Post # 18: UFO City at the Craft Cafe, Books I Love, & A Confused Pear Gourd

 
My work table is not always the neatest thing in the world, but things are improving day by day. Since I started writing this blog I have gotten motivated to really dig in and get things organized. Today I am simply sharing some more UFO's (Un-finished Objects or works-in-progress) and a few completed projects as well.

 I think watching Downton Abbey and beadwork go very well together. That's what was on the TV in the picture from post #16 when I showed the start of rearranging my craft space. I have already changed parts of this area around three or more times since then and will continue until every puzzle piece fits perfectly into place. I'm enjoying the process and will share more pics along the way. Sometimes things seem much messier in the process of getting neater! (I hope).

There's always a vast assortment of things to be seen on my beading trays and boxes. These are some bead knitted pieces based on ideas from the book "Betsy Beads" which I may have mentioned earlier.

 

 It has provided another great, easy to carry, easy to pick up for a short time type of project that can be done in-between other things without too much concentration. Also, there are beads, of course, and stitch markers, yarn, shells, metallic thread, etc.

     The gourd on the left (with the red interior) is the first gourd I ever crafted. I started it in 2005 when we lived in Tennessee. It is still a UFO!!! DH grew it in his 3000 sq. ft. garden. (Which somehow grew to 5000 sq. ft. the next year, but that's a whole other story)! This gourd has lived in six places with us and as a result has an injury which must be repaired. Maybe now that I'm really getting settled into my craft space I'll be able to finally tackle this one!
     The pear-shaped gourd started out to be a gourd bird feeder, but first I couldn't decide whether to paint or stain it, whether to string the edges with beads, or leave it natural, since it was so pretty as is. When I can't decide, I simply wait. It isn't time. (This would drive some people crazy, but not me, no - probably 'cause I'm already there). I finally decided that I like it so well I would like to keep it inside. It does still need some embellishment of some sort, either paint or stain or fiber or beads or wood putty, etc., but- form following function, I need to wait. Now I am trying to decide if it should be a candy dish or possibly some sort of beading or crochet caddy. What do you folks think? Any opinions out there?

I still plan to wrap beads around the stem of the gourd on the left.

The fishbowl gourd is also a UFO. It is woodburned and colored and

now in limbo, but it seems fine and happy right where it is.

The smaller gourd, sitting in the fishbowl, is the beginning of

another gourd purse, but who knows what it will become?



 The Oil Lamp gourd on the left and the bowl on the right are

 wood-burned and stained with various inks and dyes.

The two in front are dyed with shoe polish, chip-carved by hand,

and a paste wax finish was applied and hand buffed.

The beadwork pieces are from a book by Diane Fitzgerald,

which is one of my favorite books, but one for which my

10ThousandProjects don't always allow me the time.

I plan on purchasing more prisms for my window.

This is definitely a case where "more is better."