Bead Soutache jewellery base tutorial

Hello All,

I am sure it has happened to many of us that we set out to make a quilled (or otherwise) jewellery but don't have the correct size base. I faced it many times and decided to solve it the punch-craft way. This is the kind of backing that went into this kind of a piece:

and it can be used like this:

 and this:

Following are the step-be-step images of the tutorial.....

These are the things you'll need: Glue, base paper (I've used 160 gsm black paper) punched in the shape of your choice (I've punched 1" circles using Martha Stewart circle punch), scissors, tweezers, a wire "blank" (to create a gap in the jewellery base) and elements to stick on top. It could be half pearls, beads, quilled elements etc.

Stick 4 layers on top of each other (increase or decrease the number depending on the thickness of the paper you're using) by applying glue throughout the surface.

Fold one circle in half

Cut a thin strip from the centre 

Make it as thin as possible, it only needs to be thick enough to accommodate a wire in the centre of the base.

Cut two circles in that manner, creating 4 semi-circles

Apply glue on the semi-circle and stick on the 4-paper-thick disc ready. Make it a point to align the edges properly.

Two layer thick semi-cricle stack will begin to look like this.

Do a similar step on the other side. Now, the 'groove' in the centre is ready for insertion of a wire.

The idea to insert the wire while making the base is to avoid the "weakness" brought about by sticking the wire to the back of the base. :)

Put glue on the ready base and stick the other 4 layers one by one (the total thickness of the base is 10 layers of 160 gsm paper)

Stick the "central piece" (I've used a 10 mm half pearl , bought from Craft Universe) 

Start sticking your elements in an "outside to inside" manner. 

And this is how it will end up looking :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Housedelic Interview

Hello All,

Taking this moment to thank everyone who has been an inspiration/support/critic in this journey I have decided to embark on! :)

My special thanks to Ananth, my husband, without whose support, it would have been impossible for me to make the switch, let alone sustain it :)

A very big thanks to Richa, who was my co-worker and a big time inspiration for lateral thinking. Our tenure together, albeit a short one, was a learning experience for me :)

And tons of thanks to all my constructive critics (you know who you are ;)), for responding to my messages forever and the Whatsapp pings :D

Hop on to the interview here:

Housedelic Interview

Many thanks to Madhurima, for giving Art'zire this opportunity to be showcased on Housedelic website :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh



PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Back after almost 3 months - Quilled Jewellery

Hello All,

Ah well..............yes, I know. It's been an eternity away from blogging world. A move and lot of settling down later, here I am, back with a quilled jewellery piece. Now, this kind of jewellery always stumps me. I never feel good enough, for it is ALL about finishing! There is forever this little paper here, little paper there that doesn't fall in place. But well.............here we go :) (made to order)

And a nostalgia experiment ;)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair.........

Hello All,

If I say I've been bursting with things to say, I'd be grossly understating it........

After two months of working, here I unveil the very pretty, coy and colourful Rapunzel......

At the outset, let me clarify that this is NOT my design. The original of this is a digital painting by Barnali Bagchi, which has been adapted (heavily in places, actually) to quilling. I can never thank the lady enough for creating a stunning piece that I couldn't resist quilling.......

For the first time in my quilling career, I spent 1.5 months just figuring out how to convert this painting to quilling. And as usual, there were anxiety pangs about whether I could even make it at all!

The most daunting factor in this painting was its size. Massive is more like it. The painting stood at 3 feet x 4 feet and I literally stared at the blank board, alternating between escapism and determination. Finally, I got started and the first part (quillographed outline) was a song. Once the hair started, my nightmare began. It was only much later that Barnali was kind enough to inform me that the dame's name is Rapunzel! For almost 1 month, I made JUST tresses! Some snippets from the WIP (work in progress) times.......

Pre-beginning printout, which is a compilation of 8 prints of A3 size.....

Version 1 of the lady's face (which was scrapped to make a better once later)

A bit of progress :)

And this should put the size in perspective :)

The flowers getting added up

The never-ending tresses! Rapunzel indeed

Nearing completion

Version 1 of background, which gave way to a different one later on

Nearly over, just a little short of completion......

And one of those rare times when I have a photo of me working on the project :) Thanks to my husband for this :)

I also have to thank Manali for doing the beehiving on the right arm of the "moon" Rapunzel is perched on. Thank you to Richa too, for doing the left arm of the "moon" :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh 

Fifty three strips and three ml of glue

Hello All,

It is a terribly belated post but one that had reasons for getting delayed. A happy event in the family kept us all busy......so, here comes......

