collecting | Bead Happily Ever After

For this week’s Friday Favorites I’d like to show you a little collection of mine that began with a gift.

It was Christmas 2001 and after the turmoil that had occurred in the world during the autumn of that year, we received this gift with the message that it would renew hope for a bright future.

She is appropriately named: “The Angel of Peace”

The gift really struck a chord with us and somehow seemed very soothing after the previous weeks of uncertainty that so many of us had been through.

I had never seen the resin sculptures of Susan Lordi before that time, and I’m not sure if it was because the first one meant so much to us, or if I would have been drawn to them anyway, but after that Christmas, I began to notice them in stores and found myself charmed by them.

Now, I’m at the point where I have several, and I’m out of shelf space to display any more! These are the ones that make us smile here at our house . . .

We bought this for our anniversary one year . . .

My daughter gave me this one for a Christmas gift . . .

I had to buy this for Sir Beads-a-Lot . . .

As a kid, I spent most of my summers at the beach . . .

I couldn’t resist this one – she seemed perfect to display during summer and fall!

By the way, if you’re ever out shopping and you happen to see me lingering over a display of these little sculptures, please grab me by the arm and remind me that I have no more shelf space, ok? Thanks! 🙂

Do you ever have to remind yourself that you don’t need more of “something”?

On your gift-giving list, is there a bear collector, or a knitter, or maybe someone who just loves tiny treasures?

Well, this mini teddy bear might be perfect for all three! Whether he decorates a birthday package or is a “gift” all by himself, he’s pretty hard to resist!

You can finish this project quick as a wink by using a 3″
pre-made bear. The knitting is done on full size knitting needles (size 1) and then transferred to tiny “bear-sized” knitting needles – made from toothpicks!

“Knitting Bear” Tutorial:

Supplies needed:

3” Bear – from your local craft supply store (I found mine at Michael’s)
A scrap of 1/8” ribbon for a bow at teddy’s neck
Assorted remnants of sport weight yarns
Size 1 Knitting Needles
2 round wooden toothpicks
2 size-5/0 beads (or any bead that fits the toothpick)
Tacky Glue

Directions:

Tie a bow at Teddy’s neck and then set him aside.

Using size 1 knitting needles, cast on 15 stitches in your choice of color.

Knit in stockinette stitch for 3 rows, then change colors for 3 more rows. If the knitted piece seems long enough, (depending on your yarn and tension) cut the yarn – leaving a one-yard piece, which will be rolled into a little ball of yarn.

Carefully put half of the stitches on one toothpick, and then the rest of the stitches on the other – moving them slowly to avoid losing stitches in the transfer!

Once you have transferred the stitches, the toothpicks may need a little trimming if they seem too long or are too fat for the beads to slip onto easily. I trimmed mine a bit with the tip of my wire cutters. The wood is soft and trims easily.

Next, glue the beads onto the toothpick ends.
Bring the hanging piece of yarn over the needles to the front, and roll it into a ball – starting at the end of the yarn. Use a little glue here and there to hold the round shape.

Any loose strands on the back of the knitting can either be woven in, or snipped close to the work and secured with a dab of glue.

Finally, place the piece of knitting in the bear’s paws and glue it to his chest area with a generous little dollop of tacky glue. Let dry.

Finished!!! Aww . . . isn’t he sweet?

Bead Happily Ever After

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Friday Favorites

Bears Can Knit, Too!