more bazaar makings

here is another necklace and earrings for the bazaar, would love some feedback

getting ready for first holiday bazaar

here are a couple of things I have made, trying to get ready for first holiday bazaar.

what have I been up to for last 2 months

Well looks like I have done nothing in last couple of months, NOT TRUE.  Check out my pics.  I entered the local county fair, for the first time, and each item I entered got a blue ribbon.  Of course, everything entered got some type of ribbon, but there were very few seed bead items, mostly just strung jewelry, for I am hopeful for next year, especially since I will have more than a week to make the items.  The earrings are a few of the items I am making for my first craft show in December.  Wish me luck

Puget Sound Bead Festival Loot

Am posting pics of all the gorgeous loot I acquired last weekend in Tacoma, WA at the Puget Sound Bead Festival.  I tried to put a business card by the items where I could.  I got the wildly bohemian beads from Bello Modo, but ended up buying a LOT of stuff from their website, with a nice little 20% off coupon they gave out at the show.  Some of my favorite vendors were Grace Lampwork beads, and got to meet Grace herself, who was a wonder and sweet person.  Also, Sonoran Beads, and Stars Clasps were both a couple of my favorites, they all have websites you can check out.

garden bead necklace

Took a class today and made a really cute necklace.  For some reason can't upload pictures, but will load tomorrow if blogger lets me.   Class has given me lots of ideas for other necklaces though

spiral stitch learned

Well, after 2 weeks, and multiple attempts, have finished 3 bracelets and one necklace using spiral stitch.  I used 2 different patterns from 2 sources, and the best thing from that is I picked up a couple of different tips which helped a lot.  I enjoyed learning this, wasn't nearly as hard as it looked in the magazine.  My moaning earlier about sources disappearing on the internet was the result of wanting to make the necklace I have posted here.  Will post one of the bracelets later, is currently involved in a swap and don't want to publish pix before my swap partner gets the bracelet.  It's funny how intimidating those little charts in magazines are, but after a couple of false starts, which I just cut apart, these went together quickly.   Think I spent less than 20 total hours on 18" necklace and 3 bracelets.

Pretty things has a give away

Check out Pretty things blog http://www.prettythingsblog.com/ for a really nice give away from Bead and Button Show

Belated birthday

So of course, being slightly befuddled, I thought my niece's birthday was the 6th of June, instead of the 4th.  So again will be late with her present, but here is a sneak peak, I hope she likes it.  The focal bead is from Green Girl Studios, which I bought a long time ago.

 

first pair of seed bead earrings

Just finished these today, my first pair of seed bead earrings that involve more than stringing.  For a first try they're not half bad, will need more practice before I make them for gifts though.

a couple of items

My friend Jane gave me the lacquered chopsticks,
and this is the hair sticks I came up with

Pet peeve

I hate getting new magazines for crafts, fashion, etc, and when I try to copy a look, pattern or recipe, one of the key ingredients is impossible to find.  My latest example is the new issue of Bead Unique has a gorgeous necklace on page 20 requiring a citrus mix of size 11-0 seed beads which the author bought at Bead weasel.  Well guess what, that store is out of business, including any online transactions.  GRRRR.  What to do?  Look for other sources, but nobody sells them.  Ok, one good thing is I have an EXCELLENT eye for color, so I decided to do it myself.  I think I did a great job, but will know better once the necklace is finished.  Maybe I should go into business making custom bead blends?  LMAO

New skill set-soldering

Here are some of the porcelain plate pieces I soldered in class last month.  Haven't decided what to do with them yet, but am sure they will make a pretty bracelet

Start at the very beginning

Everyone makes decisions in life that are misguided, I certainly have.  For the second half of my life, I would like to make decisions based on happiness.  Not just what makes me happy, but also the people I care about.  I would like to dedicate this blog to that happiness.
At this time, happiness has become very important to me.  When I was younger, I thought doing things would make me happy, working hard, buying a house, education.  Now I think happiness has to come from who I am, not necessarily what I do.  I remember the song We are Family, and that is a big part of who I am now.

  So I dedicate this to all my Sisters and Fa;mily