As I sat and tried my best to decide what to get my BFF for her birthday, I realized that I could get ahead of the game and also send her her ornament! Hark!
Seeing as how I had just picked up a strand of these snowman beads from Joann's, I could put them to good use.
This was another Karen Desousa Ornament based on the Celestial Series.
Again, I have squat for fire-polished beads, so some substitution was in order.
I used matte white 6/0s (of which I have great abundance, due to a botched bead excursion in which the buyer did his very best, and I am still very grateful! ) for the belly band, light blue and a darker blue 11/0's, snowman beads and their corresponding spotted round beads, and some weird spoon beads that I'm pretty sure came from Spokane.
I am fairly pleased with this ornament, and my friend really likes it. Mission accomplished.
One of my closest friends got married on October 6, 2012 and I couldn't be happier for him.
He is a dear friend, one of the few from college that has really changed my life. We got mono our freshman year from the same bottle of Apple Puckers(we think, it wasn't from kissing)!
We worked at Wendy's together! We had bubble fights and took turns being "dish bitch" together!
He told my first love that I was crazy for him.
Anyway, enough hanging out on memory lane, it'll be dark soon.
This bracelet was made to go with the cocktail dress that I had to purchase for the occasion. The dress was picked out by my dear husbeast, who also purchased his first suit for the occasion.
It was black with a purple and black stripey skirt. Actually...here is a picture...
I knew I wanted a wide bracelet, with a little sparkle.
I had about a quarter of a pattern drawn up for another endeavor but, due to a few missing key Delica shades, it was tabled.
With my pattern in hand I selected my colors and charged ahead.
I like the finished product. It is a little bit tapestry, a little bit sparkly, a little bit woven looking, and a little bit awesome.
I used S/L wine-y purple Treasures, hematite Delicas, black Delicas, and nickel plated Delicas.
The clasp is hematite colored with a few Swarovski 4mm bicones.
So, I've been following OTTBS for a while now, not that you'd know from the lack of things to show for it-I'm eyeballing you Blogger-and the challenge for June was Colors of the rainbow.
I'm kind of a huge fan of brightly colored things-like tie dye and neon pink beads that I'll never use and I thought, I can do a rainbow colored Ornament! Yes, that is exactly what I'll do. It was settled.
I then dove in picking beads out of my stash including matte transparent pink, matte orange, matte yellow, trasparent green, S/L blue, and transparent purple. As I have a dinky collection of fire polished beads, I used S/L clear 8/0's for the belly band and S/L clear for most of the other structural elements.
I had some crazy bright stars from Hobby Lobby that decided they wanted to be included too, and some of those dastardly peanut beads that I get all dewey eyed over rounding out the short list. (Seriously, try them in a kumihimo rope, you will not be disappointed).
Then I tackled the pattern.
I quickly realised that fringe is mind numbing. Twisted fringe is mind numbing and hand numbing(shakes semi-numb fist at Carpal Tunnel!!!)
That ornament just wouldn't get done! Hours and hours and hours I worked and it never got complete. It just sat there on my bead tray like some illicit love-child of a unicorn and a jelly-fish.
I started this ornament June 1. I think I finished it in mid-July.
The worst thing is that I have issues cutting things apart once I've committed to them. The flaws are just...there. But on we move with life and the next ornament...
I began this post in March. March!!! Thats how long I've been neglecting you, and how long I can apparently hold a technology grudge!
Now that blogger and I have made up, I will try to get some of the back-logged stuff I've been working on up and posted!!
I have been productive this month!
I've made 2 bracelets from this month's Bead and Button.
The first used the Power Trio by Isabella Lam. This one would have been my OTTBS entry. The challenge this month was to use purple and grey.
I used hematite 8/0s and silverlined dark purple Delicas and 15/0s. I've used this color combo before and many times it gives a really cool dimensional effect. Maybe it didn't work that way here because the beads were different sizes and not right next to each other. (I'm serious, use some hematite colored beads and some silverlined dark purple Delicas(or any color silverlined Delicas). The Dels recede. Its pretty cool...) I finished it off with a hematite colored toggle.
