New Jewelry Project and Old Knitting

I started a new necklace.

Back quite a while ago I had purchased a really neat purple lamp glass leaf shaped "bead". I've tried several different ways to string it up with other beads, but just was not happy with the way it looked --- it just looked --- well, like a leaf bead with a bunch of other glass beads -- bleah!

Recently, one of my favorite suppliers has started carrying this new item. They're big (I bought 12mm and 14mm sizes) and they are "pointy" on both sides -- crystals that are sort of facetted.

So, here is the beginning of the new idea for that leaf. I'm using netting to "bezel" each of the crystals, then I'll be doing a thick herring bone tube to string through the leaf so it doesn't "flop", and attach the crystals in a pattern at each end of that tube. Then right angle weave from the other edge of the crystals around the neck.

At least that's the plan right now!


I spent quite a bit of time in the car over the weekend as we made a trip to our daughter's house.

These two blocks for the Wall of Linen afghan are now complete.

Only two more of these (or one if I decide to just pick up stitches along the edge and go sideways) before I'll be deciding if I'm ready to start putting it together or want another row of blocks first.

Looking pretty good here.


So, today it's laundry and taxes for my daughter and a friend then hopefully work on birdhouses and beading and quilts and ---- well, you get the picture

Mardi Gras Mask Earrings

from the front and from the back

These are on a post with a nice leather backing

I think they look pretty good, and they're a nice match to the pin

I haven't decided yet if I'm pleased enough with them to enter them in the competition with the supplier.

Stage One of the bird house painting

All three of these were painted with a paint that is "white"

From left to right the labels on the paint bottles were: white, icy white, antique white -- more like white, blue, tan

anyway, today I'll be trying to decide what the color of the next coat of paint will be. I'm pretty sure the square one will be a shade of pink and I'm thinking that one will have a "crackle" finish too. The other two I'm not so sure about yet except I'm trying to keep the paint off the roofs and perches so those will be stained later -- the wood grain on those roofs is too pretty to cover up.

I have finished the quilting on the guardian angel wall hanging, so yesterday I went to the fabric store to get something to use as the binding.

I found a very nice piece that was on their 30% off sale, which was a good thing.

While I was in there, I found this magazine.

What cool stuff --- and I'm not really all that into Asian design, but there are some amazing techniques in here.

For instance, those camillas on the cover -- there is a full size pattern for them in the magazine (it covers an entire 8.5 by 11 page). The first thing that went through my head when I saw it was "I wonder if you could make those 3 dimensional?"

I've bought several issues of this magazine (when ever I can find it on the newstand), and loved them all --- I think it's time to subscribe --- it will be less expensive!

This picture could be labeled "The Great Speckled Dog -- or Why Labradors Aren't Allowed to Use Sand Paper"

The DH is building me a bench

A while back the piano that has lived at our house for a long time went to my daughter's new house. And of course the piano bench went with it.

Thing is, I used to also use that bench at the loom.

So, like I said, the DH is building me a bench

He has the top all done and was doing some sanding yesterday when Elphie decided she needed to help -- as in put her nose right up to where the saw dust was flying around.

Oh yes, the bench is oak, so the saw dust is light colored. Hence the great speckled dog.

geesh!

ok, today there will be painting and sewing and selecting of a new beading project and no doubt other things too --- like a trip to the pet store for a bag of dog food!

Beads and bird houses

The embroidery part of the beaded Mardi Gras mask earrings is complete!

WHOO HOO!!

In an attempt to make these look as close to a mirror image pair as I could, I did the embroidery on both in sequence --- first the eyes on both, then the green, then the purple, then the gold.

Today I will cut the leather for the backing and start putting them together.


Zebra's front legs are all complete

snazzy looking, aren't they?

I knit them at the same time, and I have to say that dealing with 4 strands of yarn coming directly off balls of yarn and such narrow knitting made for some spontaneous basket weaving looking stuff in the back ground ---

ARRRRGGGGHH!

