Looped Fringing...

...and the start of the chain.

Sascalia

I tend to browse the 'buy' section of Folksy as I love to buy handmade presents for people I love. When looking, I see so many things that I would love to have. One of my favourite makers is Brigantia Designs, who make fab handbags - I had one on my Christmas Wish List, but should perhaps have been more vocal as Santa didn't bring it. This picture is another one that grabbed my attention. It is by Sascalia and I just love it. This is the information on the piece for sale:

`Letting go' was created as a mixed media collage painting using collage papers, ink, acrylic paint and watercoulor pencils. This listing is for a print of my mixed media painting. The image size is 10.5" by 13" on a paper sized 11.5" by 16"(A3). The image is printed onto a heavyweight satin archival grade paper with archival grade fade resistant inks. Print will come to you signed and dated on the back.

Take a look at Folksy - there is a wealth of talent on there...

Hallelujah!

The camera worked last night and this morning, so I have lots of pictures to post...

Firstly, and most importantly, the goodies I received from Paula. A lovely floral knitted corsage, some sweets, some fab buttons and a magazine on garden 'stuff' (I really do not have green fingers!!!) Thanks again Paula and I promise that yours will go out at some point this week...

Then, here are three cards that I made recently. The embossing folder is another Cuttlebug one and it is really versatile. It works amazingly well in my Sizzix dinosaur of a die-cutter. I also have the Swiss Dots one which is probably one of my best buys ever! I have been really into making cards this week and beads took a back seat until Friday when I had my C&G course. That always gets me back in the beady mood!

Talking of my C&G course, we did Horizontal Netting this week. We have to make a netted amulet bag as one of our final projects. I decided to use the horizontal pattern to make mine, rather than the vertical, as I just didn't seem to want to stop making my sample and didn't want to waste my efforts!

This was my first sample and I stopped because I wasn't keen on the way I had mixed my colours.




This is the sample that I eventually turned into the amulet purse. I love the transparent brown bead, with the flash of two different lilac beads.



This is that second sample, turned into an amulet bag. I haven't done the fringe or hanger yet. The fringe will have to be a 'looped' one, but apparently that can mean a variety of things other than just a plain loop, so I am contemplating what to do. This photo doesn't really do justice to the bag as it is really fluid in feel and the beads look much brighter in real life.


This is a sample of vertical netting. It is so simple to do and works up really quickly. I do love the effect, but would not wear a necklace made from it.

PHEW...

And, breathe!

Blooming Camera!

I have received my garden swap goodies from my partner - they arrived this morning...thanks Paula! They are lovely, but you are going to have to take my word on that as my camera is playing up again. I have the go-ahead from the bread-winner of the house to buy a new one, but photos will have to wait unless my old one starts playing ball again. It does this sporadically, but the crappy stages seem to be getting longer each time.

I have finished my package of things to send, but they have been sitting on my table, waiting to go for a week now. I have been feeling a bit blue lately, so can't seem to get the motivation to do anything.

Anyway, let's hope for a sunny day and a cooperative camera tomorrow...

C & G Amulet Purse - Finished!

Hooray! One more netted one to be made...

Tag...

I have been tagged by Stitches so here is the info...

8 things I am looking forward to:
Max's 8th birthday
My 4oth in October
Summer (!?)
Two weeks in Devon
Losing my weight (erm...better get started then!)
The invention of calorie-free chocolate that tastes of real chocolate
The Summer holiday with Max
Getting a part-time job

8 things I did yesterday:
Eat chocolate
Go to Sainsbury's
Visit my parents
Cuddle my parents' cat
Pick Max up from Scout/Beaver camp
Lie-in
Make jewellery
Cry

8 things I wish I could do:
Knit
Marry Keanu Reeves
Eat without gaining weight
Run marathons
Make lampwork beads
Win the lottery
Stop suffering from depression
Enjoy housework

8 TV shows I watch:
Torchwood
Doctor Who (mainly for David Tennant)
Being Human
The Apprentice
Top Gear
QVC/Create & Craft craft shows
Costume Dramas
Documentaries

8 people I am tagging:
Dingle
Over Milkwood
Whizz

Oh, I can't think of any more that haven't already been tagged...

A Bit More of My TTNP

I have stitched one side of the chain to the amulet purse, so now just have to make it about half as long again, so that it fits over the wearer's head. It is working up fairly quickly, which is always a good thing when you have to stitch about 25"!!!

Three MORE Cards!

Three Cards...

I bought three new stamps and some card from the Range yesterday, so wanted to use them last night. I made these cards which I am rather pleased with although beading is now calling to me again! Card-making seems to lose out a lot at the moment...

C & G Course/TTNP

Last Friday's project was to make an amulet bag from tubular peyote stitch. I used delica beads as I love the way the finished item looks like material - smooth and sleek. Peyote is my favourite stitch so this week was great for me! We will eventually have to make two amulet bags (one with netting), and both have to have different straps and fringing. I decided to use faceted beads in the fringing and matched it in the strap, which still needs to be finished. This strap is going to double up as my TTNP for the Crafter...oo forum.

'Art' Picture

I had to do some craft work for my C&G course the other week and one of the pieces made me want to go further with it. So today I decided to have a go at making a picture using the same methods. This is how I did it:

• Paint background in various shades of acrylic paints
• Stick torn strips of printer paper on to the background and colour wash them too
• Stick on patches of fibrous, handmade (not by me!) paper and ensure that the edges are washed over with glue, to make sure that they stick down
• While glue is still wet, sprinkle embossing powder over and heat
• Bead a multi-coloured heart using 11 ° beads and stick to picture
• Drizzle diamond glaze in interesting squiggle shapes and sprinkle a light dusting of glitter on them
• Use a glitter glue to make blobs and drag these into points with an embossing tool
• Stamp a swirly pattern around the edge of the picture

I love the finished effect and am now deciding what to do with it. I think I will get a professional mount cut and then frame it.

A Second Freeform Bracelet and a Pendant

This time, I used a bead mix from The Bead Merchant, called 'Pot Pourri'. I have had it for ages and never known what to do with it! Yesterday's class solved that...

This pendant is made with another Bead Merchant mix, called 'Misty'. I think it is really cute and am now trying to decide how to hang it!

Daisy Beaders Day - Freeform Peyote

This was the bracelet I made - I spent the whole day delighted to be there because the class was just so much FUN! It was really simple to do but did involve letting go of the whole concept of a pattern and counting beads, which we all found rather odd! I also found it a bit hard to actually stop adding bits. It was a case of, 'Sue, step away from the beads', as I could have gone on all day.

I am totally in love with the end result and will probably make several more of these. I hope you all like it.

TTNP - 7th May

Yes, I know it is Saturday! A little late, but...here are the before and after shots...

Hibiscus Flower

From a pattern by Kerrie Slade, printed in Bead & Button magazine recently. It was a really simple pattern to follow, although it did take a few hours to make. I am now making a tubular peyote choker to hang it from, in the same colour as the three larger beads on the stamens of the bloom.