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Showing posts with label beads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beads. Show all posts
5/9/16
3/30/16
3/2/16
Thrift Store Gold
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| Thrift Treasures |
Here's the latest thrift store finds. Sea shell beads, plastic purple beads, and cool striped beads. There's two stores on the same block, so one trip can hit both. Under Five Bucks for the trip!
1/27/16
Almost Finished Treasure Box
This came from a set, I think, of little paper boxes, round, square, rectangle, and this oval one. I painted, and poked holes, and strung cool beads onto the pieces.
Next step is in the thinking process. I want to secure the strings, and maybe line them, but not sure.
Oooohhh!
Just had a good idea, this one might be getting finished sooner rather than later.
1/19/16
See Shells
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| A few See Shells amongst the Seashells |
I wanted to update some online profile pages, and thought of this shot.
1/17/16
Museum Pieces
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| Mother & Child |
Too much to see, pennies to smash, cousins to keep up with, I only had time for a few photos. Most were of this wonderful artwork.
The sign says:
Junk Art Figure of Mother & Child
Created by renowned "junk" artist Leo Sewell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Believe It or Not!, these people are made from common kitchen utensils, plumbing supplies, auto parts, toys and rubbish.
Spoiler: I believe it.
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| "Child" has a Fisher Price mom in his face |
1/8/16
6/4/15
Devil Catcher
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| Or four-sided die |
4/8/15
2/20/15
9/23/11
The Bead That I Need
I should learn more about it, though, because there are different types, like from different regions, I think.
I'm also not sure exactly what reconstituted means in regards to turquoise, but I'm thinking it's probably like taking apart and then putting back together.
So I would think that reconstituted is a good stone, waste not want not and all that, right?
I guess overall, I need to learn more about stones. Maybe I should get a rock tumbler...
8/5/11
Finding The Need For The Bead
This is a thought that I first had many years ago, when I was asked how to decide what beads to buy. There was a huge bead show, where they rent out a conference room in a hotel, and vendors buy space to sell their wares. I was planning on going with my saved up bead money. This was long enough ago that I couldn't find a large selection of interesting and diverse beads easily in person. There's always catalogs. Those wonderful ten pound catalogs. But there was less bead selection out there in the craft stores than there is today.
So I was excited for the upcoming bead show, and excited to be able to spend this saved up money (this was also a time when extra money was kinda scarcer for me), and I shared my excitement with my co-workers.
One co-worker who is an artistic soul and a crafty chick, but hadn't worked with beads before decided to check out the bead show, and I happened to bump into her while I was there. Which wasn't hard considering I was there for probably three hours. I showed her what I had picked out so far, and she spun around the room, a bit overwhelmed. "How do you ever decide what to get?"
That day I bought some of the beads that made up these earrings that I made last night. That day almost ten years ago. And a couple weeks ago I found the other beads in a local craft store. Both times, the beads just "called" to me. That I needed to use them. Sometime. And when I brought home the new beads, I spent an evening digging through all the beads I have (ok, only the ones that are actually organized, I'm sure there are more beads hiding here and there), and in the last container at the bottom of the stack, I found the beads from years ago, and realized they had to go together. And now I know what I bought them for.
8/3/08
Pincushions
There is sooo much cool stuff on Craft Stylish, I'm sure I miss half of it! Luckily, others share when they find something cool! Crafty Pod pointed to an awesome tutorial for tiny pincushions made from bottle tops. They are so simple and quick, I cranked out four on my breaks at work, even on a week that I took one day off!
Of course, I had to add beads, and some sequins, too! If you click back to flickr, you can see each one closer up!
As I was making them, I decided one of these would be for my mom, her birthday being the last day of July. One just seemed to be specifically for her, and when I was working on that one, she happened to call from their vacation! So that clinched it for me. I'll still let her decide which one she likes best, I wonder if she'll pick the one I think she'll pick...(OK Mom, make your pick!)
And knowing me, I can't just make cute little pretties. As I was stitching the top on one, I thought, 'hmm this feels like it could be a brain' and the zombie pincushion below was born! I think he ended up looking a little like Bert, but that wasn't intended. That one is mine, of course!
Of course, I had to add beads, and some sequins, too! If you click back to flickr, you can see each one closer up!
As I was making them, I decided one of these would be for my mom, her birthday being the last day of July. One just seemed to be specifically for her, and when I was working on that one, she happened to call from their vacation! So that clinched it for me. I'll still let her decide which one she likes best, I wonder if she'll pick the one I think she'll pick...(OK Mom, make your pick!)
