Author Archives: AnitaNH

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About AnitaNH

AnitaNH is a self-taught collage artist and former librarian who embraced mid-life crisis, dropped out of the corporate world and moved to rural New Hampshire to become creatively self-employed. Owner of Anita's Beads and Toad Hollow Minerals in Wakefield, New Hampshire, Anita also designs jewelry, fabric, and digital art prints. Original collage art and acrylic paintings are displayed in the gallery. Jewelry-making and collage instruction are offered by appointment.

Dragonfly Earrings

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Below are the instructions for the Dragonfly Earring Kits offered at Anita’s Beads. To complete your kit you will need a “Big Eye” needle, a pair of sharp scissors, and “Hypo-Cement” glue.

The kit includes two pieces of 6# Fireline, Czech dagger beads, Czech 4mm machine cut round beads, size 11/0 seed beads, 4mm soldered jump rings, and earwires.

You will string using a single strand of Fireline. The earring is reinforced by going around the path multiple times. Begin by picking up an 11/0 seed bead, one faceted round (the head), another 11/0 seed bead, two dagger beads, another 11/0 seed bead, four faceted rounds (the tail), and another 11/0 seed bead as shown below.

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Pull your thread through, leaving a 9-inch tail (single strand) of fire line at the head. You will need this piece later.

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Skipping the seed bead, pass your needle up through the four tail beads. Now add one 11/0 seed bead, two dagger beads, and another 11/0 seed bead. Now pass your needle through the head and the first 11/0 seed bead.

Pick up the soldered jump ring and repeat the path a second time to reinforce the earring. After you go through the jump ring a second time, continue down through the 11/0 seed bead above the head, the head, the left seed bead below the head, the two left wings and the seed bead below the left wings.

Now remove your needle from the main thread and thread the tail onto the needle. Pass the needle through the jump ring, the seed bead above the head, the head, the seed bead to the right, the two right wings, and the seed bead below the two right wings. Remove the needle.

Tighten the threads and tie a double knot. Pass the two ends of the thread down through the top three tail beads and trim with sharp scissors. Lay the dragonfly flat on a piece of scrap paper and glue the knot. Place a drop or two of glue where the four wings come together to keep them from flopping.

After the glue dries, open the loop on an earring hook, slip on the soldered jump ring of your dragonfly, and close the loop. Repeat for second earring.

 

 

Instructions for Super-DUO Wrap Bracelets

Your kit has beading wire with magnet clasp, wire guard and crimp already attached so you have a double wire for stringing. You will need chain-nose pliers for flattening the second crimp and cutters for trimming the wire at the end. The wire is stiff enough that you will not need a needle for this project.

Holding two wires together, string on one of the two small glass bead, then two metal heishi. Now separate the wires and put a seed bead on each, then string on a super-DUO two-hole bead with a wire through each hole.

Alternate two seed beads (one on each wire) and DUO’s ending with two seed beads. Let the beaded portion lay flat on your work surface to minimize twisting caused by too much tension.

4-wrap Bracelets: 30 inches of beads will wrap a 7.5-inch wrist four times.

1-wrap Bracelets: String 20 DUOs separated by seed beads before the focal. End with two seed beads and holding the two wires together, string on two heishi, then the focal, then two heishi. Begin the second half with two seed beads, one on each wire. Adjust for size by stringing extra or fewer beads.

Finish with two heishi, a glass bead, a crimp and a wire guard. Attach to the second loop on the magnet clasp. Next, string back through the crimp, the glass bead and the two heishi. This is all done holding the two wires together as one. Do not tighten yet. Leave at least an inch of play between the last beads and the crimp. (There is an extra crimp provided in the kit.)

Separate the magnet clasp and lay the bracelet flat. Slide beads up towards the uncrimped end to release the tension which causes the bracelet to curl and twist. Beads should all be touching with no wire showing between them except at the final end.

Tighten the end wires and flatten the crimp to finish.

All materials for Super-DUO bracelets are available separately at Anita’s Beads. Email Anita at anitaBeadsNH@gmail.com to place an order.

About Stones: Shungite

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Astrological Sign: Cancer
Chakra: All
Lore: Shungite neutralizes electromagnetic emissions, waterborne contaminants, free radicals, and negative energy. It shields from harmful electromagnetic frequencies (EMF’s) from computers, cell phones and towers, WI-FI, microwave ovens and televisions. Shungite removes negative energies and thoughts, enhances metaphysical abilities, and promotes cell rejuvenation. Wear on the left side of the body because energies enter the aura through the left side.
Geology: Shungite is named for the village in Russia, Shunga, in the province of Karelia where it is found. It is one of the few natural Earth sources of fullerene, a rare hollow carbon molecule.
Localities: Russia

New on Society6

AnitaNH fabric designs, collages and digital art are now available as art prints, framed art prints, canvas prints, metal prints, stationary cards, throw pillows, carry-all pouches and tote bags on Society6.

And there is even more good news: a 2-day 4th of July sale begins tomorrow, July 3rd, and ends on Tuesday night. For 48 hours, you will get 20% off + free shipping on everything in Anita’s Society6 shop. Here’s the address: https://society6.com/anitanh

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On the Stone Porch

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Here’s a list of Toad Hollow tumbled stones, rough, and crystals. Visit the stone porch at Anita’s Beads to choose your favorites. Now over 200 varieties available! Our list is a little out of date so expect some surprises.

