My Monday night's labor.

This is going to be a very fancy pantsy necklace that I will never, ever wear. I hope someone out there wants it! It is brown agate, with hand stitched beaded bezels on the two flat stones, and an experimental chain that is inspired by Cynthia Rutledge's lattice weave that may or may not work. The beads are a great example of stash use - the top left were brought back from Mexico 3 years ago by my sister-in-law (there is a funny story about my brother trying to say beads in Spanish, which I believe translated to the horrified shop keeper as "small balls"), the middle top were from a sale at Caravan Beads 4 years ago,the next around the clock bead show, silvery ones at the bottom from a wholesale shop close to our NYC office (I cannot remember which one, there are way too many). The flat stones came 1) from the bead show and 2) from a mix package I got from Fire Mountain Gems. And why do I remember every single bead gift or purchase made over the past 5 years? Insanity. Plain and simple.

Atlantis charm

The picture is kind of scruffy, but I swear the necklace isn't! The pendant is a hand beaded bezel around a vintage pressed glass button I found at the Bead Show in Milwaukee in June. I am slowly making my way through the stash from that 2-day bead fest, having pledged to myself I will work with at least 25% of what I bought before I get to next year's Show to blow the bank once again.

The rope is a plain kumihimo braid with some very pretty silky yarn from Close Knit in Evanston.

Tom thinks it either looks like a birthday cake or something from Atlantis. Can't lose either way.

The only things I made on vacation

I was not my usual self on vacation in RI this year.... no late night crafting after all the wild things went to bed. I did fascinate my nephews by practicing my needle felting. These two dry needle-felted beads were my first experiments at three-dimensions with felt. I discovered last night a better way to do it so these lonely creatures will be the first and last of their kind.

What does one do with silly felted beads, you might ask? Please, offer suggestions, as I have no clue! I think I turned "on" comments so it should work now. These are about the size of a nickel or quarter each, and their Achilles heal is that I did not do the base properly so they are a tad too squishy for The Judges, whomever they are.

First bag I've designed (for Aunt Frannie)

OK, if you define "design" as "cut out matching rectangles."

First felting project...

...because what I REALLY need is another craft.  This is needle felted, and the little off spots of read are probably my blood from poking myself.  Is it wrong that I can't wait to do it again?

Prize for committee member...

I am going to give this necklace to one of my 2010 Dinner Committee members today - all you have to do is bring in a new member!

Warped Chevron...

So, while I dig this thing, I am sad it does not hang right. I think the thread/bead size/tension combo led to some warped shaping.  Learning as I go - I am not using silamide anymore, and will add a heavier, drapier row to the bottom next time to pull the collar down and out so maybe it will drape right.


The base row is Chevron and the rest is netting... size 15 gunmetal and size 11 red delicas.