A Short Video of some Motifs/Techniques Learned in the Free Courses!
If you could see the number of cabochons in my studio (or really messy sewing room if you want the "southern version")...I would be seriously embarrassed. It dawned on me just this past week that there is no way that I can ever sit still long enough to actually bead all of these cabochons (and the Czech Glass Buttons). So, have sold a few on the Second Hand Crazy Quilt Supplies De-Stash site...and decided to frame these photo cabs and sale them too.
What does not go on the de-stash for cost will go for a slight mark-up retail cost on the Etsy Shoppe. Should have them listed there by December. Working on some other gift items for Etsy too...so if you are needing any gifts for sewing friends, keep me in mind.
These would work on any style of block. Just couch in place, and tack a little silk ribbon bow...or a flower to the top.
Ha, that's what I feel like saying. It seems that it's been forever since I've really posted about anything associated with my needle-art...but honestly, I've actually be really, really busy. These cabochons are for my friend Maureen...and aren't they so pretty, with a couple of really unusual vintage ones. It was a joy to get back to some beading...and I was so happy to work on these for her. And, she sent me some very pretty cabs of my very own as a thanks...and they'll get beaded sometime. Ha!
I've been extra busy with class projects for StitchMAP and for myself...and those are things that I can't really blog details about...but they do take up a lot of my creative time. I also have a special "secret" project to begin...that can't be shared yet either...and that will drive my muse crazy! But, I have two crazy quilt block in the works...and a third being pieced...so more about them in the days/weeks to come for sure!
The weather is nice now...and the garden has been mostly planted...so that will take up some time soon as well...and I'll take photos of everything I can that's going on to share with you!
Hope y'all are having a great Spring!
The weekend and this week have been busy. I've been beading cabochons for my friend Thearica's shop...and put 34 of them into the mail this morning. I forgot to get a photo before closing the box(...bad blogger, bad blogger) but, in my defense...it was before 6 a.m. and I was trying to get the inventory sheet and package ready to mail before Brady woke up. You'll have to keep a watch at her shop, crazyquiltsupplies to see when they show up on her site for sale.
Now, I'm working on beading up some turtles..aren't these cute?!
I had forgotten about doing some...but putting the other supplies away reminded me.
This little turtle was done a couple of years ago...and he was in one of the supply drawers. My muse decided she wanted to bead just a little more...so I'm working some up for a few friends.
Hope you are having a super day...and that the sun is shining!
I've got four projects going at the moment...at the same time...which is how my muse is most happiest working it seems. But, it sure does make a mess of my work table! What a lot of clutter! And this photo is only about a third of the table.
I've been working on cabochons obviously. Thearica at crazyquiltsupplies.com has them for sale; and they are going out the door faster than I can make them! That good...and bad! Ha!
Also working on an organizational item which will be a tutorial later on...when done. It is stitched on wool, and I'm liking it a lot so far. If you are wondering how I got the design transferred to a dark fabric...and wool...I didn't.
I traced it to the fusible interfacing on the back. Stitching on the front but using the back as a guide is a challenge!
It took a week longer than I had thought...but the group of Czech glass buttons I pulled to bead as cabochons did get finished! Yeah!
Here are some closeups for you.
If you'd like to learn how to bead these cabochones yourself (it's not difficult, just takes time)...the class instructions are still available at Patternspot ($6 for the entire 3-part course).
As is usual lately, this week has been busy with Brady. He has learned a new trick...screaming. Not the kind of mad or angry kind of screaming...more like practicing cat calls. It is both endearing, funny...and sometime hurts your ears! Friday, he started imitating a motor boat or a growling dog...it's hard to tell the difference...kind of a GrrrrrBwwwrrrrrr sound. Adorable to watch him try to figure out how to get his lips and jaws working "like yours" to make sounds. And, he has decided that there is so much to learn...he no longer feels the need to take naps. He actually gets quite upset at the thought of going to sleep...so it takes a while before he warms up the the idea and actually falls asleep. And, instead of 60-90 minutes of rest...it's now about 20-60 minutes instead. So, Auntie Kathy is working only small things that can be put down and picked up...so, more cabochones! I've cleaned off the window seat so not Brady can have his little chair up there next to Buddy...and close at hand while I bead. He sits here about 15 minutes at a time...about 3 times a day. So...needles to say, that and naps are not a load of time for me to get anything done.
Still, I managed these cabochons this week.
