A year in the making, day 364

The munchkin got a lesson today in Caveat emptor today. We went to the thrift store this morning to get her a couple of new pairs of pants as most of her current pairs are halfway up her shins, the little beanpole. We were in the checkout line and she found a treasure she HAD to have - a Barbie digital watch. She begged and pleaded, and agreed to repay me out of her bank when we got home, so I let her buy it. We got it home, opened it up, and were trying to figure out how to turn the watch on. Turns out that they were donated because the battery had died before whatever store that was carrying these had sold them. Doh!

This afternoon I started re-tagging a lot of my older stock in preparation for this weekend's event, as the original tags were looking a little the worse for wear, and of course, I'm also double checking to make sure all my newer pieces were tagged as well and guess what? I found two necklaces that weren't tagged because I'd not only never listed them, but apparently never photographed them either! Who knows where these fit in now, as I made them some months ago. But here they are now, just under the wire:

Butterfly Necklace with Caramel Swarovski Crystals



Turquoise and Rice Pearls Necklace



And one more pair of earrings, to replace a pair I sold last week:

Green Garnet Dangle Earrings

A Year in the Making, day 299

Been a bit distracted the last few days - cleaning house, as my father decided to come in at the last minute for the holiday weekend. It's amazing how quickly the clutter takes over the house. Creep creep creep goes the clutter! But I did get a couple of new pieces made, and the pieces from the weekend listed as well.

Pyrite and Antiqued Sterling Necklace



Tequila Sunrise - Citrine and Burgundy Red Glass Necklace on Sterling Box Chain




I also made a bunch of trim for parasol ruffles. I started with 2 yards of pinstriped fabric, cut out 3" strips on a diagonal, folded it over and ironed it, then finished the edges. I'd initially done about 6 yards for the first gent's brolly I posted a few days ago, and decided Tuesday night to go ahead and cut and finish the rest, as I have two more umbrellas that are asking for similar treatment. I knew I was accumulating lots of strips, especially after I went through almost 6 bobbins sewing it, but it wasn't until I got done and measured it, at just short of 24 more yards, that I decided I may have gone a bit over the top!

Here's what 24 yards looks like:



I've got the ribs covered and trim around about 1/3 of the next brolly. Who knows when I might get it finished, though, with company in town. There's also something blooming at the moment that is making me very cranky - my eyes have been itching and watering for 4 days now. We were crabbing about having such a cold rainy spring, but now that the weather's shaping up I'm praying for rain again to wash whatever this crud is out of the air.

Here's the pieces from the weekend, now listed in my Artfire shop:

Blue and Silver Necklace Bracelet and Earring Set



White Glass Strung Necklace with Silver



Waiting for the benedryl to kick in. Hopefully this isn't riddled with typos, as I'm squinting at the screen and typing in bursts between sneezes. Unhappy Kitty tonight.

A Year in the Making, day 294

Very very sleepy at the moment - got distracted and didn't post these earlier, and now all I'm wanting is beddy-bye. I got a lucky score today, a whole jar full of new beads with which to play. "What?" you say. "Aren't you supposed to NOT be buying beads?" Yes, yes, I know. I am weak. What can I say?

Playing with stringing again today:





I got the skirt of my new done this afternoon, too, only the bustle left!

A Year in the Making, day 270

We just got back from watching Shrek 4, which despite the number in the title wasn't half bad. I didn't have high hopes after #3, but it made me laugh and cry in all the right places. Munchkin highly approved.

The husband has been working on finishing up a drinking horn over the last couple weeks, and he's almost done:



Just needs to do a bit more sanding on the outside, then finish it with bees' wax. We were going to attempt some carving on it, but decided it probably would be wiser of us to leave it au naturale.

And I did some stringing today, a fused glass pendant I acquired in a lot of bits and bobs that's been sitting around begging me to do something with it:

Blue and Burgundy Fused Glass Pendant Strung with Pearls and Fire Polished Glass



Now we're off to do something nefarious and tasty to the leftovers from last night's salmon dinner.

A Year in the Making, day 267

I got all caught up in my project yesterday and forgot to post here! Of course, I do have a bit of an excuse. I went for a lovely lunch at the Crepe Cafe, but afterwards the stomach wasn't happy. Spent the rest of the day as a pathetic lump on the sofa. It worked out, though, because I finished a new parasol! This is a custom order for a friend. I'm calling it the "Cotton Candy" Parasol, for obvious reasons:


Cotton Candy Parasol by *dbvictoria on deviantART



I also got a new necklace completed before I went off to brunch yesterday:

Amethyst Necklace Hand Wrapped in Sterling Silver Wire



Be heading off to the farmers' market this afternoon for work, but hoping to get out and about and maybe take a few pictures beforehand. Mother Nature looks to be drooling today. We'll see.

A Year in the Making, day 227 & 228

More in progress shots today, but first let's talk about last night's dinner. I slow-roasted a nice chunk of beef in red wine all day yesterday. The husband made gravy from the juices, and made up a pot of egg noodles, which is the fall-back for beef meals when we don't feel like potatoes. Oh, so tasty, and today eating it with Saturday's homemade bread was the best lunch ever!



Today, I've got the new blue choker almost completely done, except for the clasp, but got it finished too late to take good pictures. So instead here's another couple of in progress shots. Today was assembly day, taking all the pre-wrapped beads and stringing them together with split rings. To do so, I added another tool besides the pliers and cutters I always wield, a set of split ring pliers.



These are designed to spread apart the split ring so you can get your wire or line through:



Unfortunately I had the camera on the wrong setting so all my in-progress shots came out horribly overexposed. Here's the very start:



Starting out with a string of linked beads, then laying out the loose wrapped bits to make sure the pattern's going to work and that I've pre-wrapped enough beads, because nothing's more aggravating when I'm in the groove than to have to stop and go back and break the rhythm.

Next, I start building down from the linked strand:



And I end up with something like this:



Better pictures to come tomorrow, I promise!

A Year in the Making, day 225

I'm working on a new necklace, but taking it easy - I let myself wrap 20 beads today, and made a couple of earrings, but then made myself put down the pliers and step away from the table. Don't want to overdo things again!

Here's one of the pairs of earrings:

Green Garnet Dangle Earrings



And here's the other pair, made to match the necklace I've got in the works:



The beads I've wrapped to date:



Loving the color on these!

I'll see how the arm feels tomorrow, but hopefully I'll get another 20-30 wrapped.

A Year in the Making, Day 157

Slightly distracted while making this post because I am watching the Superbowl.

This is a monumental occurrence, almost as earth-shattering, looming apocalypse portending, as the Saints being in the Superbowl.

I pride myself on my indifference to any and all sport-like activities. But it's the Saints. In the Superbowl. I'm trying to not be too hopeful. I really don't think they'll win. That would definitely be a sign of the end of the world.

I avoided the urge to make something black and gold in celebration.

Firstly, a simple piece:

Opalite and Peacock Blue Freshwater Pearls Necklace



The pendant is rescued from an old necklace that I'd recycled almost all of the original parts originally into new pieces. And I'd had just those three peacock pearls left. Both have been sitting in different boxes for months. Funny how these things suddenly come together!

The other piece, the big one I've been working on since Friday, is a new multi-strand Steampunk piece:

OOAK Steampunk Freshwater Pearl Multi Strand Necklace



We'll be breaking out the nachos in earnest shortly. Extra sharp cheddar, jalapenos, sour cream, and homemade salsa. Yum!