Rings

Ok, maybe not these kinds of rings, but as I was looking for ring clip art all I saw was engagement and wedding rings.  Then I saw this pic and thought I'd try to grab your attention with something a little more colorful and fun.  Do you remember these rings?  I had them when I was a baby, and all my kids had them too.  They've been around forever.  Anyhoo!  No, this post isn't about baby toys.

I've been working on a necklace/bracelet set in a new stitch I learned (not the one in this post though).  Last night I was up late...again...and wanted to get a little bead diversion.  I didn't want to get everything out for the necklace, and honestly I needed a little break from it.  So I hopped on over to Auntie's Beads and started looking through their videos.  They've got the best videos out there!  I have spent many hours watching Karla demonstrate new techniques for me.  I found a video for a little ring using the ladder stitch.

I know most of you out there probably already know the ladder stitch, but for me it was something new.  Karla's instructions were so easy and clear that I decided to give it a try.  I actually found some 4mm faceted beads in my stash that I had enough of, AND they're black, which my daughter loves.  Decided I'd make a ring for her.  I edged it in sparkly crystal seed beads.  I didn't know her ring size so I guesstimated.  Wouldn't you know it?  I decided to take out a row of beads, and when I gave it to her it was too small!  I'll bet if I had left that last rung on the ladder it would have fit.  Damn.  Oh, well.  I still learned something new, had a nice little diversion and it will find the perfect home someday.

But I still wanted to bead a little more, so I decided to try to make a ring for Sara too.  I didn't have anymore 4mm beads, but I thought what about bugles?  I found the perfect 3mm bugles in cobalt blue.  Sara will be making something new this weekend and she picked blue, so this ring might just look perfect with it.  In the pic it looks pretty lumpy bumpy, but once you have it on it all straightens out.

Hope everyone has a mahvelous day!

Bling Bling I Made Some Rings

My order finally came in from Artbeads.com. I got my ring mandrel, which was the most important thing I was waiting for. And, I of course ordered some beads. But I have to tell you, I was soooo disappointed in my beads this time around. Not because of the way they look or the quality...Artbeads always puts out gorgeous products. The problem is, I am not good at picturing 10mm vs 20mm in my head. That dang metric system! lol The beads that I thought were going to be pretty substantial in size were actually so flippin' small. Not big enough for bling rings. Bummer! But, they are pretty and I'm sure I will use them in something someday. One day I'll need the perfect thing, and BOOM there it'll be. Love it when that happens. So they will wait for another project on another day.

Making wire wrapped rings looked so easy on the video I watched. It's actually very tricky to get the hang of. I've wasted so much of my wire on the mistake rings already! Frustrating. I should have ordered two spools of it. I'm having a hard time getting the sizing right. When you wrap, you wrap bigger than you actually want the ring to end up. So I'm finding out by trial and error how to get a size 7. So far they have been smaller. Too small for my chunky monkey fingers! I think a 7 is about average. What size do you all wear? Leave me a comment so I can take a poll and start getting some averages.

I took photos and am posting them for you to see my first attempts at wire wrapped rings. I had a lot of fun making them.

 

This blue bubble ring turned out to be pretty small, so I gave it to Sara. She really likes it.  I have more of these beads, so I think I will do a couple more like this.

I really liked the mix of colors in this one.

oops.  I should have cleaned my fingernails...don't look! lol

 I really like this one a lot.

(Man, I have been having nothing but troubles making this post tonight.  It wouldn't upload any of my pics, then it was going to something called Cloud Picker that I had to sign in for and then gave an error message.  Ended up having to clear out all my cookies.  Great.  Now I get to put in all my passwords for all my pages again.  Joy.)

Anyways.  On with the rings.  What do you all think of my first rings?  I really kind of like the look of the big, chunky rings.  I love the square Venetian Glass ones.  Got those from a previous Artbeads order that I thought I was going to use and didn't.  Thought they worked out perfect here.  Wish I had some gold colored wire, too.  Guess I will be making another order to Bello Modo.  Have you ever shopped at Bello Modo?  They have wonderful customer service, and their orders process quick.  Most of the time I get a free little goodie in my package, which is always fun.  Free shipping, too.  But, if you are looking for something particular on their website and don't see it, don't give up!  Email or call Pam and ask her if she has what you are looking for.  I found out that she usually does and it's just not on the website yet.  Prices are great, so the checking is worth your while.  The wire I just received from them was a great example.  I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for as far as wire goes, so I just shot over an email with a question, and she answered very quickly.  Got my order quickly, too.

So here are my poll questions again, in case you forgot.  What size do you wear or do you think is average?  Do you like the direction of the styles I am choosing...the chunkier blingier look?  Also, what colors are your favorites?  What colors do you see other people wearing a lot of these days?  I can get the wire in colors.  Would you wear colored wire to match the beads, or do you prefer the basic silver or gold colored wire?  Tell me your thoughts on rings in general.  I had fun making them, so I'm thinking that if I can get some good feedback I can make some and put them in my Etsy shop, and maybe actually sell something.  That would be something different!

Ok.  I think I'm done.  It took me forEVER to make this post because of the Blogger issues, and I'm about Bloggered out for tonight.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Short week next week and the holidays officially start!  I love the holiday season.