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October 1997
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Here's a tip we can all use!  Do you use metal rules with utility knives for cutting or with a pencil for measuring?  Does it...well, slip a lot?  Instead of investing in those expensive cork back rulers, try putting masking tape or duct (often referred to as duck tape - quack) tape on the back.  Your ruler will stop slipping and you will save money!
Got a tip? Send it in!
 
Harvest Shimmer Necklace 
This year I was lucky enough to see the harvest moon in the sky several nights in a row.  I'm often inspired by the colors of nature, and the moon called to me to design a piece that would capture it's brilliant color surrounded by the deep black sky.  I feel this necklace did just that. 
 
Materials Needed:
6 - 6mm Metallic Rounds 
5 - 9X11mm Metallic Ovals 
4 - 7X9mm Metallic Cylinders 
14 - Garnet Chips
1 package 10/0 Bronze Seed Beads 
1 tube Op/AB Jet 11/0 Seed Beads 
2 - Gold Plated Bead Tips 
1 - Small Gold Plated Toggle Clasp 
28" Black Beading Thread
 

Step 1:  Cut a 28" piece of beading thread and fold it in half.  Tie a large knot as illustrated in image A.  Cut off the extra tail of thread from the knot.  Slide on a bead tip with the mouth pointing toward the knot.  Add a small drop of glue and close the bead tip using a flat tip pliers as illustrated in image B. 

Step 2:  Begin stringing your beads.  After the bead tip, thread both strings through one bronze 10/0 bead.  Next, string one strand at a time - 17 mixed 11/0 Jet Black OP/RB and 10/0 seed beads will go on each strand.  Notice in the large 'map' image below that the area marked section 1 does not have any garnets and will therefore not 'bulge' the way the other sections do. 

Step 3:  Once you have done your first section with the seed beads, it is time to put on one bronze 10/0 seed bead on both threads again.  Notice in image C there are two bronze beads, one on either side of the larger metallic beads.  The garnet chips can be put in random areas of the seed beads.  One garnet per seed bead section will allow the necklace to have it's characteristic 'bulge' and not just lay or hang flat (sneaky isn't it)! 

Step 4:  Follow the large map image for the order in stringing your large beads. 

Step 5:  Once all your beading is done, string one final bronze 10/0 bead on both threads before putting on your bead tip.  Make sure you pull the threads tightly so that your beads bulge properly!  Put the bead tip on with the mouth facing the ends of the threads this time.  Tie another large knot to secure the threads.  Putting on the final bead tip is a very tricky part of the process, try using a needle as illustrated in image D to help you tie a large an secure knot inside the open bead tip.  Again, add a drop of glue and cut the extra thread from your knot.  Use a flat nosed pliers to close the bead tip. 

Step 6:  Close the hooks of both bead tips onto either piece of the toggle clasp and you're done! 


Written by Carolyn S. Nehring, The Head Bead, Eclectic Etc., Inc. Beads and Supplies and publisher of Etcetera.
Did you enjoy this article?  Drop us a note at Eclectic Etc., Inc. and let us know!
 
.....Always make sure you get permission before working!
Yay! School's Out 
Chapter 3
by David A. Cuscuna 


Tom was just walking out of the campers dormitory when a UPS truck pulled up to the office. Running excitedly to the truck, Tom said," 
Hey mister, do you have our equipment?" 
 "Hi kid! I don't know, I just  have two big boxes for a Mr. Peabody, Know where I can find him?" 
 "Yeh! I'll get him. Mr. Peabody, Mr. Peabody come quick the UPS truck is here!" 
 "OK Tom, I'll be right there...! Good morning, I'm Mr. Peabody." 
 "Sign here please!" 
 "Thank you! The children have been waiting very excitedly for this equipment." 
 "Yuh! Great, See you!" 
 "Tom, please go get the two wheel truck from the office please?" 
 "Right away Mr. Peabody!" 
 "Hi! Tom, what's up?" 
 "Hi Jane the equipment is here, I'm getting the hand truck for Mr. Peabody." 
 Soon the equipment was wheeled into the main hall and unpacked. 

