Sunday, July 23, 2017

Virginia Floor Cloth and Textiles Company: Floor Cloth Workshop

I had an interesting dilemma this past weekend. Three very fun, very awesome events were taking place at the same time! The yearly Charlton Park Civil War reenactment is one of my favorites. It has a ton of people I think are awesome, And I had been invited to participate at the Motor City Steam Con; while a bit different from my usual historical adventures, it promised to be a wonderful time. Then there was the painted floor cloth workshop. And I knew what I had to do that weekend! Virginia Floor Cloth and Textiles Company
I made this thing

Little known fact: after Greenfield Village this year, my rugs were home to a few wriggling buddies. Which of course spilled all over me when I opened the door to my trailer a week later. (My Dad and I both jumped back in horror-so disgusting!) Those heavy fabric things had seen better days; between mud and bugs, I woefully bid them ado. Then I wondered what I would put on the floor of my tent fly! Along came this workshop, which would address the (now) health issue...

Spread over two days, Virginia and Randy gave wonderful advice, hands on techniques, and research to support their designs and process. Let me just say that when someone hands you documentation at the beginning, you know you'll like it! It was a good time to let my creativity out and about.

They were beyond helpful. Every question answered! And when I (inevitably) messed up lines, Virginia fixed them. She has the steadiest hand I have ever seen. I was so grateful for their help, as the finished product was a spectacular bit of work. The other members of the class were kind and patient; you had to be in order to finish that project! It was such a pretty array of floor cloths when they were all finished.

If I may, this is my HIGH recommendation for taking a class with them. The techniques were solid, documentation was provided, and it was beyond helpful to have someone with you every step of the way. I am a kinesthetic/visual learner, so something like this works well for me. If you're looking for another class, they are doing a BLOCK PRINTING class November 18-19th at Fort Meigs, Ohio. I plan to print some lovely scarves for Christmas presents this year (shhh! no sharing with my family).

Click here to see information about their class at Fort Meigs 
Click here for a google images search with more floor clothes

 Between the floor cloth class, moving, and too many family birthday parties in a row, I may be due just a bit of a break from posting. Just kidding! I have a beadwork post that I'm pretty excited about, and will be rolling out of the blog once my wrist stops hurting so much...

~Kristen

Monday, July 17, 2017

DIY: A Civil War Brooch Under $5

I've been asked on more than one occasion to make a stone brooch. Here I am, fiddling with 10,000 beads or making odd concoctions from a period magazine. In my career as an 1860s "jeweler", I find myself more drawn to complex, challenging pieces. Something with a bit of research that makes me go-aha! I get bored with doing the same thing over and over again, which is why much of my jewelry is a one-time thing (unless I get repeat requests, like with the crosses or basic drop earrings).

With that said, I would like to share the information on how to make one. I've promised at least one person this post, and with summer vacation here I can finally sit down and do it! It is very simple, and I have to say not challenging. Which is why they haven't made it to my shop. So here's a quick post on a DIY brooch that would be appropriate for Civil War reenacting for under $5. *Disclaimer: You will spend more than $5, but the total cost for each brooch will be inexpensive because you buy things in bulk!

Step 1: Buy Stuff

Stones to Use (they come in different sizes!)
Click on links to find them online!
-Black/Green/Red Agate
-Opal 
-Coral
-Jet
-Amethyst
-Turquoise
-Goldstone
-Garnet
-And more! (feel free to ask

*Note: Some of these stones will tip you over $5. But seriously, not that much

Pendent 
(Just match in size to the stone) 
Gold was most popular!
Definitely under $1

A bit over $1 a piece

Pin
$5 for a pack of 50

Glue
E 6000 tubes last forever
You can also find this at any craft store

Step 2: Glue it together
Dab a bit of E6000 glue on there, and push in the stone. It is not a permanent glue (I have repaired several costume pieces from other jewelers like this over the years), but it should hold fairly well. After it dries, glue the pin to the back. Let it dry again.

Step 3:.....Finished!
And there you have it friends! How to make a stone brooch! You will definitely have materials left over! And take care not to glue another bead or setting atop this stone-not only will it probably fall off, but I've yet to see substantial documentation for this method. *It has been brought to my attention that there is a period method where they wire jewelry through the stone. If you can do that, have at it! Otherwise, you're looking at something falling off the top of your stone, unless you sand it down...

Here's a few components I have sitting in my shop; it's funny how I'll spend weeks figuring out a project, and a simple glue won't get done!

Well, I hope I've been able to help you get a brooch on a budget! These things are so inexpensive/little time/no skill to make that I feel almost wrong putting them in my shop.

Good luck, happy jewelry making! And look forward to a very crazy beading post coming ahead!

