Too Comfy...

Work was fast-paced and fun yesterday. Handsome came to pick me up and we decided to have a light dinner there before  coming home  (No dinner dishes to wash. Yay!!)

My plan was to come home, change clothes, and have a hot cuppa before adding some new shapes to the fabric currently in my hoop. I got all the way to sitting down with a hot cuppa. It was just what I needed. Next thing I knew? You guessed it. I'd nodded off.

HSo rather than showing you what I didn't do, I'm sharing a photo of the inside of an interesting old tin I've had for ages. This is where I keep the containers filled with beads, goldwork fibers, and/or threads used in whatever is currently under my needle. Perhaps next time, I'll show you what my entire setup looks like when I'm working.

I have a hair appointment this morning, and a classmate dinner this afternoon, but I'll definitely find time in between to draw a few shapes onto my calico. 

The weather is supposed to be beautiful today, so I just may set up on the porch to get a little fresh air as I needle dance. I hope you have a great day!

Silly BooDilly Beads...

 One of my goals in writing my posts is to provide inspiration, but many

 times, I'm the recipient, rather than the donor. Today is one such instance.

A number of years ago, I read about making fabric beads using plastic

drinking straws as the foundation. I wrapped and glued scrap fabric

around the plastic core and then further embellished with fancy fibers.

 I enjoyed sitting for hours and playing with colorful scraps...remnants 

from knitted projects or sewn creations. Many, many beads resulted.

Study in fabric and fiber on painted canvas

 What did I do with them, you ask?

Well, this is one of the projects I made. This one went to a sister 

who adores the color purple. I painted a canvas, and then I created

a fabric and bead panel and affixed it to the canvas. I really had no

 idea what I was doing, but I felt a true sense of freedom as I just 

played and waited to see where I was carried by my creative muses.

Closeup of bead section

 I was really happy with the result, and my sister loved

it. Each bright coral bead held a special significance, 

and I even added a sterling silver heart charm, too.

I still have my plastic box full of beads, but I may

never use them. I have a new inspiration...

Image from The Silly BooDilly blog

Victoria at The Silly BooDilly blog makes these gorgeous beads

by the hour. She actually threads hers onto ribbons or chains and

wears them! I have something else in mind that I will work on as we

travel in the Flying Cloud. I think they're the perfect portable project.

I went to her Etsy shop and purchased her pattern, so I could learn 

her technique. It's a pdf download, so I had the instructions in no time.

Here's a link to her blog post about the beads.

Here's a link to her Etsy shop.

I'm really looking forward to playing with beads again this year.

They'll be a perfect way to use up lots of scraps...inches at a time!

Marion's Beautiful Beads...

I received a wonderful box of handcrafted beads from my dear friend, Marion yesterday. She told me that she made them in beautiful Spring colors to look like sea glass. She also created fabulous bone-shaped beads and made a new pair of earrings for me! (She knows that coral is one of my favorite colors.)

I had to call her as soon as they arrived to tell her how much I love them and how talented she really is. I got my Troll bracelet because of Marion, and she's given me nearly every bead that sits on it. (I found the great little corgi bead on Etsy!)

This is how I've been wearing my bracelet these days. Won't those earrings be a perfect compliment to the beads?

Of course, I immediately had to pull out the special storage box I have for all my precious beads so that I could switch them out for my new Spring look. Don't you think that Corgi approves? I sure do!

Thank you, again, Marion. I'm so glad you love the gift I sent to you for your recent Birthday, but these beads represent hours of patience and talent, my dear. I love each and every one - and the generous friend they represent.

If you haven't entered my Blog Anniversary giveaway, there's still time! Just click here to leave a comment and be counted in the drawing.

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing more Farmer's Wife blocks. I've been busy working on new blocks and will show them to you. I'm really having a lot of fun working on them. More tomorrow.

Happy Friday!

My Newest Bead...

I know. You just never can tell what I'm going to write about, right? I love being a little unpredictable.

I recently purchased a new bead for my Troll bracelet. I found this Corgi bead on Etsy at NanjoDogz shop, and just had to have it! (By the way...She makes beads in other breeds, too. Just click on her shop name to she what she has available. If you don't see your breed, send her a message and ask.)

Nancy sculpted it from polymer clay, tinted it with just the right colors, and sealed it with varnish for protection.  It's lined with silver metal core so it slips nicely along my bracelet.

She even stamped a little paw print on the back. She also included care instructions. Unlike the glass beads, the clay beads shouldn't be submerged in water.

Other than that, her instructions to treat it with TLC really weren't necessary, because I'll treat it as carefully as each of the beautiful, handmade beads I've received from my dear friend, Marion. Marion even gave me the gorgeous silver acorn that always stays on my bracelet along with her paw print bead.

I think one of the cutest things about this little bead is that, if I look at it from just this angle, I even get the "Disapproving Corgi" look. It makes me smile every time.

Mementos Of The Day...

 

I have to write one more post about the day that Sharon and I spent together in Williamsburg, Virginia last week.

You'll remember that I made the ribbonwork heart for her, but Sharon also surprised me with gifts during our visit. (I think I got the better end of the exchange, my friend!)

