Stitch Markers

These are knitting stitch markers that I have made purely because I hate those little wafer ones you buy in the stores. You can't see them very well if you are working with a bulky yarn, they slip from your fingers so easily, and if you drop one you might as well count it as GONE. So, since I have a ton of beads and findings and wire, I set to making stitch markers.

The top is Rose Quartz with silver-toned findings. It is a set of six and quite heavy. The quartz actually came from a few bracelets that I found on clearance at WalMart. I didn't like the bracelets but loved the quartz so I took them apart and have been waiting for the beads to talk to me and tell me what they wanted to be.

The second is purple glass and is a set of 12. These beads I bought outright because they reminded me of a set of dishes my mom use to have from Viking Glass (that I broke in its entirety when I was young and emptying the dishwasher...I learned not to try and lift an entire stack of plates after that). Again, the beads are paired with silver-toned findings.

I have a few other sets. One in black and white glass, another in autumn-colored "wedding cake" glass beads. I just remembered I hadn't photographed them as I typed. They are in my knitting tote bag and I forgot about them. Maybe later. All my markers are sized on US 15/10mm needles and are real easy to make. As long as I know what beads I am using, it only takes me about 5 minutes per marker since I use wire, not pins, and have to twist them into shape. I am thinking of selling them at the craft show I will be going to with my mom and aunt in November.

Creating again...

A wonderful woman that attended physical therapy with my mother ordered these four Cane Bracelets. She has the same style of cane that these were originally created for so my design would not have to be reworked to fit hers.

Key Chains

I meant to post these before I went away for 5 days but that didn't work out. So, here are the key chains that I made for a Blogger Barter with Bobbie. It only took me a few days to complete them and I had a lot of fun creating the designs.

Edit: Dana asked about the sturdiness of the keychains in her comment. Good question! All the keychains are made with a double-length of wire. The wire ends are then fed back through the top beads by 1/4 - 1/2 inch, depending on what the design allows. After I was done with each keychain, I pulled and twisted for everything I was worth, trying to ensure the strength. (Granted, I had to redo one in the process...*giggle*) As a disclaimer, I will say that these are not toys and should NOT be given to children to play with.

Mom's Home!!

YAY! Mom's home!! My mom went to the WV United Methodist Annual Conference this past week. She left last Wednesday and got home Sunday evening. During that time she had her birthday, too.

I have been driving my DH crazy! I will stare at the phone, wanting it to ring or itching to pick it up and call her. I would sit around with this sad look on my face and he'd ask, "What's wrong, Hon?" I missed my mom, that's what was wrong.

Well, she called last night! I was thrilled. DH was thrilled...beyond thrilled, actually. His exact words were, "Oh, thank goodness! She's home!" LOL! He loves picking on me.

Today, I am off to the store to make sure I have everything for my first night of VBS decorating. While I am there, I think I will look at some of the new beads they have gotten in. I was recently asked about bartering some of my creations and I am thinking very hard about it. Since I haven't really ventured out of my comfort zone of family and friends, I am a little nervous and intimidated because this person is so talented with what they do. I still look at the things I make as just a hack-job. I am a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. I think all SAHM's are that way. We have to figure it out or the house falls into chaos! DH says that I should give it a go. Well, sink or swim. We will see.

Key rings

Today I made two new creations. With the success of my Cane Bracelets given to my mom and aunt, I thought I would give it a go. I made two key rings, or key chains, as gifts for a couple girls that graduated with my oldest. Because of the weather, and the fact they forgot about the party, the guys were unable to go but I made the key rings anyway.

I think they are cute. As with my jewelry, I will get better at them the more I make them. As it is, I did get to use a bead out of my Junk/Treasure Drawer! I looooove the pink one! The textures on the blue keyring make me just want to hold it all day!

New Gems!

Finally! After several weeks of nothing, I have finally made something. This is my Aunt Martha's Cane Bracelet. It did not take me too long to make the actual bracelet. The elastic piece that I had to sew for the handle...yeah, that was a long conversation with my sewing machine. Almost 30 years old and I am still scared of the darned thing. Go figure.

I had fun making the Cane Bracelet, though. For those wondering, Aunt Martha's and Mom's canes unscrew and have push-button height adjustment. The Cane Bracelets are attached by key rings that are slid onto the cane when it is separated and the elastic that is sewn around the key ring is pulled over the handle to hold it just under the hand-grip. See the slide show for a better look at Mom's burgundy cane with the Cloisonne Cane Bracelet.

While I was picking up an extra pack of beads to match what Aunt Martha chose, I found this darling Dragonfly key chain. The colors were perfect! With her having just finished all those dragonflies for VBS, it seemed like it was meant to be! I think she liked it. She got very excited when I dropped in on her at work today. I know I could have waited, but I wanted to make sure she didn't have to chase that thing around any more than she had to.

Pretty Beads!!!

Sorry, no pictures today. Although, I did take a few of some really nice fluffy clouds, I haven't downloaded them yet.

The beads Aunt Martha picked out are just gorgeous! They coordinate perfectly with her cane. I told her that I still plan on using the beads I found, as well. This will just give her another bracelet to use if she wants. Plus, when she is able to stop using the cane the Cane Bracelets make a fantastic addition to key rings!

I promise to post pictures of everything when I am finished. With VBS coming, I have to get it done soon or we will be chasing her cane all over the church hall! Hahaha!!

