I know it's the same answer.  But the con is that it can be addictive.)

Pro:  4.  When you run to the mailbox, it's like your about to open a gift from yourself (that you KNOW you will love)!

Con:  4.  I can't think of a bad side to this!

I guess I'm just saying I love shopping online much more than I ever thought I would!  But I guess, as with anything, balance is the key!  I will be posting the things I've made from these newly bought supplies, which I hope everyone will love - I've found some really exciting things out there lately that I hope to combine in unique ways to making truly unique and stunning jewelry! Soon I'll be posting more before/afters of what I've made (like these).

I'd love to hear your thought on on-line shopping - vice or virtue?

Until next time,

Have fun!!!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com, a.k.a.,
TerahsClassicCreations.blogspot.com

January 2013 Etsy Beadweaver's Challenge

Well here it is.  It's time to look at all the beautiful beadwork entered for this month's challenge!  There are so many talented artists on this team and I want to share their work.  Here's a picture of all the entries:

(Mine is number five this time.  To hear the story about the inspiration behind it, visit my previous post, http://terahsclassiccreations.blogspot.com/2012/12/its-funny-how-things-develop.html.)

To see an even better picture of all the entries, visit: http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/2013/01/voting-for-january-rising-star-challenge.html?m=0.  You can even vote for your favorite between the 9th and 15th of January!!!

What I love about it, is if you click on the picture once you get to the EtsyBeadweaver's Blog site, it will conntect you to each piece's listings.  That way you can see more pictures of the piece!  If you love beadwoven art, this will be a favorite spot for you!

Have fun!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com, a.k.a.,
TerahsClassicCreations.blogspot.com

It's funny how things develop.  Sometimes I just let my projects make themselves.  Here's what I mean.  I started working on a beading project - it was going to have a geometric element to it - that's all I knew.  So I started to make an open-beaded square.  But then one side ended up shorter than the other, but it was kind of interesting!  So I decided to repeat it again - accomplished.  That's when the ideas started flowing.

I got out of my stash some cubic zirconium pieces that I've had a while.  I positioned the off-sided squares on either side of a pear-shaped cubic zirconium, and viola!!!  It looked like a bow!

And that's where the idea for this necklace came from!

As you probably know, I've also been intrigued with viking knit.  So I made the supporting structure of the necklace in a sturdy 22-gauge wire which I formed into a viking knit rope.

At this point in writing, I have yet to finish it.  The viking knit rope is done, I've worked the custom clasp.  Now it's time to assemble.  The moment of truth!!!!

Here's the finished product!!!!!!!  (I love these beads - so shimmery.  Not too over the top, they almost look vintage to me.  Kind of a nice shimmer.

I love the look so much that I actually will tough through the technical issues with them, i.e., bead breakage while working with them, and their ability to cut through average beading line with their edges.  So it takes a while to work with them in an especially sturdy, fray resistant material.  Also, it takes lots of patience to make sure the delicate beads don't break.  But the good news is if the beads can stand the pressure they get while beading, they will stand the wear afterwards!  And their absolutely stunning!  (I also made my Calla Lily Necklace and Earrings with these type of beads.  I love this finish!!!)

Well, I plan on entering this necklace into the Etsy Beadweavers Challenge for January.  So if anyone wants to drop by and take a look, here's their site:  http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/.  (Between 9 - 15th of January 2013 you can vote for your favorite entry.)  I don't mind if you feel like voting for my entry either!!!  :-D

P.S.  This will be available in my shop - if you'd like to visit it, see the link below!!!  :-D

Until next time, have fun!!!

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com

SALE!!!!!

Here's just a quick reminder that I'm having a Pre-Black-Friday-Sale!!!  Everything in my shop is 25% off!  Yep - you can save before the craziness starts.  And it's on-line so it's even better - no crowds to fight or lines to wait in!!  It's good today, November 1 through November 22.

So here's the tip:  Just enter the coupon code:  PREBLACKFRIDAY at checkout.  It's just that easy.

Oh, and here's some of my latest additions you may not have already seen (just for fun) :-D.

For those of you who are fans of beadweaving, don't despair - I still love to create all kinds of things from tiny beads and will get back to it very soon.  Right now I'm just having so much fun with the diversity of techniques and things that can be made using wireworking, knitting, and stamping.  I'm hoping branching out in these areas will eventually lead to more & more creations that combine most if not all of the techniques into more stunning & unique art (wearable & otherwise).  We'll see where all this leads me!!

So for now, have fun with the sale!!!  Remember November 1, 2012 - November 22, 2012 enter the coupon code: PREBLACKFRIDAY at checkout in my shop, TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com!!

Sincerely,

Terah

TerahsClassicCreations, a.k.a.,

TerahClassyCreations.etsy.com 

Make it Personal!!!!

Make it personal!!!!  That's what always makes the best gifts.  It's perfect because lately I've been honing a new technique - stamping.  Again, my sister's wedding gave me great opportunities to try this one out - little keychains with their names & dates - it was a lot of fun.

The beauty of stamping is ultimate personalization!  I can stamp someone's name on a tag, a message, a monogram, a date - whatever!  (Of course depending on how big the metal tag is.) Right now I offer tags in my shop as an add-on to my jewelry.  The small tags don't take away from the beauty of the jewelry, but add to that special gift by adding the recipient's initials (monogram).  This could branch out into keychains, pendants, wine tags, favor tags, etc.  The possibilities are limitless!!!!!

So here is an example of one of my stamping experiments:

The following picture is of one of the latest additions to my shop.  The metal tags on the earrings are left blank so you can personalize it with your monogram, a name, or a short message!!!  Wouldn't this be a great bridesmaid's gift?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112786673/personalize-able-earrings-dangles-with

But here's the latest jewelry addition:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/113449346/viking-knit-bracelet-in-copper-navy-blue

It has my hand-stamped label on it, but you can have your own initials stamped on it instead!!!

Have fun!!!

Sincerely,

Terah
TerahClassyCreations.Etsy.com, a.k.a.,
TerahsClassicCreations