Wolf's Den

Newest Beadwork

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:22:59 GMT

'The Sun's Mirror', 2nd in my new 'Mirror' Series, Ndebele(Herringbone) Choker
Available on 1000Markets or Artfire.

As yet unnamed (and unlisted) brooch, featuring a raku fired button by LisaPetersArt

Work in Progress....

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:24:30 GMT

The newest pendant for the next 'Mirror' necklace/choker. 'The Sea's Mirror' was the first.

3 drop netweave stitched around, with Czech glass siam ruby drops, suede on the back.

Need to finish off the back, then do the actual necklace portion of this piece.

Have plans for at least 2 more in this series. If I can think up color combos/names, I may do 2 more after that. I have 6 of these tiles total.

So... 4 known Mirror necklaces/chokers to start. Not bad, I guess.

Bead Shop adventures... (20 photos)

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:16:44 GMT

So while on vacation, we went to 2 different bead shops in 2 different towns.

The first was in Mason, Michigan, and was recommended by my Mom, of all people. She apparently takes my niece Emily, there sometimes. How well she knows me...

The Trellis bead and gift shop is a dream bead shop, really. Name it and they either have it, or will order it to carry on hand. The only thing they didn't have that I could find, was Delicas. They did, however, have half hanks of Czech glass seed beads, semi precious stone strands, lampwork, Swarovski crystals, metal findings, and more.

This is what I got there... The photos aren't the best, but...

Starting with the half hanks of Czech seed beads...

'Olive Solage'... or what I think looks like very pale moss green. I should have gotten several of these, but oh well.

'Chalk'... but who we fooling? It's matte white.

'Bright Silver' Yup. That they are. I snagged 2 of these.

'Garnet Matte' These are absolutely gorgeous in person. Again, I should have snagged more. They're a red tone, matte finish, in iridescent colors.

'Jet Matte' Yup, matte black. Two half hanks. I can never have enough matte black.

'Brown Iris' The name is exactly what they are- brown, glossy with iris/iridescent finish. Very nice.

Several sterling silver clasps of varying styles.

I've not seen FireLine actually marketed as bead thread, let alone used 'crystal'. Heck, I buy it in the fishing section at Wal-mart.

I like Lava Rocks. I got the 4 ovals and the lone square at The Trellis. I have ideas for them, nothing fully formed yet, but ideas.

And last but certainly not least, from The Trellis...

A strand of gorgeous Iolite drops. I looked for singles, or other sizes, chips even, but nope, this was what they had. So I snagged one. Expensive, but worth it.

On the way home, we drive through Marshall, Michigan, where color_full had mentioned seeing a bead shop when she went the wrong way, on the way to the cookout at my parents' house. I spotted it on the way to Mason, and we decided we'd stop in on the way home. I'm glad we did...

Just Bead It is on the main drag through Marshall, nearly directly across the street from Louie's Bakery (omnomnom). They don't have as much as The Trellis did, but they did have a small selection of Delicas, as well as COPPER findings.

I picked up a strand of smaller squares of lava rock. I have ideas for these too.

I also picked up several vials of 2 different sizes of Triangle Delicas in plated sterling. I've not worked with triangles before, this should be fun.

Bright, shiny copper Celtic knotwork beads to use as accents in beadwork...

A couple of interesting skeleton key charms, in antique silver, antique gold and antique copper. Not sure what I'll use them in, but they were neat looking, even if they are only one sided.

And last but not least...

Did I mention copper findings? Real copper toggle clasps in two sizes, and copper BAR CLASPS! Yay! Not too badly priced either! I was thrilled!

Next year, we'll definitely go back to both shops. I could easily have spent lots more than I did in either. Guess I better start saving now...

Newest Beadwork

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:34:07 GMT

The Sea's Mirror

Ndebele/Herringbone and Peyote Choker with Pendant

Available at Artfire or 1000Markets.

In progress...

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:03:28 GMT

Working on the next Our Lady series brooch pin... Care to guess the name of this one?

Latest...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:58:12 GMT

Quick (and not very good) shot of the latest beadwork piece I'm working on, the next in my 'Our Lady' series.

Newest piece in my 'Our Lady' series...