~Kristen

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Discovering "A Bead Bracelet" and other Musings

Between moving to a new place, starting preparations for the 2018 Citizen's Forum, and the half attempts at exercise, I've scarcely had time to work on any projects. Most of my things are packed away in boxes stacked so deep, I'm afraid to look at them. If I die in a suspicious box toppling incident, we could call this post prophetic. However, one bead project made the move separately, so it was out and available to work on: the fated Bead Bracelet!

Ever since I've been able to poke around primary documentation, I've stumbled across this gem of a homemade project. I'd look in awe at the simplicity of "A Bead Bracelet". I've seen them before in someone's shop; it was a few years ago, and I can't remember who it was! In any case, I wanted one and was convinced that I could figure it out...


Godey's magazine. v.58 1859 Jan-Jun.

WORK DEPARTMENT.

Materials.- Some large-sized chalk beads, 3 or 4 sizes larger than seed beads, or shell pearls may be used, or turquoise, and No. 10 steel beads, or uncut jet beads; either will look handsome. No. 20 cotton. A fine needle.

1st round.— Take three-quarters of a yard of cotton; thread thereon 18 beads; tie these up in a circle, not too tight, but sufficiently loose that 20 beads might be tied in, if they were requisite; leave one end of the cotton, about a finger in length; tie the knot of the circle securely.

2d.— Place the circle of beads on the point of forefinger of left hand, with needle and cotton in front; thread a bead *; pass it close up to first circle; make an overcast stitch over the cotton, between 1st and 2d bead; with the point of the needle pass up close to this a bead of 1st circle; hold it tightly; thread another bead. Repeat from * till there are 18 beads in the 2d row; then pass the needle and thread all through the 1st circle of beads, and tie in a secure knot to the end left on; pass the needle and cotton again through 2d circle; tie in a knot to the end of cotton, and cut the ends off, so that the knot is not seen. This running the cotton through the beads makes them firm, strong, and even. This forms the first link of bracelet. To make the second, after threading the 18 beads, pass them through the 1st link; then proceed as before. Link as many of these circles together as will enable the bracelet, when joined, to pass tightly over the hand. To join the 1st and last link together, thread the 18 beads, and, before tying, pass the cotton through 1st and last link; then tie, and proceed as before. When each link is complete, a 3d row may be added, if desired, worked in the same way; but, of course, the preceding row is immovable, which is of no consequence.

The Process
Wherein the Heroine discovers she has no patience...

I would normally consider myself a patient person. I'm patient while I teach students. I'm patient while letting others cars pass in front of me during rush hour. I'm patient when my significant other can't find something that would bite his face off if it had teeth. 

But this one would not budge. I tried every which way but could not figure it out. For years I fiddled with the beads, needle, and thread, only to throw them down in frustration. The directions didn't make sense! The beads just didn't fit well together! It didn't look like the picture!

Then one night, the directions all of the sudden made sense. I bolted upright in bed, scaring both my fiance and sleeping dog. Here's how that conversation went:

Fiance: What is it? What's wrong?
Me: I figured it out!!!! (Runs to crafting room, collects supplies. Returns to room)
Fiance: NO! No more crafting in bed! (Fiance recalls time when I used his side of bed as pin cushion)
Me: No pins, just beads, I swear! (Fiddles with thread, figures it out)

As the original directions state, I needed to use beads 3-4 sizes bigger than seed beads. I started with a size 6 regular round bead. Obviously, this did not work. I tried a size 11 seed bead. This did not work either. *Sigh*

The far left green one is a tiny, original bead. The far right blue is a size 6 regular bead.
The other green and the pink are two other wrong sized beads for this project.
The blue in the center was just right Goldilocks!

But then I went back to re-examine my originals with beads. Look how TINY they were! My beads were much too big. But what beads are slightly bigger, have a flat-ish shape that will mimic the picture, and take multiple passes with the needle and thread? I settled on a chance find at a craft store: Czechoslovakian glass seed beads.

And it worked! Not only do the beads lay correctly, but the general shape and size fits aesthetically with the overall look of the chain link that was a popular 19th century motif.

I did make a few changes. First, this bracelet does not stay well as a whole, continuous piece. With this large amount of beads, it kept falling off my wrist. To fix this, I added a clasp to make the bracelet more fitted. I imagine one could use ribbon too, but the clasp was more permanent and made it more wearable. I've decided I will offer both finishing types in my shop, though I strong reccomend the clasped piece. As a person who has completed many a Godey's project, sometimes the instructions don't match practical usage of an item. 

Are you tempted now? You can totally buy them here in my shop.

I'll be offering more color options as new beads come in. They're quite adorable, and at least one family member has attempted to snag one for modern wear. At the very least, my fiance has not complained of errant pins on his side of the bed, so he approves of this project.

Until next time friends, where I play with more beads, move boxes around the apartment, and generally make a nuisance of myself in some way. Just ask my fiance.

~Kristen

On My Bookshelf: December

December has been a really rough month. Between what happened in Oxford (not far from where I live...) and just the general pandemic issues,...