New Things!!

Finally had enough time to go and spend some in my studio....am playing around with a variety of different things.

First - a combo - I have these wonderful fine silver medallions - made from molds of antique buttons - that I have drilled (with difficulty) holes to hang them with - and tried combining it with a small square of peyote stitch Delica beads. I used a lovely shade of purple for the beading, then added more beads, alternating with sterling silver chain, also in purple - Delicas and larger beads - transparent version of the same shade - and I really like the whole effect! I added a sterling twisted silver circle toggle clasp to finish the necklace, which measures 21 inches - perfect length! Now I can't wait to try different colors!

Here is what I came up with! If you are so inclined - this lovely piece could be gracing your neck for a very attractive price of $30.00! Just send me an email at "tryshz at gmail dot com" without the quotes, and with the symbols instead of the words for them - and I'll reply quickly!

Next I tried some simple stringing - I had purchased a lovely bead (actually a couple of them), intending for them to be a focal bead - they are rectangular, and this one is a combination of cream and green, and is faceted - with a pretty matte finish. I added a green bead on the bottom to bring out the color, and then strung it on silver chain with a lobster clasp, measuring 19 inches. I quite like this look too. I am trying to come up with something special in earrings to go with this....will post them when I have them 'made'!

Here is my GreenNCream Necklace - which also is up for grabs - the perfect spring-like look, for a mere $25.00! Same drill - just shoot me an email at "tryshz at gmail dot com" - again taking out the quotes and putting in the symbols.

Much more to come......am using my afghan prize money to try new things - things I've wanted to do, but couldn't justify the cost......but now I can! Stay tuned!

De Prize, De Prize....It's Here!!

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....

...and a Couple More...

The final installments of my experiment with the fringe earring design.

First one - I almost managed to make it all one shade of pink - but the lighter against the brighter was pretty, nonetheless! I doubled up the bugle beads, then made the fringe - the bugle beads were the palest pink, and the Delica beads were a shade called "bubblegum'!

Then I tried another change - both in color and design! I made the entire earring wider - 7 beads wide instead of 5, and the color (which the monitor does not reproduce accurately) is a wonderful iridescent blue/purple/magenta in the seed beads and the dagger beads, and the bugle beads are a dark navy blue (shows up here much brighter than the reality). Limitations of color on the web!
So...here it is...the last one for now....

New stuff coming up - maybe tomorrow.....depends on how much 'crafty time' I can sneak into my day!

As Promised.....More Earrings...

Finished up the green earrings - and they still don't appeal. Don't think it's the design though - I think I'm just not that fond of green! Or the combination of greens. Which makes me want to explore more green - find a way - combo -design that does appeal!

So...here they are - sans findings - didn't have a chance to get them attached - but wanted to get them out here...

Any thoughts out there? What could I do here?

Spring Earrings - Simple and Pretty!

I decided to try my hand at beading again - I have not touched my bead stash for a few months now - having detoured off in other directions - which I am still pursuing.

I wanted to make myself some simple and pretty earrings to celebrate spring (even if the weather just won't!). I had a dark blue pair of these, and decided to try them in different color combinations. They have a bit of a Native American flavor - maybe because of the fringe, or maybe the combination of bugle beads and seed beads - but I like it!

So here is the first combo - clear bugle beads, pale blue seed beads, and frosted blue dagger beads to finish the ends of the fringe. They are attached to sterling silver French earwires.

I'm half way done with a light/dark green combination - wanted them to be in one shade - light green, but didn't have any bugle beads in that color. May have to play around with the pattern and see what I come up with after I finish this pair.

OH! And if you're so inclined - and would like to purchase this pair - they can be yours for $10 plus $2 shipping. Just send me an email at tryshz at gmail dot com - replacing the words with appropriate symbols.

More to come...

WOO HOO!! It's Official!!

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!!

A Note From the Land of the Sick...

You KNOW I am sick when I didn't even manage to post a short blurb about my baby afghan making it to the FINAL weeks of voting.

But - it did! I am so thrilled to have made it to the finals - and this is the FINAL voting - this is it - this picks the winner! So...if y'all would go and vote for me one last time, I would be SO grateful!

Go to www.caron.com
Click on the green "VOTE" circle - and vote! My afghan this week is #4 - and I appreciate every single vote!!

And I truly hope to be healthy soon....