Christmas is Over

I hope everyone who celebrates it had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was busy and festive, filled with family and good food! With that said: PHEW!!!!!!! Although it was a great time, I am a bit relieved that the preparations are over, and we can get back to some normal-life around here.

One of my post-Christmas goals was to get back to my first jewelry-making love of off-loom bead weaving. It a way it is meditative with its repetition, and the colors of the beads are a feast for the eyes.

I got back to a free-form peyote project that I started long ago. Peyote is a basic beadweaving stitch, and to do it free-form means that you decide where it goes: you may have an idea in mind, but there is no pattern, the beads lead you. I find it very fun, and easier than following a pattern. That is interesting because my friend, and beadweaving mentor FarFrumPlainJane finds free-form challenging, while I find the incredibly gorgeous, detailed work she is most comfortable with most challenging! It is interesting how different minds work differently!





The project I am working on features lampworked beads I purchased several months ago from Alice Hunter-Kelly. I just love the colors--her beads are so gorgeous. Originally I planned this for myself, but I am not sure if I will list it on etsy or not. The lampworked bead set came with matching small round beads that I will make into coordinating earrings. It is a work in progress, but getting close. I have tiny clear-gold AB beads to add as well. Additionally I will weave a clasp of some sort, I haven't decided on that yet--or perhaps it is more correct to say the beads haven't told me, yet!

Too Cold for Me, Too Cold for Resin?

Well, I will try not to waste too many words of this blog complaining about the weather--let's just say I am not a winter person (understatement!!). But this morning was a balmy 17 degrees with a windchill of 4 degrees! Goodness!! My poor fella had to really be bundled up this morning. I was silently grateful that my girlie doesn't have 4K today, and we could stay inside. Fortunately, my door faces the door to school, right across the street. So my BIG second grader can walk to the corner and cross with the crossing guard while I watch from my door.... so I got to stay toasty.

Well, the cold weather brings up a creative issue with me. Well, maybe not creative, but functional?? Resin takes a lot longer to cure when it is colder!! My snowflakes that I started yesterday are ready for a second layer at least, but if they were all done, they wouldn't be ready to pop out... In the warmer months, they would have been cured. It is difficult for me to be so patient!!!

I think what I will do to solve this problem is switch gears a bit... I have the snowflakes to finish up, and a couple of other Christmas projects using resin--then I might pack it away for a while (I say "might" because it is hard to stop an obsession!!). What I plan to try is soldering pendants. I put in my order last night, and am truly giddy with excitement!! I read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Soldered-Jewelry-Accessories-Fashioning/dp/1600590306/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227283361&sr=8-1 which I got from the library, and am fascinated! I know there are a lot of artists on etsy already doing this kind of work, and I can't help but try to join them. It looks like so much fun. When my heart really beats, I know it is something I HAVE to try! Yes, I get that excited about it!!!

As the winter progresses, I want to spend a little more time with my polymer clay (which just got so mushy in the summer heat--tho' might be harder to work with in the cold as well...) and also work on some off-loom bead weaving jewelry. And get my craft room organized. And, um, the whole house. Hmmm, I seem to have a long project list again!!! :-) No doubt the organizing will get dropped off, always seems the first to go!!!


I also need to include a picture of my fella sans winter gear because he got his first hair "style." It was a surprise to me when he came back from getting his haircut with my hubby. But it is getting a little long to spike up, so it was time for a picture before it was too late!! It is funny to me to be sharing my gel spray with my little guy! Now if I can only get my girlie to let me comb her hair without a fight! Good luck with THAT one!!