I liked this pattern, even though it used cubic RAW. I haven't tamed the beast, but I got to at least pet the beast with this bracelet, figuratively speaking.
And I made another one (I've been trying to upload photos to this damned blog since 3-19...) It uses glow-in-the-dark 8/0s with matte transparent blue Delicas and matte black 15/0s.
My second piece was also from this month's B&B. It is from the pattern called Fantastic Features By Amanda Shero Granstrom.
I did NO stashbusting on this one. I bought permanently distressed copper wire to make my rings, a new mandrel which is really one of thise big crochet hook knitting neede thingies, green 10mm sequins(pattern called for 12's, but I couldn't find any). And I even had to buy a hole punch!
I think it's worth it though. I got to play with chain maille. I like chain maille.
I also got a wild hare up my ass and decided that I had to make some polymer clay beads. Of course this required me to buy more stuff. Like clay, and blades, and a pasta roller, and seriously. I have a problem. I don't need new hobbies. I need to deplete some of the hobbies I currently have. :)
Anywho, here they are fresh from the oven. I need to drill, sand, buff and glaze them still, but they're pretty.
I then went on a polymer clay book buying spree. One is about canework. Canes are really easy once you get the hang of them. You just start with a picture about the size of the base of a pop can and break it up into small simple shapes.
These are some t-shirts I've done recently. When I say some, I mean I've dyed like 25 shirts in the last few weeks and a small heap of onsies for my co-worker's new grandson.
Tell me the one on the left doesn't look like a spine. SO FRIGGIN COOL.
I love to dye. It is like a surprise every time you unfold one and rinse it out. I am highly upset with the blue from the Tulip Carosel color pack. It faded from a nice cerulean to periwinkle :(
Here are some more cool ones...
I'm trying to expand beyond the basic spiral, which always looks great, butdoesn't give me the variety I want.
I also need to get away from pre-packaged color kits. If I went back to the soda ash then dye I could do smaller batches because my dye wouldn't have a shelf life of 45 minutes and I wouldn't get as many stinkers.
Gotta run
Peace!
By the way, the pics are clickable to see the other shirts. there are 3 per photo...
I have 3 posts that I haven't been able to make now since the end of Feb because I can't load the photos :(
I feel like I'm neglecting everyone. I'm not, blogger is just a butt.
I'm still reading everyone's posts though, just can't make my own
And my piece is done on time! (its kind of a big deal 'round here)
For my inspiration, I picked a Joan Baez cover of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young"
I can't think of a more beautiful song, or a more beautiful voice to carry it. Have a listen...I'll wait
Beautiful right? And the words are beautiful too, in case you missed them, have a read:
"May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you
always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to
the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever
young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you
always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be
courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever
young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you
have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart
always be joyful
May your song always be sung
May you stay forever
young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young"
This song means alot to me. My dad's friend who passed away last year taught me to play it on the guitar. He believed in me. Alot of people have believed in me since I was little. I hope that I have done them all proud, and I hope that I will always stay forever young.
My piece is an embroidered cuff, on white felt. The central focal is a My Little Pony magnet that came in a book my sister bought me for Christmas. I have an enourmous collection of Ponies...its a bad habit that I'm really not willing to break. Its a habit I've had since I was really little.
I have also used two pink AB 8mm rivolis to accent the pony, because they are in the same colorway and because they are kindof glamourous and all grown up. I've also used some purple-y margeritas
I used LOTS of seed beads to try to make this bracelet convey the feeling of joy in this song. There are no hard angles, and I tried to make things flow.
So have I done Joan and Bob proud?
(yeah I totally took my photos waiting for a plane in the Knoxville airport :) )
You've heard my song and seen my work, now go see theirs! Erin Prais-Hintz
This blog is to chronicle my crafting adventures as I bead, sew, wrap, make a mess, cook, burn, and resin my way through life. I hope you enjoy the ride
