Remember all those neckties a bought a while back? I made this out of one. Well, I’m still working on other things to do with these ties and came up with these flower brooches. I took a few apart and used the fabric to make them. They are even prettier in person and are in my shop now, in case you are interested.

I’m still working on other things to make with all my neckties and I’ll be showing you that this week (hopefully). I’m thinking I can make 3-4 things with just one tie, you’ll see. That is how handy an old tie can be. Who’da thunk!

First you must look at this little beauty. Handmade and painted special for me by my little Super-E. He made it out of salt dough. I put a few layers of varnish to protect it and then strung it with some beads so that I could wear it. It goes with everything, don’t you think? Super-E does.

Then there are these little lovelies given to me by my hubby. A very cool thrifted mushroom decanter (1970s) and a 1st edition set of the Nutshell Library, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. He is one of my favorite illustrators and this set is such a little treasure.

He also bought me all these great books. I have been wanting them for a while. They are all really great. Totally worth looking into.

Veganomicon by Moskowitz and Romero
Craft Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco
Altered Art by Teri Taylor

Lastly, two very beautifully embroidered tea towels from my mother. They go perfectly with my kitchen but they are almost too pretty to use. She said I had to use them. Okay mom.

Sent this to Elizabeth for the Fall Swap.  On the front of the tote is a pocket and a beaded/embroidered button.  There are more goodies tucked into the tote as well.

And this is what I received from Elizabeth.  Isn’t it all lovely!!!  More gorgeous wristlets with pretty yo-yo buttons can be found at her shop.  AND (gasp!!!) Moda Bloom fabric squares!!! I’ve already cut into them to make this.  I just couldn’t resist.  Then there is the pretty notecards (how did she know?), ribbon, trim and gold pen.  I am so lucky to have received her wonderful package!  Thank you so much Elizabeth!!

These are my wonderful buttons from the Embroidered Button Swap.   Can’t wait to do another button swap because they are the most delightful little treasures.   I hear there will be another button swap in the beginning of next year.  Keep your eyes peeled.

Speaking of swaps,  despite my immense love for them, I have promised myself and my husband to do only 2 for the holidays this year.  Last year I think I did 4 or 5 which resulted in a couple of melt-downs, which I am hoping to avoid.  I’m trying to take the “less is more” approach for the holidays this year.

I’ve been wanting to try making pendants using my own handmade images. I’ve had these little wood bits (circles and squares) that I’d been using for making clocks and decided to use them as the base. Here is what I did:

You’ll need paper (I used an old dictionary), wood bits from a craft store, waterproof micropen, pencil, scissors, craft glue, drill, small drill bit and clear glossy varnish.

1. Trace the wood piece on your selected paper.

2. Sketch out an image using a pencil, then trace/fill in with a waterproof micro pen. This will prevent the ink from smearing when the glue is applied.

3. When you are happy with your image, carefully cut out.

4. Decoupage image onto wood surface using thinned-out craft glue or modge podge. (I don’t like modge podge because it stinks). Allow to dry. Add watercolor wash at this time for a touch of color.

5. Very slowly and carefully, drill a hole with your smallest drill bit.

6. Apply a couple of layers of glossy varnish. Allow to dry overnight.

7. Use a jumpring to add to your favorite chain or beaded necklace.

I made these on Thursday and they were smooth. Tonight (Friday) they are bubbled up giving them a bumpy texture. I’m not sure why this happened, but I think I kinda sorta like it.

I get a whole lotta traffic to my Button Bracelet Tutorial post. Tons! It’s totally crazy how quickly and haphazardly I threw it together over a year ago, not thinking it would be of any interest. It makes me cringe a little at how sloppily I put it together. So, I gave it a face lift. Really it was an excuse to get out my buttons and make more bracelets. Especially this one, with my most favorite red and white buttons. Some are thrift finds, and some were hidden in my grammy’s button collection.

While I was making it, I got the insane idea to document the process photo….by….photo. Most of the photos are totally uneccesary, but if you watch the photostream, it’s not so bad. I always think these little projects won’t take very long, which is completely ridiculous, because it ALWAYS takes waaaaay longer than planned.

Check out:

***Button Bracelet Photo Tutorial

***Button Bracelet Tutorial (also on my side bar)

***Button Jewelry and Accessories Flickr Group (add your button creations to the group!)

A fellow crafty friend at work asked me to make her something to conceal her tampons during “that time of the month”. She only has a few years left to endure, but she wanted them to be a little more stylish and discreet. I made this little wallet, which I’ve seen around in blogland. I’m actually very surprised my attempt turned out well enough to give away. I almost kept it for myself. ***(07/28/07) Sorry, but there is not a tutorial for this tampon wallet at this time.  Thanks for your interest:)***

All this talk of tampons reminds me of a very embarrasing 8th grade experience. It was during US history, second hour. Little shy, quiet me pulls out my blue, 3-ring binder and to my horror there is a big honkin’ pad stuck smack dab on the front! They didn’t come in little individual packages and they were huge, by the way. I immediately ripped it off (imagine a very loud ripping sound) and shoved it into my bag at the same time that Tommy T. screams out to the class that, “Regina is on her period!!!” Regina: red faced and wanting to just die! Tis the brutality of adolescents.

Anyway, my friend gave me this amazing spiral, crocheted bracelet. She painstakenly makes spools of beaded thread to crochet into tube-like spirals. I love it!

These are the caps to many different liquid medication vials that I use at work.  I’ve seen them every day that I’ve worked for the past 8 years of my nursing career but for some reason I’ve never actually read them. While looking at a cap yesterday, I chuckled to myself, finding them highly amusing. And feeling a bit cynical, I decidedly needed to do something with them.

I think they’re funky, colorful and extremely funny. Now, will I ever wear them to work?  Probably not a good idea.

I’ve been having fun playing with my new bead collection.

Here are some great places for learning how to make your own jewelry:Artbeads.com Learning Center and Beadage:Make Jewelry

Once you get a few necessary tools, it can be very fun and easy.

Tomorrow is the last day for the bead show, so I had to quickly make my way there today before it was too late. This time I was armed with a wholesale pass from a friend and scored some very good buys.

My favorites are the recycled glass beads(top). I think I bought 12 strands at $2 each. Something about them that makes me very happy. Maybe it’s because they are rough, rustic, earthy or maybe it’s just because they are recycled. You gotta love that.

With all these beads, I’ve had to get out my beading stuff. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

I also bought 50 pairs of sterling silver hook earring wires, so you can guess that I’ll be making a lot more earrings. Oh and some bracelets, and maybe a few necklaces.

So, a while back I needed some plain white polymer clay. I was very much busy in the middle of something and kinda begged my hubby to run to Michael’s and get me some. He had to pick up our little guy from school anyway. Without really thinking, I showed him a pictured on-line which just happened to be an 8lb box. All I really needed was a 1lb box. So here he comes home all sweet and smiley with this HUGE box of polymer clay! Oops. Thank goodness he was able to get a 40% off coupon from the cashier. So what do you do with 8lbs of white polymer clay? Why you make more button bracelets of course! This time I added some candy red stripes to make them sweet.

I also made this little sugarplum fairy ornament for the swap *hostess with the mostest*. I sent it away with my ornaments and ATCs. It’s for her little bun in the oven!

It’s made out of white polymer clay - painted with acrylic paints and covered with sparkly fairy dust. I also used some of my small candy buttons for her jacket too.