Valar necklace and Silmaril bracelet....

[Eruannlass]

Suilad all,
Just a note to let you know that I've posted these pictures and some others in the gallery.  Sorry that some of them are really big - if this is a problem, I can resize them at home and change the size in an edit.  There is one which should show up on the first spot in the third row that I'm downright proud of.  It's one of the big ones, but it took my breath away when I saw it...
                                                                                Eruannlass
Later on I'll be posting the directions for how I made these in this section.
                                                                                EP

[Eadhastar]

I really love what you have done, Eruannlass. You will see my comments in the Gallery, but let me just say that I think these are truly creative blessings. I look at them and get a sense of awe actually. They are things of power, things that can transform you, bless you, remind you. There are many things like this in our lives every day that we never even notice (like the power of a door, or a fork, or a blanket) ... but what you have created is "other" ... a kind of special luminous insight into the very soul.

I think many beings and spirits wonder at them too, and in realms beyond the physical, I can see the stones shining and gleaming through my mind's eye.

[Eruannlass]

Thanks, Eadha,

I felt awed when I saw the picture with the sun rays in it.  I knew it was there, but that's not what I saw through the lens.  I have always felt a lot of significance in beads, stones, and other such things as representatives of things, people, and spirits.  I think everybody should have one of their own, at least...

BTW - I've heard the word 'Awen' before, in reference to soul or spirit, but your definition of it certainly resonates with Aule. It makes sense that I would get something with that symbol on it right after meeting with him.  I came out of the meditation knowing that he was going to send me a rock - my job - find it.  It was sitting in the middle of the street that I take to get to the grocery store.  Rowan saw it, I picked it up, flipped it over, and knew I'd found my rock...
                                                                                                                                  Eruannlass

A note to anyone who may be stringing beads right now...if you're using any type of threaded cord instead of leather, tie a knot or two between each bead.  It takes a little effort to get them close together, but it's worth it.  The first day your piece inevitably breaks, you'll be glad you only lose one bead instead of all of them.  I certainly was...
                                                                                                                                    EP

[Niennildi Oarnen]

Beautiful work, Eruanlass. When I first saw the photos, my first thought was, "where is everybody?" Then I realized you were working with the Aratar, the High Ones.

I look forward to seeing your instructions. I have some labradorite beads I've been wanting to string, but have been putting off because of needing to learn how to knot between them.

[Eruannlass]

Suilad Niennildi and Hannon le, 

Yes, the necklace is actually for the Aratar.  It occurred to me later that my calling it a Valar necklace does kind of imply it'd have 14 larger beads on it, not 8.  The main reason for this was because I felt compelled to put beads for Irmo (clear blue) and Este(grey) on my Silmaril bracelet, and I was having trouble intuiting colors for Vaire, Tulkas, Nessa, and Vana at the time.  I also thought it would look a little cluttered.  I was thinking of adding a second strand for them, above the first.  The only hitch is that I pretty much used all the colors of those particular beads that are available, and I like things to match.  Now that I've met with them, I think good colors for the others are
Vaire - dark grey, Tulkas - Brown (he has earthy energy to me, or burgundy like the wine I drank in my meditation...)  Nessa - Light green, or tan, because of deer, and Vana - light green also (spring green, so I wouldn't be using the same bead twice.
                                                                                                      Eruannlass



     

[Eruannlass]

Suilad everyone,
Here are the directions I promised -  Please send me any questions.  Happy beading!

Making Beaded Necklaces and Bracelets

When I made these, I didn’t have any jump rings or clasps, so I had to get creative when it came to figuring out how these were going to stay on.  If you’d rather use them for fasteners, feel free.

You’ll need -
Waxed nylon bead string, linen string, Tiger-tail, or some other string that small-holed beads can be put onto easily.
      *I used a waxed string from The Bead Smith called Silamide
http://www.artbeads.com/delicas-seed-be ... hread.html
A needle with a long eye, narrow enough for the beads to pass over
A safety pin
A paperclip, small barrette, or scotch tape
Scissors
3-4 large beads to serve as weight for the end of the string
The beads you want to string.

Step 1 - Measure three strands of your string.  I used 2.5 yards for the bracelet and 4 for the necklace.  Too much is always better than not enough. 

Step 2 - Tie all three strands together and knot several times, both so the beads will stay on, and so step 3 doesn’t take all night...It’s best to have about a 5 inch ‘tail’, in case you need some slack.  If you’re using Tiger-tail, etc, you won’t need to braid it.

Step 3 - Put one end of the safety pin into your jean-leg, the arm of your couch, or some other stationary thing.  Push the knot onto the pin and push the other end through the material and close the pin.  If you’ve ever made friendship bracelets, you probably pinned the floss to your jeans...Same concept, you’re just working smaller.  Turn on the overhead so you don’t stab your fingers!

Step 4 - Braid the string to the desired length.  This is the most time consuming part of the project, so enjoy it.  Thinking of your purpose for the jewelry puts more energy into it.  So does singing, chanting, etc...If you have to stop before you’re done with the braid (esp. if it’s pinned to your jeans), use the paperclip, barrette, or tape to keep the braid w/o having to tie it off.

Step 5 - When the braid is the right length for your wrist or neck, tie a single knot on the end, allowing another five inches of slack before you cut.  Remove the string from your jeans and thread the needle onto it.  Rub a little vaseline or chapstick on the string if the knot won’t go through the eye easily.

Step 6 - String on the ‘end-weight’ beads and knot the string enough times to keep them in place.  These hang at the back of your neck, and serve to hold the necklace together.  (See picture)

Step 7 - Tie one or two knots on the string at the point where you want the rest of your beads to sit.  and string on the first bead.

Step 8 - Between each bead that you add, tie one or two knots in your string.  You want this knot as close to the bead as possible.  Use the safety pin, a needle, or a straight pin to move the knot along the string, pulling it tight when it’s close to the bead.  This takes some time, but it’s better then losing all your beads if your string breaks...

Step 9 - When all your beads are on, take off the needle and use about 1 inch of the braid to tie a loop in the end of your string.  I used 2 inches, and while it made it easier to put on, it would twist as I wore it, and was hard to take off.  I added the ‘Silmaril’ bead at the end before cutting off the slack so that I could find the loop easier by touch.  (See picture) 
                                                            Eruannlass

[Eruannlass]

I've learned that if you use jump rings and clasps, a drop of well placed super glue keeps the knots together, especially when using waxy string like Silamide...
                            Eruannlass