So now it's on to the back legs, which are (as I remember from knitting the horse) a really strange shape.

The stripe pattern could get even odder




and this is the beginning of the next animal to be knit

The yarns were on sale at the local fabric store, so I decided to go ahead and get them now, knowing I was going to make this project

Oh, yes, and that chart is just the beginning of the charts to be drawn for giraffe parts -- this one is the front leg, but just the portion from the knee to the hip -- below that the giraffe has no patterning

Remember the bird houses from the other day?

Since I want to actually perch a little felted bird on the wood rod, it was pretty clear the original rods were not going to be adequate for the job.

That little piece of wood between the center and right side bird houses is the rod I removed from one of the houses, and they were all that short.

I used the little back saw to cut the rods off flush with the front of the bird house, then the DH used his drill to make the holes and insert the new, much longer rods.

Most of the sanding is done, so today I should be able to start painting! Fun!

A new sort of dog toy

Since my daughter got her new dog (a Cairn Terrier), I've been making various styles of dog toys in an attempt to find something that the "terrier-izer" doesn't instantly destroy.

We've tried squeeky toys of several different materials, but it takes very little time for her to disembowel them.

This is my latest idea.

It's made out of 4 long strips of plush fabric woven together in that square braid technique we all learned by making plastic whistle lanyards when we were kids.

I can report that my labrador, who loves squeeky toys, is totally disinterested in this one, probably because it doesn't sqeek.

We'll see what the "terrier-izer" thinks.

Meantime, I seem to be in the "slog along" stage of several other projects --

the beading on the Mardi Gras mask earrings is progressing, I hope to get the last of the bead embroidery finished today so I can start putting them together

the front legs of the zebra have been worked up above the very cute knobby knees

another part of the Unidentified Christmas Project is complete

yesterday the DH found me some sandpaper so I can start smoothing the bird houses and another wood project I've got in the hopper

rollin' along!

A block complete and a new idea

Here is my first "make it up yourself" block for the Wall of Linen Afghan that I started by following the idea over at Mason-Dixon Knitting.

So now I actually have 3 full rows of blocks complete

I'll be moving on to the last row soon -- I need to spend some time with paper and pencil to figure out what configuration that next row of blocks will take -- what colors, how many ridges in a stripe, etc.









I was in that "den of iniquity" known as Michaels over the weekend and found these adorable little wood bird houses --- only $1.00 each!!

I just love the round ones, and the little heart shaped opening in the middle one is cute too.

The plan for these so far is to paint/stain them (after liberal application of sand paper!), then to create some little needle felted birds to set on the perch of each one.

This should be interesting.

This morning I made the final copies and my taxes are officially DONE!! I'm really happy about that. I'm going to make some changes to the way I keep track of things for 2009 which should make this process easier next year, but I have to say it was not as painful as it's been in the past.

So today, between loads of laundry and a quick trip to the store for coffee, I'll be working on beading and stitching and knitting and who knows what else --- time to move along

Web ponderings

Just when I was wondering if it was worth while to keep paying for my domain name and the monthly hosting

I actually made a sale from my web site!!

I'm amazed and truly pleased.

The goodie will be on it's way post haste of course

So now I'm thinking it's time to actually put some more stuff out there --- like maybe some of the new jewelry?

I'll keep you posted!!!

Beach Glass and Zebras

It's done!

The pendant is more of my Rocky Mountain Beach Glass, but this piece is so different it hardly looks like the same materials.

Because the glass was such an erratic shape, I never could figure out a way to just frame it with beads, so I decided to make it a little netted bag.

Then of course it needed embellishments.

This "chain" is that twisted herring bone stitch that I'm happy to say I can now do quite well, and because of the style of the pendant it looks good on this piece.

I won't be using it for the smaller pieces that are just framed though -- it's just not as flexible as the right angle weave -- which also helps account for the metal (actually magnetic) clasp on this piece --- the chain is too stiff to curl around into a small loop like the right angle weave ones.