African Bloodstone $2.
Amazonite, $3
Amazonite, Heart $5.
Amazonite, Russian $1.
Amber $3.
Amethyst $2.
Angelite $5.
Apache Tear $1.
Apatite, Green $3.
Apatite, Yellow XL $1.
Aquamarine $5.
Aquamarine, New Hampshire (Rough) $1.
Aragonite/Brown $3.
Aragonite/Yellow $2.
Aventurine .50 / $2.
Baltic Amber $2.
Black Onyx .50
Black Tourmaline (Rough) $1.
Bloodstone $1.
Bloodstone Sphere $4.
Blue Quartz $1.
Blue Aventurine .50
Blue Calcite (Rough) $5.
Blue Goldstone $1.
Blue Lace Agate $3. / .50
Blue Scapolite (Rough) $2.
Botswana Agate $3.
Brecciated Jasper .50
Bronzite $3.
Bumble Bee Jasper $6.
Carnelian $2.
Chalcopyrite $5.
Charoite $1.
Chevron Amethyst $2.
Chiastolite $5.
Chinese Writing Rock $1

SP1

Chrysocolla $8. / .50
Chrysocolla (Rough) $8.
Citrine $1.
Citrine XL, Light $2.
Citrine XL, Dark $1
Copal Amber (Rough) $3.
Copper $1.
Copper, Sculptured $5.
Coprolite, Opalized $1.
Cowrie Shell $2.
Crinoid Fossil Stone $2.
Dalmation Stone $2.
Dinosaur Bone (Rough) $6.
Dragon’s Blood Stone $1.
Dumortierite $1.
Elephant Jasper $2.
Epidote $2.
Eudyalite $12.
Falcons Eye $1.
Fire Agate (Rough) $4.
Fluorite $4. / .50
Fluorite Octohedron $1.
Fossil Algae $3.
Garnet $3.
Garnet (in Tube) $4.
Goldstone $3.
Green Calcite (Rough) $3.
Green Fluorite Octohedron $4.
Hematite $5. / .50
Herkimer Diamond $3.
Hiddenite $1.
Howlite .50
Iolite .50
Iolite (Rough) $1.
Jade $3.

SP5

Jet $1.
King Cobra Jasper $2.
Kunzite Crystal $6.
Kyanite $8.
Labradorite $4.
Laguna Agate (Rough) $3.
Lapis Lazuli $6. / $1.
Larimar (Rough) $1.
Lemon Chrysoprase $3.
Leopardskin Jasper $2. / .50
Lepidolite $1. / .50
Lepidolite, Africa $2.
Lepidolite (Rough) $5.
Magnetite $2.
Mahogany Obsidian .50
Mahogany Obsidian Sphere $4.
Malachite $4.
Marbled Jasper $1.
Mochi Marble $2.
Mookaite $2.
Moonstone $1. / .50
Moss Agate .50
Nephrite Jade $2.
Ocean Jasper $3.
Orange Calcite (Rough) $4.
Orange Millennium (Carnelian Nodule) .50
Peridot (in Tube) $4.
Petrified Wood $3.
Picasso Stone $4. / .50
Picture Jasper $2.
Pietersite $5.
Pink Botswana Agate $2.
Polychrome Jasper $4.
Prehnite $4.

SP4

Pumice (Rough) $1.
Pyrite (Rough) $5.
Quartz .50
Quartz Crystal $3.
Quartz Crystal, Chlorite $5.
Quartz Crystal, Jewelry Point $4.
Quartz Crystal, Notched $5.
Quartz Spheres, Assorted $5.
Rainbow Jasper $1.
Rainforest Jasper $1.
Red Calcite $3.
Red Jasper $1
Red Tiger Eye $3.
Redwood Opal $3.
Rhodochrosite $2.
Rhodonite .50
Rhodonite Marble .50
Rose Quartz $1.
Rose Quartz Heart $4.
Rose Quartz Sphere $4.
Rubellite (Pink Tourmaline) w/Lepidolite in Quartz $3.
Ruby/Kyanite (Rough) $4.
Ruby/Zoisite $4.
Rutilated Quartz $5.
Safari Jasper $3.
Scolicite $4.
Seftonite $2.
Selenite $3.
Selenite, Orange $4.
Serpentine $2.
Serpentine, Matte Finish $3.
Shungite $5.
Silicon $2.
Smoky Quartz $3.
Smoky Quartz Elestial Crystal $5.
Snowflake Obsidian (Rough) $4.
Sodalite $3. / .50
Stichtite (in Serpentine) $3.
Tektite $5.
Tiger Iron  $4. / .50
Tiger’s Eye $2.
Topaz .50
Tree Agate .50
Turitella Agate $2.
Turquoise $3. / $1.
Unakite $1.
Voegesite $3.
White Calcite $2.
Window Quartz $5.
Yellow Apatite Crystal $1.
Zebra Marble (Rough) $3.
Zebra Serpentine $3.

Anita can be reached by telephone at 603-522-6529. Visa and MasterCard accepted at Anita’s Beads.