coral necklace

Another beading project ticked off the to do list. The coral pieces were purchased in China two years ago when we adopted Trixie.

Nothing too hard about this project. Just hours of tedious stringing tiny pieces of coral. Good thing I watch far too much television.

fabric bead necklace

I'm working fast and furiously to get some things made so I can wear them at least once before the weather changes.

Case in point:

I'm not sure how they were made, but the beads are covered in fabric. The small gold/green spacer beads were in my stash of junk/craft supplies.

*Yesterday's post was accidently published on its draft date. I just fixed it this evening, which is why it looks like two posts have appeared at once.

procrastination or memory lapse?

I found this bracelet, completely strung, in my beading supplies when I went looking for my pliers earlier this week. It still had the little clamps on it and I discovered it only needed to have the wires crimped near the clasp. (The clamps were keeping it from falling apart before it got crimped.)

Why on earth would I have not finished it it? It took all of 5 seconds to do. I can't even remember putting it in there, though I vaguely remember putting it together. The smaller painted beads were bought on our first adoption trip to China and have the double happiness character on them.

No sense wondering at this point. I'll just enjoy wearing it. Finally.

Also, I didn't really put a time on the contest deadline. So, if you haven't entered, you have until my children arrive home from school tomorrow - 3:00pm Chicago time. I'll try to post the winner later that night.

bee mine

I'm going to count this as one of my resolution projects. I found a ziploc bag in my sewing area with all the materials I needed for the project along with the inspiration/directions from a Mary Englebreit magazine article on Sailor's Valentines. The bag had been there for about 2 or 3 years. In my defense, I put a lot of projects aside like that when they just won't come together as I envisioned. Then something will come to mind or a particular item will be available and that's what I needed to make it all work. This seemed to be one of those times.

Overall, I'm happy with the colors and the placement of everything, but I think I need to open up the bottom seam and put a gusset in. Because of the way the pillow pulls in the bottom center, it's nearly impossible to see the "Mine" stitched on it. A gusset would also make it sit upright better. I might even be able to put it on a cabinet rather than leaning it on a chair or the sofa(where it gets abused by the kids).

The fabrics are velvet upholsery samples on the front with wool felt on the back (and eventually on the gusset). The buttons are shell and were purchased at Hancock Fabrics about two years ago (I think the brand is Shellz). The bee is out of a sack of vintage stuff I thrifted. I didn't care for the googly eyes he came with, so I replaced them with beads.

The ribbon and beads are out of my stash. No idea where or when I got them.