When this order was placed, the original idea was completely different. It was to be a "fall" theme name plate. Then came the change and it got to "abstract" and then, Yulia's "Noel" was given as a reference......

Now, when someone cites Yulia Brodskaya's work as a reference, you know you've got an impossible goal to meet. And it probably is wiser to not even try! ;) That is what I ended up doing.......I decided to throw in a bit of henna designing (the oh-so-Indian patterns) and spring colours......this is for the first time literally that there hasn't even been a rough sketch. It was just an idea that kept moving my hands.

To all the people who aspire to try quillography, this piece used up a total of 53 quillography strips and is 10 inches by 16 inches. Apart from the glue needed to glue the background of the piece, I used a total of 3 milliliter of Fevicrylk Fabric glue to make the entire quillographed nameplate. THAT is how less of material is really needed for quillography :)

Some details of the name-plate......

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Peacock Edition 2

Hello All,

Back from an illness break and here we go - yet another peacock.........

When work has already started but the order gets cancelled, one doesn't quite feel like abandoning it! So here goes a project I loved making and had generous help with :) Thanks to Richa for being a backbone throughout :) This was to be my second blog anniversary post, so a bit belated, here comes the National Bird of India, the second time around. The first one made the life so easy, because I had finished struggling with the feathers already! :D

And some more details:

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Jewellery waterproofing brigade

Hello All,

After being swamped with questions about what waterproofing aids I use, here is the image of all my waterproofing sprays and varnishes. And pleeeeeease, there is NO cut and dried answer for which one to use for which kind of jewellery. It all depends on your preference, the kind of elements in the jewellery, the finish required etc. So a judicious judgment has to be made according to the situation encountered. 

I apologize in advance but I shall no longer answer the question "How to waterproof quilling jewellery?". The image is here (of the material), the process is already public information through this post and the end results are seen through the quilling jewellery photos I've posted often...........

(L to R) Winsor & Newton Charcoal spray, available in Pune, priced at Rs. 970, recommended for matte finish

Asian Paints Touchwood Varnish, priced at Rs. 120 or so, available in any hardware store, not recommended for white jewellery

Asian Paints Clear Synthetic Varnish, more viscous than Touchwood but easier to use on white jewellery, still lends a slight yellowness on whites

Schjerning Krystal Fixative (from Panduro Hobby, Sweden), recommended heavily for quick waterproofing (dries much faster than Winsor Newton spray), priced at 159 SEK (~ Rs. 1600), it is not available in India at all

All of them are good for waterproofing and provide strength but varnishes (after a few coats) lend almost a plastic like finish + strength. I am personally not a fan of it and lean on the matte side, but it is a personal preference. You need to experiment with these yourself and find what works for you..........

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Give me your brains :D

Hello All,

After what seems like forever, I am back, up on my legs, walking, talking AND working! I was overjoyed when Helen sent me an e-mail : Grey Matter in Quilling - Lend me your brains :D I couldn't help laughing out loud! This lady sure knows how to evoke a laugh! :) She was going to write a feature in an Arts and Crafts Magazine about unusual (read "non-floral" quilling).....this was an honour beyond honours! :) She has always been dropping by my blog and leaving behind most honest (my favourite kind) comments. It was she who once before had given me a chance to be a Guest Designer on Homyachok Challenge blog :)

So, here goes, the article on unusual quilling, where the quilled brain finds a mention :) How I wish I knew Russian!!!!!

Thanks a zillion Helen :) Even being mentioned in the same breath as these biggies is a dream you've brought to life :)

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Paper spiral video tutorial

Hello All,

Have you seen those perfect spirals some quillers use as stems for creepers? I love them and tried my own method of making those.

As promised, here is the tutorial for making those. The video isn't particularly high quality (my good camera is broken and I'm using a pretty outdated one) but I think, the concept is highlighted pretty decently.

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)

Peace, Harmony and Love

Dear All,

A super quick post about a project that I finally managed to make after all kinds of hurdles posing themselves in my way! :( A peace symbol, a white dove :)

The wings are made of endless fringing (and my inspiration for fringing remains Meg Crawford, who fringes SO beautifully and patiently!).........

The body of the dove is made of clay and covered with tear drop punches, made using Martha Stewart teardrop punch. Rest is pretty self-explanatory :) If I didn't hate fringing so much, maybe, I'd make some more birds! Haha!

Happy Quilling

Pritesh

PS: If my posts inspire you to create something on similar lines, I feel highly flattered. But please, do respect the effort I take in conceptualizing and executing, please give a direct link to my work when you are inspired by mine. Thanks for understanding........:-)