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."

Post #17: The Best Audiobooks Money Can't Buy

     Dear Hubby loves to read, and many times while I am working on my 10ThousandProjects he will read aloud to me. This is fantastic, as it is really difficult, if not impossible, to either knit or crochet or do beadwork or other handwork while reading at the same time, although I really do enjoy a good story. Watching a movie on television will sometimes work out, but most of the time it ends up just adding unnecessary background noise. Audiobooks are really great, and I especially like them when they are read by someone special. 

     DH (Dear Hubby) really loves old novels, the ones you can get for free that are prior to 1920, pre-copyright; he especially likes westerns and historical adventure stories, but we read many other types of non-fiction together as well. Sometimes he'll read an entire book to me over a period of days or weeks, but on other occasions he will simply share a passage or two that he finds interesting from whatever he is reading on his own. Such was the situation a few months ago: We were sitting quietly. As is often the case, the only sounds to be heard were the soft snoring of the dog and the faint clicking of my knitting needles. All of a sudden DH broke the silence to share this little tidbit with me: "As a Zulu chief, it was beneath his dignity to work with his hands.”* My reply to DH rolled off my tongue with no hesitation: “I guess I'm no Zulu chief.” 

     The thought of going even one day without working with my hands strikes a level of fear in me that words cannot express. I choose to not even go there in my mind. Now, that does bring to mind another friend's recent blog post regarding hands and crafting. If you are interested in fiber and beads and creativity, (and if you are reading this, I assume you are), then you may very well enjoy this too, so please check it out @ http://urbanstitchstudio.blogspot.com/. You won't be disappointed. And while you're at it, have an awesome day!

 These are the knitted and felted catnip mice I made for

Bear, Moose, Meiko, Sake, and Laci, my sister's five cats.

After I started, my friend Beverly and a whole bunch of other fiber friends knitted mice that Beverly then graciously stuffed and painstakingly sutured them closed after felting so they could be sold and the proceeds were donated to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Here are some of them before they were felted and stuffed.

Finding my peace in creativity,

Meryl

*The book from which DH was reading: “Allan Quatermain"
Here's a link to the Kindle download page:
http://www.amazon.com/Allan-Quatermain-ebook/dp/B000SN6IOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358812010&sr=1-1&keywords=allan+quatermain

Post #7: UFO Report: Beadweaving Bracelets

     Cynthia Rutledge, one of my favorite beadweaving designers, sells wonderful kits to make many of her beautiful beadweaving designs. They are worth every penny simply for the concise, clear, well-illustrated directions that she provides, not to mention the quality and quantity of materials included as well. I purchased a few of these, way back in 2003, and began one of them, called Around About the Wrist, fairly soon after my return from the Beads on the Vine retreat I attended in wine country out in California. One of my quirks is that when I do complete something, many times I'll think I should make a 2nd one, only to then end up with just another UFO (That is, if I ever do finish the first one).
     Well, I did finish that first “Around About the Wrist” bracelet pretty quickly, which for me, is a rare occurrence. I discovered there were enough materials left over to make a second bracelet as long as I left off the spinning dangle, or I could purchase some more beads to make that part if I decided to, so I started on a bracelet that I could give as a gift. Needless to say, the second one is still unfinished. Almost done, but still unfinished. Does anyone else have this problem? I don't just end up with UFO's, I end up with many that are 90% or more complete. So close and yet so far!

     The bracelet on the right is the completed project. The green triangular-shaped dangle actually spins around freely on the center of the bracelet. When I started the second bracelet, I decided to reverse the base colors. I also did not pull out the directions again when I started on the fringe, (I am an experienced bead-weaver), and I ended up making it twice as thick as what was called for in the original instructions. I never did say I was good at following directions! When I got to the point where I was ready to start down the other side, I wasn't sure if I had enough beads to finish the fringe in the same way. So there you have it...another UFO. I can't decide whether to:
A) Remove the fringe from the one side, and then re-do the fringe per the instructions, which should leave enough beads to finish both sides, or
B) Take my chances and keep going in the same manner, hoping and praying I don't run out of beads, or
C) Come up with a slightly different fringe design for the remaining side that would possibly use up fewer beads, or

D) Simply leave it as is, so the bracelet has fringe on only one side, which I think actually looks nice if worn with the fringe facing down toward the wrist.

     Sometimes I can't make a decision, so I set the project aside for a while and move on to something else until the right time comes when I figure out what to do. Who knows when that right time will be? I surely don't. But I will, at some time I will. I just don't know when.

Peace in creativity,

Meryl

Post #3: Beads on the Vine and a new UFO: Beadweaving bracelets

Somewhere around 9 or 10 years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a glorious time in San Luis Obispo, CA, which is in wine country. I was there to attend Beads on the Vine, which is a multi-day workshop held in a winery overlooking the beautiful scenery of the vineyards and rolling hills. Each of the three days featured a different instructor and a different beadweaving project. The three world-renowned teachers were NanC Meinhart, Carol Wilcox Wells, and Cynthia Rutledge. If you're not familiar with their work I highly recommend you search for them on the Internet. Their work is awe-inspiring.

In Cynthia's class I made a peyote stitch brooch of Delica beads adorned with semi-precious stones.

In NanC's class I made a right angle weave cuff bracelet with a frothy fringe.  

In Carol's class I made a bracelet of chevron chain with lots of sparkle added.
 

I am happy to report that I completed all three of these projects at the retreat. What an accomplishment! (Maybe that's because I don't drink wine)?

Now for the UFO part(s):
     The clasp on the bracelet I made in Carol's class broke at some point. This is such an easy fix, I have no idea why I have not done it yet! I love this bracelet and it fits me perfectly as long as it has a working clasp. That may be one of the things I hope will come of me writing this blog. Maybe it will motivate me to move on with some of the things I have been stalling on. Maybe not. We shall see....
     The cuff bracelet I made in NanC's class closes with three large snaps and fits around your wrist so that it doesn't spin around too loosely. After the retreat I lost quite a bit of weight and it was huge, too huge for me to wear without making some adjustments. This would involve removing the snaps, running some beading thread through where I want the bracelet to now end to secure the beads, cutting away the excess, re-securing the beads, and reattaching the snaps for the closure. It really would not be a big deal, maybe an hour or two if I take my time. Once again, why have I not done this? Do I sound like a crazy person? Sometimes I'm such a procrastinator. I can't be the only nut who keeps moving on to the next project. Am I?
     Fast forward to 2012, yes, this year! I pulled out another one of Cynthia Rutledge's kits that I had purchased long ago and started the project. It was going along quite nicely. Really it was. Here are pictures (at least, pictures of how far I've progressed, so far):

That was sometime back in the spring. I'll keep you posted if and when I get back to it.

Peace in creativity,

Meryl