Snakes and Markets

So - what does one do with a pile of Japanese long magatama beads?   I had to buy them because they were so interesting, but somehow they didn't make their way into any of the beaded pieces that I was making.   Then I saw a pic of a brick-stitched bracelet, in one of the magazines, using them.

But brick stitch is a bit slow, and the beads are very unwieldy.   So they sat in my stash for some months while other projects took my fancy.

Then I had a bit of a breakthrough in managing to do some tubular crochet rope necklaces.   One could say I got a little obsessed with the technique for a while.    So, when I had a go at crocheting the long magatamas - suddenly I had this sinuous, scaly creature-like rope.   It just had to become a lovely slithery sssssnake.    The perfect gift for my dear friend Rosy for her birthday!  

I had such fun making this one, I had to make another!    So, ready for Christmas, Wayne's Sssssnake was hatched.

He is a bit less smooth - more like he has his hackles up.    Plus he has fangs to go with his red forked tongue!   A much more dangerous character.

And my other news - I have sent some more lovely lampwork pieces up to the Artisan Gallery and Wine Centre, north of Launceston in Tasmania.   If you are up that way drop in and check out the beautiful range of quality handcrafted artworks (and Tassie wine if you like that sort of thing).
http://www.artisangallery.com.au/

This weekend - Sunday 13th January - I will have the Gayetha Designs range on display at the  

Kingston Beach Handmade Market

Come along and say hello!   Sadly there will be no snakes there, but lots of other fabulous glassy goodness that I have had a lot of fun making.  

For more information, and how to get there - http://www.kbhm.com.au/

Gayetha Designs at the Tasmanian Craft Fair

We will be heading up to Deloraine early on Thursday morning to set up our stall at the yearly Tasmanian Craft Fair.   It will run for four days and is my major retail event for the year.   I have made lots of lampwork glass necklaces, pendants and earrings, but I have quite a bit of seed beadwork on offer this year too.  I have added a few other bits and pieces in, all beaded in some way, so that there will be a bit of variety, because strangely enough, not everyone wants to wear lampwork (although I really wish they would!)

One of the conditions of entry is that I must demonstrate my craft at the stall.   I wouldn't dare to take a propane/oxygen torch into the lovely hall where we will be though - I might burn the beautiful wooden floors!  Last year I demonstrated Tudor style (netting) beadweaving.  This year I have been having a lot of fun doing tubular crochet beaded ropes so I will demonstrate how to make them to any of interested passers-by.   Crochet tubes are really soft and amazingly flexible.  Very comfy to wear too.

You can do all sorts of patterns - subtle or bold, depending on your choice of beads.   They work up fairly quickly once you get the knack for it.  I have worked out a few tips for the technique which I needed to do so that it wouldn't take six months just to do only one.

 You can get lovely textures and interesting effects by using beads other than seed beads.

Another fun activity that I did over Tassie's long dark winter was to get my old knitting machine out and knit a few scarves in fine wool and cotton.   This one is in 4ply (fingering weight) merino and alpaca.  Naturally I had to add some beads!  So I will have a few of these at the Tasmanian Craft Fair as well. 

I had great intentions to have a lot of brooches too, but I only managed to keep one for the Fair - the others made wonderful presents.  Maybe next year....

I have been so busy in the last few weeks   I am looking forward to the excitement of having my pieces all out on show.  I plan to have a bit of a rest after that!

If you are able to get to the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine - come and see Gaye and Max in Venue 1, Stall 102.  Also in our venue there is Eraine's fantastic stall, More Than Skin Deep, with beautiful soap and skin care products that she makes herself.   Next to her will be Denise, Stitched By Me, who does the most amazing smocking.   And nearby is Bev with her beautiful bound books, BookSeed.   The rest of the Fair is packed with the products of hundreds of talented makers/designers.   It is a feast for people who appreciate handmade crafts.

The Tasmanian Craft Fair will open this Friday 9am (2 November) and continue until 4pm on Monday (5 November).  For more information visit www.tascraftfair.com.au

I love this colour

I got the amazing clasp from my friend Jane Tyson a while back.  Recently I realised it would go perfectly with these azurite gemstone beads.  I modified a Marcia DeCoster pattern (Cappadocia) and I have just finished this piece.

It looks nothing like her bracelet, but I love it the way it turned out, which shows how you can be inspired by others, and yet make something unique.

I haven't quite decided yet whether to keep it or sell it and I will have to think of a nice name for it.

Any suggestions?

(dated 12/03/2012 - transferred from previous Gayetha Designs blog)

Necklace for Kerry

This was a commissioned piece for Kerry of Affordable Inspiration back in July 2010.   

I used beads and chain supplied by Kerry and supplemented it with beads from my stash.   Kerry made the small lampwork donut beads herself.   It is unlike anything else I have ever made!   

The pattern for the flower came from an old Bead and Button Magazine and was great fun to do but I needed a magnifier.

(dated 08/03/2011 - transferred from previous Gayetha Designs blog)