Savvy Thinker » Arts http://savvythinker.com thinking about life, playing with makeup Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:10:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Toothpick sculptures by Steven J. Backman http://savvythinker.com/toothpick-sculptures-by-steven-j-backman/ http://savvythinker.com/toothpick-sculptures-by-steven-j-backman/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:14:24 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/01/14/toothpick-sculptures-by-steven-j-backman/

His sculptures are amazing.

I like the symbolism of this one as it depicts the unity of a mother and child being joined together as one or a woman's torso:

Unity

Or Contemplation -- contemplating a thought or an idea.

Pretty clever stuff!

Karin

Originally posted 2007-01-14 19:07:00.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/toothpick-sculptures-by-steven-j-backman/feed/ 0 Making a ring out of three Troll-type beads http://savvythinker.com/making-a-ring-out-of-three-troll-type-beads/ http://savvythinker.com/making-a-ring-out-of-three-troll-type-beads/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:11:26 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=3582

The back story is that years ago my great-aunt brought me back lovely charms from Scandinavia. I had the jeweler permanently solder them on the bracelet. Lately I wanted to make it more Troll-friendly. It was just blah, sort of, without any Troll -- and feeling quite lonely, LOL! And I wasn't wearing it . I purchased several clip beads that I felt I could clip between the charms. That worked, but didn't give any color, and I was afraid I might lose the clip if it wasn't clipping tight enough over the chain.

Yesterday I beaded pearls and Swarovski crystals to alternate between some of the charms -- that added color and left me with lonely clip beads.

After some tweaking, I made a ring. It's going to be a favorite!

IF YOU WANT IT TO BE ENTIRELY INTERCHANGEABLE: USE 1-3 CLIP BEADS depending on the size of your finger across or if you want to wear it on your little finger.

MINE IS PARTIALLY INTERCHANGEABLE: I can change the two outer clip beads (these open and shut as stoppers.) I knew I'd keep the center bead as it has moonstone and never really showed up on my other bracelets, but it is central to the ring.

DESIGN POSSIBILITIES: Use clip beads with non-clip Troll-type as I did or use a central bead with beads that are simply large hole beads.

I bet we could get one of our glass people at http:www.addicted2beads.ning.com to make some small large hole beads to use on rings!

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Karin
www.savvythinker.com

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Karin

Originally posted 2009-05-28 07:58:51.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/making-a-ring-out-of-three-troll-type-beads/feed/ 1 A funny thing happened when beading http://savvythinker.com/a-funny-thing-happened-when-beading/ http://savvythinker.com/a-funny-thing-happened-when-beading/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:53:01 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/09/18/a-funny-thing-happened-when-beading/

Well, the best laid plans...and all that.

The quartz that I bought is drilled like briolettes, top drilled, not center drilled, so that changed the whole project. Therefore, what I started out to do is not what I ended up doing. I should have paid more attention when I bought them, or the store should have pointed it out, knowing how I intended to use them. OTOH, if they had, I wouldn't have done the project I did. So it's a toss up.

On the whole, I don't like briolettes. They are hard to work with, unless you want the only style they are pretty much used in, and that's not a style I generally wear. These fooled me because they are flatter, not so round. If they had been round, I would have known they were briolettes.

I ended up making a lariat with a briolette at each end. I can use the S clasp freely anywhere along the piece to make it any length I'd like, but the S is not attached. And I made earrings with a briolette on the end of each. With some left over beads I made a normal briolette necklace that when worn with the lariat looks as though it is part of the lariat, but it is not. And with the very most left over beads, I made a small piece with a briolette in the center, hung from thin leather cord. That's fun. And considering that I took apart a necklace that I hadn't worn in years to get to some of the beads, I will wear these, in some combination, a lot more often.

When beading, it is the beads that dictate the finished project. I have to wait until they speak to me. I might still try to make the original project, but only if I can get the right components. I'm not in a hurry. I'm surprised I beaded at all, it's been so long.

I'm really pleased with the way the lariat and earrings turned out. I'm not sorry I bought all the rutilated quartz pieces. That way I was sure to have enough, since the store is not convenient to get back to, if I had wanted a few more. I think I have 5 left. If I had had less, I would have made only the lariat and earrings.

I must be on a creative kick. I made a couple of knitted collars this past week. Knitting is more relaxing than beading, because there is less thought put into coming up with a pattern. Once I decide on a pattern for beading, it is relaxing too. Sort of, anyway! Either one I can do in the midst of family life.

Do you like to bead? or knit? Now's the time to knit up a few scarves. The weather will be turning cold for most of you.

Karin

Originally posted 2007-09-18 09:47:55.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/a-funny-thing-happened-when-beading/feed/ 0 Shellac French Manicure with Asphalt tips and nail art http://savvythinker.com/shellac-french-manicure-with-asphalt-tips-and-nail-art/ http://savvythinker.com/shellac-french-manicure-with-asphalt-tips-and-nail-art/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:35:04 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8213

Base of nails is Moonlight and Roses.
Tips: Asphalt
Nail art: silver (not Shellac)

I really like these!

