Tuesday, June 03, 2008


Gimme a hand, will ya? Okay, okay, that's corny and makes absolutely no sense whatsoever UNLESS you know that I just received my order from Nile Corp of my new hands. I used to photograph all my jewelry against a flat surface or using a pretty bottle or drinking glass, but it's sooooooooo much nicer to have those little hands for the photos. Once again, Carol Dean (SandFibers) came to my rescue. I was emailing back and forth with her a few months ago, and she suggested that I use the little hands and then pointed me in the direction of Nile Corp. I started with a small white hand, a very stylized tall arm/hand, and a white leatherette bust (for necklaces).

Well, I dropped the little white hand and broke the little finger. Drat! I glued it back on, and it works okay, but I always have to remember to touch up the photos to remove the fracture line.

I don't have a particular photographic "style" for my jewelry. I'm bored easily (have I mentioned that I have the attention span of a gnat?), and I'm always experimenting. I decided that I wanted some new hands, so off I went to order more; and I really love them! I bought a black one that has a different shape than the white one I've been using, and I also bought a translucent one that is just beautiful! They're like little sculptures.

They also do great things for showcasing my beadweaving.

Here's a simple little bracelet, called Hip to be Square, that I listed in my Etsy shop just a couple of days ago. Doesn't it look wonderful against that translucent hand?

And here's my latest original pattern. This is The Foxxy Cleopatra Cuff, a bold and beautiful piece of beadweaving, even if I do say so myself! I created this design from a pen and ink drawing I did years ago, and although the drawing was just in black and white I think this looks really cool executed in two shades of pink/mauve, brown, and black. I'm trying to decide whether to enter this piece in the Etsy BeadWeavers June Challenge. I still have a couple of days to think about it, as the deadline for entries is June 5. Whether I enter or not, be sure to check the Etsy BeadWeavers blog on June 7 to cast your vote for your favorite entry!

Doesn't this look wonderful photographed on the black hand I bought? (I put that picture at the top of this post because it's one of my favorites.) :-)

16 comments:

njemacreative said...

oh, wow, I really like that black/pink/brown bracelet! You should definitely enter it. :) (Just my humble opinion.. but I think it's fantastic!)

And the hands do a great job of bringing out the beauty of your pieces. :)

Jean Hutter said...

MaryLou I love the The Foxxy Cleopatra Cuff - I say enter it in the June challenge - it is a beauty.

Kim said...

Oh my goodness! my jaw just dropped when I saw that pink cuff!
This from a girl who's just started to wear pink (after years), that is just incredible. I think I'll go and drool some more!

Marlaine said...

The pink plus cuff is gorgeous. Love the colour combination. And thanks for the tip on where the hands come from. I was going to get around to asking someone eventually. You saved me the effort! LOL
Marlaine
http://wMarlaine.etsy.com

Kerrie Slade said...

I love my hand props MaryLou and use them in lots of my photos - your translucent one looks great!

Fab bracelets btw :-)

HDB said...

I love this funky cuff! I have a pile of black, pink and cream beads on my worksurface right now - waiting for their turn. I bought some hands about 6 weeks ago - was disappointed in how small they were - but I'll make them work (somehow).

ClaireCreations said...

Those bracelets are wonderful. Do you have a pattern laid out before you begin or do they just come together as you work?

:-) MaryLou said...

I kind of alternate between designing patterns ahead of time and designing as I bead. In this case, Hip to be Square didn't begin with a pattern - I just made it up as I went. Foxxy Cleopatra was all graphed out ahead of time using BeadTool.

Melody Marie Murray said...

Gorgeous! Wow. Yeah, you should totally enter that bracelet!

Anna said...

I love the new bracelets Mary Lou and they look gorgeous on the new hands (that sounds funny- :) !

retrothreads said...

Interestingly, the pattern and colors remind me of camouflage, but alot prettier.

Susan Clinkscales said...

Noooooo....don't enter that most fabulous pink cuff in the BeadWeavers challenge! None of us will have a chance!! :D

ixela said...

Wonderful great new creations!!!

I have given you an award... please check my blog to see what it is :)
xo
Ale

Dawn N said...

I love all the swirling colors. And the touch of brown really adds. It's a beautiful cuff.

Waterrose said...

Oh I love all of these bracelets. And, what a cool way to photograph them. I will have to check out that site.

GrandmaMarilyn said...

Love both of your bracelets, Mary Lou. And, yes, they do look nice on the hands.