My quilt is done and the bead tray is almost empty ready for new-ness!

Remember this quilt?

Well it is done. And, I didn't even have to holler Moooooooooooooooommmmmmm! Fix this.

That is a resolution, resolved :)

Here is the finished product...

And here are few highlights from the embroidered blocks. 

This was before he went to Trader Vic's...

And a One Eyed, One Horned, Flying purple people eater

And a witch and a ghoul...

I also finished my OTTBS entry for January, granted it's late, but I did finish it, and got to use some triangle beads that I've had in my stash since 2007 :) and those o-rings that I abslutely had to have...and alot of other beads. 

This is from the December 11/Jan 12 issue of beadwork.  The pattern is called Beaded Bubbles by Ann Gilbert.  There is a note in the corner of the page regarding tension.  It is absolutely true.  ANY tension makes the components hump up in the middle.  I stretched the O-rings themelves and got them to flatten out a bit, but your mileage may vary. 

And...after looking at the photos, I seem to have forgotten the all-important clasp. Crap-tastic.

Also, I'd like to introduce you to my model, Onslow, the blue lobster...

This is a great pattern.  It almost makes brick stitch pleasant, and it makes me wonder what else I could do with this stitch.  I'm starting to thing the mark of a good pattern isn't what you make with the pattern, but what you make in the future with what you learned from it.

I also found time to make some Peruvian String Earrings. These are super, super, simple.  If you can make a basic coil, do a simple wrapped wire loop and wrap some thread around stuff, yu can make these. And they look friggin awesome!!!!

These are actually neon pink, orange, and yellow.  They remind me of this picture of a ship that my parents used to have hanging in their living room. 

I used the tutorial found here.  I used embroidery floss, whose 6-strand skeins I split, then split the 6 strings into (I think) 4 smaller threads-I did use metallic sewing thread to great success on another pair. I used 24g wire for the coils and 18g wire for the frame.  Other supplies were a piece of 14 g wire that I used as a coiling mandrel, clear nail polish, wire cutters, and pliers as necessary.

Yay! for productive weekends!!!!



And there was that sporting event...right? :)

The music in me!

I have joined a blog hop.

Kinda silly, you know, with all the crazy hours (seriously, 80 hours each, the last 2 weeks =0P )

And with my bead tray still housing my very nearly finished January OTTBS entry.

And that quilt that is only lacking borders on 2 sides and binding sitting quietly on my kitchen table...

I can't pass this one up.

I love music.  I have everything in my iTunes, from Ricky Skaggs to Megadeth, AC/DC to the Zac Brown Band, and everything in between.  With 4500+ songs, and growing, I am going to catch hell trying to pick just one. 

Do I go with the obvious?

This has been my favorite song by my favorite band for like...ever.

Don't Look Back in Anger-Oasis

But then there was my first celebrity crush(es-Mike, Peter, and Mickey will always live close to my heart, never cared for Davey) ...

You Just May Be the One-the Monkees

I can't lie to you, my good people.  My real first celebrity crush was Ricky Skaggs

Highway 40 Blues-Ricky Skaggs and the Boys in the Band

Or my favorite singer/songwriter?  I'm talking Bowie

Ziggy Stardust-David Bowie

Or something that reminds me of the odd duck I dated that time?

Break Your Heart-Barenaked Ladies

Or something I think would make a pretty piece of jewelry?

Violet-Hole

Or the first song that popped into my head when I read about this challenge?

Boom Like That-Mark Knopfler

And the others shelved neatly in tiny files waiting for their chance for me to hit the play button?
Dr Hook? Old Crow Medicine Show? Derek and the Dominoes? Dierks Bentley? The White Stripes? The Black Keys?  Jeremy Jarvis? Lou Reed? Phish?

What song sings my soul?  I could spend a lifetime debating (or at least 12.6 days listening!)

Better make up my mind and get beading...  :)

Resolution 2012

Well lets see a re-cap from last year's
 get taller. .  Yeah-still holding steady at 5'5.75
study for my PE and pass my PE in April. Yes! I passed it! got my own embossing seal and a stamp to prove it!!
Is resolving to never get another address wrong a resolution? Not this year
Can I resolve to finish at least two of the five quilts I have started? I can, but in reality, I'll probably just start one or two more...Umm...finished the quilt for my BFF, and my mom quilted Grandma's star, and the Hallowe'en quilt is nearly done.  And I scrapped one that I had started, but replaced it with that damned storm at sea...so check.
de-stash some beads-not really. not at all.  i had some major sprees this year that were not followed by destashing of any magnitude. FAIL...I do resolve to cut apart everything in my "to cut apart" pile and finish 2 things in my UFO pile. Nope...

I also resolve to 'boop' Marvin's nose, at least once a day :) I think I got that one :)

For 2012,
I resolve to get taller...again

 I resolve to bead at least 10 ornaments, throughout the year or all at once doesn't matter, either way. 