And, have these many more to do...so will be continuing this week too! Along with CQ Blocks of course.
What a week so far...very busy! And, I'm not even having to get any children back to school this year...
Brady continues to be a joy every day...but his poor dad has worked late almost every day...which of course, means that I work late too. It has made me more tired than usual...guess I'm getting older! Hugs!
I've been working on these purple cabochons while the baby sleeps...but he has been taking power naps (short ones) and I do more putting down than picking up beads it seems. I managed to finishe the two large crystal ones...but the purples will take a couple of more days perhaps.
The camera is not capturing the purple very well...but, it is purple.
This afternoon I decided to dye some lace.
After it dries (in a couple of days perhaps) I'll hand paint some accent pieces and get you some closeup shots.
Beading cabochons are a good pastime while tending to a baby...they can easily be picked up and put down dozens of time during the day as need be to tend to a wee one. Here are the ones I'm finished with...and working on the horse right now. How has your week been?
Sorry the photos are sideways...not sure why that is. But, the baby is awake again...so can't worry over trivial things right now. See ya!
Last night I finished off the week's worth of cabochons. These turned out to be good little projects for when the baby is sleeping...which are many short naps. Got to run and get these into the mail.
Hope you are all having a great weekend!
Want to see another cute photo?
Can you tell that I'm a proud Auntie!
This was a good week at my house...Aidan had a nice visit. I looked forward to a quiet Saturday where I could get a lot done...but, the rest of the family had other ideas. We had a family yard sale on Saturday...and it was just hot and muggy outside too! By late that afternoon, I was drained and not in the mood for much of anything that required me lifting my arms!! Ha!
Heat and I do not get along well.
So, that day...nothing much got accomplished.
Today, I finished up a flannel blanket for Brady. It's a simply little coverlet...no batting. The front is pieced flannel blocks (leftover flannels from other projects) and the back is a solid piece of striped blue flannel.
I just needed something that would be cool...not like a heavy quilt or fleece. The purchased flannel baby blankets are just too small to carry him down to Mother's house in...his feet keep coming out the bottom.
We had a couple of thunderstorms roll through last night...and they contained lots of lightening strikes. One of those apparently took out our local sub-station...right before dark.
Let me tell you...it's hard trying to finish bead fringe on a cabachon with only two little flashlights for light. See the dark around the light...that's what my house looked like inside. Pitch black!
I managed to find my only candle in the house...then my flashlights and batteries before the sun was completely out of the sky. But, after that...no light at all. No street lights, no moon, no stars...nothing. It was creepy. Buddy and I went to bed early...he would not stay in his doggie bed, and had to get up on mine. It was hot...and really hot with a large dog next to you! We opened a window a little, and that helped. But around 3:00 a.m. the power was restored...and I was gladly awakened by the television coming back on.
I'm tired this morning and waiting for Mother to get up...and coffee to be available. But, I'm glad that she is getting some sleep...and am sure that she needs it.
Here's how many cabochons I've still got to do...but not today. Today, I'm working more on Wilma's block for the "I Love Paris" round robin...as I've finally determined what else needs to be done...then it will be ready for the mailman to take to her!
It's been a while since I've done any beading, so thought I'd do a little of that today. This will be a bracelet for my daughter (if it turns out okay).
I'm stitching on leather. Not thick, hard leather...but very soft, thin, and suble leather. It came from an old leather skirt I got at the Thrift Store.
As you can see, I've used this skirt before for other projects.
Beginning requires a pattern. So, I'll start with a bracelet metal frame. That shape was rotated on paper and traced to get a pattern for cutting the leather.
Three cabochons are glued down with E-6000 and ready to start my surface beading.
The first part of the beading is to enclose all three of the cabochones with beads. You can see that here on the right side of the stone (click on the photo to enlarge). Sorry it's so hard to see, but using dark beads on black leather is just that way.
The first ring of beads is sewn to the leather. (This is the second row of my first idea...which was use double beads. However, they were too "full" so later I removed that row, and just added one bead at a time...which is "standard peyote".)
The remaining rings are sewn into the previous rows, using a circular peyote stitch....common in beading. For the last two rows, I changed from seed beads (sz 11) to Rocailles beads (sz 15). This decreases the wall of beads and curves them on top of the cabochon to hold it is place.
What to do next? How to cover the remaining leather?
Good question...and my muse is thinking that over.
So, just stay tuned...got to back to the TO-DO List before this project can be finished.
Hugs!
