NanTibJi Ware

Jewelry, Cactus, Succulents, Clothing, Bags & Totes

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Horse Hair harvesting, cleaning, measuring

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Horsehair jewelry that I create.  Love working with horsehair very durable and can create many unique designs.  

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Blog post 3-Material preparation for projects series 2 of 5-Cord and Thread

This is continuation of blog on material preparation.    For this blog post it will be about cord and thread.  In Previous blog Leathers were discussed.

*Silk is a topic of itself though some of the below applies, I use a different process due to impact on luster, color and strength.*

*Horse hair is a topic of itself and though many of the below may apply, I prefer to have a separate blog on horse hair*

 Cord/Thread

There are many different kinds of Cord/Thread.  They range in sizes and also materials like hemp, jute, polyester, nylon, blends.  It is important to ensure you use the right Cord/Thread for what you are creating.  For this blog I will focus on Cord/Thread that I use for macramé and knotted bracelets.  

 Why is it important to treat your Cord/Thread?

·         It helps protect it from wear and tear on the finished product and breakage.

·         During construction helps avoid twisting, tangling (creating unwanted knots) and fraying.

·         Makes beading and threading easier and adjustment of bead and knot tension.

Many of the cords come pre-treated already and usually it is via being waxed.  I still will treat the Cord/Thread but important to test your treatment on the cord first to ensure does not cause negative effects like melted look, breakdown of pre-treatment.  

 I always apply the pre-treatment at least 1 day before I plan to use the Cord/Thread to allow the treatment to absorb and also to again verify the effects of the treatment especially on coloring.  Many times I layer on the treatment over a couple of days to achieve the protection I am looking for.   There are many products out there for pre-treatment but I will be talking about my favorites and most commonly used in my processes.  The favorites take into account the following:

·         Protection of Cord/Thread especially to elements

·         Reaction to glues

·         Gumming up sewing/beading tools like needles and sewing machines

·         Ease of use during the knotting and macramé techniques and beading process due to making easier it easier to glide through materials.

·         Reaction to heat especially if using heat to terminate ends.

 Products:

These are the products I use:

·         Thread heaven –This is a must have for all Cord/Thread due to it meeting all the criteria I listed above.  This has UV protection and can be laundered

·         Thread Magic –This is a product much like Thread Heaven.  I have started to use and am really liking it for really thin macramé Cord/Thread. Same features as Thread Heaven.

·         Beeswax- Depending on the wax I apply 2 different ways:

o   Warm the wax and then place it on the material with hands or a small soft cloth and massage the wax into the cord.

o   Press one end into the wax (usually a block) and hold in place with your thumb.  Pull the cord all the way through should see a groove where you pulled the thread through.

·         Jojoba oil and Mink oil—Use on Jute and Hemp cord.  Apply by using my hands and rubbing it into the Cord.  Important use a small amount don’t want an oily mess!

The Beeswax and Jojoba oil will break down over time where the Thread Heaven and Thread Magic advertise they do not and so far I have seen that they do withstand lots of washings and usage

 Here is the process I use for preparing Cord/Thread:

·         Apply natural, non-greasy cream to my hands.  Due to all the things I do with my hands they get rough.  When working with Cord/Thread it can catch/snag on your hands and for fine Cord/Thread can potentially cause fraying.  

·         First pass of Stretching the Cord/Thread:

o   Stretching the cord is important since this helps minimize the Cord/Thread from stretching during and after you have created your design which at times can make your design look skewed.  A good example is knotting between beads, potentially if the Cord/Thread is not stretched first, during construction your knots will be close to the bead but with simple wear they become separated ruining the look you had hoped to achieve.  Do not apply excessive force when you stretch!  Even so during the stretching of your Cord/Thread it may break which is a sign you should not have used it anyway and did not waste time creating with it.  Note: There will still be stretching over time but it will be minimized.  Depending on length of cord I stretch 2 different ways:

§  Tie a fishing weight to each end (weight is dependent on cord) and hang over a door

§  Taking about 2 feet at a time I wrap around by hand and pull firmly moving along till the entire length is stretched.

·         Second pass of stretching the Cord/Thread:

o   I treat the Cord/Thread and then follow the same steps as the First Pass of Stretching the Cord/Thread

·         Run the Cord/Thread through Thread Heaven or Thread Magic. After pulling through the Thread Magic or Thread heaven pull the thread while squeezing between 2 fingers with light pressure.  I do this step even if I have used Beeswax previously.  

·         Start the project

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Catching up on my blogs where I will be discussing my creative process and materials. I also am creating a series of videos showing my workshop, tools and materials. I posted my first one lots of learning and it is rough but will get better. One of the blogs will be about some of my key suppliers and why I chose them. They are crucial for my business.

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Blog post 2-Material preparation for projects post 1 of 5

Blog post 2-Material preparation for projects 1

So what is material preparation and why is it important?  The next set of blogs will discuss my interpretation of material preparation based on the people who inspired me in Blog Post 1 and other sources.