I resolve to blog at least once every 2 weeks, preferrably more, but 70+ hours of work doesn't leave much time :(

I resolve to finish one quilt completely on my own without having to say Moooooooooooom! fix this?

I resolve to start an OBW quilt. And piece no less than 30 sets of triangles OR start my friends' quilt involving circles in a fractal design.

That's reasonable, yeah?

Better late than never right?

Six, Seven, and Eight, respectively

I made number 6 on the way from Tennessee to my home near Pittsburgh. 

I used clear Tilas, magatamas, 11/0s, and some dagger beads over this super deep purple semi-matte ornament. 

 The pattern was loosely based on a project in Beadwork involving Tilas, but I didn't have the magazine accessible in the truck, so I went by memory.  This one is for the husbeast, whose favorite color.


Number seven was made while I was at home.  This one will eventually make its way to my parents-in-law.  I used some beautiful deer antler buttons that I found at the Powder Horn Trading Company in Kalispell, Montana. 

I also used peachy-ish colored pearls that I found there.  The idea with the buttons came from Bead and Button (I think...) there was a pattern using vintage shank buttons.  I altered the 2-hole style of the buttons with a bit of wire to work the pattern.  I covered the wire with a few 11/0s.

I used 4mm pearls and 6mm pearls, buttons, 11/0s in dark matte brown, silver-lined blue 11/0s, transparent blue 8/0s (in place of the 3mm beads)

I made number 8 on the way back from Pittsburgh.  It happened after a failed herringbone attempt at a rivoli bezel, then a failed netted bezel, and a failed peyote bezel.  I don't know what was going on, so I gave up and did other things with different beads.  I seem to have forgotten to take photos of number 8.  Crap.  Well next time, I'll tell you all about it :)

Then I got sidetracked when I got home and startd back on the Hallowe'en quilt.

5 and a bag

I have been beading in my free moments.  I really really have...
I started working on an ornament using Laura McCabe's Eiffel Tower Ring pattern from Beading Across America but, when she says size 15 Czech Charlottes, I think she means it.  Now I have  weird purple thingie sitting on my bead tray.  It kinda looks like one of those little tables that comes in a pizza box.  I didn't get to the add the rivoli part. I gave up.  Poor little guy.

I did finish another ornament.  I'm calling it Creamsicle.  It has lots of silver lined orange Delicas and pearls. 

The focals are beads from Hobby Lobby.  I like it.

I also finished my medicine bag for my father in law.  I decided, afte seeing a magpie for the first time over Thanksgiving, that a magpie would be a most fitting creature to represent me.  They are smart, they like shiny stuff, and they hoard things.  Me to a tee. :)

He is black, white, and iridescent blue/black Delicas and Treasures and 15/0s in black and white, beaded on felt, on leather, with an elk ivory, obviously .

Ding Ding Round 1!

Ornament time is upon us. Damn near passed us by! EEK!

Here are numbers 2, 3, and 4.

What happened to #1? (remember the flamingos?)

Anywho, the second ornament of the year features a black shatterproof ball, beaded over with rainbow sherbert colors. (11/0sin magenta, orange, and electric slime green)

It is simple netting but the progression of colors does really cool stuff, dunnit Ern?

Looks even cooler spinning around in circles :)

Number 3 s a gift for two of our closest friends. They made mention that they have never received an ornament, so I asked their Christmas colors, and they replied magenta and turqouise, but its a dusty magenta and a blue-y turquoise. I think my colors are a bit vibrant, but I am pleased anyway.

It features magenta 11/0s turquoise 11/0s, turquoise fire polished beads, turquoise acrylic flowers and magenta drop beads.

Finally is number 4. I am all about rivolis and ornaments now. This one has blue rivolis with a peacock finish, small blue-green rounds, and gold 15/0s.

I like it even if the cover is too loose in one place and too loose in another. I think I'll call it blue jean.

Two more medicine bags!

Only have time for a quickie today, I wish I had more time!!!! but I don't, but you'll all be pleased to know that next week starts Ornament Time! Pretty stoked about that :) That just might mean regular posts for a few weeks!

Ok, remember last time we met, I was working on medicine bags for my father-in-law? Well, I've finished 2 more, for the brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

BIL's bag depicts a little darks brown bear under the moonlight and the Big Dipper. He is pretty dark, but it's night, and he is a bear. you shouldn't be able to see him :) He is done with Delicas, and Czech 11/0s, with an elk ivory and a cougar claw, beaded on felt and attached to the leather pouch.



SIL's is playing double duty as my OTTBS entry. It is another elk ivory (which I have figured out how to polish, and is super shiney) it uses a few shades of green Delicas, a few shades of red, a little gray ad a touch of copper, and some red 15/0s. Her favorite flow is called indian paintbrush.


Do you think I did the inspiration justice?