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:10:15 GMT

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Our Lady of Seas by =WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

Available Here or if you prefer Etsy, Here.

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:50:57 GMT

Our Lady of Cynics by =WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

InBetween Times...

Wed, 27 May 2009 19:31:29 GMT

Sometimes, when I get stuck on a project, I do something else.

Not something overly elaborate, but something quick and easily finished.

This is one of those times.

While I'm currently stuck as to how I'd like to attach the pendant to my recent necklace, I decided to make another brooch.

I actually completed 3/4s of it last night in one sitting. A few more hours, and it'll be completely finished, then, all I have to do is wait for a good sunny day to take crisp, clean photos.

Second in my 'Our Lady' series of brooches. Maybe I can find more faces like these and continue the series. I hope.}:P

Otherwise, it's not much of a series if there's only 2, now is it? Heh.

Beadwork in progress...

Tue, 26 May 2009 20:20:13 GMT

I'm at the stage in this piece where it gets a name.

All that's left is attaching the pendant really.

I haven't (quite) decided how exactly I want to do that. If I want to do a peyote stitch loop, or if I want to do simple strands of beads looping the double, twisted herringbone necklace. I taught myself , inadvertantly, spiral Herringbone stitch for this piece. I meant to do straight Herringbone. Heh.

Then I decided that one strand wouldn't be substantial enough for the pendant, so I did another, switching out one color of beads to give them a but of contrast with each other, and then twisted them together, peyote stitching the ends into place so it won't untwist. The clasp is a a simple tube of peyote stitch.

But first, I need a name.

Procrastination is my best friend today...

Fri, 15 May 2009 19:36:10 GMT

A few weeks or so ago, Beadweaving Emporium Market came up with bi-monthly Challenges, to help us jump start a new project or idea, or whathaveyou.

The theme for July is 'New Horizons'. Very interesting, I thought, quite a few different ways to interpt too.

So off I went to pull out all those pages of various bead stitches I'd printed off years ago and never really got around to teaching myself the majority of. I figured I'd narrow the selection down to 3 or 4 different stitches I've been meaning to learn and just haven't gotten around to, and have Mark chose one- or as he did, two.

See, I tend to stick with what works for me. And sometimes that can put me in a rut and I'll just keep doing the same thing, over and over and over again, in varying combinations of colors and shapes, generally. But it's invariably the same few stitches, repeatedly.

I've never motivated myself to want to learn a new stitch. Not in years. In fact, the last new stitch I learned was the 'Karmen' stitch and the 'NetWeave Drop' stitch, several years ago. I learned them, but then... never did anything with them.

BEM's bi-monthly challenge was a great jump start to get myself motivated again. To make me want to learn at least one new beadwork stitch and stretch my repertoire that much more. To that end, I had Mark chose from a stack of stitches I'd never done before.

He chose two stitches, suggesting that I use one as the base, and do the other off of it, incorporating the cab I wanted to use as a focal point to the entire piece. This is why I keep him around- he has an awesome way of helping me figure out a new design or color combo. For someone so technical minded, he has a great sense of creativity to go along with it.

So, I beaded up the cab, a gorgeous piece of Lace Agate by Ahna over on that other site that starts with an 'E'. But then I also went ahead and beaded up a pair of fused glass topped tiles I had that I wanted to play with. If I tell you where I got them, you won't believe me, so I won't.}:P

Ok, yes, I beaded the 2 tiles as procrastination rather than actually starting on learning one of the other bead stitches Mark chose. Except, I finished them last night and now, besides taking photographs of my absolutely gorgeous German Bearded Irises, Siberian Irises and Japanese Irises that are all blooming, or catching up on the several days worth of food posts I need to do- one of which is the Daring Cook's challenge due on the 14th, I have no other reason NOT to start teaching myself.

The only thing holding me back is... myself. That little shadow voice in the back of my head telling me I'll fail won't shut up. That little sorrow filled other voice saying, hey, it's almost the 1yr anniversary of Dante's passing, shouldn't you be more depressed, also won't shut the devil up.

But I look at these freshly beaded pieces and I look at my gardens and I look at the myriads of photos I have of Dante in happier times, and I wonder, why the devil should I be depressed, why the devil should I feel like I'm going to fail when I can do THIS.

