Bead Soup - What will it Become?

I've had the beads for about a week now - so has my swap partner - but this is the first chance I've had to blog about them! Now that Shay has her beads I can show you what I sent her!

Bead soup is supposed to be a challenge - make something with the beds that you are sent - well I ended up being challenged by what I was sending! I don't do much with pink, but while I was looking at the cab I just kept thinking "this needs pink" So I went for it! I look forward to seeing what she makes :) Now for what I received....

The full set:

Breaking it down...

I haven't decided precisely what I'm going to make with this yet, but I know it's going to be at least partially bead weaving (well, I know I'm using embroidery on the focal) but I haven't figured it all out yet :)

For my second piece...

I have some more shells that I'll add to that and this one is going to be a bracelet. I'll probably start working on that one this afternoon. I have a lot going on right now! There are 10 projects in my work box right now. These two projects, this month's bead weavers, one for me, an earring project, key chain, the beginnings of my bead weavers swap project, and I'm forgetting the rest :P And there's more in my head! I made my self stop when the box was basically full though. I've spent the last couple days working on a project for Mom and this month's bead weaver project. Here's a pic I took a couple of days ago of the box.

Fun huh?

Reclaimed Yarn

Along knitting comes the fact that you have to pay so much for yarn, I have come to find.  Sheesh, the last time I purchased yarn, it didn't cost that much!  $7 for a skein of synthetic yarn with enough to make a scarf?  Wow!  So, I did what every other frugal chic does:  I got online to look for an alternative.  The answer?  Reclaimed yarn a.k.a., yarn reclaimed from old sweaters. 

Now, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that reclaiming yarn is going to be very time consuming.  Therefore, I have resolved to reclaim only higher-end yarns like wools and such.  But, first, I need to learn how to do it.  So, I retreated to my closet to grab a sweater I haven't worn in over a year:

A nice soft cotton.

First, I disassembled the knitted pieces:

Then came the unraveling process.  Wow...talk about time consuming!  Here is some yarn wrapped around the legs of a chair into hanks:

At one point, Tayelor came in the room and saw me having so much fun (yea, right), she asked to join in!  So, she unraveled and I wrapped the unraveled  yarn in hanks around the legs of a table chair.

Here's the hanks I got from the sweater:

The next step is to wash it:

I let it soak for about an hour.  Then, the hanks were hung to dry.  I really wanted to weight them down, but I don't know if I am actually going to use this yarn, so straight yarn was not my priority.  This whole undertaking was to learn how to reclaim yarn on a garment that I cannot ruin the yarn, remember.  Now, I do know that when I wash the wool, it has to be done a certain way so that it doesn't felt, and when choosing the garment to reclaim the yarn, I have to inspect closely for any felting.  If there is any felting in the piece, you cannot reclaim the yarn because it will not unravel.

The fruit of my labor?  The first picture I started with!  I don't know how much yarn I got as I didn't hank it in 3' pieces.  I really didn't care how much I got.  I just wanted to practice!

So, what tedious undertaking have you done recently?  Did you regret it or did it help you learn something?

A Peek Into the Creative Process...

I awoke to 3 degrees Fahrenheit below zero this morning, so therefore, I am chained to the fireplace trying to warm the house up.  It was 63 degrees when I got out of bed and I have been running the fireplace since 7am.  Now at 11 am, it is only up to 65 degrees!  No studio work today, so I thought I would bring you a special blog post:  A look into the creative process!

When I begin a design, I don't really go into it with any ideas in mind.  I retreat to the old button storage and pick out a button/buttons that suit my fancy for the day.

This drawer so happens to be mostly metals, but I have everything from mother of pearl to fabric to vegetable ivory in this storage box.  After I choose the buttons I will use for the piece, I set to gently restore them.

As you will see, this is a multiple stage process, and probably more time consuming that the actual creating of the piece.  And, yes, I did knit those fingerless gloves.  I have been a knitting fool every night and weekend since I learned how!

My main goal is to restore the original beauty of the buttons while retaining the aged patina.  One must remember that most of the buttons in my stash are from the mid to late 1800's, so there are many problems that have to be dealt with such as rust and the "green meanies" (the unsightly green oxidation on brass that is more suitable aesthetically to garden fixtures and outdoor decorations).  These issues are dealt with and removed with museum approved techniques and products.