But I do like the looks of this piece.

Yesterday I put a new batch of glass into the tumbler.

This batch includes pieces of purple, red and gold that are part of the glass that we had broken before.

There are also some pieces of brown glass that were part of a beer bottle -- and we can tell you beer bottles are very thin! When the DH hit it some of it just turned into tiny little glass dust.

There are also 2 pieces of "found" glass in this batch -- one that is clear and has a very deep pattern running across it and one piece that is green.

Both of these were laying on the street, and I just picked them up and carried them home.

I'm especially excited about the green piece as I have not yet been able to find any pretty green glass object to break (most of what I've seen has been sort of olivine, which is ok, but not what I'm really looking for).

So for the next month I'll be listening to the tumbler hum and slosh and turn these into more "treasures" to make into new jewelry.

Oh the joy of having the proper tools!

Last night I finished up the body of the zebra!!

I know, right now it just looks like an odd rumply piece of knitting, but you need to just use your imagination -- the bottom edge of the picture is his nose, the top edge is his rump

Trust me, this will all work out!!

So now it's on to the ears and legs.

And I've been thinking about the giraffe. I need to get started on the charts for knitting that one --- I want to knit in each and every spot --- none of that embroidering over the knitting stuff.

Recently, I have seen a picture of something knitted that was said to be a giraffe, but it had stripes and we know that's not right, so mine will be properly reticulated. Ooooh! Intarsa knitting!! {Scary!!!}

time to get to it, I'm oh so close to having all of the tax stuff complete, and now that I'm close I just want to get it done and out of here!! Onward

Finished Pin, and winners of the drawing

I finished up the pin!

On the whole I'm pretty pleased with it.

The biggest problem was working the bead edging around the eye holes (which don't even show up very well in the picture)

The finished size is 2.5 inches from side to side and 3 inches from top to bottom.

So, provided the weather is ok on Sunday (I'm not driving if it's ugly!), I'll be taking this to my beading meeting to enter in the Mardi Gras competition.

I did the layout of a pair of earrings using the same design, just smaller that I'll be starting on as soon as I finish the never ending herring bone twist chain I'm working on.

The earrings will NOT have open eyes, I'm going to fill that area with black instead (geesh, I'm crazy but not THAT crazy!!). I'm thinking that I might enter all three pieces as a set in the supplier's competition -- we'll see how they come out -- I have until April 15 to get that done.

I can also report that I have 101 pieces in the Unidentified Christmas Project -- whooot!

Today was the official end of the One World, One Heart drawing. Early this morning, the random number fairy (ok, I had my DH do it) selected two numbers.

The winners this year are from these two blogs: Simple~Needs and "Stampgram". I'll be sending out the goodies as soon as they respond to the emails I have already sent.

I'll be stopping by the blogs of all of those that responded over the coming weeks (and trying to revisit the blogs of all 911 (!) participants).

This has been a lot of fun, and I'll be doing it again next year!!

Meantime, I'm considering doing some other random prize drawings during the year, so stay tuned!

time now to return to the tax forms ---- Pfffftttt!!

Beadwork and zebras

Ta Da!

I finished up the bead embroidery on this piece yesterday afternoon.

This morning I'll be looking for a piece of leather to do the backing with

I'm thinking about doing a pair of earrings to go with this --- slightly smaller and mirror images

(Ok, like this isn't small enough, but I like the challenge, and smaller goes quicker!)

And, I'm happy to report that I have FINALLY succeeded in teaching myself how to do a twisted herringbone chain, so I'm working on finishing the latest piece of beach glass using that technique. Hopefully that will be completed in the next couple of days so I can get some pictures.

Thanks to my sister getting a package in the mail and the post office delivering it FAST, I was able to return to work on the striped Christmas knitting

The circular needle is so much easier --- in the time it had been taking me to knit 2 or 3 rows on the straight needles, I did 7 last night!! Oh JOY!! Oh yes, and no shoulder pain either.

