I Like This Bracelet, But...

I made this bracelet last year, and I really like the combination of the black and orange beads. It has a nice Halloween feel to it.  However, because of the weight of the beads, the “clasp” is on top of my wrist.   I think this bracelet would work better with elastic beading thread. 

This really shows the importance of test driving new designs.  While it looks good, it just doesn’t wear right.  The darn thing drives me crazy(er)!

But, I'm planning on a necklace or two similar to the bracelet.  I 'm making some orange-gold beads to go with the dark ones I made over the weekend.  I getting ready for a bead stringing frenzy! 

I'm suspect by the time I get my Etsy and ArtFire shops up and running, it will be too late for Halloween items. I can't believe how much there is to do!

Learning to Focus

I am just all over the map arts and craft-wise. I just have this urge to try everything. I was working the local county fair a couple of weeks ago and there was a local group demonstrating spinning.  I was fascinated - it looked so cool!  I did a little web surfing to price spinning wheels, and that put a stop to that urge right then and there.  Dang they are expensive!

But that illustrates a problem I have, I want to try just about everything.  Okay, except maybe glass blowing.  That would be way to much work for me.  But it's fascinating to watch.  Forging is interesting to watch also, but I'd be willing to give that a try.

See, what I mean? Just sitting here blogging and I get side tracked.  Focus,dang it, focus! To get my Etsy and ArtFire shops started, I really need to focus.  I need to build inventory, and for that I'm going to focus on polymer clay jewelry.  I can add other types of jewelery later.


I'm going to have to balance my business with other things in my life. Make some goals, do some scheduling and planning.  All which goes against my nature.  I want to get up in the morning and see what I "feel" like doing.  And I end up with too many projects half done.

I have some pillows and other sewing projects I'm going to have to back burner for a while. To get this going I have to really narrow my focus for a while.  And do some serious prioritizing.

I AM DETERMINED TO DO THIS!

Now then, here are the beads I made over the weekend.

I had fun this weekend!

I did some claying over the Weekend!

I cracked open some packages of polymer clay and fired up the pasta machine! 

The clay I worked with was actually Sculpy Premo, and not the Kato in the picture.  It is way easier to condition!  Oh, but I have plans for those packages of Kato Polyclay. 

To get going, I just wanted to make some simple beads.  I made a few and put them in the “secret” ingredient. 

I learned this trick from Silastones’ tutorial blog:  Silastones Tutorials   (scroll down to the "Lava Beads" tutorial.  She uses rock salt in her demo to make lava beads, but I wanted a finer texture and went with Kosher salt.   

And I want to mention, Silastones' work is wonderful and her tutorial blog is a great wealth of information!

After some feverish claying, I had a tray of beads nearly ready for the oven. 

Now, these beads would look rather plain without some sort of patina. 

So to give the beads some pizazz, I brushed on some Perfect Pearls.  The beads will have a nice metalic shine, almost like raku.

 

Guess what the most important item is for working with Perfect Pearls.  YES, that’s it – the dusk mask!  You don’t really want to breathing this stuff.

Well that’s it.  The beads have been cured and are ready to be turned in to jewelry. Oh, and I'm guessing you are wondering what they look like.  Well, you are just going to have to wait! 

Well, okay I did plan to include a picture of the finished beads, but the weather was rainy all day. I couldn’t go outside to get a decent  picture of them.  So, hopefully tomorrow.

Artfire

Just a quickie post - I joined Artfire last night.  I know, it's not like I don't have enough to do dealing with Etsy.  But, Artfire is currently having a special - $5.95 a month.  There are no other fees.  I've been hoping someday to try them out and at this price, I couldn't pass the deal up!

But, they require 20,000 people to sign up for this deal with a max of 50,000. Here is the link:Artfire Group Deal

Check it out!

And have a great day!

Saturday's Inspiration

Autumn.   Cooling weather and shorter days.  I watch the landscape as it prepares for its winter nap.  While the last flowers are displaying their finery the fall leaves prepare to steal the show. The nippy morning air has a sweet taste.  I can sense winter preparing to return.

These sweet treats came from our backyard.  We have 4 mini dwarf apples.  Sweet, crunchy and pesticide free!

I planted some Merlot grapes this year.  They have a few grapes on them this year.   I'm hoping for wine in a couple of years!

I have a couple of Rugosa roses.  Everything I read about them indicated that they have fantastic rose hips.  Of course none of what I read ever said they are like giant thorny weeds trying to take over the world. 

 

And what inspirational blog about autumn would be complete without red leaves?  (Shhh, don't tell anybody I cheated.  This is Japanese maple that is red all the time.  Our big maple doesn't have red leaves yet.)

Have a great weekend!

Freeform Friday

I have a room full of UFO's (UnFinished Objects).  I've been working off and on finishing a few of them.

I started making some pillows a couple of years ago.  I finally finished three of them a couple of weeks ago.  The great thing is, that I got the pillow forms out of  my craft room! YAY!

The patchwork pillow on the left is made with random scraps - cotton, rayon, linen and mostly polyester.  Don't look too close or you will see crooked stitching and squares not matching up.

The pillow on the right is a crazy quilt with machine embroidery.  The buttons cover spots where my sewing machine decided to throw up.  I really enjoy this method of patchwork.  Freeform with fabric.

The last one is something I did long before we moved.  This was my first experiment with crazy quilting.  And with beads!  I discovered it in a drawer about a month ago and turned it into a pillow.

Now, then about the "Freeform Friday".  Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a group of us little cube rats that designated Fridays as Freeform Discussion Fridays.  Mostly we were waiting for the mythical beer truck.

How does that relate to the here and now?  I have no idea, but as a blogger's prerogative, I am designating Fridays on my blog as "Freeform Fridays".


Alas, I'm still waiting for the beer truck.

I'm Back!!

Once again, here I am restarting my blog.  It’s time to get serious - either blog or not. It’s been seven months this time!

I get into these creative funks, and then don’t do much.  Okay, I’ve done some knitting and sewing.  Over the next few days I will show some of what I’ve been doing.

I really admire those with the drive and discipline to really stick to blogging and building a home business.  I tend to let life and other things get in my way.  It's all about priorities.  Do I want to do this or not.  Time to give myself a stern talking to.  No one else is going to do this for me!

I stocked up on some polymer clay at Michael's this week - .99 cent sale! Oh, and they are building a Hobbly Lobby!  It will be great, Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Craft Warehouse all on the same street.  In less than a mile. Instead of a "pup crawl", I can do a "craft store crawl". I'll never be home, lol.

Now is the time to get back to the polymer clay and making jewelry.  I want to get  my Etsy store opened!  No more procrastination!

I’m working on a banner for my store, but alas,  I’ve forgotten everything I ever learned about Photoshop.   

I’m playing with something based on this picture:

 

Well, time to roll up the sleeves and get to work.  Unfortunately, that involves a sink full of dirty dishes. *sigh*