And thus, all reasons to continue to procrastinate leave. And thus, motivation once again returns.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have the herringbone beadwork stitch to learn.

.

What distracts you?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:02:28 GMT

When you're creating a new piece of art, what can distract you and take you away from your work?

Is it your cat(s)?

Maybe you have young kids at home, or you homeschool.

Maybe you just have a busy life outside the home.

Or the warm weather and sun keeps drawing you away outside.

Whatever it is, it sure can put a damper on your creative processes, I'm sure.

For me lately, it's Caena.

Yup. An Akita puppy. A 10 month old Akita puppy.

A 10 month old Akita puppy who wants to PLAY! PLAY! PLAY! 24/7 or until she wears herself out.

For example, I'm working on a new 2 drop peyote stitch cuff. I sit downstairs, and do my beading on a TV tray while sitting on the couch. This keeps me away from my computer so I'm not distracted by the Internet, another huge timewaster for me.

Of course, sitting downstairs, on the couch means that Caena can jump up next to me. Whereupon she proceeds to paw at my arm, climb in my lap, chew on my elbows, or just stretch out and try to show me off the couch.

Now, Caena has Chrondrodysplasia, a bone and joint disorder, and as a result, is a dwarf Akita, who at 10 months, weighs maybe 40lbs. Despite this, she thinks she's twice her size and acts it.

Last night, as I was trying to finish this cuff, so I could hopefully use the natural sun to get great photographs, she decided that mom needed to play instead. This entailed not only chewing on my elbows, climbing in my lap and pawing at my arms and hands, but something else that was, while distracting, utterly hilarious.

See, I'm using a mix of Miyuki Delicas and Matsuno seed beads in this cuff, so I have them mixed and in a flat container that sits in front of me as I stitch. Well, Caena decided to 'taste' the beads.

Yup. She decided to stick that floppy tongue of hers out and into the container of beads. Luckily it was just the tip of her tongue, but still. I grabbed at her mouth and manged to swipe most of them off and into my hand, along with Akita puppy slobber. Then I sat there, laughing at her, as she looked up at me, with that oh so hard to get mad at face of hers.

I wonder how they tasted.

Sands of Time Steampunk inspired beadwork cuff

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:43:44 GMT

More details/photos ans available for purchase here.

Sneak Preview

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:07:12 GMT

Of newest beadwork piece.

This piece will be exclusively listed at Dante's Spirit at 1000Markets only.

It will be listed tomorrow when I can get some really good, natural light shots.

New Shop is active.

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:18:16 GMT

Yeah, so I broke down and opened a new shop in 1000Markets.

I figure, I lose nothing in trying it out.

It just has beadwork for now, and I hope to have new beadwork up exclusively there in a week or so.

So come on by and check it out!

New Silk Scarves Listed.

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:22:41 GMT

Witching Hour by *WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

'Witching Hour'
100%Habotai Silk Scarf
8"x56" flat, 6"x56" pleated

Third in my new Dark Series, 'Witching Hour' is an Arashi Shibori, OOAK hand dyed silk scarf, with hand beaded points, using sterling silver seed beads, Fire polished Austrian crystals, silver-grey rounds and silver tone, heavy skull and crossbones charms.

Black as the deepest hour of night, with hints of deep blue and silver from Pearl Ex powder suspended in fabric medium, then dry brushed on and thoroughly steam ironed for durability, this unique piece is perfect for wearing as a neck wrap or even a stylish belt.

Available Here

Northern Lights Silk Scarf by *WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

'Northern Lights'
100% Habotai Silk
8"x54" flat, 6"x54" pleated

Hand dyed using Procion MX dyes, this gorgeous, OOAK silk scarf was Arashi shibori wrapped, then discharged, then over dyed again, giving it a myriad of depths to the colors.

Within one scarf, you'll see deep navy, blacks, indigos, violets, silvery whites, even pale blues and lavenders in the folds.

Available Here

And finally, the Hand Dyed 100% Cotton Bandanas-

Akita Rescue Bandanas by *WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

100% Cotton, Hand dyed Banadanas
32" on long side, 21" on short sides
To be hand stenciled with Akita Stencil at ' point', in choice of Silver, or Gold.