But wait --

there was something else knitting related in the box --

a really LLLLOOOONNNNGG cord for my set of Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Which means when I start in on the sweaters I'll be knitting for this year's Christmas, I won't have to string together all of my shorter cords together, which also means I can have more than one project on the sticks at a time (oh yeah, like I needed THAT encouragement!)

It will make the project easier though, and I'm quite delighted to get it, as I'm thinking about ordering up the yarn for the first project here in the next couple of weeks.

time to get to the laundry then back to work!

New stuff in the Etsy store

Valentine's Day is coming up fast!

So today I've listed several heart themed pieces of jewelry on my Etsy shop.

If you order in the next couple of days, these pieces can be in your hands for Valentine's day!

Use this link to go see all the new stuff!!

A new beading project

I belong to a local bead group.

For the February meeting, there is a Mardi Gras beading challenge.

The meeting is next Sunday.

Originally I had planned to use a full size mask and entirely cover it with beads, but I just didn't get to it.

Yesterday the idea to do this came to me.

The plan is to use a finding I have that will make this wearable either as a pin or a necklace.

I'm using size 15 seed beads in just 3 colors -- green, gold and purple --- the colors of Mardi Gras, and I'll use a piece of leather in one of those colors for the back (I don't know which yet, 'cuz I haven't been in the box of leather yet to check it out, but I know I'll have at least one of them!).

Actually this is probably a better project than the original one was -- I could put this on my table at a show and possibly sell it, and because all of the materials came from that supplier that is hosting a design contest, I can enter it there to --- hey, that's THREE birds with one stone -- gotta love that

Meantime, the striped knitting has been set aside until a substitute tool arrives.

Let me explain.

The size 3 needles I have are LONG -- about 16 inches maybe -- which is a good thing and a bad thing

It's a good thing because they are actually long enough for when I get, oh, 80 stitches on there

It's a bad thing because I do most of my knitting sitting in my recliner, and it's almost impossible to manuver those long needles in the recliner without putting my shoulder at in very odd position and causing some pain -- and having spent most of the month of December dealing with a lot of shoulder pain, I don't want to go there again

So yesterday I called my sister --- my usual source of knitting rescue --- and ask her if she might have a size 3 circular needle that I could borrow for the duration of this project --- and she does, and she's going to mail it to me --- OH JOY!!!

Ok, so now I have a slot in my knitting rotation to figure out the pattern requirements for another Christmas project --- since this one is a "wearable", guage really does matter -- as does having enough of the same color yarn -- so I really do need to figure this out BEFORE I order the yarn. Oh yeah, and I'll be "blending" 2 or 3 different patterns (a pattern is just a suggestion after all), I need to do some extra calculating. It's just part of the process!!

Time to get to it!!

Golden Beach Glass

Finished this piece yesterday.

This is the first piece of the gold glass that I've worked into a piece of jewelry. Notice the texture in the glass? I love the way that looks.

The piece of glass is about 1.25 inches across and 1 inch up and down, and it is slightly curved (since it was a piece of a drinking glass).

The "bezel", bail, chain and clasp are all made of gold colored seed beads, so there is no metal in this entire piece.

Today I'm going to start working on another piece of beach glass -- this one was originally clear glass, and now looks kind of frosted as a result of the tumbling. I'm going to use red beads with it, and try a new technique for the "chain" -- the right angle weave I used on the last few is really nice, but variety is cool too!

Zebra knitting and both quilt projects are progressing too.

Remember Cupcake?

Yesterday I put her out on my Etsy shop, so if you would like her to come and live at your house, use this link to check out how to make that happen.





There is less than a week left to enter my give away for this year's One World One Heart gypsy caravan.

Use this link to go to my announcement post and enter.

EVERYONE is welcome to enter, just make sure I can contact you when I do the drawing next Thursday morning!