 

She arrived with the most beautiful pound cake that she'd made in a bundt pan. Of course, being the good forgetful blogger I am, I neglected to take a photograph of it before Handsome and I tucked into her delicious treat. I'm only sharing this photograph to give you an idea of how scrumptious this cake looked perched on the tray that was also part of her gift.

She had covered the tray with napkins prior to placing the cake on the tray, and I soon realized that it was her way of "wrapping" the second surprise under the cake...the tray itself.

You can imagine my glee when the tray pattern was revealed. I realized that the design formed into the aluminum was embellished with acorns!!! (You did know that I adore acorns, right? I'm giggling. Of course you knew that!)

Isn't this design gorgeous? I'm not going to be able to put this tray away when I'm not using it. It's going to reside in a place of prominence once we get back home. I'll be able to look at it every day and remember the wonderful time spent with my friend, Sharon in Williamsburg.

Perhaps you're wondering about the first photograph in my post today? Well, that was another gift from Sharon. She makes these adorable little nests and turns them into pendants. She makes them with the pretty robin's egg blue bead or with pearl beads for the eggs. They're petite and perfect and I'm really looking forward to wearing mine - a lot.

She gave me two of these elegant pendants. At her suggestion, one is going to be a gift for someone special, but I can't tell you who the recipient will be because she reads my blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I was really overwhelmed by Sharon's generosity, and I will always cherish her gifts to me, and think of her friendship whenever I look at them.

Finally, Sharon showed me the stunning button bracelets she creates. They are available for sale with one or two rows of buttons, and I can attest to the fact that they're very well made. Through trial and error, she found the best supplies for bands and clasps, and they are now pure perfection.

If you're interested in purchasing a bird's nest pendant or button bracelet of your own, please contact Sharon directly through her blog. Click here to go directly to her blog and then send her an email through her contact button. (I'm sharing Sharon's creations on Button Floozies blog today, too!)

Even if you're not in the market for a new piece of jewelry, she shares many wonderful stories of her life with her corgis in Virginia. Her blog is a restful and interesting place to visit. (I love her blog look for fall, too!)

The Gift's In The Mail...

This is Part Two of the gift I worked on for one of my

online friends. It will be shipping today, along with Part One.
I'll post full photos as soon as I know she's received it.

You can see the same silk ribbon roses and pearl trim,
that were in the Part One, and then I added
beadwork along the pattern of the fabric.

I love this fabric, and you're likely to see more
projects which feature it in the future.

I'm working on more gifts now, and promise to share
the finished items with you over the next few days.
A few items will even make their way to the Boutique soon.
Friday Night Date Night will feature homemade pizza
which the newlyweds will share with us this evening.

Only a few more days and they'll be heading to their
new home. We're going to enjoy what little time
we have left with them on this trip.

Beads on the Beach...

My "secret" commission project is finished!
It's a beaded clutch.
Yesterday, I went to A Good Yarn in Sarasota to show

the finished piece to my client, Susan, who owns the shop.

The clutch features a Lorna's Laces sport weight yarn,
dyed especially for Susan's shop. The color is called "A Good Beach",
hence the name for my piece - "Beads on the Beach Clutch"!
It also incorporates beads from Deanna's Vintage Styles.

My project was to create a pattern for a new class
that I'll be teaching for the shop using this yarn.

I have a few small changes for the finished piece,
including creating a unique button for it.
I've placed a seashell where it will become a button.

I'll do a little tutorial for you next week to show
you how I transform it to "buttonhood", but I had
to show it to you now as you've been so very patient.

I finished the inside of the clutch with linen fabric,
making sure it has the requisite pockets, too!
Just the right size for a cell phone, credit card,
cash, vintage hankie and lip gloss!

Wouldn't you just love this as a memento of
warm, sunny days spent lounging on a Florida beach
(or dreaming of a romantic beach getaway)?

So, what do you think? Do you love it or hate it? Be honest now...
I'd really appreciate your feedback.

If you're interested in taking my class, or
purchasing the kit to make at home,
it will be available in April or early May from Susan
(once I finish proofing the pattern,
and the next shipment of the yarn arrives in the shop).
She'd be happy to send you your own kit!
I'll let you know as soon as they're available.

If you're not a knitter, I'll be making finished clutches available
for purchase in the Boutique. I plan to list them up in April.

Next in the studio, though, is The Wedding Gown Project...
(I hope you'll be back to visit as I progress
from fabric to finished gown over the next couple of weeks!)
Oh, and I'm not crowing, but you have to go to see my friend,
Anne at Fiona and Twig
to read the incredibly wonderful post she wrote about me Saturday.
Made me a little weepy, it did.
Thanks again, Anne.

There's still time to enter my First Blog Birthday Celebration if you haven't done so yet. I'm trying to get around to visit all my new follower friends. If I haven't visited you yet, I promise I'll get there and leave a message for you as soon as I can. I'm really enjoying seeing how creative all of you are. And, if you don't have a blog, no worries! I look forward to getting to know you better, too.