And knowing me, I can't just make cute little pretties. As I was stitching the top on one, I thought, 'hmm this feels like it could be a brain' and the zombie pincushion below was born! I think he ended up looking a little like Bert, but that wasn't intended. That one is mine, of course!
3/17/08
Happy Birthday Grandma!
My Dear Grandmother has her birthday on St. Patrick's Day, which has always been kinda fun for her. Because of her holiday birthday, she has collected various shamrock paraphernalia over the years.
I made her a lucky four-leaf clover pin with felt and bead embroidery this year. I took it to her the first week in March, so she could wear it all month. Which she has.
I made her a lucky four-leaf clover pin with felt and bead embroidery this year. I took it to her the first week in March, so she could wear it all month. Which she has.
1/12/08
Mom's Pin
Feel free to skip this post if you are not from Nebraska and/or don't give two hoots about Nebraska football*
So back in the beginning part of December a new coach was announced for the Nebraska football team. And some very enterprising t-shirt company created a bunch of shirts with 'Bo' slogans (would that be Bo-gans?) on them 'Bo Fence', 'It's Bo Time', 'Just Say Bo', and of course, 'Bo Big Red'.
In all the excitement, my Mom mentioned that she might add a 'Bo big Red' t-shirt to her gift wish list, being the 'good' Nebraskan that she is. But it was way too late for me to change my list of things to do, so I came up with a new plan.
Since I've been making all sorts of felt pins lately, I decided I would make her a special one. This is one of those times where I was making something that I would normally not ever consider making, I wouldn't make these to sell. I knew it wouldn't be ready in time for the gift exchange, but I got it done not too long after, and mailed it to her. It's always fun to get mail!
*And in the spirit of full disclosure, this would include me as well. I was born here, and have spent most of my life here, but as I say, I'm not a good Nebraskan, I don't like beef and I don't like the 'huskers.
1/8/08
What could this be??
Sometimes I'm a bit cryptic in my posts...and this is one of those times.
This is the back of something that just went in the mail today.
Whatever could it be??
1/6/08
Dream Pin
The morning of the 24th, so Christmas Eve morning, I woke up remembering one specific dream. I was going through some things I had made, I think I was just moving them from one container into another (probably because I had been working on re-organizing all my beads). Or maybe I was just looking through all these things, maybe showing them to someone? (Hmm, the subconscious, sleeping me, was showing them to the part of me that would remember them?)
Anyway, there were a bunch of flat pieces, mostly pins, or maybe pendants. I've made so many pins lately, I have pins on the brain! I know there were at least a dozen pieces, but I only remember three clearly.
One was completely done in beads, a round part in the center, with an extra beaded piece on one side, the other side wasn't finished. In the center of the round part was an American flag, it reminded me of a necklace I made my mom many years ago. The fact that it wasn't finished didn't surprise me, and I had the idea that it had been partially finished for quite some time. (that, unfortunately, doesn't surprise me, either!)
The second piece was a felt pin, in these same colors, tan and black, but in a kind of representation of an American flag. Like three-five black stars on a tan background on one side, with roughly the same number of tan stripes on black on the other side. Not a perfect copy, but kind of op-art. I wondered in my dream if this was just artsy or if I was trying to make some political statement.
The third piece was this felt pin pictured here. That's right, I somehow dug my hand into my brain, and pulled this pin right out of my dream! More like, I drew it out that morning before I forgot, and when I had to go back to work later that week, I cut it out and embroidered it together. I thought, both in the dream, and while making it, that this geometric, simple, 'modern' looking idea would work well in multitudes of color schemes and shape variations.
After all of the trial pins I've made lately (and sorry I haven't shown you but a slight percentage of them yet), this pin idea I dreamed could be the one I make tons of and put up on Etsy.
Anyway, there were a bunch of flat pieces, mostly pins, or maybe pendants. I've made so many pins lately, I have pins on the brain! I know there were at least a dozen pieces, but I only remember three clearly.
One was completely done in beads, a round part in the center, with an extra beaded piece on one side, the other side wasn't finished. In the center of the round part was an American flag, it reminded me of a necklace I made my mom many years ago. The fact that it wasn't finished didn't surprise me, and I had the idea that it had been partially finished for quite some time. (that, unfortunately, doesn't surprise me, either!)
The second piece was a felt pin, in these same colors, tan and black, but in a kind of representation of an American flag. Like three-five black stars on a tan background on one side, with roughly the same number of tan stripes on black on the other side. Not a perfect copy, but kind of op-art. I wondered in my dream if this was just artsy or if I was trying to make some political statement.
