Rant and rave - beading frustration

Direct paste from a beading board so it sounds a little weird in LJ.

I'm used to making stuff with tigertail and crimps. Pretty easy.

At the moment however I'm trying to make a 3 stranded bracelet on beading thread with a toggle clasp.

I tell you what I am about to give up - it looks like I'm gonna hafta restring the entire thing.

I did the first strand and the knots were messy and not big enough (the knots slid right through the beads) and on the other end it was even more of a mess. And then I'm not sure what happened but the length of thread between the toggle and last bead kept growing until it was about 1.5cm of just thread between the last bead and the toggle.

And the second strand! Well I got to the end of it and went to tie it to the other end of the toggle and the OTHER end decided to undo itself! I don't have enough thread to retie it easily so I'll have to start again.

I think I've used about 2 metres of beading thread so far and have no actual pieces to show for it.

Any tips on how to do this so it all stays snug and neat? I'm using a homemade needle which looks very similar to the ones I've seen in stores that cost $4 a pop. I find it awkward to stop the thread from falling out of the needle and the needle bends, but that's useful in a way because I can maneuver it.

*sigh* I REALLY want to make this bracelet because it will look awesome when properly done. It's just doing it properly that's the problem.

Rant and rave - beading frustration

Direct paste from a beading board so it sounds a little weird in LJ.

I'm used to making stuff with tigertail and crimps. Pretty easy.

At the moment however I'm trying to make a 3 stranded bracelet on beading thread with a toggle clasp.

I tell you what I am about to give up - it looks like I'm gonna hafta restring the entire thing.

I did the first strand and the knots were messy and not big enough (the knots slid right through the beads) and on the other end it was even more of a mess. And then I'm not sure what happened but the length of thread between the toggle and last bead kept growing until it was about 1.5cm of just thread between the last bead and the toggle.

And the second strand! Well I got to the end of it and went to tie it to the other end of the toggle and the OTHER end decided to undo itself! I don't have enough thread to retie it easily so I'll have to start again.

I think I've used about 2 metres of beading thread so far and have no actual pieces to show for it.

Any tips on how to do this so it all stays snug and neat? I'm using a homemade needle which looks very similar to the ones I've seen in stores that cost $4 a pop. I find it awkward to stop the thread from falling out of the needle and the needle bends, but that's useful in a way because I can maneuver it.

*sigh* I REALLY want to make this bracelet because it will look awesome when properly done. It's just doing it properly that's the problem.

Fruit Salad

This hunt has made me discover just how little resources I have when I'm not living with my parents. Just a select few of my ponies, hardly any of my other toys, nowhere nice to use as a backdrop for photos, no garden... *sigh*

So, I was limited to the ponies I had here for the picture. I had Minty and Butterscotch... but no third lolly themed pony with me. Moondancer and Twilight... again, all my other star/space ponies are at my parents.

I settled on Sugarberry, Applejack and G3 Applejack first off, then asked if I could have four ponies and also include Sweetberry for an even two apples, two strawberries. Only 3 was allowed and I decided to ditch G3 Applejack for Sweetberry because at least her name was marginally different from Sugarberry.

I figured how many days I had and was like "Cool, on Monday I'll go buy some strawberries and apples for the photo." Then on Sunday I realise that Monday is a public holiday. Which means about the only shop around the place that will be open is the small supermarket down the road.

So I had a change of plans. The weather this weekend is shocking so I figured when it rained I'd grab Firefly, Rainbow Dash and Parasol, set up an umbrella near the puddle that forms in the driveway and get a photo of rain/storm themed ponies playing in puddles in the rain. I had visions of raindrop ripples in the water and sparkles in the air - of course knowing my digicam I doubt that would have worked.

Rain WAS forecast for this afternoon but the sky didn't look hugely threatening. I decided to go to the shop anyway and grab the fruit. Apples were no problem but yep, strawberries are out of season and the small local supermarket had none. :( So I grabbed the apples anyway and did a bit of shopping and came home. I got my tube of shower gel because that has strawberries on it (I smell like strawberry shortcake after using the stuff) and figured I'd have that and a few apples. I went to open the bag of Starburst gummi fruits I bought, and it hit me - there was bound to be strawberry gummies in there!

So I set up my backdrop (old Christmas teatowel, at least the colours were right) and set up the shower gel and the apples and little piles of gummy apples and strawberries and took the photo. The one I've posted was the best, you can still some of my grotty kitchen in the background (I want a clean house!! *sobs*) but overall it's not too bad. And I discovered decorative borders in Paint Shop!

Oh yeah, and it didn't rain until after dark.

Fruit Salad

This hunt has made me discover just how little resources I have when I'm not living with my parents. Just a select few of my ponies, hardly any of my other toys, nowhere nice to use as a backdrop for photos, no garden... *sigh*

So, I was limited to the ponies I had here for the picture. I had Minty and Butterscotch... but no third lolly themed pony with me. Moondancer and Twilight... again, all my other star/space ponies are at my parents.

I settled on Sugarberry, Applejack and G3 Applejack first off, then asked if I could have four ponies and also include Sweetberry for an even two apples, two strawberries. Only 3 was allowed and I decided to ditch G3 Applejack for Sweetberry because at least her name was marginally different from Sugarberry.

I figured how many days I had and was like "Cool, on Monday I'll go buy some strawberries and apples for the photo." Then on Sunday I realise that Monday is a public holiday. Which means about the only shop around the place that will be open is the small supermarket down the road.

So I had a change of plans. The weather this weekend is shocking so I figured when it rained I'd grab Firefly, Rainbow Dash and Parasol, set up an umbrella near the puddle that forms in the driveway and get a photo of rain/storm themed ponies playing in puddles in the rain. I had visions of raindrop ripples in the water and sparkles in the air - of course knowing my digicam I doubt that would have worked.

Rain WAS forecast for this afternoon but the sky didn't look hugely threatening. I decided to go to the shop anyway and grab the fruit. Apples were no problem but yep, strawberries are out of season and the small local supermarket had none. :( So I grabbed the apples anyway and did a bit of shopping and came home. I got my tube of shower gel because that has strawberries on it (I smell like strawberry shortcake after using the stuff) and figured I'd have that and a few apples. I went to open the bag of Starburst gummi fruits I bought, and it hit me - there was bound to be strawberry gummies in there!

So I set up my backdrop (old Christmas teatowel, at least the colours were right) and set up the shower gel and the apples and little piles of gummy apples and strawberries and took the photo. The one I've posted was the best, you can still some of my grotty kitchen in the background (I want a clean house!! *sobs*) but overall it's not too bad. And I discovered decorative borders in Paint Shop!

Oh yeah, and it didn't rain until after dark.

(no subject)

I feel weird and bizarre at the moment.

Maybe I AM PMSing. At least that would explain things.

Then again maybe it's because the computer has been crashing and doing weird shit all day.
*shrug*

I DID get some lab report done, but not much else.

(no subject)

I feel weird and bizarre at the moment.

Maybe I AM PMSing. At least that would explain things.

Then again maybe it's because the computer has been crashing and doing weird shit all day.
*shrug*

I DID get some lab report done, but not much else.