Bruised family...

My poor family. My mom is wearing a knee brace and has to ice down her knees every night. She also has to walk with a cane. Now, my Aunt Martha, Mom's sister, has been wearing a medical boot for about two months ( I think. Feel free to correct me, Aunt Martha!). She has something wrong with the tendon in her ankle and it hurts her so much. Well, because of the medical boot, she walks funny. Because she walks funny, she isn't able to stay on her feet very long. And because she isn't able to stay on her feet very long...Mom got her a cane. A blue one. Like hers. *sigh*

Luckily, it is only temporary. It has helped her, though. I feel better knowing that her footing is better. She is even able to park a little further from work and not have to deal with parking meters now.

I had planned on making her a Cane Bracelet to coordinate with her cane, too. I even picked out beads and everything. Then I get this really excited email from Aunt Martha telling me that she found the prettiest beads at the store and could I "please, please, please..." use them to make her a Cane Bracelet. OF COURSE! *smile* I am going to call her in the morning and tell her that of course I will make her a bracelet. She is my Aunt Martha! I don't think she knows how much she has influenced my life. Heck, I wouldn't be able to put beads on a string if it wasn't for her and Mom! This is going to be fun!

Doing Better Today...

I have had a rough few days. My medicine routine went up by one pill this week. I am suppose to work my way up to four pills a day, which would put me on the actual dose I am going to take, since my doctor gave me half-prescription samples to start with. I think I have finally figured out the right time frame, though. Take it in the morning, no problem. DON'T take it when you go to bed! Take it with DINNER instead! Yeah, I know, it rhymes! But how else am I going to remember!? This stuff causes me to be scattered brained! Oh, boy. That is going to give my brother more ammunition...um, Dana? Don't tell! I will never hear the end of it!

I am finally getting some stuff done with my jewelry. I made Mom another bracelet for her cane, but it was late at night when she and I finally got done laughing our way through it, so - no picture today, but I promise one for later. I fixed her medical id bracelet that she bought somewhere(base-metal beads turned her green) and it looks wonderful! Again, laughing - no picture.

Made a mad dash to the post office this morning! The last few days, the ones that have been so rough on me, caused me to be a very bad Auntie! I forgot to mail Sticky-fingers' birthday card! AAAAKKKK! It is on it's way, Sweetie! Aunt Jenny had it mailed special delivery, just for you! Love and hugs! We miss you and Crumbgrabber SOOO much! Give the grownups hugs and kisses!

Birthday Present

My two teenage boys were invited to a birthday party sleep-0ver for a friend they are in band with. She is a really wonderful young lady. When the 16-year-old was getting ready to go (the oldest was at work and would show up later) he realized they did not have a gift for her. Even though she did not tell many people it was a birthday party, he still wanted to take her something. (She would rather have friends to hang out with than presents.)

Anyway, he asked me to make her a bracelet, since she has a necklace that she wears all the time, but nothing on her wrist. I decided to make here something similar to Ashley's Crystal Garden, but with a more sophisticated feel. I didn't want to crowd it with too many crystals since she does not wear jewelry that often. It just needed to be something that can carry the look on it's own.

Made with: Sterling Silver Toggle; sterling crimp bead; sterling crimp covers; 3mm Swarovski Bicones, crystal; 3mm Sterling Silver Spacers, seamless rounds; 3.8mm Sterling Liquid Silver; Sterling Silver beaded spacers; 2 - 4mm Swarovski Cubes, violet; 1 - 4mm Swarovski Cube, light rose; Sterling Silver wire guardians; beading wire.

I think it went over well. My son said that she and her mother were just amazed with it (and he didn't even tell them that is was handmade!). He even got a hug out of the deal!

First Paid Piece!!

I have been teaching myself to make jewelry for about six months now. I started out, and kept on, using glass beads and basic base metal findings. Every so often, I would find a sterling kit that I could use for something without spending an arm and a leg for it. I did not want to spend a fortune on the better products until a felt comfortable enough with my skills.

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to make something for her daughter's birthday. I sat down with her and her daughter for a design session. We had a wonderful time! Her daughter is in first grade and loved looking through my sketch book, bead magazines, and completed projects. After about an hour, I had a good idea of what she was looking for and was able to change some things on my sketches.

Fast forward to product delivery! I finally received all the items I needed, or so I thought! I discovered that the spacer beads I ordered had a hole in them that was larger than the entire diameter of the liquid silver tubes I wanted to use!! AAAGH! Quick change! Order more stuff, pray it gets here in time!

Arrival! Work! Still keep the family moving! Work some more! DONE!!

And...TA DA! Ashley's Crystal Garden.

Made with: 3.8mm Liquid Silver Tubes, 3mm Sterling Seamless Spacers, 3mm Swarovsky Bicone Crystals, 4mm Swarovsky Cubes in Light Rose & Violet, Swarovsky Butterfly Drop, 2mm Sterling Crimp Beads, 2.4mm Sterling Open Crimp Covers, 1 Sterling Chain Tag, Small Sterling Lobster Claw Clasp, Sterling Wire Guardians, Sterling SureSet Earstud, 4mm Pink Crystals.

I think Ashley will like the final design. But then, for a little girl to have her own custom-designed set of jewelry (that can withstand recess) that is pretty neat in itself!