These cotton bandanas are lightweight, hand dyed and easy to wear. Perfect length for not only wearing wrapped around your hair, but also as a neck kerchief.

Dyed using Procion MX dyes, and to be hand stenciled day of purchase in your choice of either Silver or Gold.

100% of the proceeds from each bandana sold goes to benefit Akita Rescue.

Your choice of colors-

A- Firey Oranges
B- Bronze and Loden
C- Cinnamon and Clove
D- Vanilla and Plum
E- Turbulant Ocean
F- Oak and Nutmeg

Available Here

more coming soon.

Road Trip!

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:43:07 GMT

Heading to New Jersey with Caena, Mark, sister in law, the bro in law and niece tomorrow morning.

Going up to have an early Thanksgiving with the parents in law.

Kind of hoping they have snow, so I can get pics of Caena playing in it.

Should be interesting- 4 adults, a 7 yr old and a 5 month old puppy in a Chrysler Town & Country minivan (rental, my idea) for 8 hours...

Sooo I'll be back Monday.

Next week, I have 4, possibly 5 silk scarves to photograph and list, as well as the cotton bandannas. Thinking of running a End of year sale too, to try to clear out a bit of stock, so stay tuned for possible discounts on my silk scarves, chainmaille and beadwork.:)

Have a great weekend. Don't do anything I wouldn't do... which isn't much. Most of all, be safe out there.

Fri, 23 May 2008 18:07:19 GMT

Rage of the Seraphs, B side by *WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

In better news...

Thu, 22 May 2008 19:17:12 GMT

Rage of the Seraphs by ~WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

New Fossils...

Sat, 03 May 2008 19:56:40 GMT

So we went downtown again today, to pick up more Ammonite Fossils to bead and check the Bead store for bead end caps and a possible clasp for the current beadwork piece.

The bead store was a bust. Really starting to NOT like that place anymore. All they seem to have anymore is mostly focal bead type things. Very little seed beads, no Delicas anymore. but I keep trying, you know, to support a local vendor.}:/

The Rock Guy was a success though. I had taken my current piece with me, to pick out the proper size caps, etc, and showed him. He thought it was someone else's work.}:/ He said she was the best jewelry/beadwork person they had there in the Market, and said it appeared she now had competition when he found out it was my work. He was thrilled to know it was one of his rocks in the piece though. I did leave a business card with him as well. He asked if I was keeping it, I said no, when it's finished, it'll be up for sale, and he agreed that the figure I'm looking at is a good price for it.

I did pick out at least 2 other sets I want to get next weekend, so have to budget the money in. Did pick up one set today, one that I'd been really wanting. So that's my next project.

I had the beads picked out even before I had the stones, and they complement beautifully. This will be another gorgeous piece. And the best part is, again, it's 2 stones, so again, I can make 2 necklaces if I chose. These ones are also about half an inch larger than the others. The others I have my eye on are the same color schemes, but in 2 different sizes. So that'll be fun too.

Made tuna fish salad sandwiches for lunch. Am cooking up potatoes and eggs for potatoe salad and contemplating making brownies with espresso substituted for the water in the mix. Only, now I can't, as I have no eggs. Oops. Oh well.

Dante's having an 'eh' day. But then, it is clouding over and preparing for rain- I watered the garden today, go figure.

Another Titan's Glory bloomed too. }:)

See the eggs? Click on them if you would. I want to see what they turn into.

Adopt a Dragon Egg.

Sneak Preview...

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:32:01 GMT

Work in Progress, nearly done by *WolfSilverOak on deviant ART

Many things, one post....

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:50:17 GMT

Got a couple things to post about today, I think...

Continuing in the 'bit of home' theme, I made a dish the other night that my mom used to make when I was growing up. Once again, I added my twist on it. Heh.

She called it 'Eggs Ranchero', I call it good. It may not look appetizing, but believe me, it was/is.

I have a new mascot in the Studio. It seems to have taken up residence on the wall next to the computer. It tried climbing up yesterday, but fell down again, back behind the desk and I didn't see it the rest of the night. Today, it climbed back up, then over to the window, where, I assume, it's contemplating a place to build a web.

