Stitchboard Admin message #122
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 19, 2013 at 5:30:40 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #1)
 
Sherry,

You're very welcome...Jones Tones is by far my favorite fabric paint! 

I don't know that I've ever seen the spray version of their paints...cool!  I just remember they used to have a rack at Michael's, perhaps elsewhere, too, and their colors were fantastic!  I also liked their glitter.  Nothing else I ever found was comparable.  IIRC, they had holographic glitter, too!  (I'm a sparkle slut!)

I'm so glad your painted eyeballs are working well with the paints available at JoAnn's. 

One coat may indeed be making a difference.  It may keep it from peeling up.  Though what I had mentioned before about the paints not working was that I wasn't trying to use them as "3D" paints...I was trying to brush paint them, and they're apparently not made for that.    This bothered me, as the colors available in brush-on weren't as nice.  I wanted the colors of the 3D paints to work as brush-on paints, so I used them that way and then found out after the fact that the paints would likely flake off, as I had used them incorrectly.  (It also explained why they came out too light.)  I was thinking back then that they were like the Jones Tones, which (IIRC) may be used as both...though I think brush painting them requires a bit of water dilution.  Anyway, it was partly my fault, as I should have checked to see if the paints could be brushed on...but also, it's just bad luck that the nicer colors aren't available in the brush-on.

In the future, I should either order JT or buy regular acrylic paint and a "fixer" for the paint.  That way, I can get the colors I want and still use it as fabric paint!

I guess I'll probably eventually use the sneakers I had painted as is...paint flaking and all. 

Have you thought of auctioning off your beads?  I would think selling them on eBay would get you some decent money!    Ultimately, when our stash program is 100%, you'll be able to trade/sell to other people. 

How are you doing on your gift making?  I'm sorry to say I haven't accomplished a thing yet.    Too many other things vying for my time.  On the bright side, with little bits of time here and there, I'm almost finished with the candy corn cap. 

Since I'm using all of the same colors for my gifts and three of them are going to the same basic "family," I think one set will have to be TKS, then I'll maybe knit another set in something other than stockinette and crochet a lacy third set.  What do you think?  Does that sound like three of them will be "different" enough?

Then I can just pick one and make the same thing for all of the rest of the people! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #124
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 20, 2013 at 7:31:16 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #3)
 
Sherry,

I understand about eBay.  It is large and overwhelming. 

Wow, wire tools, too!  Wire work is so hard.  At least it is for me!

60% of the profit...yikes!  I can't imagine.  That really sounds like usury.  I can understand requiring that you pay fees, and a small percentage would be fair if she really, really wants something, but sheesh, 60% is outrageous!  

I'll put a little fire under someone's butt about the stash and see if it will produce more than burnt pants.  

Oooh, thanks for that!  Well, these are for three different couples, so I don't have to worry about making them specifically for males or females, at least!    I'll just make them different shapes/designs for the different couples, but it will still all be the shades of blue/white. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #126
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 21, 2013 at 4:11:57 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #5)
 
Sherry,

Oh, I'm positive you're right...I never thought of that, but it makes total sense.  She didn't want to be inconvenienced, so rather than being inconvenienced, she made it purposely unappealing.    People are so weird about money.  Give them a chance to make some and they'll often turn it down for stupid reasons, because it's "too much trouble"!  And oddly, I doubt it would be all that much trouble, anyway.

Do you have pics of your jewelry?  I'd love to see it! 

The bracelets made from guitar strings sound fascinating!  I love the idea of repurposing things.  Do you have pictures of the bracelets?  I would hate throwing out old guitar strings, thinking they should have some life left in them, albeit not for the original purpose!  

I did light a fire under someone's behind...I'll keep fanning the flames, too.    I'm so happy you'll be able to get pictures and that it's not meanwhile costing you anything for storage. 

I'm sorry it's going to be bad weather on the day of the fiber festival...doesn't that just figure?!    I guess the only good part of that is you won't be tempted to spend money...that part alone would give me second thoughts about going! 

I haven't even started on my gifts yet.  I keep forgetting to look for and print a pattern before I sit down to watch TV.  I'll have to do that!  Or at least decide on the number of stitches for the TKS set. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #128
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 22, 2013 at 9:35:26 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #7)
 
Sherry,

First of all, I love what you've done with the bracelets!    The colors, shapes...and even the names! 

Uuuugggggghhhh, upper 30s with high winds?!  That's a vendor's nightmare, especially if it's outside, which is what I'm guessing it is.    I really feel sorry for any vendor who gets stuck doing that.  You're right, that's a bad time to schedule it, and you do have to wonder why anyone in their right mind would do that! 

We have an art show in June, and even then, people get stuck with rain and wind...but not cold temps and snow!

IIRC, I was also at about 4 sts per inch, though would have to measure again.  So I'd probably be fine with 22 sts...thanks!    I also want to make an edging.  It somehow wouldn't feel complete without it, and it would also shore up the wonkiness of the TKS! 

Ouch, guitar strings sound like more of a nightmare than anything!    Do you think they might crochet well?  Or are they too springy/slippery/thick/short?

Hee hee, I have a mental image of you working with the guitar strings, beads flying off across the room, pelting anyone who might happen to walk in! 

The woman's version of "Rhythm" is probably my fave out of these, though Melody is gorgeous, too, and even the men's version is soooooo eye catching!    Just a thought...could the guitar strings also be colored in, perhaps with magic markers or...?

