Cores are a hot topic in the bead world, smaller vs bigger, lined or unlined? That's before you even get on to branded or unbranded (my particular foible) and how much "lining" shows in comparison to the glass or stone.
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| Photo by Endangered Trolls - Please do not reproduce without permission |
My lovely friend Victoria over at Endangered Trolls sent over these photos to help me illustrate my point better.
You can see from the photos above and below that the core diameters are different sizes, the thickness of the lining of the core that "shows" is different too, some are branded, some are plain however these are all lined, this is to protect the bracelet... unlined glass beads would damage a silver chain.
All photos by Endangered Trolls - Please do not reproduce without permission
Non bead people would probably be surprised at how much time and attention is given to the cores considering there's nothing there, it's kinda the bit that's missing from the bead - bit like the hole in a Polo Mint - which has an 0.8cm core in case you were curious!
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| The sweet with the core! |
What is the missing bit of something that you obsess over?
Bead folk - what kind of core do you love to love or love to hate?
I never knew there was so much consideration involved in a hole! I think the only missing bit I obsess over is jigsaw puzzle pieces - I hate it when I spend all that time putting something together and there's a piece missing in the end. I have a couple of lovely wooden jigsaws from Wentworth Jigsaws and I am pretty obsessive to check for any pieces that might have got lost as I put the jigsaw into a bag.
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
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Jigsaws! The classic missing bit to obsess over :) I never really got on with jigsaws, in hindsight I think the thought of a missing piece would drive me crazy. I do however have a lovely wooden fish picture that is actually a jigsaw but is slightly more 3D.
DeleteYep we obsess about the holes and their linings as much as the bead... people are very particular about cores! It just seemed weird when I started thinking about it so made for a good C!
Mars xx
I have to agree with Soph - I had no idea how important the missing bit was in beads :). Some beautiful photos you have there. Missing bits in something I obsess over are plot holes in vampire movies :D The number of times the story is going fine and then something happens that makes me go 'but!' :) Sometimes horror writers forget their plots have to make sense too.
ReplyDeleteTasha
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Ah the beautiful photography is thanks to Victoria, I asked for help as my particular thing is I'm not keen on branded cores so it was a bit hard to illustrate them what with not having any ;) She takes gorgeous photos!
DeletePlot holes, now I can easily live with those provided that they are sprinkled all the way through, if a film has so many plot holes I find that less offensive than one or two key ones... although I must confess I sometimes don't notice them if they're subtle whilst I wonder why my other half is raging!
Although I would never go out to investigate the noise if I was pretty... much safer to wait :D
Mars xx
Wow. The more you now. I didn't realize glass beads can damage the silver chain.
ReplyDelete@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
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Yep glass is incredibly hard and would do quite a bit of damage. I confess that I've been a bit naughty and sometimes worn unlined beads on my bangle sandwiched between 2 stoppers (beads lined with rubber) to stop it moving - which reminds me I must go and buy some unmentionables (2 piece cores) but sshhhh don't tell anyone, that's a core lining that really annoys bead people!
DeleteMars xx
I had someone tell me that it would take so long for an uncored bead to damage the chain that it would be insignificant. Of course, I'm sure it depends on how well the person finishes the core :)
ReplyDeleteBut for me, the core is what makes the bead look finished. So I prefer cores. But have bought a few uncored if the bead design is right and not something I can find elsewhere cored.
I'm not bothered by the size of the lining or whether it is branded since I don't see it much when it's on a bracelet. I prefer smaller cores, but Ohm makes larger cores and I do love some of their glass :)
I was a bit picky about one piece vs two piece cores (I prefer one piece) but, (again!) I will make exceptions for the right bead.
It seems I will always compromise for the right bead ;)
Outside of beads, the missing bits that annoy are when my husband empties the trash or green bin and doesn't put a new bag in the basket. Or when he takes a towel and forgets to put a new one there - particularly when it's my bath towel and I don't notice until I'm getting out of the shower!
My personal core preferences are lined, 1 piece, small and unbranded.
DeleteI will buy larger cores where I want the bead as most of the time you don't notice unless it's on a bracelet/bangle with smaller cored very small beads in which case it can look a bit odd.
I don't mind unlined but my own unlined beads are shredders for silver but that's down to my inexperience I think! I'm sure there must be a way of finishing them so they're a bit smoother!!