Time to get back to those pesky tax forms

next Christmas knitting

more oddities

it's black and white stripes!

using the same pattern from the orange horse on needles 2 sizes smaller (the orange horse is really big!)

this is my version of the zebra

notice the irregular striping -- much more interesting that even rows

the DH wanted to know why I wasn't doing the stripes in "V" shapes --- OMG!

not to fear, there will be plenty of intarsa knitting when I start in on the giraffe later

I'm working on a necklace with the gold beach glass, and it's looking really good --- I'll be "zipping" up the chain today, so with any luck it will be all finished tomorrow.

Work on both quilt projects continues, and I'm making good progress on the afghan block that I'm making up as I go along

and of course it's tax time, so I'm filling in forms (about my least favorite thing to do!) -- fortunately I was a bit more organized last year, so it's been a bit easier than past years -- and it's nice to know that while there will not be a refund coming our way, I also will not have to write a check to the IRS!

time to get moving

It's a DIVA Necklace

This piece has to set a record for shortest time between idea and completion.

The idea for this necklace came from watching a concert on TV on New Year's Eve.

The soprano that performed had on this amazing necklace, and it's general form gave me the idea for this piece (hence the DIVA necklace).

It also gave me the chance to work with some materials I've been wanting to try out for a while, so on the whole, I've very happy with the results.

And, because I had to order a lot of the pieces to put this together, I will be entering it in a competition that is sponsored by the company I bought the stuff from. Now the challenge for that will be getting a photo that I'm really happy with. These three are a sampling -- perhaps more to come.

Which picture do you like?

New Stuff in Etsy Shop

Yes, I FINALLY got some new stuff listed in my Etsy store.

Two very nice sets of notecards with matching envelopes all ready to ship out!


Use this link to go check them out (and maybe order a set!).

Rocky Mountain Beach Glass

After a whole month of listening to the tumbler slosh and roll, yesterday was "wash out" day!

It's pretty exciting to do this.

For one thing, it's almost magic that you can put water and ordinary sand and pieces of very sharp broken glass into the rubber container and a month later take out these amazingly smooth pieces of frosted looking glass.

At the far left a small piece of blue glass and a small piece of yellow glass left from the previous month's tumbling (both of them had been broken off of a larger piece and needed re-smoothing).

The yellow one is especially intriguing because it still retains the uneven surface it originally had although it is not as deep and well defined.

In the center are pieces that went into the tumbler orange and came out clear -- obviously the coloring agent for these was just a coating on the outside. These do have deep lines still, and on one of them a few tiny flecks of the orange remain.

And then there is the red glass which retained much of the impressed patterning it had when it went into the tumbler.

The DH has is working on wire wrapping some of this lovely stuff, and as soon as I finish the Diva necklace (I'm working on the fringe!!), I'll be making up some of these into some new pieces --- I'm still thinking about a bracelet.

time to get rollin'

NOT Mr. Ed

no, this is "Buckie"

the lovely orange and blue horse

once I got him all put together and added a mane and tail, he looks pretty cute!

amazing considering the oddity of parts that went into making him

so, last night I cast on the beginning of a zebra -- on needles two sizes smaller because I want the zebra to be a little smaller animal

meantime, after looking about for a giraffe pattern, I've decided I'll probably be using the "order from a Chinese menu" approach --- one from column A, two from column B (and with six we get egg roll)

The legs of the horse are the right shape, just too short, which can be easily fixed by working some extra rows between hoof and knee and again between knee and hip -- The one pattern I found that the body looked pretty good was worked up in stripes -- HUH??!! Last I looked giraffes were definately not striped -- perhaps there was a mix up between the zebras and the giraffes -- who knows -- anyway the giraffe will definately be "an adventure"

The repair of the block for the Unidentified Christmas Project has been completed, and now I'm back to working on the next block, so we're back on schedule there

The jewelry repair is complete and waiting for the mail man to come and pick it up, so today I'll be able to spend some time working on the Diva necklace again. Tomorrow will be the much anticipated unveiling of the latest batch of Rocky Mountain Beach Glass. It's been in the tumbler for a month, so we'll be washing it out -- woohoo!! Pictures to be revealed soon.

