[Nfb-krafters-korner] beads and stuff Linda

[Sahar Husseini]

Hi Lynda,

With a bit of practice, you can crimp your clasps again.  I have a crimping tool that I use.  It really is easy, especially since you'd done this before.  Now, you'd just do it by feel instead of looking.  I use a 2X2 standard crimp tube, and I use crimping pliers.  My first few I did were either too tight or too loose, but then, the more I did, the better I got.  Of course, I had to restring the first few necklaces I made eleven years ago, but I got through that frustration.  The beadwork you described sounds fabulous.  I have not yet tackled using seed beads and weaving or any of that small work because I don't have the patience.  I would love to work with cabochons, too, but I hate glue, intensely.  *smile*  I am totally blind, and I make beaded jewelry using gemstones, sterling silver, pewter, and sometimes glass.  For years, I let my husband do my earrings.  Then, I decided that since I told my clients they could do anything they wanted, I had better learn how to make that silly loop and start making earrings.  I teach at a rehabilitation center in Nebraska since jewelry doesn't pay the bills.  Now, I can make earrings, and that opened up a new world of designs for me.  Yes, I broke a few headpins, and still do sometimes.  The thing is, I now know I can do it.  I haven't yet decided to tackle seed beads and gluing cabochons, not because I think a totally blind person couldn't do it, but because when I was born, there was a shortage of patience, and I didn't get any.  *smile*  I hope you find some helpful tips on here.  You definitely can do this yourself again.

Warm regards,
Sahar Husseini
For hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry, Please visit my Website at
www.saharscreations.com
And remember, "Obstacles don't have to stop you.
If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
Michael Jordan
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: River Woman 
  To: List for blind crafters and artists 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 3:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] beads and stuff Linda


  Hello Joyce,

  On my website:
  The pottery was done since sight loss.
  The paintings done before sight loss.
  Jewelry, mostly done before sight loss but a few were done since sight loss.

   I do not know how to finish off a nceklace - I can do the beading of larger 
  beads but cannot finish anything as I don't know how to use the crimper 
  tool.  My daughters have finished things for me and they do not live near me 
  so I can only get them done a couple times a year when I visit them. I work 
  until I have a lot of things done except for the clasps, then take them all 
  with me when I visit daughters and they finish them up. I really want to be 
  able to do them myself.

  I have some peripheral vision, no central vision. I can tell where I am in 
  the room, and can see light, but no detail of anything. I can only see 
  things if there is strong contrast and it has to be something large. Like 
  walking in a snowstorm that is very gray. Every thing is a blurr for me. On 
  the 10 levels of blindness, I am at level 9, next to total blindness I was 
  told it is called "profound sight loss" by the dr.

  Cabachons are stones made from any gem or semi-precious gem stone, but they 
  are flat on one side and lay flat on the surface. There is no hole in them. 
  You have to do beadwork all around them and secure them to the surface with 
  certain stitchwork.  It is called "capturing the stone."  I do this first in 
  my design, capturing any cabs that I am putting on the surface. Then, after 
  each cab is captured, the design work around the stones is done. It is 
  called "encrusted beadwork" and is a medieval technique. I had been doing 
  research on this kind of work when on Sabbatical, and lost my sight when I 
  was 1/2 way through the Sabbatical. This is what I want to do once again, I 
  am crazy about this kind of work. It is very complex and heavy, done in 
  layers. The entire surface is covered completely with beadworking. No bit of 
  the surface shows, only the beading. I love it.

  The things I sell at the festivals are my current work - all done since 
  sight loss - pottery and jewelry.

  Lynda Lambert
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: <Blindhands at aol.com>
  To: <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
  Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2010 8:50 AM
  Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] beads and stuff Linda


  > What is gem stone cabachons ?
  >
  > Linda so is the work on your website and jewelry work done by you before 
  > or
  > after you went blind?
  >
  > Do you have any sight at all?
  >
  > Is the things you are selling at the craft shows your current work?
  >
  > Joyce
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  >
  > 



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