Not sure what is going on with my crafting equipment....the revenge of the machines? A few days ago, my tumbler quit....the little roller part that makes the tumbling chamber go round and round literally melted off. Guess it just couldn't stand the combination of the hours of tumbling, and the temperature of the studio when I'm not in there....gets right toasty!
So....no tumbling - no pretty copper jump rings shiny as a new penny....so that gets put on hold. I tried going back to the low-tech way of cleaning them up....salt and vinegar...but didn't get them clean and shiny enough for me to use....
Of course, the sites that sell the tumbler do NOT sell any replacement parts, even though the google search says they do...lol! Their idea of replacement parts is extra tumbling medium and rocks. Ummmm....no. Hoping my hubby can fix this and make it all new again!
Today, I went out to the studio....and there across my work station that I am using lay my lamp on its extension arm. Now this is not just a lamp....the lamp also has a large magnifying class in the center - makes it just marvelous to use to work on tiny things....my favorite kind of things...hmmmm....is there a message here? The block that holds the entire lamp, and clamps on to the counter top just split in half...or almost...it is split and bent at a very odd angle.....not gonna go back where it was.
But, I soldiered on....I promised a picture of the tiny dark iridescent blue pearl beads....guess they are what's called a 'potato' shape....kind of irregular....but that appeals to me. They are small - I forgot to put a dime or something in the picture to give it some kind of scale....but each one is about half the size of a pencil eraser....maybe a little smaller.
Here they are:
Open to any suggestions as to what I should make with these. This is only part of what I have....there are probably three times the amount shown in the picture. Can't wait to read what you think these beads should become!
Also....the person whose idea I decide to use will receive a pair of fringe earrings. And...for those who don't know what it is that I call 'fringe earrings' - here is a pair...I make several versions of these, but the basic shape and kind of beads is what is shown here....the pair shown are a pretty iridescent (love that shimmery color!) pinky-lavender...and the design is one of my favorites....
Here's your chance to own a pair of these - which normally sell for $15.00 - gratis! Free shipping too! Who can resist that? Bring on the suggestions!
Color me excited! Today's mail brought a big fat ol' envelope from Caron International....I let it sit on the desk, just relishing the thought of what was inside....
When I couldn't stand it any longer, I ripped it open....and now there are a STACK of A.C. Moore Gift cards on my desk.....a stack!! I feel SO rich! It is going to be so much fun just deciding what it is I want to get....and then the even more fun to go and use those gift cards!!
What a genuine thrill this is for me - and I am so grateful to Caron and A.C. Moore for sponsoring the contest, and to all the wonderful people who voted over and over for my afghan - you made it all possible!!! THANK YOU!!
Now....off to start my lists....
Even though I got an email from Caron last week, listing the winners of the baby afghan contest, I was hesitant to say anything, as it was not on their website - but the email DID say I was one of the GRAND PRIZE winners!
This morning I got the confirmation direct from Caron - I did indeed win one of the Grand Prizes!! And what was that? A $300 gift certificate to use at A.C. Moore - PLUS - (an unexpected bonus!) an additional $25 for being a finalist! I am SO pumped!! This is the first time I have ever won anything - and to have it be for something I crafted myself made it extra-special!
It would not have happened at all without the support of all my friends, both here at home, and on the internet. Your votes made it happen! I cannot THANK YOU enough! Every week that the voting showed my afghan had gone on made me so grateful for all those who cared enough to go and vote - week after week! You are all the best!!
Need to thank too - A.C. Moore for putting up the wonderful prizes - which I will truly enjoy spending - and for Caron - whose choice of yarns to use gave me an excuse to try something new, and fall in love with! It is also special to me that the actual afghan went to a baby somewhere that needed to be wrapped up in comfort - thanks to Project Linus.
It is a wonderful day in the neighborhood!!
Still waiting.....
First, the contest was extended til January 31 - and according to the Caron website, the six semi-finalists would then be chosen - and posted on the "Sponsor's" website - it was not real clear to me if they meant the A.C. Moore website or the Caron website. The voting on the 6 semi-finalists was to commence on February 7, 2009.
And here it is....February 9 - and there is NOTHING posted on either website regarding the semi-finalists of the Project Linus contest. I am truly disappointed with this whole process. There is a lot to be said that if you say something is going to happen on date such-and-such, it really ought to happen. Not to think that my afghan will be among the six lucky semi-finalists - but it would be nice to see who is....and to vote for the one I like the best.
I'll keep checking back - and let you know when (or if?) the afghans ever get posted, and if we can then go vote for a winner. Of course the true winners here are the babies that are now wrapped up in all that wonderful softness ...
First - the Caron "Project Linus" contest that I entered many moons ago....the deadline for entries was 'supposed' to be December 31 - by which time, each afghan should have been mailed off, and photos submitted to Caron. This I did.....and then waited....only to find out that - oopsie - they have now extended the deadline for entries to January 31.
I find this really off-putting. Not only was it a royal pain to actually find a place to send my afghan (finally sent it off to the national headquarters in Illinois), now evidently either they didn't get enough, or what they got for entries wasn't up to snuff, so they extended the deadline. The only saving grace in this entire thing is the thought that sometime, my soft little afghan will be wrapped around a baby. I won't be entering any more contests for Project Linus, nor for Caron any time soon.
We'll see what happens on January 31 - will they really pick the 6 contestants to have y'all vote for? (and did they not have six who entered before?). If, and when they do....I'll post the picture of my afghan here again, and ask that (if you like it!) you go and vote for it!
On another note...sigh....the free class I signed up for was supposed to start January 7 - but guess what - do I see a pattern here? - the class was postponed til January 14. Some problem with the method of posting classes or something.
This new year of discovery is getting off to a rocky start....