Good luck to all of you in the drawings. I wish I could give a little something to each and every one of you, but if you keep reading and following along, I'll do my best to remedy that in the future.

Thanks to everyone who took my poll about the static or scrolling Etsy widgets. The static widget won, hands down, so I've removed the one that scrolls. I really appreciate your input!

Knitting On The Road...

We spent Friday afternoon with my mum. The weather was as perfect as it could be for March in Wisconsin. It was sunny and a balmy 38º. It was so nice to spend the time with her and catch up on her life. (That's her little dog, Charlie, who is a constant source of joy for her.)

She's been knitting, and was so excited anticipating our visit that she purled most of a row she should have knit (but not all of it, mind you). This good daughter fixed her mistakes as we sat and shared a few laughs. Whenever I ask what she's knitting, she always replies, "I don't know. I'm just knitting!"

Don't you love a journey of faith? Where you can simply start on the road and take whatever it hands you? That's how it is with my mum. It's one of her most endearing qualities.

I started knitting a new design last night. You're going to love the yarn I'm using, and believe it or not, I'm back to knitting with beads again (already!). I'll show you photos in the next day or so, when there's a little more progress.

I'm giggling, just knowing that some of you have seen the thumbnail of this post already. Well, I had to see how it looked before it posted for real! lol

I Just Couldn't Resist...

I know, I know...I said I'd finish that beaded shawl first,
but the French silk ribbons were calling me.
I couldn't concentrate. I tried to resist, but I just couldn't.

I ran my fingers through the ribbons and selected shades
of soft pink, seashore blue, earthtone, white and sand...
and then I started to manipulate and stitch them to buckram.

I added a milliner's bow in champagne duppioni silk, and then
a few velvet leaves and buds...and created this combination to be
used to embellish a new project I've been working on in my head.The soft cotton candy pink ribbon became a large rose,
and I hid clusters of sand and earthtone blossoms with
sparkling beads beneath its petals. There will be more to this one
before it's finished, but for now I'm happy with its sweet beginnings...Ribbons in soft, sultry colors make my heart sing.
Just like sending a Valentine to myself.

Resisting these ribbons is like resisting chocolate.
These ribbons make me weak in the knees.
I just couldn't resist.

Organization In The Studio...

I'm going to try really hard not to get carried away with this mosaic feature, but I couldn't resist. Doesn't it enhance the clean look of a post? Well, speaking of clean (I know, nice segue right?), I just wanted to show you some of the ways that I try to control clutter in my studio.

First, I want what I use to be beautiful and different. I have way too much plastic behind those cupboard doors, so I'm more conscientious about what's out in the open. Things I love to look at, along with things that are functional. My oak thread cabinet is one of those things that is both.

You can see from the mosaic that there are four drawers in the cabinet. The top drawer is full of needles in packages, and miscellany that looks like a kitchen junk drawer. You know, the one where you can find everything, but you don't want to show your friends how messy it looks?
The other drawers hold my silk threads, perle cotons and DMC© and Anchor© cotton flosses. We're not going to chat about my Type A personality, but to answer any questions...Yes, my flosses are in numeric order. 'Nuf said about that.

Then yesterday, I remembered that I have this beautiful jewelry chest sitting practically empty in the back of my closet and it occurred to me that it would be perfect for my little glass bead bottles filled with my special beads and newest charms and cabachons. So, of course I got right after it and removed one of those ugly (but highly functional) plastic organizers from my work area.

Don't you love the vintage, stripey, hydrangea beauty of it? I have it sitting on top of my work table now - at least for the time being - so that I can enjoy looking at it. What was I thinking when I sentenced it to the back of my closet? I must have been confused. I admit, some days are just like that.

Oh, before I run, I want to remind you that there are only SEVEN more days until my 100th Post Giveaway signup and giveaway gifts are announced. Hope you'll check back so you can enter the giveaway, too!

My Vintage, Beaded Tea Cosy...

I've had this tea cosy for many years, but thought you might enjoy seeing it today.

I actually don't know very much about it. I found it in an antique mall in Wisconsin on one of my hunting trips for needlework. I was so tickled to find it sitting in a corner of one of the vendor stalls! I don't even remember looking for a price. I had to have it!

It's a two-sided tea cosy, and it's done almost completely in seed beads on a velvet ground. On one side, you'll see a white lion chasing three white deer. They're running through a field of flowers and grass, and an ornate palm tree presides over the chase.

On the opposite side (I really can't choose which side might be "front" or "back"), is a pair of elegant, grazing cranes (or storks). Their wings are colored sequins - which are the only non-bead elements in the entire piece. The birds are separated by a trio of
large, beautiful flowers.

It is finished with more beadwork - to create either a border or frame for the subjects - on both sides. It has a lining, with wool batting between the front and back, which makes for a bit of a weighty piece. It definitely keeps a pot of tea warm for quite a while! It's an incredible piece of needlework, worked by unknown hands in an unknown time.

Perhaps some day someone will answer the questions I have about my lovely tea cosy. Until then, I'll just enjoy being its fortunate custodian.

You can click on either photograph of my cosy to go to an album with more images of the cosy and its beautiful beadwork.