 
For the final stage, a museum wax is applied to protect from further rusting and oxidation as well as water damage and retains a smooth, clean shine.  *Please note that this button looks the same from the first picture to the last as it was not actually restored, it was only used to demonstration purposes*.  While I am restoring the button/buttons, I run through ideas of how the button will be converted into a piece of jewelry, all the while running through techniques that allow me to create a piece of jewelry without harming or altering the button in any way.

By the time I am completed with the cleaning process,   I have a good idea of how to design the piece.  I retreat to my bead boxes (my red vintage bead box is shown above)...

and my brass filigree boxes and choose pieces that would be most suitable for the design I have in mind.

As you can see above, the actual piece begins to take form.  This piece is still a work in progress.  I guess I will not get to it again today...I just hate having to take all the supplies I need out of the studio to bring downstairs simply because I have to cart them all back upstairs when I am done.  These are the days that I catch up on computer work and maybe do a little tatting for chokers and bracelets.

As you can see, creating button jewelry is so much more than just making the piece.

By George, She's Doing it!

Knitting.  My nemesis.  I have been trying to knit since I was 21.  Believe me...that was a while ago!  My mother tried teaching me, I tried using books from the library, I even tried tutorials online.  However, it all turned out the same:  it didn't resemble knitting in the least!

My last attempt?  Christmas break last year.  I gave up to the point where I started Tunisian Crocheting just so that I could make something with yarn that at least LOOKED like knitting!

Last week, my favorite craft store had a super-wicked sale, so I went with the intent to grab some stuff for my business.  As I passed the yarn section, the yearning to learn to knit bit me again.  I didn't need to grab any yarn, but I did pass a book that I was hoping was THE BOOK to finally teach me.  I got the book at 50% off (it is just one of those skinny paperback Leisure Arts books) and sat down that night watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", needles, yarn and book in hand.  Would you believe it, by the end of the show I was knitting!  Me!

Get the book here

I was so excited!  Now, I don't know if it really was the book or if it was years and years of trying to learn and it just so happened to click that night, but I have been knitting every night since then.  After making tons of squares to practice the stitches, I have embarked on a project:

Find the pattern here

I love wrist warmers and my crocheted pair is just plain yucky from use, so I shall KNIT another pair!  The first image is the beginnings of this wrist warmer.  It may take me a while, but I am just too excited!

In other news, this blog is going to be going through some changes in 2011.  I have set a goal to include more posts, giveaways, tutorials and just plain fun stuff so that you will definitely not want to miss it!  I scanned through the current content and have decided that she is just swinging in limbo and she needs to be utilized more.  So look for that in the coming weeks.  Of course, it is going to be a work in progress over the next year, but I am hoping that this blog will be much more purposeful than the waste of web space it is now!

Okay, Folks, my wishes to you for a super Christmas and I will see you in the New Year!

Yummy Holiday Treats!

Frosty Quilled Snowflake with Antique Button 
Dusted with German Glass Glitter 

Okay, okay.  I know I have jilted you on the Artbeads project.  Please have patience with me as it will be coming soon.  For the time being, my attention has been a little diverted with Christmas!

I'd love to share with you some of the holiday goodies I have created for this season.  To learn more about the piece, simply click the links :)

Vintage Button Scottish Yo Yo Garland

Antique Button Hand Tatted Snowflake Ornament

Felt Snowflake with Vintage Buttons Ornament

Frosty Quilled Snowflake with Antique Button
Dusted with German Glass Glitter

 Victorian Yo Yo Garland with Vintage Buttons

 Wool Felt Pennyrug Ornament with Vintage Buttons

There is so much more where that came from, feel free to mull around the Newly Listed and Holiday categories in my Etsy shop.  Soon, these items will become available in my Artfire Studio, also.

Now, back to the studio to finish that Artbeads piece :)

Cherry-Ho!

Well, maybe not exactly complete cherry-ho, but I promise you some cherries!

When Mom came up, we spent two days sewing Paige's cover to my specifications.  You remember what Paige looked like naked, right?