I have taken many jewelry classes and there is minimal material preparation discussions hence this blog post.  In order to make wearable, long lasting jewelry you must treat/prepare your materials prior to use.  This is as important as the design and making of the item.  In many cases you can get away with not preparing the materials to save time but adding these extra steps will make your items more durable so highly recommended to do preparation.

Leathers

Use conditioners/protectants on all leather including leather cording prior to use.  Conditioners/protectants keep the leather soft and supple and helps prevent the leather from becoming stiff and brittle especially if exposed to a lot of sweat, rain or other types of moisture.

I make various macramé bracelets, leather cuffs, leather bracelets, leather earrings and I treat all my leather prior to use.  One crucial item to remember is you cannot use one conditioner/protector for all the various leathers available.  For example what you use for suede will not work for reptile hides.

There are many opinions on what to use and what I have found is as the artist you need to pick what is best for the projects you create. I have researched, gathered recommendations and experimented with various types and here is a partial list of what I use and they work on most Leathers except for Suede and NuBuck.  

Note: Important to test on a test piece prior to use.   If you are going to be applying any glue to the leather, I recommend gluing prior to applying the treatment since at times it affects the effectiveness of glue.  

·         Refined odorless Jojoba Oil-I mainly use if a customer makes a request for addition of an essential oil.  It blends well with them.   Important to test on a test piece of the leather due to its effect on the color of the leather.

·         Natural Beeswax- Need to ensure it is natural beeswax not one that has a lot of fillers. This is by far my most used item for all types of cord and leathers. Many benefits in addition to protecting the leather.  It makes it easier to work with leather cording.  For leather punch tools allows the punch to penetrate much easier.

·         Pure Neatsfoot oil- Another must have but only need a small amount.  I use this often but mainly on dark leather since it does usually darken the leather.

·         Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP 4oz - Preserves and Protects –I use this primarily on leather cording.

·         Leather Rescue Leather Conditioner and Restorer brand-This is great for large leather projects like purses, bags, and clothing.  I also use it on my shoes that I wear.

·         Tandy Leather Eco-Flo Super Shene-Protects and creates a great shine on your leather.  Also great to seal paint on leather.

·         BickMore Exotic-I use this on all my exotic leather and besides softening, it protects against the peeling effect.

  Next blog will be material preparation focusing on cording.

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#nantibjiware #nantibji

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Rattlesnake hide earrings with gemstones in this case Ruby's now available.  Interesting working with tanning the hide and prepping it for jewelry. #nantibjiware #rattlesnakejewelry #leatherearring

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NanTibJi Ware - unique jewelry, clothing, online jewelry stores

NanTibJi Ware features handmade Jewelry using Gemstones, leather and beads as well as Upcycled Clothing using various types of lace and fabric.

NanTibJi Ware features handmade Jewelry using Gemstones, leather and beads as well as Upcycled Clothing using various types of lace and fabric.

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Blog post 2-Material preparation for projects post 1 of 5

Blog post 2-Material preparation for projects 1

So what is material preparation and why is it important?  The next set of blogs will discuss my interpretation of material preparation based on the people who inspired me in Blog Post 1 and other sources.

I have taken many jewelry classes and there is minimal material preparation discussions hence this blog post.  In order to make wearable, long lasting jewelry you must treat/prepare your materials prior to use.  This is as important as the design and making of the item.  In many cases you can get away with not preparing the materials to save time but adding these extra steps will make your items more durable so highly recommended to do preparation.

Leathers

Use conditioners/protectants on all leather including leather cording prior to use.  Conditioners/protectants keep the leather soft and supple and helps prevent the leather from becoming stiff and brittle especially if exposed to a lot of sweat, rain or other types of moisture.

I make various macramé bracelets, leather cuffs, leather bracelets, leather earrings and I treat all my leather prior to use.  One crucial item to remember is you cannot use one conditioner/protector for all the various leathers available.  For example what you use for suede will not work for reptile hides.

 There are many opinions on what to use and what I have found is as the artist you need to pick what is best for the projects you create. I have researched, gathered recommendations and experimented with various types and here is a partial list of what I use and they work on most Leathers except for Suede and NuBuck.  

Note: Important to test on a test piece prior to use.   If you are going to be applying any glue to the leather, I recommend gluing prior to applying the treatment since at times it affects the effectiveness of glue.  

 ·         Refined odorless Jojoba Oil-I mainly use if a customer makes a request for addition of an essential oil.  It blends well with them.   Important to test on a test piece of the leather due to its effect on the color of the leather.

·         Natural Beeswax- Need to ensure it is natural beeswax not one that has a lot of fillers. This is by far my most used item for all types of cord and leathers. Many benefits in addition to protecting the leather.  It makes it easier to work with leather cording.  For leather punch tools allows the punch to penetrate much easier.

·         Pure Neatsfoot oil- Another must have but only need a small amount.  I use this often but mainly on dark leather since it does usually darken the leather.

·         Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP 4oz - Preserves and Protects –I use this primarily on leather cording.

