I wrote a really long blog

And my blogger app deleted it while I was trying to post it :(
I don't really have the energy to go into it all over again, but I wanted to share my new project.
Long story shortened, two problems + two solutions = 4 new projects ;)

Problem 1: The butterlfly's wings kept folding in on itself (and JoAnn's clearanced all their silver to 97¢ because it was getting stolen…yeah, scratching my head at that one myself). Solution 1: make my own S links from head pins.
Problem 2: I had two butterflies, and one chain that was too long as one and too short to split. Solution 2: bead link extenders.

New projects: Build your own bracelet (or whatever you fancy).
I haven't taken pictures of the others yet, but there's paper clip bookmarks; and a way to convert pins (broach) to slider pendants that will also work for making polymer clay and ice resin pendants.

I like to remember my Grandmother

I've been racking my brain for a way to display/wear her seashell collection. I saw a picture of this done with sea glass, and I immediately thought of her shells, they've sat in a coffee can on top of my bookcase for nearly two years. It was nice to look them over, just the way she did over the years as she gathered them to remember all the places she'd been.
I wanted it to look more nautical than just wrapped wire, though, so I braided 28 guage wire before weaving it through the loops and around the shell, to make it look like braided rope that you would see on deck or sectioning off areas of beach.

My heart morphed into a butterfly

Seriously, it's more like the abstract flower garden of a few days ago, but I wouldn't have thought of it without the hearts. I think though, for the next one, I'm going to try building from a right angle weave for the body, and then switch to the triangle weave (flowers) for the wings.

This is why I don't sleep =}

Surprisingly simple…

And super strong. Honestly I've never bothered with brick stich till now because I thought it was weak; that structurally, it wasn't as sound as, say, flat peyote stitch, because each bead is sewn onto the thread that binds the beads beside or beneath it. But it's actually stronger because it sews each bead to the one beside it, and the two beneath (or beside). I'm so excited by all the possibilities.

Spring dreams

Usually I'm all over winter, from the cold to the snow, and warm cups of coffee, tea, or cocoa…just between you and me, I usually have at least one of each throughout the day…but this year I'm looking forward to the warm-up. Maybe it's the thyroid medicine, or maybe I'm just getting old, all I know, my body is protesting any drop in temp below 45°F . I started to go out for a walk today, and abandoned it before I got a block from the house. I miss my walks, I miss my flowers, I miss spring.
So I finished this instead.
The basic technique the snowflakes and hearts are based on is a flower motif. I wanted to see what it would look like if I built on just the flower motif in an abstract fashion.
Not perfection, but I like it anyway.

Another idea stolen

I've taken a few liberties with her pattern, but these are essentially Deborah Roberti's beaded heart pendants.

http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/Heart.html

I made the first set, and several others, last week. But I'm going to redo them to reflect my changes, and so that I can add the handmade wire wrapped stirling silver bails I just made (entirely my own, no stolen ideas in those :)
I wish I could show just how blingy these really are, though; especially that last one. Those are micro faceted, crystallized, fire polished, clear glass rondelles, and they do not photograph well.

Might've gone a little overboard

Particularly since I can't sell them, unless I get permission. So I might have to make suncatchers out of the one's I'm not using for birthday gifts.
Up next: hearts :)

Thanks again @beadingdaily

I've been known to download those free teaser patterns book publishers put out, and websites draw you in with, but this os the first time I've ever actually used one that wasn't just a new technique. It was just too gorgeous not to try it though. Honestly, it was the sparkle that caught me, but i'd been playing around with, and failing miserably at, my own snowflakes using seed beads. I had thought I could do the pattern (http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/diane-fitzgerald-project/) as instructed, but as I read it I realized I just couldn't afford to use the same materials.
I used size 10 and size 6 white ceylon glass seed beads. And I have to say, even though it doesn't have that icy crystalline uniformity of Diane Fitzgerald's pattern, I absolutely love these. Guess I'll have to add her book to my "when I win the lottery, this will be in my library" list. (Think I have a new pinterest pin board :)

2012

Change of heart

I think I like them just like this:

Finally moved on…

I've found a new love :) I'll have to update with a new picture when I start the next step. Right now it's just a simple net stitch, but I plan to embellish it so that it opens up the weave.

