crystal | Bead Happily Ever After

Lori and Crystal have a Cup of Bead Soup

Posted on September 19, 2012 by crystal

You may remember I promised our Autumn Bead Challenge would be the best ever? 😉

Well, I am delighted to announce that I am partnering with Lori Anderson of Pretty Things for one of her fabulous Cup of Bead Soup Mini Blog Hops!

I have donated 5 identical Vintage Bead Kits to Lori and four lucky winners, who will use them to make some magic!

I chose an artsy, organic mix of Vintage Lucite and Acrylic Beads for this challenge and I know the results are going to be amazing! Wouldn’t you like the chance to play with this assortment?

Click photo to enlarge.

Lori is famous for the fun and excitement of her Bead Soup Challenges! (She even has a new book on the subject!)

So what are ya waiting for? Hop on over to Lori’s to sign up for your chance to be one of the lucky designers who will join her this time!!!

Sending smiles,

The Beat Goes On . . . with Bracelets

Posted on September 17, 2012 by crystal

While thinking of a topic for this week’s Make somethin’ Monday, I was reminded how quickly a cute idea can turn into a fad!

I suppose in today’s jargon, the word “fad” would translate into “go viral”.

When I was in my early teens, these “gum wrapper” bracelets were the rage.

I swear we put our future dental health in jeopardy by trying to chew as much gum as possible in order to have a steady supply of wrappers!

When my own kids entered the “tween” stage, it was friendship bracelets made of embroidery floss that were the “in” accessory.

Currently, I’m neither teen nor tween – Ok, stop laughing! – but I definitely know a cute idea when I see one. 😉 These bracelets are popping up everywhere, lately!

There are countless versions of them in fashion magazines, on blogs, Pinterest, and other online craft venues. You know me. I love a quick TV Time project, so I just had to make a few . . .

The materials are fairly inexpensive: crochet hook, embroidery floss, beads, and a clasp.

This is one of those projects that leaves a lot of room for experimenting with various sizes of yarns, threads, and beads. You can try to use up stuff that’s already in your stash – and that’s always a good thing! (Call me “Martha”.) 😉

Fair warning though . . . they’re a bit like Lay’s Potato Chips . . .

“Bet you can’t ~~eat~~ make just one”! (I couldn’t.)

Picture a couple of these mixed and matched with some metal bracelets in your wardrobe.

Très chic, n’est-ce pas? 😀

Wanna make your own? Pattern, here.

Sending smiles!

It’s Time . . .

Posted on September 10, 2012 by crystal

I wonder if the real reason many of us are reluctant to say goodbye to summer is a holdover from childhood. When we were kids, the very mention of autumn meant the return to school – and who wanted to return to math and science when you could be building castles in the sand, or leisurely blowing bubbles from your back steps?

I was one of those kids. I didn’t want summer to end. I wanted to go on feeling the warm sun while I shivered on a towel after swimming all day. I loved the August breeze blowing through my hair while riding my bike to buy a Popsicle. I shuddered each time I noticed the days were getting shorter as Labor Day approached. It was sad to think it would soon be over for another year but, of course, there was no fighting it.

So, for those who are mourning the end of summer – I feel your pain.
I have been there . . .
but not lately.

Right now, after this summer with its unusually long spells of high humidity, I am longing for a cool fall breeze and a bright blue sky. I want to enjoy a hot drink whenever I feel like it. I want to be able to work on a project without the wind of the fan blowing my pattern pages away. I want to reclaim the space in each room that is taken up with cooling devices – whether they are air conditioners or fans. I want to unplug them and silence their hum. I want to put a blanket back on the bed and wake up feeling refreshed. I want to turn on the oven – every day if I like – and make pumpkin bread and suppers that require long cooking times! I want to take a drive for no reason other than to view the colorful foliage. In short, I want the autumn and I can hardly wait.

This week’s Make somethin’ Monday reflects my autumn state of mind.

These beaded earrings, which I’m calling, “Au Chocolat”, feature earthy chocolate browns, warm amber topaz, and just a glimmer of deep rust red. They are now in my web store. 🙂

Sending smiles to all,

Ever Seen a UFO?

Posted on September 3, 2012 by crystal

Welcome to week 2 of Make somethin’ Monday.

I have to start by thanking you for your sweet comments last week!” 😀

It was wonderful to read each and every one of them. Your enthusiasm has sent me merrily searching through my supplies and project ideas to plan the next few weeks of items to show you . . .

Ever Seen a UFO?

No, not that kind! 😉

Many of you know that “UFO” is an abbreviation used by crafters to refer to projects started with great gusto and good intentions but, somewhere along the way, relegated to the back burner. I must confess I have several UFOs – UnFinished Objects.

So, in addition to the new things I’ll be making, I may sometimes pick up one of my UFOs to work on and feature on Make somethin’ Monday.

For example, a while back (Yikes, it was in 2010!), I began making this crocheted pillow. I talked about it in a blog post, and mentioned that it would eventually be round!

Fast forward to this week… I picked it up again and now I’m well on the way to finishing it.

With a just little more sewing, I can slip it over the pillow form, it will be complete.

I may add a decorative button to the center, or a maybe a flower (either fabric or crocheted).

Or should I just leave the center plain?

Hugs,

Make somethin’ Monday

Posted on August 27, 2012 by crystal

New feature beginning today!
It was inspired by a little daydream I had this week . . .

I was remembering how years ago (when I was a new bride and then a new mother), it was very tough to find time to work on a craft project with any regularity. One day, a neighbor suggested I sign up for a Fall class on Floral Décor. She had gone the previous year and was excited to return. The class met one evening a week for 6-weeks. Sir Beads cheerfully offered to baby-sit.

Each week, we completed a project designed to be finished in a couple of hours. When the series ended I had six beautiful decorations. That class was truly a revelation to me. I realized that the secret to being creative in the midst of a very busy life was to “schedule” something – on the calendar!

In the years that followed, my friends (who were also busy mothers) and I came up with the idea of holding a weekly “craft night” in our homes. We would take turns hosting the group and providing the refreshments. Sometimes we all worked on the same project. Other times we did our own thing, which was actually even better. It was amazing how enthused and inspired we became as we shared our designs and ideas.

Lately, I’m feeling the creative time crunch as much as I ever have. Why would that be? I mean the kids are grown and I’m no longer a new bride . . .

Of course, I do have a bead shop to run and then there’s a certain retired husband with whom I like to spend some quality time. The thing is, if I’m not creative – I begin to miss it quite a lot. So, the other day, during a light bulb moment, I remembered the “schedule” method and figured the blog could help me out!

“Yikes, Crystal, that was a pretty long-winded explanation to introduce the new feature: “Make somethin’ Monday”

What can I say? You’re right. 😉

To begin the series, I have a pair of earrings – just finished them!

Now, you’re probably saying,

“Who are you and what have you done with Crystal!?!? Those earrings are more earthy and organic than Crystal usually makes – and they’re not even purple!”

They definitely are a departure… and I love them!

Maybe this scheduling thing is inspiring me already.

(The pear-shaped stones are vintage, made in Czechoslovakia. In order to make the earrings, I found suitable settings and then “set” the stones, myself. Fun! I will soon be carrying the vintage stones, in several colors, in my etsy shop.

Hugs,