Fantasy Headdresses

I've been on a kick lately of making fantasy-style headdresses. Partly because I just like that sort of thing, and partly because I'm hoping to appeal to a specific crowd: LARPers, Ren-Faire aficionados, cosplayers, and, well, anyone else who likes to dress up!

Like most jewelry-making, it's both fun and tedious. How can something be both, you might wonder?

Well, the tedious part is easy: wire-wrapping all those beads, tweaking everything so it lays just so, and, um, did I mention wire-wrapping all those beads? I tend to watch a lot of TV when I do it, and I can remember what shows I was watching whenever I look at a piece later--little flashes of "Castle" or "Sex and the City" or some cheezy Lifetime flick, as they're ideal since you don't have to pay much attention to the plot.

The "fun" part comes in when the piece is done. Then you have something pretty to admire, to try on, and ultimately, hopefully, to sell! I like to imagine that my pieces will all find good homes someday--that they'll end up with someone who likes to admire them as much as I do.

Anyway, that's what I've been working on lately! Eight so far, with hopefully more to come!

Fall Sale!

In honor of my favorite season, I'm doing a fall sale in my Etsy shop! Just use the coupon code "FALLSALE" when you check out to save 30%!

www.etsy.com/shop/astraeadesigns

Craftsmanship

As tedious as it can be, I really enjoy making pieces like this. It definitely feels like craftsmanship. It's a slow process that builds on itself, and I get to see the work take shape. This one, for instance, just looks like a mess of pearls and chain most of the time. It's only when you get the last pieces of chain attached that it all falls into place -- quite literally. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction once all those little pearls settled into their respective niches. It was the satisfaction of a job well-done. Maybe that's one of the reasons I do what I do.

Why do you do what you do?

On the Bracelet Bandwagon

For whatever reason, I never really wore bracelets much. Same reason I never wore a watch -- I'd just end up fiddling with it all the time. Anything on my wrist was a distraction. But maybe that's partly the point. Recently I've been enamored with bracelets. I've made several, and I find that I like wearing them. I get to admire them -- one of the few pieces of jewelry you actually CAN admire while you wear them. The sparkly, glittery ones throw reflections in the car when I drive, catching the sunlight. Others are just fun to toy with -- I like making charm bracelets with lots and lots of colorful beads, and I like the clinky/clattery sound they make as I move, and I like admiring all the colors. Yep, I'm beginning to see the allure of bracelets after all. I was a little slow to join the bandwagon, but now that I have, I've a feeling I'll be a permanent member. Hurray for bracelets!

Beaded Beads

I recently discovered a new love: circular brick-stitch. It's a great way to use up leftover pairs of beads (round, preferably), and embellish them with seed beads. I was sick for a week and ended up making about 12 pairs of these, in a whole array of colors. They're fun, easy, and relatively quick.

I have to give props to my fellow Nomad and Etsian, Laura, and her "Some Enchanted Earrings" class; I had a peek at the handout to help get me started. She's even got some tutorials for even more intricate bracelet and necklace versions. I think I'll stick with the earrings for now... the beads are calling to me to make more!

Check out the link to the "Beadweaving" section of my Etsy site, where I have several of these beauties listed!

-Astra

October Dreams

Etsy has a wonderful feature wherein you can create your own "Treasuries" -- they're just collections of work that you can put together, usually with a theme (often color-related) to showcase other artists whose work you admire. I'm always pleased when I find one of my pieces featured in a Treasury, so I decided to make one that included work by a bunch of folks who've included me. Just "paying it back," as they say. I opted for a fall/autumn theme; it's my favorite season, and it seemed appropriate timing. So here's my "October Dreams" Treasury -- enjoy!

"Red as Blood" Gothic Choker

First, I have to give props to Laura Zeiner of Stick Lizard Designs -- she's the one who came up with the seed-bead pattern for this gorgeous Victorian-style necklace. I took her class at Nomadic Notions and learned how to make this piece, and so far, I've made three!

This red & black one is probably my favorite, though. I was inspired by watching "True Blood" (oh yes, I'm a fan). Pam, in particular, has some awesome taste in jewelry (or at least her wardrobe designer does!) and this seemed like the sort of thing she might wear. You really can't go wrong with red and black! I used red velvet Chinese crystal rondelles, along with some black crystals, size 11 black seed beads, and a few sterling silver spacers, then finished the whole thing with some gunmetal chain. It's all Gothic and sexy, and makes me think of vampires, which is why I've called it "Red as Blood." How very fitting, as Halloween looms ever closer!