 "Okay now that everyone is setup again, we can resume where we left off. Let's see, ceramics, you all set?' 
 "Yes!" 
 "Gymp tying and Kite making, all set?" 
 "We're ready." 
 "Basket weaving" 
 "I'm ready" 
 "Tom, your group with woodburning all set?" 
 "Yup! We're already" 
 
 "I've been around the room and everyone is working, so, lets continue now with you. We had just finished sanding your pieces, when the thieves stole the equipment. Fortunately, they didn't take the wood. Next, we have the tracing steps. Some patterns come in rub on patterns. These are not though, which is better for you." 
 "Why is that Mr. Peabody?" 
 "Well Gary, These patterns will teach you the skills of tracing the pattern." 
 "Oh!" 
 "First you select the pattern you want to burn, then you take a piece of tracing paper and trace your pattern. Everyone do that now! I'll circulate around the room while your doing that." 
 "Everyone done with the tracing? Good! Now take a piece of graphite paper, to trace your picture with.  Watch your fingers, don't touch the top surface of your wood where your picture is, or you'll have finger prints on your wood. Gently tape the tracing paper over the graphite paper  on the wood. Most graphite paper has writing on the top, it should face up at you. This way the ink is on the wood under the tracing paper. (Wood, then graphite paper then tracing paper with pattern on it taped to underside of wood to hold it down.) 
 "Now trace the pattern again with a pencil, (Not a ball point pen. ) Pens cause ruts, which makes it harder to follow the pattern when burning the pattern. Once the pattern is drawn, we heat up the iron and trace the pattern on the wood with the hot iron. Please be careful gang with the hot irons they can cause very serious burns if used incorrectly" 
 "Wow! this is great Mr. Peabody!" 
 "Nothing like it Tom, seeing something you have created with your hands. " 
 "Mr. Peabody?" 
 "Yes Jenny?" 
 "How do we make the shading like around the grass and places?" 
 ''By using shadowing tips or just the position you place the basic burn tip on the wood. Here are some shading tips handouts I brought with me!" 
 "All of these shapes and shadings can be made with the correct position of the burn tip...! Here are some more details for you." 
" I hope this gives you a better idea, of what I'm talking about?" 
 "That's great Mr. Peabody", Tom said. 
Soon the wood burning had moved right along and the group was finishing their projects. 
 "What do you think, Mr. Peabody?" 
 "Gary, they are all works of art!" 
 Gary grinned form ear to ear! He beamed like the sun! 
 "Well folks, there you have it, your first wood burning project. After they cool, we will spray them in a well ventilated area, with the graphic art sealer spray. You can also put picture hanging brackets on the back, if you like and hang them up when you go home. Next week you all can select another project to work on! Every one, go have supper now" 
 And so it went for the summer, new projects, new talents learned.... 



For a paper back copy of this manuscript, or information for obtaining materials for these projects, please Write DC Publishing Co.  55 Hunting St. Malden, MA  02148. for details. 
Author's Notes: The procedures contained in this story are tried and proven techniques by the author. I have been in the Woodburning Craft for approximately 10 years. I've taught Woodburning for approximately 4 years. It is strongly suggested that parents supervise all wood burning procedures as the burning iron gets extremely HOT!... DO NOT lay iron down on any combustible materials. Always use the support stand supplied with your Wood Burner. 
 Author's disclaimer: All names and locations in this story are purely fictional. Any resemblance to any one real or imagined is purely coincidental. It's not the authors intent to represent any one living or deceased. 
Authors Note: For Woodburning supplies and books, many local arts and craft stores carry these items: (or you can contact DC Publishing Company, A division of  
DC Products Company, 55 Hunting Street  Malden, MA 02148  for: Wood(Bass wood, or Pine are excellent choices.) Woodburning Irons, Art transfer books, Tracing paper for non-self rubbing transfer books. Wood sealer spray.(Actually Graphic Artists spray to seal Pencil or Chalk pictures.) Hangers for plaque or picture type wood. Graphite Paper for tracing. Oil based coloring sticks.(Great for coloring burnings. 

I would like to thank Walnut Hollow Farm, for the many points of information in this story, where I get many of my Woodburning supplies.  And for their assistance in my Woodburning Career over the years. The patterns and woodburning technique tips, are from Walnut Hollow Farms, Inc. Creative WoodBurning Book. 1978. 



Etcetera would like to thank Mr. Cuscuna for his months of hard work getting "Yay! School's Out" ready to be published!  We hope children and adults around the world have enjoyed his unique story on the process of woodburning!
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Please Note...  The ideas presented here are intended for personal use only.
Creating items to sell from our instructions would be in poor taste.
Please send an email to Eclectic Etc., Inc. if you have any questions or concerns.
 
© Copyright, 1996, 1997, 1998 All Rights Reserved, Carolyn S. Nehring and Eclectic Etc., Inc.
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