So, one of my friends loaned me a fancy mandrel, months ago, but it wasn't till I started helping her pack up her studio that I found the packaging, which in addition to the allen wrench I needed to take the thing apart (up till that time I swiped one of the wizard's) I also discovered the name of manufacturer. Armed with this info, I could finally start researching how to use this tool.

two, er, hearts, made with inspiration llc's interchangable mandrel.

Because as you can see, I really needed the help.

But now I've found the directions and have some idea of what the tool is supposed to accoomplish (grooved pendants), which, I admit, I had a suspicion even before I read the directions.

Now, since the guild got all those presses to play with I've been thinking about a lot of these fancy tools as aids for process, as opposed to a finished product, because there's no reason why they necessarily have to be used in the way intended; just that, sometimes, knowing what is, might be a good starting point.

As in this case.

beads, 2009 or possibly even 2008 (no refs in 2009 studio journal); photo, file 8jan10.

Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.