Posted by Ensign Chandel (Science) in Quarters: Leah Hart

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Leah Hart (Nurse Practitioner/Counseling) in Quarters: Leah Hart

Posted by Ensign Chandel (Science) in Quarters: Leah Hart
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She nodded and carefully laid the beads in one of the bead design trays, she spaced them out and made sure they were sitting evenly. “So, the way I think might work best, rather than tying the string in a knot where you want the bead to sit is”-she reached for her container of findings and pulled out a little clear container-“to use these crimps on either side of the little metal spacer beads that will surround each glass bead.”

Leah held out the small metal piece in the palm of her hand. It was sort of square but like a squashed cylinder. “I have these in different sizes, so we’ll find the right size for this cord. You essentially slid it along the cord or string and then use a pair of pliers to squeeze it shut.”

~Leah Hart, NP

“Ah,” Chandel said as she leaned forward to watch intently. She was fascinated by this process.

Ensign Chandel Sci

Leah grabbed the case of findings she had pulled the crimps from and inside there were all sorts of clasps, jump rings, and earring backs. She pulled out the larger crimps and set them on either side of the larger glass beads.

“So let’s do a practice one on a spare piece of cord and then you can start putting your necklace together,” she said, handing Chandel a small length of cord and one of the crimps. “It takes more force at first to close it but you don’t have to do it too hard.”

~Leah Hart, NP

Chandel took the length of cord with the crimp and slid it on before picking up the small pliers and ‘crimping’ the crimp in the middle of the cord. She then added the spacer before adding a coloured bead and another spacer. She finished with adding a second crimp, gently squeezing it to hold. She smiled in triumph as she held it up to look at it.
“Well, amazing. I think after you help me complete the necklace I may need to start collecting my own supplies and creating my own sets. Are you willing to keep teaching me how to make various jewelry pieces?”

Ensign Chandel Sci

She watched the utter delight that lit up Chandel’s face and beamed. It was nice to see someone finding joy in something creative. “Absolutely. Schedules permitting, maybe we can make it a weekly thing. I really like unwinding with something like this, especially after a long day tending to the needs of others,” Leah said.

She lifted her wine glass to her lips and took a generous swallow, sighing out with a smile on her face. “Mmm, I forgot how good this particular wine is. It’s one of my abuela’s favourites. She insisted I bring some with me and I quote, ‘To show your new crewmates a good time’,” Leah said with a laugh.

~Leah Hart, NP

Chandel chuckled and sat down the cord to take her own sip of wine. “It is good and this an excellent way to unwind. Should I do a few more?” She asked.

Ensign Chandel Sci

She nodded. “Might as well keep going,” Leah said. “And if you want to ensure the beads are set evenly, then lay the whole thing back in the necklace tray and check the spacing. I’m going to grab my current project.”

Leah moved to her cabinet and pulled out a wide but short container. Bringing it back to the table, she set it down and unlocked two hinged locks on the sides, removing the lid. Inside were little compartments full of teal, purple and jungle green glass beads and spools of wire of various gauges. A few beads sat finished in one side of the container and each were wrapped with wire enough to encase them and hold them in place. But this was not just a few stands twisted around the bead, no. Leah had wrapped the wire itself in different ways to create layered effects and an almost filligree style of ornamentation. These particular beads were only about 30 millimetres in diameter, but there were a range of sizes in the little compartments.

She grabbed a set of fine needle-nosed pliers and a spool of very fine wire.

~Leah Hart, NP

Chandel leaned forward curiously, to study Leah’s current project. “Wow, that is intricate. What are you making with those?” She asked as she picked up her test cord and continued to add the crimps, spacers, and beads in the pattern she wanted to use on her finished necklace.

Ensign Chandel Sci

Leah unspooled a length of wire. “It’s a multi-strand necklace with interspersed drops. Each drop hangs into the next strand and much finer beads will rest beneath them and be strung in between. I’m going for a peacock feather feel and the necklace will be quite large. Fun for a special event,” she said with a grin. “Afterwards, I’ll make a set of earrings as well, though I might not wear them together. That would be… a lot.” Leah laughed and then sipped some more of her wine.

~Leah Hart, NP