22 February

A Glorious Day


No skiing for me today, though the sun is shining and the snow is sparkling. Since I'm just getting over the cold and flu, my lungs aren't ready for the cold, 10 degree air. Not to waste a beautiful day, I'm looking out the window watching flocks of birds at the feeders while beading. Liking to use a lot of Czech glass beads on my sculptures, I buy the seed beads in bulk, make a custom 
mix of sea-like colors and "string" them onto reclaimed copper wire. I use wire because some of the artwork gets hung outdoors and is much durable than thread or fibers. 

Not being a beader, like some of my other artists friends, this task became actually pleasurable a couple of years ago when I found my bead spinner at Alaska Bead Company. This is one of the coolest little (powerless)tools that I have! Here is a fun little YouTube demo I found that shows you how it works.


4 comments:

Anji Gallanos said...

Thanks for the post..I have seen this little contraption..but never really figured out what it was...off to watch the You Tube video

Anji

cindy shake said...

Thanks for the post. This is such a cool little contraption. I think it was $45(?) but mine was handmade by some guy who made them for AK Bead Co. What a time saver, it's hard to believe it works so well. My folks, daughter and her boyfriend when visiting ALL LOVE to make bead strings for me!!! -Maybe because it's actually therapeutic OR hypnotic -ha! :o)

Linda Starr said...

Hey Cindy, what a good idea getting your family involved. Some things are therapeutic and hypnotic, I used to find needlepoint and crochet to be like that.

cindy shake said...

Hi Linda, thanks for the post. Yeah, I didn't even have to ask them to help! It has sort of become a family mini-challenge to see how many beads in one spin (or finding the "sweet spot" as the YouTube video says) someone can get onto the wire! It's been pretty fun because there are some competitive people in my family...