I was multipling for several days this week as I worked on a couple of articles/tutorials for Magpie Gemstones (www.magpiegemstones.com). The first has been published and the second will be out this coming week.

Creating with multiple strands has always been a challenge for me; but this week I remembered a piano pedagogy instructor from a long ago workshop in Dayton, Ohio. She said we should attack our weaknesses. Sometimes I’ve felt I should just avoid my weaknesses, which I prefer to call areas of challenge. This week, however, I heeded that instructor’s words and attacked.

I read the available information online and watched a few videos. Then I commenced to work on my own pieces. When multipling, I had to consider the length of each strand in relation to the others, the bead placement in relation to the strand length and the placement of multiple strand spacers and connectors which somewhat alter strand length. Please don’t ask me how many times I restrung things before I got everything in sync. The two pieces immediately below are thoroughly discussed in Creating Multi-strand Necklaces: Part I http://www.magpiegemstones.com/mutlistrand1.html 

Part II of this discussion, soon to be published, discusses clasps, connectors and spacers for multi-strand pieces. The bib style necklace with leather and the three strand necklace below are featured in that article.

I was enthused enough about multi-strand pieces to go ahead and purchase a fancy clasp for one at the bead show I attended today. It was so pretty, that I decided to use it in the front of the choker style necklace. I don’t make much bling, but I liked this clasp. So, there I sat at the workbench again – multipling.

Now, I need to get back to singling rather than multipling and stop making up new words!

Finished! I’ve been working on this piece for several days and it finally came together this afternoon. It was ordered by a store in Fredericksburg that sold one in similar colors earlier this summer. I’ve always thought of the browns and blacks for Fall, but mixed with the light teal and a touch of yellow and gold, this seems to work for summer. This peyote necklace has a nice Turquoise Jasper cabachon (Magpie Gemstones) in the center and I backed this stone with ultrasuede. I also added an extra row of beads completely around the neckline at a right angle to the peyote stitches. This should help the piece keep it’s shape while it remains supple and comfortable. The piece is stitched with 6 lb test Fireline fishing line.

It was amusing that as I was finishing this piece, the ping of my computer alerted me that I had received an email. It was from Barry at Caravan Beads. This is my main source for wholesale seed beads (Miyuki) and the vendor from whom I purchased the beads for the above necklace. He was offering to trade the cloudy, rainy northern weather in his neck of the woods for some sunshine. I offered to take the deal and said I would throw in some feral hogs from my pasture to boot. He replied that he wanted the weather, but not the hogs. While both he and a store I deal with in Maine were sharing that customers were hard to come by due to their too-wet summer weather. The merchants I talked with close to San Marcos and the Hill Country had much the same concerns with our too hot summer weather. Either way, I guess it’s summer and we’re all dealing with one thing or another.

Just as I’ve had to keep an open mind about those dark colors and their appropriateness for summer, I’ve got to keep an open mind about the weather. When it changes (for the better) people will be ready to get out and will definitely need to shop. I plan to have plenty of options for them to see. As I’ve heard Suzie from Aunties Beads say “you’ve got to have product!”

I enjoyed attending the Bead Jamboree in San Antonio last weekend. Being a bit of a home body, I tried to talk myself out of going several times, but finally went ahead. I currently purchase most everything from www.magpiegemstones.com and really didn’t need to go to the show. Yet, I wanted to support my friends who were vending and teaching at this venue.

Luckily, I met a “new-to-me” vendor and enjoyed exploring the possibilities her merchandise provided. (www.acharmcollection.com) The cross necklace at the left resulted from the use of her metal products and I have several other pieces that will evolve from visiting this vendor. She sells metal charms, etc. such as those shown in the picture below. While it may not be a new technique, she talked with me about layering gemstones on her pieces. Prices were quite reasonable and I’m trying some of her ideas. The first few customers who saw this cross wanted it and I’m hoping the designs will be pleasing. 

Economically speaking, the price point for these plated silver and gemstone pieces will be very affordable for customers. While I didn’t use expensive turquoise in the necklace shown, it is still pretty and Mother says it will be meaningful to those who see it. (She was sure that I had made it for her . . . hint, hint.)

I’m pleased to find another helpful, pleasant vendor, but I still want to support those suppliers who have been good to me. This “new find” simply adds one more possibility to design options.