The third piece was this felt pin pictured here. That's right, I somehow dug my hand into my brain, and pulled this pin right out of my dream! More like, I drew it out that morning before I forgot, and when I had to go back to work later that week, I cut it out and embroidered it together. I thought, both in the dream, and while making it, that this geometric, simple, 'modern' looking idea would work well in multitudes of color schemes and shape variations.
After all of the trial pins I've made lately (and sorry I haven't shown you but a slight percentage of them yet), this pin idea I dreamed could be the one I make tons of and put up on Etsy.
12/30/07
One Boy's Christmas Present
Several days ago, my cousin who lives the next block over called to see if I could help him make a pair of earrings for his mom for Christmas. Of course! That would be fun. He is my first cousin, but a little younger than myself, just 12 (but all-of-a-sudden sounds like a grown up man), and I was pleased he thought of me, and thought of giving handmade!
We got together on the 23rd, conveniently after my immediate family had finished our gift day, and before his did. He brought over some pretty specific ideas of what he wanted, all based on birthstone colors, he being Sapphire, both his sisters being Emerald. Unfortunately, my current bead stash does not include any Sworoftsky crystals (his first choice) in those exact colors, and even more unfortunately, neither did the craft store we went to. For some reason, dark Emerald is hard to find in any kind of bead in a local store. Is it that unpopular, or just more expensive?
We found some crystals that would work, and some 'cat eye' or 'shadow' kind of beads, and a package of random Czech glass beads in our colors, but when the hard decision came of which one, or even two we liked best, then came the sweet question of 'couldn't we make all three, please?" So of course, we did.
He was a very good designer, and an excellent critic of color choices, and helped with some of the production as well. I hope his mom was happy with her gift, I know he and I had a great afternoon together making them (and playing a little Smash Brothers when we were done).
For photos of the individual pairs, click the photo and go over to flickr.
We got together on the 23rd, conveniently after my immediate family had finished our gift day, and before his did. He brought over some pretty specific ideas of what he wanted, all based on birthstone colors, he being Sapphire, both his sisters being Emerald. Unfortunately, my current bead stash does not include any Sworoftsky crystals (his first choice) in those exact colors, and even more unfortunately, neither did the craft store we went to. For some reason, dark Emerald is hard to find in any kind of bead in a local store. Is it that unpopular, or just more expensive?
We found some crystals that would work, and some 'cat eye' or 'shadow' kind of beads, and a package of random Czech glass beads in our colors, but when the hard decision came of which one, or even two we liked best, then came the sweet question of 'couldn't we make all three, please?" So of course, we did.
He was a very good designer, and an excellent critic of color choices, and helped with some of the production as well. I hope his mom was happy with her gift, I know he and I had a great afternoon together making them (and playing a little Smash Brothers when we were done).
For photos of the individual pairs, click the photo and go over to flickr.
12/10/07
Someday Your Whole Name Will Be In Lights
My brother's girlfriend had a birthday last week (Happy Birthday, D!), and when I got the e-mail reminder from mySpace Wednesday (not that I had forgotten!), it prompted me to think of something to make for her. I started this Wednesday during my afternoon break, and got most of it done during breaks Thursday and Friday. I had the idea to stop by their place after work Friday if it was finished to deliver it, but it wasn't quite finished then.
This is the first time I've named a pin, I guess that makes it an object d'art. ;p
I did the center of the D first, so I could stuff as I went along the outside. The stuffing went pretty well, better than I expected, it's very poofy.
And the background is my new coat, my early birthday present from My Guy (thanks, Honey!), isn't it luscious?
This is the first time I've named a pin, I guess that makes it an object d'art. ;p
I did the center of the D first, so I could stuff as I went along the outside. The stuffing went pretty well, better than I expected, it's very poofy.
And the background is my new coat, my early birthday present from My Guy (thanks, Honey!), isn't it luscious?
12/4/07
Felt Tissue Box Cover
I have the most recent photo program now (thanks Honey), but for a couple weeks, I was between programs, and couldn't upload anything to flickr. In getting ready to upload the photos I've taken in the last couple weeks, I realized that I hadn't posted a finished shot of this. I blogged about starting it, I blogged about how I got the idea to use polka dots, but I hadn't blogged the finished product.
Well TA-DA, here it is!
Each circle was bead embroidered on separately, after the sides were stitched together making one long piece. Then the top was added, and the last sides were stitched together.
Each side is a bit different.
Well TA-DA, here it is!
Each circle was bead embroidered on separately, after the sides were stitched together making one long piece. Then the top was added, and the last sides were stitched together.
Each side is a bit different.
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