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

[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?

[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.

[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]

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

[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