December 12, 2008

Beading version number 10 - or less


I decided to work at another heart necklace (a la Nancy Donaldson). OK. I know you don't want to hear any more of my whining so all I will say is that I strung on too many rows. Yuck. Well, here it is.
I decided that I was going to do one as a birthday gift and because I wanted to use purples, I had to go to Arton to get some more beads. And necklace ribbon, and faux silver beads, and copper and chain, and I don't know what else but it came to $100. How did that happen? Then one of the owners told me to check out the store next door. It's another version of Arton except that the beads are semi-precious, freshwater pearls, sterling silver etc. What did I buy that totaled $90. Honestly, I don't know how I do it. It's scary. I'm not even going to make jewellery and so I'm guessing that I will use these supplies in mixed media stuff. I think I'm a sucker for coloured and sparkley things.
I decided to get back to making some copper book necklaces which requires the copper be vintaged using liver of sulphur. I opened up the jar of solution and immediately I knew there was something wrong. Firstly it had no aroma (it should have smelled like stinky rotten eggs). Plus the solution was clear, not yellow. I left the copper plates in the solution for 4 hours with no reaction. I guess even caustic solutions have a best before....it was 2 years that it was last opened. So today I zoomed down to Lacy's and picked up a new bottle. I tried it out and it was too strong and the copper plates turned black. Must figure out a new recipe. It's always something...

2 comments:

Leslie Jane Moran said...

This is so funny! After Nancy's class, Irene and I made a foray to Queen St. and all the bead shops and had the very same experience at Arton! We're not sure what we bought either! By the end, we were not ever sure what we were really looking for. It's such an overwhelming experience. We finally ended up in another shop across the way and are thinking of taking a class there based on a piece that we saw. We'll call you and you can join our merry band. A long time ago I really needed liver of sulfur and could find no resource for it. I also need to go to Lacy's for our welding equipment. I see another field trip coming up in the New Year. Otherwise, bravo for doing another necklace. You are definitely too hard on yourself. I think a few drinks and Dufflet cake will help that! See you in the New Year.

A bird in the hand said...

I know that store next door. I had to flee it because I saw the $$$ pile up in my mind's eye and my budget going to h*ll...