and so we're off!

er, it's STILL odd

for those of you guessing at home --- no, it's not a camel

the rear end really resembles a pumpkin (hmmm, there's some design opportunity in there somewhere)

oddness abounds

I worked on it more last night after I took this picture, and it is looking much more recognizable, and I should get it finished today

on the Unidentified Christmas Project front, I thought I had completed another part, only to be told that the lettering I had added included a word that was spelled wrong ---- to say I was not pleased is an understatement. I'll be fixing that little issue today too.

Note: do not rough house with a labrador -- I was playing with our 80 pound "cutie" yesterday afternoon and our heads collided -- she hit me right in front of my right ear -- I saw STARS!! This morning there is a faintly blue shadow there, my jaw is still tender and there is a slight ringing in that ear. I'm going to survive, but I don't want to go there again.

guess it's time to get some work done!

beginning to take shape

I got all the parts stitched up

odd, aren't they?

still!

it's somewhat "rumply" around the back side -- I must have been the model

ok, I promise this will look more like something reasonable soon (I hope)

I began putting together the Diva necklace yesterday. This is sometimes the point at which I discover I was crazy when I did the original design -- as in "whatever made me think this would work", but so far this one has been a pleasure -- up to the point when one of the size 11 seed beads in the row I was attaching broke, meaning that I have to take out a couple of rows and rework them -- so that was the point that I put it aside to be returned to today. I have learned this is my best work approach. It generates less mumbling and swearing.

Meantime in yesterday's mail I got a little padded envelope with a beaded piece that I had made for a lady a while back that she had damaged and wants repaired. She also enclosed a check for the repair and the postage back to her. I'll be trying to get this repair done to go out in tomorrow's mail. Wow!!

Today, being our monthly pay day will include our monthly Costco trip where we purchase meat, coffee, fish oil capsules -- stuff we can get cheaper by buying in larger amounts. It's one of our little household games --- right along with using coupons and buying mark downs at the grocery store --- save whatever we can there so we can use the $$ for things like silver and beads and fabrics and yarn and clay --- it's all about priorities!!

time to get moving

really long knitting

quite a while ago I started working on a project called "The Wall of Linen" that was started over at
Mason Dixon Knitting.

the first blocks were pretty easy, and actually looked like blocks -- you know, roughly square or slightly rectangular.

this "block" however runs the whole width of the afgan -- it was done by casting on and knitting the center section (the one that looks like up and down stripes in the picture), then you pick up the stitches at each end and knit another section

by the time I got to the weaving in part, it had evolved into an all evening effort -- made more so by the fact that I am using up little odds and ends and pieces to make this out of -- some of it even yarn that was once part of a couple of different sweaters

so, now I'm about to go where even the Mason Dixon folks haven't gone yet -- there are still 6 blocks of this critter to be knit, and no directions posted, so I've decided to "wing it" and create some blocks of my own

Meantime, the stitching up of the odd orange knitting has commenced. Last night I did the large piece and one of the smaller ones, and let me tell you, this knitting (and stitching) on faith has its rewards --- the pieces look entirely different when they are stitched up, even resembling what they are supposed to be --- I'm so impressed I've decided to knit up another of these in different colors for another Christmas gift.

The tube creation on the beaded piece is 4/5ths complete. I'm really looking forward to moving on to the "putting it all together" portion of the project which include using silver French wire to attach the clasp (a very cool hook clasp with a pearl on it -- probably the most expensive single clasp I've ever used, but it's so perfect I had to do it). And there will be fringing off each and every one of the components.

Of course, since I'm nearing the end of a beading project, I'm already thinking what the next one will be. As I type this I'm listening to the rhythmic turning of the tumbler that is polishing up a new batch of Rocky Mountain Beach Glass. This batch includes some genuinely red glass (not that stuff that was just painted red that was in the last batch) which I'm really looking forward to making some new necklaces out of -- and maybe a bracelet -- the idea for the bracelet is in the tiny, baby stage, so I'm just letting it grow.