Sewing her cover was quite a chore.  I was too busy to chronicle the whole event, but I can show you her finished cover:

What an ordeal:  I put the cover on.  Mom pins.  I take cover off.  I baste cover.  I put cover back on.  Mom pins any more adjustments in that spot.  I take cover off.  I sew cover with tiny stitches.  Whew!  I put cover back on.  Mom pins a new area.  Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.  It took us a couple days.  The cover was actually really cute one me...Dad said I looked like I was wearing a WAC uniform!  Yea, we are all WWII buffs in this family :)

Putting the cover on Paige was not that much easier.  I ended up taking the cover off twice because the foam wasn't squished in exactly the right places.  The foam kept on wanting to go into the hips which rendered a flat butt.  Furthermore, I have a little poochy-belly I wanted Paige to have.  (Hey now...I had three kids!).  So, I ended up putting a small piece of memory foam in the belly area and finally got the hips squished to the rump.  However, the last time I put the cover on, I forgot to pull through the cleavage strings in the front.  But either way, she now has my exact measurements!  I LOVE HER!!!

So....I have been sewing!

Here is a sun-dress that I altered the pattern to reflect more 40's style and changed up the fabric with the panels.  With all my clothes, I make a dummy from muslin so I can tailor it to my exact proportions.  Then I rip my seams out and use it as the final pattern.  I also will not use a serger - I hate serged seams!  All, and I mean all, my seams are french seams.  Much better quality!

I'm still not happy with Paige's cover as I do have a little bit more rump than that, but the dress is so cute!  I wore it Sunday for my little family party for Ashlee.  I will have to get Mike to shoot a picture of me wearing it...it fits so perfectly!

Detail of the bodice.  Isn't it so cute?!  So retro!

Next, I made a skirt using a Kay Whitt pattern.  Sorry it's wrinkled...I still have a little hand finishing sewing to do as well as cut my strings!

Again, I mixed up the fabrics in the panels.  This is actually a Kay Whitt idea...love it!  Again, the skirt fits like a glove.  I altered the pattern so that the skirt waistline falls just below my belly button.  So comfortable!

Pocket detail....ignore the strings!

Hem detail with the pressed ruffle...

On to the cherries!

A cute shirt that ties around the waist to throw over a tank top...again perfectly fitted, thanks to Paige...

Again, a commercial pattern that was altered to reflect the 40's style.  Now I can rock my tanks Rosy the Riveter style!

Cute cherry fabric :)

Finally, a tank top that I drafted myself.  I still have a few tweeks I need to make to the design, but oh, so cute!  I have been toying with the idea of offering a line of 40's-esque clothing with vintage buttons, but that won't come until 2011.

So there you have it.  That's what I have been up to :)

Later this week, I will finally fill you in about Mom's visit!

My Creative Space and Sneak Peak for Next Week

My Creative Space is filled with ribbon flowers and more of my cool handmade stamens.  I hand dyed all the ribbons used which was a super-messy process, but it was fun because you can get so creative in the dying process with different textures and combinations.  Above is a wild rose and fuchsia.  Don't let the zoom fool you - they were made with 1/2" ribbon....super tiny!

I have a lot planned for this coming week.  On Monday, I will be revealing my Bead Soup Blog Party piece.  Remember the components I posted that I received from my partner Vintage Blue Studio?  Well, here is a sneak peak at what I designed:

To see all the participants, visit Lori's blog, and make sure you follow her so that you don't miss the next bead soup party!

Since I will be unveiling my piece on Monday, I am planning a giveaway of a piece I made with the leftover components of my bead soup.  I will probably be posting this early Monday morning and the giveaway will more than likely last the week to celebrate the blog party!

Later this week, Paige will finally be getting her cover fitted...lots of pics will be posted of that tedious event.  And don't forget the last minute get together I planned for Mom.  I promise tons of pictures!  It is actually working out quite nicely...only about 15 will be able to make it and everyone offered to bring something to the table.  Whew...makes my job so much easier.  Mom was so happy when I told her this morning.

Have a great weekend, and Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!  My hubby will be getting a home made Black Forest Cake for Father's Day this year!  Mmmmmmm!

My Creative Space...1940's Style

I have spent the week going through my ribbons and vintage millinery supplies, trying to organize. While I was pawing through all that fun stuff, it occurred to me that vintage millinery stamens, as well as more modern ones, are so big compared to the tiny millinery ribbon work that I do. Therefore, My Creative Space today is filled with hand made stamens! They were so fun to make and I had total control over how large the stamen on the end of the string was getting. Don't you just love making things yourself?!

For example...gorgeous millinery stamens! But most of the cool shaped ones are way too big for my needs! Yesterday was spent making small plain stamens. Today I'll probably venture to make the more shaped ones.


The perfect hat embellishments!


So....
Let's see your creative space!