Definitely 1 piece over 2 piece but for convenience and because I don't have lots of cash (for a machine) and lack of patience (to do by hand) I'm going to go down the 2 piece route for now for my own beads.
Although looking at the individual photos above the branded cores look very "neat" I'm really not a fan of branding on beads... once you get a whole pile together I just don't want words all over my beads... I tend to shy away from branding on clothes too, I prefer my branding subtle and not to be a big part of what I'm buying - I love Ohm's glass and think that is where I will eventually succumb to a branded core if I do at all.
The one thing that really doesn't bother me but seems to send some people in a tizz is loose cores and spinning cores - I really really don't mind them at all!
I definitely hear you on the new bag in the basket... I'm unfortunately for my other half the one who doesn't put the new towel or tea towel in... but not because I've used it myself but because I take it out to wash it and forget to put a fresh one in!!
Mars xx
Makes sense that you need a core to fit what you are putting it on. And consider the wear between it and the band. Never knew they had spinning cores. Thanks for stopping in Caneyhead!
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I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
A to Z Challenge
Yep there's a lot of figuring out when you start with modular jewellery what beads fit what bracelets if you want to mix and match between brands - some brands make it easy to use other beads some don't.
DeleteSee you for another letter!
Mars xx
So that part is called a core? I've always called it a hole. Knowledge is power! :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteMars xx
Wow! I never knew they were lined to protect the chain! I always figured they protected the bead! Thanks for teaching me something today!
ReplyDeleteTheFrogLady
I think if you played scissors/paper/stone with glass & silver then glass would win over silver, not sure what the 3rd element would be in that game though!
DeleteMars xx
I have never used this kind of beads, but I really like them. Soon, I will :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's addictive, hence the A to Z theme... but it works for me because the systems are modular - I have always worn rings and pendants but rarely bracelets.
DeleteI have really thin wrists so more often than not premade bracelets are just to big, with modular jewellery I can have the length of chain that suits me and because I can make my own bracelets up I can have what I like and change it as often as I like and that's part of the appeal as well as being practical!
Mars xx
Those are very pretty beads.
ReplyDeleteI remember for a while they sold Polo cores. I was a massive fan of those cores!
Cait @ Click's Clan
Funnily enough when I was researching how big the core of a polo was I remembered that they did an edition of cores! I used to especially buy lots of polos when I was at school doing my exams...
DeleteMars xx
Loved this post - really interesting. I'm enjoying the A-Z-ing so far - good fun (I'm number 590 on the list)
ReplyDeleteHello Helen and welcome no.590!
DeleteI'm working my way up the list from me but I tend to go random on the list after a while :) My numbers changed a few times already as people are taken off, I think I started about 203 and currently I'm at 193. I also end up visiting depending on twitter and comments here, then comments on other blogs that I've read... it all gets a bit chaotic after a while!
Best of luck with the challenge, will pop over to you soon!
Mars xx
Hadn't thought of it like that, but I see what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from Laws of Gravity
Cores are a funny thing, some people get very particular about them, I'm relaxed about most aspects but I'm really not fussed on branded cores although I love some of the glass so much on the branded side that I may have to go over to the dark side at some point.
DeleteAside from their designs and quality of glass, it's one of the reasons that I have a lot of brands like Trollbeads, Elfbeads and Artisan beadmakers in my own collection because they don't plaster their name on the side of their beads.
But we're all different in what we like, which is a good thing!
Mars xx
I live a mile or so from ShipWrecked Beads in Washington state and have gotten beads there for a few projects. All the beads I got were unlined though. I had no idea! Obviously I am no professional. Good to know. I'm really enjoying the A-Z--so much to learn! http://seezooeyrun.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteHi Gail
DeleteUnlined beads are fine, I have many small holed beads that are made from materials other than glass or that I wear on different materials with no problems. These glass beads above though are designed to be worn on silver bracelets and lining the beads is a good way to protect the bracelet.
Best of luck with the rest of the challenge!
Mars xx
I'm sorry I didn't find you blog earlier in the series. Just found it through reflections and now going through the alphabet of beads.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! One of the things I love about the A to Z challenge, is it's always there to catch up on whenever you find it :)
DeleteMars xx