fruits de l'aiguille

by Kim

 My creative project of the week: Fruits of the Needle! I love to sit with a pile of fabric and floss and just stitch pieces together. It is therapeutic for me, I guess it must be the pulling of the needle through the fabric that is sort of soothing. I don't do it all that often, even though I would love to be an art quilter. It is just so time consuming. 
 These are for quilt market in October. The background is printable cotton fabric from Blumenthal Lansing. I found a free downloadable frame online, and put the words inside it using a cool font...then printed it. I could not have drawn it to look as good. Love this printable fabric!

 These will be framed together in a long frame. I think they would be cute in a kitchen.
Use your Vitamin C and some basic materials and see what happens!

Posted by Kim at 8:27 PM 0 creative thoughts
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Witchy Sister Beads

by Kim

 Waverly Witch. She's the oldest of the sisters... gets her looks from her Mother's side. Waverly has a style all her own, and knows a spell for absolutely everything. Waverly has already gone to a good home, but her six sisters are sitting in my Etsy shop. The sisters have very different personalities and you can read their stories there.
I had fun designing the witch bead. She is made on a cone. Instructions for making her are in this month's issue of Bead Design Studio. And then, I had even more fun making the sisters and writing their mini bios.

And, go here to find instructions to make this Trick or Tweet ornament.

Scary thinking about Halloween being right around the corner, but it is. Use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 3:41 PM 0 creative thoughts

Funky Chunky and a Cute Clasp

by Kim

 Tonight, I made a bunch of chunky bead bracelets. I make them a couple times a year, they sell pretty well for me. I like making them because I can mix everything together. I impose no design rules on myself. Before I begin, I collect chunky beads of all kinds: lampwork, metals, wood, plastic, stone, shell...whatever is in the stash. Then I string. 

 The only suggestion I have for you, if you make similar chunky bracelets, is to use two crimp tubes on each end. Usually the weight of the beads is a little more than usual, so doubling up on the crimps gives an extra measure of security.
 Because it adds one more material, I usually make button clasps for my chunky bracelets. With big buttons, I can make the clasp balance out the beads. But the thought of stringing seed beads for the loops was making me whine tonight. So, I thought how I could make a fitting clasp of different materials instead.
I had some huge lobsters....love those, and some peace sign charms. And together, they make an unusual clasp. I like it!  I could have also used a toggle bar instead of the lobster. I just thought of that right now!

 Use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 11:51 PM 0 creative thoughts
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Simple Yarn Wreath

by Kim

 This is my second Holiday wreath this week. Click on it so you can see the yarn up close. I used 4 yarns, the same color, but different textures. All you have to do is wrap the yarn around the wreath form.  You will have enough yarn in the skeins you bought, to do 4 or 5 wreaths. 

 I tried watching a Christmas movie to get in the mood. That so did not work. It lasted about 5 minutes. Then I just went to a Cary Grant film fest. Not festive, but so much more entertaining.
Then add decorations. This wreath has felt flowers, glittered wood snowflakes, buttons, and gems. I used the Crafter's Cafe Glitterati 3 pack. 

 Changing the color palette on this wreath would give it a completely different feel. 

 Use your Vitamin C and see what you come up with!

Posted by Kim at 1:40 PM 0 creative thoughts

Fairyland Christmas

by Kim

 I worked on a Christmas project this week.  
 It looks like a tutu, but it is a wreath.  From fairyland. It's soft and light and kinda sweet.
 Sorry, I am not going to tell you how to make it yet. It is a project I did for Blumenthal Lansing and Jo-Ann's Stores. So, I am going to let Jo-Ann's have first shot at giving it to their customers.  I'll tell you about it when that happens. 

 I used a new Blumenthal Lansing product called Crafter's Cafe. The color palette is white, silver, and crystal. In the jars are fine glitter, crystals gems, and buttons in 3 sizes. You won't be able to get it until closer to Christmas, but you can get the gorgeous Seabreeze and Girly Girl palettes. I have worked with both of them and they are really fun.

I did not think about it until this very minute, but the wreath would be extra festive if it had a string of tiny white twinkle lights in it. Wouldn't it?

 Merry Christmas and use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 7:57 PM 0 creative thoughts

Fall Leaf Jewelry Part II

by Kim

This bracelet is a little fuller, but no more difficult than the bracelets in part I yesterday.

Crimp two wires to the toggle circle. String both strands with branches, leaves, and crystal bead spacers.  That's it! Crimp the wire ends to the toggle bar. 

 This bracelet has 7 branches and 11 leaves.  Fill out the strands with spacers until they fit your wrist.
This final bracelet is a two-stepper.

 Crimp a wire to the toggle circle. Loosely string branches and size 8 seed beads until the bracelet fits. Crimp the end of the wire to the toggle bar.

 Now you need a needle with beading thread.  Before the first branch, stitch through the hole of a leaf bead. Stitch through the first branch. Stitch through a leaf, then through the second branch.

 Between branches, stitch in a leaf bead or a round crystal bead. When you are at the end of the bracelet, turn back and stitch more beads in between the branches. You should be able to make 4 passes, adding beads between the branches each time.  

 Add a dot of jewelry glue when you have to knot the thread.

 Or, of course, design your own and send me a pic!
Take your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 10:02 PM 0 creative thoughts

Fall Beads and Jewelry

by Kim

 Dear Fall, I will be happy to see you this year. Come soon. Bring your pretty red berries and golden leaves, your chilly sweater weather, football games, and caramel apples. 

And I will greet you with some new jewelry in your honor!


 Honestly, can you believe it is time to think about fall projects? I loaded up my Etsy shop with  fall beads. The colors are warm and toasty.

 Here are two ideas to use the beads in my shop.  Both are  simple stringing.  

 Crimp a toggle circle to a piece of wire. String crystal spacer beads and fall leaf beads. Crimp the toggle bar to the end. So simple!
Here is another really easy bracelet. You could do this with leaves instead of pumpkins if you like. Crimp three wires to the toggle circle. String matte finish seed beads and the pumpkins on the wires. Crimp them to the toggle bar.  Could not be easier.

 Or, design your own using your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 10:51 PM 0 creative thoughts

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