Hedgehog, By Request

[akirlu]

Since Lucy said she wanted to see the hedgehog necklace when it was done, I've uploaded a couple of pictures to Flickr, and now I'm going to try to insert one of them into this entry. Wish me luck...!




Edit: Okay, that seems to work.

P.S. - Product photography is a bitch. I had to toss out most of my images for blurriness: inadvertent camera shake during longish exposures, as I was shooting without flash. And, truthfully, I just don't really love this Canon Powershot. Our Kodak just plain takes better pictures, but the macro-focus feature on it is broken. I'm very much looking forward to trying out the Panasonic Lumix Hal just bought, since the gyroscopic image stabilization is supposed to be able to compensate for camera shake. High tech, yo.

Comments

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

True enough, though it's particularly wasteful becauce it really only solves the problem at one end. You still have to come up with some sort of finial behind the other bead/pearl. So it seems to me you might as well use the same method at both ends, for uniformity's sake.

For that matter, I'm told that if one has a torch, one can make one's own head pins out of wire -- the head comes out spherical instead of flat, but I prefer that look anyhow, and at that point it's no more expensive than any other way of using wire. I meant to take a class in that technique at the local bead store when I could mesh with their class schedules, but I let it ride a bit too long, and the store up and moved to Oregon. Poot.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

It's not that hard, you just need to practice how long to hold it in the flame. If you use fine silver, you don't have to pickle it.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yes, Mary Kay says it's very easy, as well. Hum. Perhaps I'll look into getting a cheap torch. Though I think I will want to set up that workspace *outside* -- so there may be a hiatus for winter. On the other other hand, what with the El Niño this year, we're supposed to have a mild winter. Hum.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Look at http://www.sciplus.com. They almost always have a nice cheap torch. The torch is small, you don't need to worry about using it inside as long as you have something fireproof under the setup.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the reminder! I knew American Science and Surplus were a good source for that sort of thing, but hadn't thought about them in a while. Do you recommend the pencil-torch, or the somewhat larger hand-held? Also, is there any way to tell whether your wire is fine silver or not? I mean, absent asking when you buy it?

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

The pencil torch is fine for making sphere headpins, but if you ever want to use a torch for something else, you should get the hand-held.

There really isn't a way to tell fine silver from sterling unless the sterling has tarnished. I buy my wire from http://www.monsterslayer.com and send them my scraps for a discount against my next order.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's a good resource to know about too. Particularly for being willing to discount for scraps. I have a small bag that I keep adding bits of silver to, and eventually ought to do something similar with that lot.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Silver is up now, you might want to send it soon. I sent two 2x3" bags and got $42.35 against the order.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, thanks so very much also for your general, ongoing, enormous generosity with hints and help on the jewelry-making. I've lost count of the number of ways you've taught me small but enormously useful things about this stuff. Not least the correct use of my bead crimpers. (The trouble with being self-taught is that I don't always figure stuff out from inspection.)

Also, I mentioned it elsewhere but if you haven't had a chance to try out the Lindstrom ergonomic pliers, *do*. They are such an amazing pleasure to work with, and make all sorts of small tasks both easier and easier to do well. I'm totally in love with the bent-nose and flat-nose pliers I bought, and already feel like they're worth the admittedly steep sticker price.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're welcome! I use Rio Grande's house brand tools, Bell, because they come small enough for my hands. I don't do a lot of wire work and so far, these are fine for me. I'll keep the Lindstrom in mind in case I start to do more.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're ever in the same place with Elise when she's committing jewelry, she's great about letting people try out her tools to get the feel of them. In fact, it's because Elise let me play with her pliers at Worldcon that I knew I liked the Lindstroms.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Elise is furious at me right now, but maybe she'll be calmer by Mincon.