I finally got around to looking through the rocks my dad gave me 2 summers ago. I really should have gone through them a long time ago. Lots of gorgeous stones from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

Max decided to help investigate them, so you can see bits of him in many of the photos. Along with stones, my dad gave me 6 Agate slices, a slice of pure Copper and a Rhodonite slice. Simply beautiful.

I went through the stones to see whether any would be perfect for beading and making into jewelry. Mark came up and palmed a couple before I even got the chance to look at them. I made him show me what he had, and let him keep them. He wanted to take them to work, to put on his desk. I never want to see him rolling his eyes or sighing loudly when I pick up stones from places anymore.

I did find a little less than 2 dozen that would be perfect for beading. I've since made up 2 sets, one for a necklace and one for a necklace/bracelet set. After I finish the current piece I'm working on, these will be next.

There are also a couple Petosky stones perfect for beading as well. Those should be beautiful in the right setting. As for the ones not suitable for beading, they'll go with the rest of my rocks.}:)

Mark tried to cut the grass today. The consensus is that we need a new WeedEater. Oh well, maybe next week, it'll get cut then.

Delights in the mail...

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:55:21 GMT

Yesterday, I dropped nearly $400.00 on an eye exam and a year's supply of new contacts, all in the name of getting my driver's license renewed today. Turns out, that while my vision HAS , in fact, improved in the 5 years since I've last worn contacts, I was still borderline 'should not be driving without them'. Yikes. That was not cool. Was rather depressing, actually.

Today, I not only got the Driver's License renewed, I also received my new SSN card in the mail and a rather hefty package as well...

So I sold my DawnFire silk scarf earlier this week. As I needed seed beads in certain colors, I went looking to see if my favorite Czech glass seed bead seller had those specific colors.

Needless to say, she did and then some!

When you see a deal for [50] full hanks of Czech glass seed beads at roughly $1.30 each, when they usually run $2-3.00, you grab it. Which is exactly what I did, thereby replenishing other colors I was low on as well.

While 55 hanks is by no means the most I've bought at one time from Kora (75+ was, I believe), it's still a significant amount of beads. And, by accident or unconcious design, she had manged to put several hanks of certain color schemes in one bag, which work perfectly for the next set of Ammonnite fossils I plan to buy, although, that will have to wait until next weekend, what with having no spare cash now, and the weather calling for thunderstorms.

The drawer behind these hanks, is the drawer they are stored in. It's, once again, completely full and then some.}:) I keep this up, and the drawer I designated for my lampwork, Miyukis and Matsunos will end up having to be used for Czech glass seed beads as well!

I figure, I won't need more for another 3-4 months at least.}:)

Work in progress.... part I

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:52:34 GMT

So, last weekend I bought a Ammonnite fossil pair from a vendor in the Farmer's Market, with the intention of beading them.

It's been awhile since I had a desire to do nothing but work on something. Yes, I have 2 other beadwork projects in progress, but right now, neither are speaking to me, as far as wanting me to work on them. This one, demanded I pull beads out and get to work on it, immediately.

Yes, my projects tend to be demanding. This one, I wanted to follow the shape of the stone, but it dictated that I not do that. No matter how I tried, it simply would not go. So I capitulated.

8 hours later, spread over two evenings... With a little help from Max, of course.

One way or another, one of the Boys usually has a hand.. err, paw, in whatever I'm doing. Mark gave me the idea of putting beads or something in the 'gap', which I had planned, but wasn't quite sure how, exactly, until I got to that point.

So, that part is finished. I am now working on the necklace portion of the piece. While doing laundry today, and listening to The Cruxshadows, the piece finally told me its Name as well(yes, I take beadwork or quilting to the laundromat, doesn't everyone? ), which will be revealed in part II when I get more of the necklace portion finished.

I bought a bunch of beads from my usual seller, and this weekend, hope to get some more of these gorgeous stones, in other colors, to bead up too.}:) Namely that black and grey pair he had....

So stay tuned for more...

I'm becoming famous!

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:59:22 GMT

Ok, not really...

Buit it is the first time I've been in a Etsy 'Storque' article.

Pretty nifty if you ask me.

Ok, off to do mundane things, like laundry, and work on a new beadwork piece.