·         Leather Rescue Leather Conditioner and Restorer brand-This is great for large leather projects like purses, bags, and clothing.  I also use it on my shoes that I wear.

·         Tandy Leather Eco-Flo Super Shene-Protects and creates a great shine on your leather.  Also great to seal paint on leather.

·         BickMore Exotic-I use this on all my exotic leather and besides softening, it protects against the peeling effect.

  Next blog will be material preparation focusing on cording.

[nantibjiware]

Attachment to Vintage Clothing

I love all my vintage clothing that I collected through the years.  I am slowly getting rid of it on my Etsy site but it has been very hard since many of them have great memories and I am attached to them.  At some point you have to come to terms that you will never wear them and better they go to someone that will.     

So I finally  have reached peace and will be posting my cool vintage never worn 1960 JayMar golf pant made with Dacron and Polyester with a Sansabelt.  They are bellbottom with a really cool 1960 pattern hence have hated to part with them but it is time.    I am having problems with pictures due to my mannequin being a size 3-5 and these are around a size 9-10 but will have all pictures ready to post later tonight on Etsy.  Written with a tear ........................

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Blog post 1-Learning Techniques for making Jewelry

As I was doing the first step in the 5 day process to stabilize some butterfly wings, I began to think about my journey making jewelry and all the other “crafts” I make. It has been a very interesting learning experience.  It has really opened my eyes to the world from a totally different perspective and helped me grow in the “virtues” area.  I have decided to capture my learnings and post them so that hopefully they help other people as they get into the world of “crafting”.

There are many books, YouTube videos, how-to blogs and classes on jewelry making.  I totally immersed myself into these and learned some crucial techniques and skills but as I started to create I always felt there was something missing and there were times when I wanted my piece to be a certain way and I just couldn’t quite get it there even after completed.  Though the feedback from customers and friends was very positive I still felt there was something missing.  My biggest lesson is to be very open to not just people in the jewelry field but from other types of hobbies and interests.  Below are some influences on the jewelry I create.

I met an older (late 70’s early 80’s) man from Russia on a commuter train and he began to talk to me about fly tying and it was very clear he loved the art and also loved the materials he was working with to the point it was almost spiritual.  He talked with me about the feathers, various animal hair and cording he used as well as the knots.  It was really inspirational.  As he talked I explained to him how I made triple wrapped bracelets and also feather earrings and some of the problems I faced.  He told me to try some of his fly tying techniques and showed some to me and gave me a totally new perspective on my materials.  I went home and tried them on my earrings and bracelets and they solved so many problems and made my items sturdier. This showed me a totally new perspective.  I am forever grateful to him and wish I had a way to let him know the impact he had on me.

I was traveling in the Southwest and happened upon a stand out on the highway where there was a woman in her late 80’s selling Native American Art she created.  The turquoise pieces were very beautiful.  I told her how I was getting into horse hair jewelry and she became quite excited and began to talk about how much she loved to work with it and that she was worried when she passed away many of the things she does and has learned would be lost.  So we spent hours together and she taught me various ways to handle, harvest, process and use the horse hair.  She talked about how while you are creating with natural products you are very in tune at that time with nature and you should praise and be thankful that it is available for your use and to respect it.  I have used only a couple of her techniques but am practicing more of them to get better.  Again, I am forever grateful to her and only wish I had gotten her information especially her name due to the great gift she gave me.

I went to a Mountain Man Rendezvous event.  It was very inspirational and the people were so helpful.  I talked to one family about my leather jewelry and received many tips on how to treat and work with leather.  Their 13 year old son gave me a thorough lesson in tanning a rattlesnake hide and all the gotchas.  They also explained natural ways to dye and treat the leather.  I use a lot of the techniques they showed me and plan to use more. If you truly want to see a back to nature and down to earth lifestyle and some great art you should attend one of these.  Also the food is great and natural so very healthy.

I really wanted to do jewelry with butterfly wings but wanted to maintain their realistic look as much as possible.  Most people laminate them or encase them in resin and bezel wire.  These look great but not the look I wanted to achieve.  On my drive to Seattle I noticed people of Asian descent picking something next to a river and stopped because I was curious what they were gathering since I am also into herbs.  They had gathered some crawdads and some herbs but they did not know the English name.  I began to talk with the woman that was in her late 70’s about a butterfly necklace she was wearing that was stunning.  She explained the meaning of it and how she had made it as a teenager as a way to learn patience and working with nature in a respectful way.  I told her about my earrings.  The woman explained the process she used which was very complicated and time consuming especially since many of the treatments used on the butterflies were made from scratch.    I thanked them and went home and thought about the various treatments and experimented with items we have now that could be easily found in hardware and craft stores that would achieve the same effect. I was very grateful to her since she showed me a different process for dealing with them and she is correct it definitely teaches patience due to the wings being so delicate and because it is very time consuming.

These are just a few examples of how you can get crucial information to help create jewelry from different sources.  Always be open to new processes and applying them to your creations. But the most important lesson for me was to appreciate and understand the materials I am using especially if they are natural products since they truly are a gift and should be treated as such.

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