My Lotus SLN

I want to share some final pictures of this Split Loomed Necklace, completed last week. There has been many photos of my process, included in this Blog, but now I can say it is DONE!

The front and center petal didn't prove to be a 'given', for how it was placed. I tried out various looks before deciding on this one. I also added a Swarovski Crystal in the center, as an accent.



I guess we don't usually share the back of our work, but I want to show how clean and light this one worked out. My methods allow for an easy finish, as well as a clean one. I included my initials and took great care to attach each petal in a way that would make the back show just loomed beads!



This Lotus Necklace is so comfortable to wear. I am anxious to string up my Mirrix for the next SLN!! As I mentioned earlier, the Mirrix allows for some awesome techniques to be included. The cut work, you see in each of the straps, are simple to complete and I look forward to creating another with more of them included. This was also my submission to this year's Bead Dreams Contest. It was a pleasure sharing the process with everyone!

On Quality Supplies

Today I was doing some cutting and gluing on a project unrelated to Mirrix. Now, it should be noted that I'm spoiled with a few pairs of very nice scissors at home (speaking of, if you are in need of some nice scissors for weaving... these are the best http://www.mirrixlooms.com/accessories.html#scissors)

...but the scissors I was using were driving my crazy! They couldn't make clean lines and it was hard to turn them... and the result was a less-than-ideal cutting job and a less-than-perfect project.

It made me think about something I've done a lot of thinking about: Good art supplies are really, really important when you want good results.

I'll let you make the Mirrix connection on your own :-)

The Headband Project, Part 3 ...And why you can weave anywhere

Mirrix Looms are incredibly versatile in many ways, one being their ability to be functional anywhere. Sure, they work great on a stand or on a table, but they also work great leaning against a pillow in your lap on the couch. Sure, not the ideal situation (is weaving in front of the TV sacrilege?) but I like to make the most out of my down time... and Dancing With The Stars is my secret weakness.

If you're lucky enough to get your Ideal Weaving Situation (picture: Studio overlooking rolling hills and horses at pasture, no crying children, no whining significant others, endless time) then I tip my hat to you, but sometimes weaving time is stollen at the DMV, on the playroom floor, at a youth soccer game, wherever there's a little bit of space... and that's just as good. The fantastic thing about weaving (and on a portable Mirrix especially) is you can stop and start at virtually any point so any distraction (though still distracting you from the creative process) can be dealt with gracefully.

Anyway, here's some more on the headband.

Progress on the weaving soon-to-be-headband:

The soon-to-be headband, note that I have advanced the warp once already and will again before it is finished. 

yarn-stealing-feline

Finally, Down to the Wire! Thanks Mirrix!

This is the last picture I'll take, before I finish the silver outside edging, on each strap, then attach the 'front and center' petal! The next pic will be a completed photograph. I can't believe I have been Blogging about this Lotus SLN since last July, (although there were a few cuffs, one cell phone bag, a lot of earrings and a needle case, in between, lol).

Thanks for hanging in there! Mirrix proved to be a real work horse!

Headband Progress

I've started my tapestry headband. First, I warped my Mirrix (using a 10 dpi warp coil) about an inch and a half wide. This will go over a one inch headband and that extra width will make up for pulling in the edges while I weave and leave me some extra room to sew the edges. (Editor's Note: I ended up putting this on a headband that was 1.5 inches thick at the widest part. I made it work, but would suggest making your piece a little wider if you were to do the same thing. 17 warps across would be perfect. Or, and 1.75 inches)

Warped16" Big Sister Loom

Weaving Started

After choosing my colors I began to weave, making sure to keep the width of the piece the same. Up top there are a few places where the railroad yarn makes the piece look uneven. I will probably go back and fix this. If you aren't careful the thicker parts of that particular yarn can end up on the edge and cause this unevenness.

This piece needs to be 15 and a half inches long. I will make it a bit longer than this because the edges will be folded in and sewn down. 

Keep checking back!

Why a ©Weighted Warp?

I have been working on my ascent upwards, on the Lotus SLN. Here are a few pictures to show you my start.

The picture above is an overall view. Besides the upper straps not being completed, there is only 'one' part missing, the petal 'front and center' of the Lotus. I will secure that into place, but wanted to get started on the upper straps.

Here is a picture, back when I started this looming.

The Mirrix was the perfect loom for warping with so many warps, needing to control the tension on these warps, (Mirrix has wing nuts on each side to adjust tension), and using ©Weighted Warps so each warp is movable and able to decrease/increase anytime as I loom. Let me share what I planned and why I wanted to use the Mirrix with ©Weighted Warps.

Since this is an SLN, (Split Loomed Necklace), I knew the center focal would eventually 'split' into creating the two upper straps, of the finished necklace. How I wanted to accomplish this was to create a unique 'cut out' design, intermixed with some graphing of a picture. My design idea also included what type of 'split' would occur, at the very start of this process. I decided on a wide scoop look, with some indentations along the edge of the straps. (Later I'll share more about how I created the 'scoop design' as you see below.)

After sectioning off the 'center and two straps', I was now ready to begin some creative 'cut outs'.

You can see the one cut out, I was able to create because the warps were not secured to the loom. The ©Weighted Warps allowed me to move any warp aside, include them in my rows of beads to indent and add them back in to close off the cut out again. All the while, each of the warps, secured to a ©Weighted Warp weight, were movable, had adjustable lengths and kept the tension for straight looming as well.

Many lacy designs can be completed, using my ©Weighted Warp method, which I hope to get into more detail, later on. Much more to loom, as I ascend, which will include a graphed pattern I created. This pattern will splay out using 11/o Delica Silver Metallic beads and 11/o Delica Matte Black beads.

If you are interested in knowing more about my ©Weighted Warps, you can contact Venessa Hearn of Bead Up A Storm. We have worked together to create the optimum ©Weighted Warp. A purchase of these warps, from her shop, would include personal instructions and offer help on how to set them up or utilize them during your bead loom designing. You can also contact me for any specifics as well.

Also not mentioned yet, is the edging I will include to complete the upper straps. I will use the Silver Mettalic beads to line not only each outside edge, of each strap, but will also line the entire area of the cut out!

Headbands

My blank headbands arrived last night. They are plastic and white. I can't wait to finish my weaving (this weekend, I hope) and get started. Once I make a prototype, we will begin making kits (assuming it looks as amazing as I hope). These would be a great gift for any female in your life, young or old. (And what a fun project to do with your little girl!)

Headband Blanks

Some of my not-as-cool-as-woven-headbands headbands

www.mirrixlooms.com