On a non-crafty, but adorable note...

90 corgis in costume.

Happy Halloween, everybody!

Pink Pachyderm Earrings

These are some funky earrings. I usually don't incorporate fiber into my beadwork, but I decided to do something a little different this go-around. And what goes well with copper wire, wool yarn, and seed beads?

Elephants, of course!

I've had these beads for so long, I'm glad I finally made something with them. These earrings are constructed using a lot of copper wire (20 gauge in the centers of the yarn, and holding up the elephants; 24 gauge wrapped around the yarn); hand-dyed bits of wool yarn, glass elephant beads, size 4 swarovski bicones in Topaz (at the top of each earring), and size 11 seed beads scattered throughout.

Saharan Earrings

Goldstone is so incredibly sparkly, I love it. I'd had these beads around for a while, and finally decided to make something out of them-- they're simple, but the swarovski crystals and bits of chain really add a lot to the design, I think.

Let's see... these are made from copper findings and copper chain, tiny size 11 seed beads, goldstone beads, and Swarovski size 4 bicones, in Indian Red (I think). These earrings are Earth-ier and Fire-ier than most of my creations (I am definitely a Water person when it comes to beadwork, and probably to art in general), and the goldstone reminds me of sparkling sand, hence their name.

Photo Post: Pretty Things

These are from a Japanese-style garden I visited over the spring-- a little too late for most of the sakura, so I focused more on the scenery.

On a non-crafty-related note...

Researchers working on understanding the way our brains process visual images have published a remarkable study. Participants were hooked up to an MRI and shown a video. The MRI information was sent to a computer which mapped the way the participants' blood flowed to different parts of their brains as they watched the video.

Then, (and this is the interesting part!) the computer used that data (and a library of of YouTube footage) to RECONSTRUCT what the participants had seen. The results were surprisingly accurate.

It seems like we're one step closer to being able to being able to watch videos of our dreams, or reconstruct our memories onto DVD. Interesting, isn't it?

Check out the article and watch the videos here: http://www.geekosystem.com/video-from-brain-activity/

Also from Geekosystem: an adorable puppy with a torso deformity has learned to walk, with lots of help from her loving owner. The pictures are one of the sweetest things I've ever seen: http://www.geekosystem.com/harper-puppy/

Herringbone Stitch Tutorial

Herringbone is the last of the major off-loom beadwork stitches. Sometimes known as Ndebele, it's a very old stitch, and it's a popular way to create a beaded strip or swatch of beaded 'fabric'. Like the herringbone stitches you see in knitting or other crafts, beaded herringbone consists of a series of beaded columns that tilt towards one another, creating a slight zigzag effect. It's a beautiful stitch, very versatile, and particularly effective in its tubular form.

Industrial Lantern Earrings

I have a whole set of 'lantern' earrings going: somewhat-spherical beads, topped by bead caps, and ending with chain. These are the most austere and modern of the group. I love all the different chains involved. Yay for chains of multiple metals all grouped together!

The beads are snakeskin agate, the beadcaps are gold (I got them as a gift... what, you though I actually bought any non-copper findings?... actually, my partner has talked me into purchasing some gunmetal, so, yes, yes I have... but no gold, yet...) the hooks and headpins are copper, and the chains are copper and silver (and probably some aluminum-- I deconstructed some necklaces I had as a kid and that's where the non-copper came from!).