Day Six : Eden's Comet Earrings

Oooooh, Dangles!

Ok, so I know this is the second set of green earrings in a week, but these have honestly been waiting to be made into earrings for at least three years! I came up with this design years ago, and have made a few pairs here and there for family and friends. The problem is, I can't find those goregeous colored star-shaped pearls anywhere, and yes, they are pearl! A simple star-shape irritant is put into the pearl and then it develops it's nacre over it. A really cool process. I remember being fascinated with shaped pearls since I was a little girl and I was looking through a book that had Buddah shaped pearls in an oyster that had been left too long. The concept of shaping cultivated pearls has fascinated me ever since.

I was going to make a white set, as I have these gorgeous white star-pearls, but alas, they are drilled from point to point, not symmetrically, so they don't sit right, I may have to see about finding some that do so I can get these up on Etsy. I think these are just so fun, and I love the colors. I also have enough to do a few more sets in green and a couple in blue. So fear not, it's not just a green girl's paradise. Though outside is, with the weather and the rain it's just verdant outside. I did have one of the weirder conversations with a tree while taking pictures, but then I realized, aren't all conversations with trees peculiar at least?

Awww.. Babies!

On the way out the door to take pictures, I found a few little friends... a few hundred that is! With the warmer weather or just the timing I managed to open the door to a bunch of little ballooning spiders. They are so tiny and cute, but damn do they give you the creepy crawlies. I still feel like I might have a couple on me. Josh and I both tried to take pictures, and I think my little point and shoot might have won that battle.

Macaroni!

Then on the way back inside, I found the prettiest Blue-jay feather. Since I've been obsessed with my fedora for a few days I thought I'd stick it in the band. Today has been a rewarding day for going outside. On a non-outside note, I managed to finish four and a half pattern rows in the shawl I'm working on and with some rough math, I realized that's over four thousand stitches, and possibly closer to five thousand. No wonder I like watching the television, I'm still getting so much done.

Day Five: Vampire Choker

Little Vampy Bites

 I saw something like this on a random blog I "stumbled" a while back, and I really thought it was the cutest little vampire tribute. Instead of something super dark and spooky, it's simply a choker made with clear beads (In this case some cute iridescent beads that I've had for at least a decade.) with two little spots of red that just about fit along the jugular to look like tiny neck holes from a vampire bite. I really like the way this looks, and with the heart shaped clasp, I feel it's a great vamp-love tribute.

Close up of the Clasp

I think the original I saw was made with really sparkly beads, but I didn't want to make an identical one, or have anything that had too much sparkle, since I'm not a "Cullen" fan.

Day Three: Hoppy Earrings

Leaves on a Branch.

Saturday brought with it, a new set of challenges and I think I met them pretty well! I managed to not only make an accessory, but also work a full day at Fairy Floss, and also get together with friends. My only failing is that this post is a bit late, but I figured some impressive baby time was worth it! I hope that in the future I'll be better at planning ahead, but that does happen from time to time, and really isn't that what this project is all about?

Nice and Simple

Without further ado, here they are! I found this chain a while back at Dava Bead and Trade and was in love with it the moment I saw it! I had to pick some up to do something fun with. I started with a more complex design, but really like the simplicity of the leaf covered chain and the olive colored swarovski crystal.They remind me of a hop growing on a vine, even down to the pretty green color.

Day one: A repair for Grandma

A look a the lovely Amethyst Glass

Today marks the start of my "Year and a Day" project! I was going to do just your average everyday "365" project, but I just can't wait another day. My husband and sister are also going to be working on one as well, hopefully having the support of others will make it more likely that we'll stay honest and on track!

For the next 365 (already one down!) I'll be making, and hopefully posting one accessory made by yours truly! You may find headbands, you may find earrings, you may find a tiny cellphone case, but whatever strikes me that day will be made, and shared with the world.

Finished and Ready to Wear

Today's entry is a project for my grandmother. She had a necklace that broke a while back and is one of her favorite necklaces. A beauty of a piece made with of some of the deepest amethyst colored glass I've seen with a few brass accents here and there. Luckily only a few beads were lost in the breakage, and none of the larger size. Knowing I didn't have any gold-tone crimps, I picked up some gold plate ones. !

This is one whopper of a necklace, measuring in at 38 inches and weighing almost 3 ounces, I'm pretty sure I have scarves that weigh less, in fact, I made a shawl that weighed less a month or so ago! I hope I'll be able to keep up with this schedule, and also broaden my horizons. I'm hoping that keeping myself to a stricter schedule could help with not just this project, but also keep what can be a hectic life in check.

Who doesn't love stars?

So I was heading off from lunch with girlfriends last Friday and had other things that I needed to do but decided to stop over at my favorite bead store (which will be moving soon of course). I always stop by hoping they will have a very elusive component, amazing angel wings that are great in any earring design. Moving on!


I stopped in, dismayed at their usual lack of service, and that one crazy old bird that has he bead tray on top of half the beads just sorting out her design, though she is one step up from the lady with the purse on the tables of beads! Well I found a little tiny bin, full of amazing little pieces. My eyes lit up, I pulled all of the little bits into my hands, hardly believing what I was seeing.

Colored star pearls! Now see, I am all about shaped pearls, especially stars! I have some earrings over on the right hand side that are made with star pearls. I call them my shooting star earrings. But now, oh now, there are colored pearls . I bought them in different colors trying to match each set. So now I have these amazing star pearls and don't know what to do with them! Any ideas? I guess we will have to see.