Asymmetrical

So-called milk beads in a pretty spring blue color make up the main part of this new necklace. The green donut bead was meant as a purse toggle, but for now I'll keep it here with the blue beads. An adjustable loop knot over a wooden button bead holds the necklace on in back and keeps everything in place. The green donut stays off to one side.

Yummy Yellow Earrings

Make with vintage yellow beads and hand-made silver earwires sourced from a favorite Etsy.com store, these yellow earrings were fun and fast to put together. I will admit to running out of things to say about one bead project after another. As long as you surfed over to look at the blog, you might as well see something new.

Diaper Cake

My sister, C, is having a baby soon, but she lives too far away for us to throw her a baby shower in person. So, my mom and I mailed the shower in a box. The centerpiece of the "baby shower in a box" is this diaper cake. Proving once again you can google anything, I learned how to make this utilitarian cake by watching a video online. My mom and I added containers of candy in the center to stabilize the creation. The cake may thus have the same amount of sugar as a conventional cake.

Mod Earrings

My hair is growing longer, and I just don't feel like taking the time to get it cut. Instead, I'll start wearing longer earrings like these. My ear decorations will thus be easier to see.

Button Necklace

Using my fresh beads and a button from a sweater I bought in Scotland decades ago, I made this spring necklace. The rectangular beads lie flat when the necklace is on. A loop of matte seed beads around the button eliminates the need (and expense!) of a clasp. As I favor sterling silver closures and clasps beefy enough to balance the size of the beads, this is great news.

Special Delivery

A fabulous and very large shipment of beads has arrived. I was drawn to the simple shapes and colors of these resin beads. It's time to buy a new compartmentalized box to store more beads. Anyone with a birthday coming this spring, behold the raw materials of your present!

Making Bread

In the continuing quest to be frugal, justify the money spent on craft supplies and keep the math portion of my brain entertained, I bake bread. By my calculations, I spend $1 less for a loaf of wheat bread I make myself, including energy, than I would spend for a mid-range loaf at the grocery store. (As a matter of fact, I may need to recalculate the savings now that I buy yeast 2 pounds at a time and flour in 25 pounds sacks.) I pay myself a dollar for every loaf I bake. Bread I make myself has no preservatives, makes the house smell yummy and replenishes my bead money. Today I stashed $6 in my craft fund.

More Beads

I intended to keep up a blog mostly about sewing projects, but find that beads are dominating. The reason, of course, is that beads don't take very much time to string together. They also imply very little commitment. I can store them in a small area; they're cheap; when I tire of how they look I can snip them apart and start over. I made a fresh necklace to wear on Friday, the 13th. There is no deeper inspiration or motivation. I'm happy to report I'm getting more out of the necklace than I put into its creation. What a bargain!

Hurry Up, Spring!

I have several projects started and unfinished. There is yardwork to do, piano practice to supervise and floors sticky for want of cleaning. Yet, I decided to make a purse. It's a flat style with a pleat in the center, vintage button closure and a short strap to wear when there's no bulky winter coat in the way. If I get my spring accessories organized, then the warm weather will come.

Sorry About That

There really are times when crafts warrant an apology. For example, I slaved over this little outfit for N several years ago. I followed the pattern to the letter; I ripped out stitches and tried again; I forced my toddler to participate in test-fittings. The result? Mixed, at best. N is so cute, he pulls off the ragamuffin look. I do think my tailoring skills have improved, at least somewhat.