Q: "How do you do that?" A: "One bead at a time."

[darkemeralds]

Some signs that I was done with beadwork--that the artform was, for me, no more:

• I took my old beadwork website down
• No one in the beadwork world talks to me anymore
• I recently came thisclose to giving away all my beads and tools
• My beadwork software is so old that it won't install on this computer

So it came as a surprise to me, this urge to make something beady again. But I have a mission: a Serenity convention in November.



The design was easy. Stolen, in fact. Lifted right off of Can't Stop The Signal. Totally unoriginal. I'm not proud of myself.


Then I needed new software. Selecting it took a couple of days. Figuring it out took some more time.

The software hasn't been invented yet that works the way I do, so rendering an image into a workable pattern was more than several hours' intensive computer work. Man, was my ass tired of this chair!



Next problem: printing the pattern. I haven't owned a printer in several years, but this is one of those rare instances where I actually need something on paper. My sister saved the day on that one. Flash drives are great!

Then there's finding beads in that many shades of brown, gold, amber, copper, bronze, orange. See, color is one thing. Then there's reflectivity, translucence, opacity--all of which change the final effect--sometimes very unexpectedly. And all of which make ordering the right beads online kind of tricky.



Some signs that maybe beadwork lives again:

• This icon
• I just added "beads" and "beadwork" to my interests
• I'm going to the actual local bead store now.

It'll be like old times.

Comments

[emungere.livejournal.com]

*insanely impressed with your mad beading skillz* That is going to be so cool.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

I hope so. The thing to be impressed with in beadwork isn't so much skill as the sheer, unutterable patience it requires. Planning and designing is one thing. Execution? Whole 'nother story.

[inalasahl]

That is going to be so cool. You're going to be mobbed by strangers wanting to touch your ... beads.

It's always fun hearing about other people's hobbies. I didn't even know there was such a thing as bead software.

And yay for being one of "today's leading bead artists." That's neat.

[sffan.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's gorgeous.

[vampirefan.livejournal.com]

holy shit! i give the mad props for your dedication!

i know how to knit, crochet and afghan(sp?) knit and yet you'd be hardpressed to find anything i've completed except for some barbie clothes. small was the key...

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Wow...you can make that? You are amazing. So are we going to get updates? (vows not to spend *all* her time living vicariously)

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

I can. Whether I will or not remains to be seen. Depends on how patient I feel for how long.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Yup, I know just what you mean. This will definitely be among my larger completed projects. That's if I complete it. This kind of work is a little like Fair Isle knitting. Can't be listening to loud music or talking on the phone while following the pattern. This will be the perfect project for audiobooks.

If only I could get my favorite fanfic authors to come and read their naughty porn to me!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a beautiful design. And a really nice computer image. I wish a) I'd designed it myself and b) I even knew how to get those metallic and corrosion effects in Photopaint.

But I can copy, darn it. And if I choose my beads right, it should come out really shiny--in both sense of the word!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

And yay for being one of "today's leading bead artists."

That was a "today" of yore, I'm afraid. Back when the ability to put up a website made you a stah!

I have this idea of lending the Chinese silk coat to someone young and pretty who can wear it around the con. kispexi suggested that Summer might like it--but then I'd have to make it really, really, inhumanly tiny, and that would be weird. But it's an intriguing idea, isn't it?

[wedjateye.livejournal.com]

I love the design you have made. 'Stealing' is not the issue here - imitation is the sincerest form of obsession flattery. And I bet Summer/Morena/Jewel/Gina would LOVE one of your designs. It looks amazing, I hope to see the finished product - at least in photos.

I have a couple of audio CDs I could burn for you if you want - Dirt Music by Tim Winton (about five hours of listening time) and an audi collection of Edgar Allen Poe. Plus some other thing I got at a conference but haven't actually listened to. Just say the word - I'd like to enable your beady creativity.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I'd love the audio CDs! There's a whole world of audiobooks out there, and I don't know where to begin. Your recommendations are a good starting point. If you wanted to rip them to MP3 files, you could yousendit them and save a trip to the post office. Whatever's easier for you would work great for me. Thanks!

[inalasahl]

I can't imagine anyone turning down the opportunity to wear it.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe some of your manlier men...

[inalasahl]

I suppose, *sigh*, if you want to get technical.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Although the mental image of Jayne in a dashing silk kimono with beadwork on it makes me strangely happy.

[wedjateye.livejournal.com]

Off in the mail today.

Tim Winton is my favourite Australian author but I don't know how well he will translate. I actually haven't read Dirt Music - I bought the audio book for a long car trip (9 hours) and that is the only way I have experienced this book. I enjoyed it enough to listen mostly right through.

The Edgar Allen Poe has some creepy gems in it - The Pit and the Pendulum etc. It is read by Vincent Price (yes, he of creep movie fame) and Basil Rathbone.

They are both 5 cd sets, 6 hours of listeniing time, which would take forever via yousendit - apart from my current lack of conversion software.

The other CD is something I got at a conference - it is in MP3 format and apparrently has 16 hours of listening time. A few beads there. I haven't listened to it so it may be boring as batshit but the blurb on the back sounded ok.

Enjoy. Have good beads.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thanks! I look forward to all these treasures.

Did I mention that one of Monsoon's nicknames is Spazil Rathbone, because he's such a spaz?

[wedjateye.livejournal.com]

♥cute kitty icon♥
♥Spazil Rathbone♥

[inalasahl]

Someone so has to write that fanfic.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

You throw down the gauntlet, I pick it up. Am awaiting a quick beta now, and will post said story in relevant places very soon.

[inalasahl]

*hits refresh on flist* *hits refresh on flist* *hits refresh on flist*

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Ask, and eventually it shall be given (http://www.livejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=emeraldsedai).

[inalasahl]

Hee, that's a link to your user pictures.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Well, poo! I guess I didn't look too closely at what was in my buffer. But you got to the GBOKOD* anyway, so that's what counts.


*Giant Beaded Orange Kimono Of Dooooom. Courtesy of emungere.

[neroli66.livejournal.com]

oh WOW! That will look...amazing!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

Not as amazing as that icon of yours. Damn.

[neroli66.livejournal.com]

Help! I am wandering around trying to find this mysterious GBOKOD* story...~whimpers~

[neroli66.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I missed my smut icons...HEE!

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

If you're a member of fireflyslash you can read it here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fireflyslash/38418.html).

If not, you should join! Or let me know and I'll post it on the Glow.

[neroli66.livejournal.com]

But of course I am a member! And if I wasn't before I would be now...the lure of Jayne in a kamono would be too strong...LOL