An experiment

I like it, too bad the scalloped edges make the paper really fragile when it's cut thin. :(

No games

Dudes, sending a girl a guilt text to make her feel bad about not replying to your other crappy texts does not win you any points…just sayin'…

And while I'm on the subject; since when does "When can I get wit'you?" replace "Are you free for dinner/movie/coffee/whateverfloatsyerboat tonight?" Am I that old fashioned? Is it really ok to invite yourself over to a woman's home after one phone conversation? Are "Come over" texts at 12AM the new "Let's grab a drink?" Am I living in a bygone era? You say we should grab a bite to eat sometime…<-----what's that? Sometime? Anytime? When time? Oh, right!! Now I'm supposed to ask YOU out! No thanks, I'd rather die a childless spinster.

P.S. Thank you, to the sweet, hot, 21 year old for complimenting me on my name, my hair, and my laugh before asking if I was free for an entire day…and reminding me why I don't have to settle. Too bad I'm almost old enough to be your momma.

Really!?!?

It rained TORRENTS at the beginning of summer, there were 50 mph winds just  days ago, and my my air-conditioner falls out of the window on a cold drizly autumn night…and not just night, the middle of the night; 2 AM to be precise. The cold, wet, muddy, middle of the night…and I, the only one home, had to squeeze myself and this 50 lb hunk of wet metal and plastic through the three foot breezeway that was reduced to one ft. by the presence of several large immoveable pieces of 8 ft privacy fencing. Now my backside won't get warm and my arms and legs feel like I've done a triathlon.
Oh yes, and I ruined a pair of jeans, a new coat, gloves, and boots trying to rescue a very muddy $150 two year old air-conditioner… I wonder if that little trip voided my warranty.

Is it Christmas yet?

<pMan, this 70° and 80° weather is killing me…not that it's not awsome and all, it's just kinda weird to be making snowflake ornaments with the air on :-/.
I should be grateful though, if we'd been getting our usual temps, and usual rain, these would still be just an idea…no where in my apartment can I safely use spray paint.
I have paper snowflakes in my Etsy shop http:www.etsy.com/shop/coldcrimsonember and someone requested silver, I can't find plain silver, so, I thought i'd experiment with metalic colored spray paint.
I keep thinking I need to break this project down and post instructions or a video tutorial. One day maybe.

An arduous task

I brought it on myself, I complained about the lighting in my niece's bedroom…then…I found an awsome deal on a lamp…and…I decided it needed more personality…now…it's too late to turn back :-/

An observation

Two in fact… and actually, one might be more a small bit of advise.

* Unless you eat, drink, and share the tv remote with someone, it's more than likely that you don't really know them. I'm not saying we can't form an opinion of our neighbors, in-laws, co-workers, etc. just because we don't share laundry and toilet cleaning duties; I'm saying, it's just an opinion unless you do. And be cool when you find out you're wrong…because, at some point, you're going to be wrong, don't resist it.

* It's not cool, to call yourself cool. Ok, so maybe thats more of an opinion than an observation. Even at thirtyfive, I still feel the pain of trying to fit in…well, maybe not me exactly, but I can, erm… empathize. It's just, when you're raising third graders, you should probably stop acting like one.

Sincerely,
Frustrated and annoyed

We apologize for the breif interruption. And now for our regularly scheduled program.

Look Mom! See what I can do! ;)

My latest adventure

Well, I haven't found a new, new project to distract me from the last one yet…but I've found a new use for the one I'm still stuck on. I love, love, love, this pattern! Obviously.

My favorite so far

Well, in the diamond shape...

More, more, more…

I think this qualifies as an obsession. I still haven't mastered it at the level of a "one hour project" as the tutorial promised, though… perhaps I should do a few more, lol.