Single Bead

I would like to learn how to wire-wrap beads so I can very securely link beads together on a necklace or bracelet. However, when I tried the technique for this project, it didn't work. I had to start again with a second green star bead. Thus, this necklace is not that strong. If it breaks, I'll only be out one bead.

Blue Hoops

These hoop beads were calling to me so I bought some in blue, red and green. The classic color for this shape is probably white, but I think navy makes usable earrings. I think this bead would look good as a pull on a zippered pouch or inside a purse. Maybe I could string a bead on the inside of the hoop and turn it into a pendant. K wears these beads as rings, and she fancies herself quite the jewelry designer right now.

Purse Invention

My latest purse is my own design, an envelope-style shoulder bag with an adjustable short strap and a lined pleat on the front to show off a little color. Inside is a zippered pocket lined in black and white fabric. Next time I'll round off the corners more and make the top band taller. I think a little yellow or bright green fabric peeking out of a pleat on another remnant denim purse would be really cute.

Recyled Orange

More fabric left from an old project of my sister's made pouches I may or may not give back to her. On the one hand, you don't give something away if you want to keep it, and so my sister may not want the pouches. On the other hand, she wouldn't have purchased the fabric for a project in the first place if she didn't like it, and so she should think pouches made in the same pattern are just lovely. I'm thinking it over.

Coleus

I planted coleus seeds from a so-called variety pack. The picture on the outside promised the full range of pinks, reds and greens on the leaves of my plants. In practice, it's a lot more greens than pinks or reds. The seeds were so small I ended up sprinkling many in each pot. I didn't have the heart to thin the sprouts, so now I have full and lovely plants. They look more like August than June. I am enjoying them.

Candy Necklace

Bright colors, stripey beads and lots of red. These are the guaranteed draws for me in beads, fabric and things in general. This necklace can be worn as one strand, or doubled-up. A very cool vintage Italian white lucite clasp holds the whole necklace together. I'm tempted to buy more of the stripey beads and make something that is all warm colors, or all blues, or the like.

35 New Zippers

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did need more zippers. The lady I go to for my zipper needs sells in bulk. She has a few offerings of zippers 5 at a time in a single length and color, but most of her selection starts in lots of 25 and goes on to groups of 50 or 100. So you see, when you know the context of my most recent zipper purchase, the fact that I bought 35 of them seems quite reasonable.

Zippie Summer

School is out for the summer. We'll take a break from backpacks and school uniforms for awhile. Since both boys have gone through the knees of their school pants repeatedly, I was forced to take a pair I'd patched at the knee multiple times and cut off the legs to make shorts. The scraps were just large enough to make two zippies--lined with free-with-purchase fabric and accented with promotional buttons. Yes, I paid real money for both the zippers and the bead pulls, but since I buy both in bulk.....

Customer

My friend J, who loves the color green, saw my necklace posted April 13th and wanted one for herself. I used vintage green moonglow beads this time, and I like their slightly glowing quality. Of course I know when people comment on a splashy necklace or pair of earrings, they are largely just making conversation. I nevertheless pounce on opportunties to finish a creative project completely removed from laundry and dishes.

Recycled Reward

I've been teaching a Junior Great Books reading group once a week at R's school. Because it's an extra group, and I don't have the homework authority of a teacher, I bring a small bribe each week for the kids who are prepared and participate. One week it's a pencil; another week it's a fun eraser or a bookmark. Yesterday's meeting was the last of the year, so the prize is a notebook meant for summer lists and doodling. I rooted through my recycling to find a dozen kid-friendly boxes to make into notebooks. As I'm sure I've noted elsewhere on my blog, who doesn't enjoy a Jello notebook?
In case you are wondering just how much Jello is served in my house, most of the boxes used in the making of these notebooks are left from a science project--also for R's class. It turns out layers of different-colored Jello make a fine (and tasty) model of sedimentary rock.