Valentine's day is coming, and that always marks one of the two high points of my paper crafting during the year. I have some ideas for some very cool valentine cards, but until my new printer cartridges arrive, there is no printing going on at my house --- boooooooo! They should be here on Thursday, then LOOK OUT!!

and so it is in the studio

parts and pieces

I actually like doing really big projects -- the kind that take time to plan and calculate and organize
the problem with that is that it takes a while to have anything to show for the work being done

so today, pictures of two projects in process

these are the pieces for the beaded necklace I'm working on right now

slices of shell and pieces of pink quartz encircled with size 11 and size 15 seed beads

so far I've used right angle weave, peyote stitch and 2 different kinds of netting

I'm hoping to get to the "putting it together" stage by the end of the week.

and these are the last pieces of the odd orange knitting

today's work on this will be starting the stitching up so it will actually begin to look like something recognizable (hopefully!)


I'm turning cartwheels for having completed another project -- a huge power point presentation that will allow a community opera company to project the subtitles for their production. I had hoped to have it ready for them to review by February 1, and I'm a week ahead of myself --- YIPPEE!! (oh yes, I'm going to get paid for this one too --- which means more art supplies and show fees --- hurrah!)

Today (being Monday) I'll be working on projects between loads of laundry and watching the snow fall --- it's too cold to venture out for anything further than the mail.

What will your day bring?

A new necklace

Most of the necklaces that come out of the sudio and involve metals and facetted stones are made by the DH.

The past year or so I've been experimenting a bit with learning something about that side of the projects too.

A couple of days ago the post man brought a backorder package of supplies.

The lovely pear shaped "basket" setting was in it.

Originally the DH had ordered this setting for a specific stone -- problem was, that stone wouldn't fit!

So we went through all of the pear shaped stones we had on hand and found this really nice 2.1 carat blue topaz.

Not only did I put the stone in, I cut the bulk chain and attached the lobster clasp and the jump ring to complete the chain.

Nice, no?

Last night I finished the second piece of the Unidentified Christmas Project --- I have decided that this project really calls for a journal that will go along with it, and I just happened to have a suitable blank book on hand, so I'll be spending some time working on that too.

And the odd orange knitting continues too --- I'll probably get the last pieces of this finished today.

moving right along!!

One World - One Heart Giveaway

What a wonderful response I had from all of you, my blogging buddies this year!!

Early this morning, the random number fairy (ok, I had my DH do it) selected two numbers.

The winners this year are from these two blogs: Simple~Needs and "Stampgram". I'll be sending out the goodies as soon as they respond to the emails I have already sent.

I'll be stopping by the blogs of all of those that responded over the coming weeks (and trying to revisit the blogs of all 911 (!) participants). Thanks to you all, and happy blogging!!



Last year I participated in the One World - One Heart Giveaway, and it was a lot of fun.

So, this year, we're doing it again!!

Here's how this works:

I'm going to be giving away 2 items from my studio.




Item #1

This is a bead embroidered heart pin.

The entire thing measures about 2 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall, with an opening in the center.

It is made entirely of size 15 seed beads, except for the flower and leaf beads at the bottom of the fringe.

The back of the pin has a soft covering, and it has a safety clasp pin.





Item #2

A set of 4 notecards that include four seasonal backgrounds and my hand drawn bird and bear.

The notecards are printed on nice card stock and are accompanied by a quality envelope for each.




So, now you're asking, "how do I win"?

Leave a comment on this post (only comments on this post will count), and make sure you include a way for me to contact you.

The winners (2, one for each item) will be chosen by random drawing. The drawing will take place on the morning of Thursday, February 12th, and will be announced here on my blog.

As I am posting this, there are already 475 other artists around the world that are participating in this event.

If you'd like to go check them all out, use this link.

Happy blogging!