So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Threading alternatives For Beadwork and Jewelry

By Ethan O. Tanner

There are several subjects concerning the alternatives of threading material for beading. Here is an fascinating report regarding the several threading materials and their use. One very substantial lesson I gained is that there is no single, universal (all-around) stringing material. Here are the greatest threading materials along with how and when to apply each of them.

Silk bears a fantastic "hand" (a fragile, flexible feel). This string comes in numerous sizes and colours. It comes prepacked on reels, and "carded" with a needle. This is a normal stringing material and forms beautiful knots between ivories and beads. Alone, silk tends to be relatively frail. It may stretch out, be cut by unsmooth beads, disintegrate when damp, and ivories threaded on silk should to be re strung up every few yrs. It is better to utilize silk when threading ivories and lighter, smooth-holed pearls. A needle is a requirement.

Nylon thread also comes in many sizes and colors. It comes packaged on spools, on bobbins, and "carded" with a needle attached. Nylon can be used where-ever silk can and is not as fragile. This material knots beautifully and can be used for pearl stringing, in some strung jewelry, seed beadwork, loom weaving, for Peyote and other specialty stitches, and heishi.

Nylon stretches out a great deal less than silk, and it will not decompose once wet. Like silk, you should not employ beads with sharp edged holes or that are heavy. When you use nylon string, I would urge you coat your string with bee's wax or "Thread Heaven TM "prior to using to keep it from fraying. A needle is essential.

Bonded nylon is a good deal stronger form of nylon strand. The strands are physically bound together for improved strength and abrasion protection. While it knots well, it doesn't have the "feel" of silk.

Attached nylon comes in an variety of colors and smaller size reels. Attributable to its abrasion opposition, you can utilise it with "demanding", harsher stone beads; this comes close to being an "comprehensive Thread". Brand names** include: "Stringth" or "Silkon". A needle is necessary, tho' you can put "Super Glue" on the end to arrive at a "Self-needle". This is a preferable beading material of mine.

Fishing Line is a hard, semi-rigid, single strand of plastic. It doesn't knot well, and in time sunlight or ultraviolet light can cause it to weaken and fall apart. Fishing line is purchased on small spools and is sold in sporting goods stores.

Personally, I employ fishing line for two reasons. I employ it to do my preliminary threading while I'm designing a necklace (I change the beads to a better textile for the final product), and to string together "raw" strings of beads. There's no needle requirement. I would never employ this textile for a final beaded piece.

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