The stretchy rings you have in the back are quite well-chosen for each one.  They're also eye catching, but not more so than the work, and they go nicely together...good job!    I especially love your originality.    Thanks so much for posting your eye candy! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #130
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 23, 2013 at 4:27:56 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #9)
 
Sherry,

Argh, the guitar strings sound singularly uncooperative!    It reminds me of crocheting with satin floss...don't do it if you value your sanity!  That stuff simply would not hold up for anything.  Knots wouldn't stay in place, and while it was gorgeous, absolutely not worth the effort. 

Wow, what do you know...I'm not the first one to have thought of coloring guitar strings!  Well, you can buy them already colored, but that's not very environmental.    Anyway, in the one thread I found, they suggested doing something similar to what I would do with some beading threads (fishing lines): hold one end of the string and have a piece of paper under it, marker above, then pull the string as you color it with the marker.  I don't know how well this would work for guitar strings, but it's the only way I know of coloring fishing lines for beading!  And since fishing line is only available in a few select colors (because it's supposed to be for fishing, but has been co-opted for beading!), sometimes, one must make their own colors!

Okay, rereading that, at the link I found, they say to do it slightly differently:
"Take a rag, place the end of the string on the rag, press the marker over the string, draw the string through between the rag and the marker. Should be able to get it in 2 swipes."
The discussion is here:
http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/forum/topic/5603-how-to-color-guitar-strings/
though mostly it's a conversation about how one can buy them, not make your own. 

That headpiece is spectacular!  I would wear that...and green usually isn't my color!  (Well, except for money...that shade of green goes with everything!  )  I love everything about it...the circular shapes made by the gem-covered guitar string, and the symmetry.  I'd go as far as to call that art! 

Both pendants are amazing!    I love what you did with the amazonite...and how did you get that center blue crystal on there, the one that looks like it's floating?  Did you have to drill that into the amazonite?  That's so gorgeous!    Whoever owns that is lucky, indeed! 

Also love the amber...why are you thinking of taking it apart?  It's so beautiful!    That bronze definitely sounds like a bear.  LOL at your description!    That's so a cat...though I would say the cat actually knows s/he is beautiful...but doesn't want you to know until you jump through at least 1000 hoops!    Gotta love that cattitude (bronzitude?)! 
Take a rag, place the end of the string on the rag, press the marker over the string, draw the string through between the rag and the marker. Should be able to get it in 2 swipes.

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Stitchboard Admin message #132
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 24, 2013 at 10:12:48 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #11)
 
Sherry,

Argh, disappointing about the Sharpie, sigh, but not surprised.    Fishing line definitely isn't like metallic strings, and even some fishing line doesn't "take" well to color.

It figures that the strings can't be recycled.  Well, they're not unsightly made up, anyway, just that I figured color would give it a bit of...something.  You know, on the thicker strings, since they sound as if they're not entirely useful, could you perhaps crochet sort of "around" them with thread?  In other words, pull the stitches "around" the string as you're making them?  Then you could use several lengths, perhaps coil around and around for a bracelet.  (I would try this first before opening my yap , but don't know anyone who plays guitar, and thus, have no source of old strings.  It wouldn't be worth it to try with new ones, of course!)

Anyway, the idea of recycling them is terrific!

Hmm, it sounds like maybe the headpiece could have been more trouble because you worked it with the guitar strings?  Maybe it wouldn't have been quite so picky with a flexible beading wire?

Oh, how cool that the amazonite had a hole in it!    Love that you took advantage of it!  Was it just big enough to hold the finding, then?  It's so interesting that it looks like it's floating!

Have you thought of selling some of your finished pieces, like the amber?  Perhaps as an Etsy sort of thing? 

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Stitchboard Admin message #134
Re: Tunisian gauge
November 25, 2013 at 5:09:38 PM  (in response to BetwixtTheStitch message #13)
 
Sherry,

Yes, I really like the coiled "beads" on the men's bracelet...they're very eye-catching!    I was talking about an almost-similar thing, but basically "wrapped" with crochet.  I would think (again, sigh, not having any reference to try it personally) crocheting around the length of the strings and doing that with more than one (e.g., finishing crochet "wrapping" the one and going on to another) would use up some of them, and then you also wouldn't have to worry about it cooperating, since the crochet would hold it and you could coil around more than once, catching it with the crochet, rather than having to crimp.  Hoping that's clearer than mud! 

I think what you did by making your own finding worked out perfectly!  I don't see that you needed to drill it at all.  It was such an ingenious thing to use the hole that was naturally there as part of the stone to attach the finding and hang the crystal!  I wouldn't have suggested changing a thing...what you did was no less than amazing...I guarantee, I would never have thought of that!

I'm glad you didn't go through the trouble of trying to drill it.  Also, aside from worries about stone breakage and toxic dust, if you'd drilled it too large, there would have been no going back.    It's so wonderfully perfect and beautiful how you used exactly what you had! 

Ouch, renting a machine makes the cutting and polishing more trouble than it's worth.    That's why I much prefer beadweaving, because once I have the beads, I don't have to "do" anything that requires a rental, and I can get away with little more than needle and thread.

I completely understand wanting to get paid for your time and resources!  It's only right. 

Sadly, you're right...the competition is very tough.    I hate that it's so difficult, because people should be able to do what they enjoy and make a living wage from it, and not third world wages.

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