See more Shellac posts here: http://savvythinker.com/category/hands/shellac/

Nails by Kim.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Shellac


Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/shellac-french-manicure-with-asphalt-tips-and-nail-art/feed/ 0 Shellac Pink with yellow nail art http://savvythinker.com/shellac-pink-with-yellow-nail-art/ http://savvythinker.com/shellac-pink-with-yellow-nail-art/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:27:13 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8208

This is such a happy color! I've seen this pink done as the tips of a French manicure too.

Nails by Kim.

See more Shellac posts here: http://savvythinker.com/category/hands/shellac/

Karin
www.savvythinker.com


Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/shellac-pink-with-yellow-nail-art/feed/ 0 Finding happiness in the moments http://savvythinker.com/finding-happiness-in-the-moments/ http://savvythinker.com/finding-happiness-in-the-moments/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:16:53 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/02/28/finding-happiness-in-the-moments/

A friend sent me a card with these words on it. I've seen it attributed to either Emerson or ee cummings.

The earth laughs in flowers.

Now the card is front and center to my computer screen where I see it daily.

I wish I knew why it seems like negatives grab consciousness quicker and stay longer than happiness, which seems so fleeting. I try to reverse the emphasis by being conscious (and keeping lists) of unexpected happy moments. They feel especially like serendipitous gifts, if I'm having a low moment.

This is a reminder to me that joy is found in places and moments that we might not recognize if we don't consciously let it register. It reminds me to be childlike -- to notice the interesting bug or the flowers in someone's garden or the wildflowers that are profuse along certain roadways. These are moments of happiness mitigating the adult issues that we all face in some form or other. Nature is a gift, freely given.

It just tickles my fancy to think of the earth, laughing, in flowers. A kind of celestial hiccup. And there's another one. And another one. Just like happiness.

I tell a friend that we need to string together moments of healing and happiness, as if the moments were pearls. No one focuses on the knots in a strand of pearls, just the pearls. So too, the knotty issues of life should fade into the background of our happier moments.

I made a bracelet with small sized alphabet beads and crystals using this quote so that it would be before my consciousness as I go about my day. There are even little crystal flowers on it and a butterfly.

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I can always use more conscious happiness. How about you!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-06-01 12:10:17.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/finding-happiness-in-the-moments/feed/ 2 Scarf using eyelash yarn in combo http://savvythinker.com/scarf-using-eyelash-yarn-in-combo/ http://savvythinker.com/scarf-using-eyelash-yarn-in-combo/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:53:14 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=1481

Another combination that is nice is most any yarn carried with an eyelash yarn. Choose any two yarns that you like the combined look of. You can choose to be complementary or to contrast.

I knit a couple of rows to make sure I'm happy with it, before I knit any further. Occasionally, I don't like what I chose, so I take those rows apart and combine the yarns with other yarns.

Pick one of the patterns that I gave earlier, or knit 16 or 18 stitches, depending on the length of yarn you have and the width you want your scarf to be.

Your only limitation is the number of yards in your shorter skein, if you are striving to stay to one skein. If you find the yarns you chose are very bulky, you might need to use fewer stitches and a bigger needle. Experiment!

Here's a closeup of a navy eyelash with a varigated blue yarn.

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And here's how it looks completed.

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Originally posted 2009-03-08 23:52:35.

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/scarf-using-eyelash-yarn-in-combo/feed/ 0 I like to decorate with my children’s art http://savvythinker.com/i-like-to-decorate-with-my-childrens-art/ http://savvythinker.com/i-like-to-decorate-with-my-childrens-art/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:52:24 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8152

It makes me glad that I have formica cabinets -- and it totally makes it worth having kept these since they were little. This is the first year I've done them like this, but it won't be the last. I was really happy with the way they turned out.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/i-like-to-decorate-with-my-childrens-art/feed/ 0 Gel Nails with Glitter and Henna-like Tattoo http://savvythinker.com/gel-nails-with-glitter-and-henna-like-tattoo/ http://savvythinker.com/gel-nails-with-glitter-and-henna-like-tattoo/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:33:43 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/?p=8139

I thought this tattoo was very pretty. It looks like Henna, but it is not.

I took 2 other pictures of her nails, but they were blurry, so this is the best I've got.

This shows the tattoo on her finger too, similar to when I had Henna done.

Nails by Kim.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Online Stores ]]> http://savvythinker.com/gel-nails-with-glitter-and-henna-like-tattoo/feed/ 0 How to paint the MONA LISA with MS PAINT http://savvythinker.com/how-to-paint-the-mona-lisa-with-ms-paint/ http://savvythinker.com/how-to-paint-the-mona-lisa-with-ms-paint/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:35:51 +0000 Karin http://savvythinker.com/2007/03/30/how-to-paint-the-mona-lisa-with-ms-paint/

Compliments of College Girl who found this. What fun!

Painting of the Mona Lisa using Microsoft paint. Original painting time 2hrs 30mins. Plays in under 5 minutes.

Originally posted 2007-03-30 06:45:32.

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