[pearlescence]

Is everyone over here in the UK at the moment?

[Sueki]

Yay,
Let's throw a party...
It'll have to be indoors, though....

[Mervione]

Thanks Knotty, will mail them in a bit and see what they say...

[pearlescence]

too right Susan, continuous rain washed away the punters yet again today.....

[Mervione]

It have been pretty nice wheater where I am right now, in Portsmouth.

[Mervione]

Good news! I found out that you could virtually flip through Rio Grande´s catalogues online, and I found some pins there! Only found simple ones with a ball at the end but it´ll do for now, and I even found rose gold pins there. Flat ends though but I`m fine with that I think. Anyone know if you can kinda make the end less flat somehow?

[robinmce]

Originally Posted by Mervione

Good news! I found out that you could virtually flip through Rio Grande´s catalogues online, and I found some pins there! Only found simple ones with a ball at the end but it´ll do for now, and I even found rose gold pins there. Flat ends though but I`m fine with that I think. Anyone know if you can kinda make the end less flat somehow?

i just put a small bead at the end if i want a "rounded" look and only have flat headpins

Robin

[barbie biggs]

If you have a soldering torch you can turn it down so that the flame is very small and hot, point it at the flat head of the pin for a few seconds and it will begin to melt a little. This makes a nice little rounded spot at the end of the pin and doesn't have that 'mass produced' look.
The soldering torches are available in woodworking and crafts stores from about $39.95.
It's best to anchor the pin in a small vise. rather than try to hold it with your hand, even if you have pot holders or other protection.
I once made a vise by glueing a wooden clothespin to a 1/2" by 1" by 4" stick of wood that had a foot on it. It holds little things beautifully and takes up no space to store.
You can also use plain wire. Melt the end the shape you want and make your own head pins.
barbie

[Mervione]

That sounds like a great idea! I try to choose beads and supplies that look the least massproduced but I also want to feel like I´m actually doing some of the work myself, not just putting pieces together. Any idea if it´d turn out cheaper in the long run to use wire instead of buying finished ones?

[barbie biggs]

Dear Mervione:
I don't know the answer to that. However, I do know from my experience, if I don't practice with cheap metal first until I get it right a couple of times I'll make mistakes. Since I don't do metalwork professionally I have to practice a lot. So I practice with cheap pearls and gold filled wire until I can do whatever it is right every time. This is time consuming but pays off in the finished product.
Also, as I've been practicing for a few years it takes me a lot less time to learn new things now.
The products I practice on and do well with, go to the little girls in the family who think it's great to get something from Aunt barbie. When they are 16 they get the real thing. This gives me both goals and time to practice.
Last month I purchased 12 inches of .20mm gold wire and it cost 34$ so I'm careful. Still, it's fun and I get great intrinsic rewards when something turns out right.
Someday I'll take a picture worth sharing and post a few things. Probably just one at a time. So far the only pic that's worth it is of my dog. It was a fluke.
barbie
You should try it. It's a gas!

[Mervione]

That makes sense. I practiced with base metal before I felt confident enough to work in silver, and soon in gold...

My family is the same, they really like everything I do, even if it turns out weird. I´ve even inspired my brother and mom to try out beading themselves.