Older Pincushions

A few years ago a friend showed me how to make pincushions using old bottles, jars, eye cups, egg cups, etc. and as I still have a couple of them here, I thought I'd post a photo. They're both done with old white glass jars, probably used for creams of some kind, and then some nice fabric for the cushion part and some trim to cover where the cushion meets the top of the jar...and then lots and lots of beaded fringe along the edge...they took a lot longer than the bottlecap ones though!

Weekend

It's been a pretty productive weekend for me...I got 11 pincushions to the point of just needing a bit of embellishing (and one finished to round out a dozen) and I finished the clasp for a RAW bracelet I'm working on....the clasp is 5 layers thick with a transparent rose AB on one side, a transparent lavender AB on the other and an opaque eggshell in the middle....the bracelet itself will have all three beads in it, but I haven't quite decided on the design yet.

Google

One of the best beaders on the web, Diana Grygo, aka The Lone Beader, asked us to mention her name in our blog, so here you go, diana....anyone who will bead a bus and a fire engine, not to mention the delightful Rudy, I'd like to consider a friend.
I'm in the midst of a bottlecap pincushion frenzy, so will post pics later...I've also been asked to host a pincushion swap, so keep tuned in if you're interested. It will probably not take place until late next month though, so don't be holding your breaths, or anything like that!

Finished Bottle Cap Pin Cushions

I finally found a top for my orange/magenta pin cushion...it's an abalone bird sitting on a MOP nest....now I have one with birds chasing a ladybug, bird on nest and the flower one in turquoise & aqua...these are getting addictive!

Needle Case and Pin Cushion

I've been using some tiny plastic tubes with small red stoppers as needlecases for the past few years. They were just supposed to be temporary until I could find a vintage one I liked....then I realized last week that they're not very temporary and I'd better just bead one because I don't know if I'll ever find a vintage one that I both like and can afford! So this is all done with charlottes and a small six-sided nailhead on the bottom and I replaced the red top with a cork one that goes better with the colors of the charlottes. And, of course, then I had to make a new little bottle cap pin cushion to match...LOL! These guys are really fun to make and the instruction are here, if anyone wants to give them a try.

July BJP Done

The July BJP page is done...good thing as I've been neglecting the Basho series....better get back to work on that one!
The red squares are some Czech glass pieces I got years ago...they're not nailheads since they have a hole in the middle from top to bottom....and I don't actually know if they've got a special name....if anyone does know, I'd love to hear from you!
The tag on them is "made in czecho-slovakia", with the hyphen, so they're pre-WWII anyway. And that's all I know about them.

Heading for the Finish

I got a bit more done today...won't be too long and this one will be finished...

ATC's

I did some ATC's a while back...freebird's ATC's reminded me...and for the base I took a very, very old watercolor I did (and hated) and cut it up and just loved the results....so I added some punched images (cats, dragonfly and dragon), some translucent gold paper and some very tissue-like japanese paper and layered them....it was sure fun!
I keep meaning to make some beaded ATC's, but I'm not sure I could part with them, so I've kept putting off doing it.

Surprised Me

The page took a turn this morning that surprised me a bit...but that's what I like the best about bead embroidery - the leaps into the unknown - they're the most fun!

Better

This is getting closer to what I'm going for...and for sunni...the red circles, red acorns and the small mint green beads are all nailheads....they come in lots of sizes and shapes, but were all made before WWII and some even before 1900,,,

Too Serious

This was getting too serious, so I started having fun with it...I'm hoping this month will leave us all smiling...

Barely Begun

I'm working on the july bjp and on a clasp for a RAW bracelet I'm designing...the second photo is part of our garden...inspiration for this month's choice of fabric.

A Few More

Just a few more before I get started on my july bjp...

Swarovski Flowers

I thought about doing the swarovskis as flowers on the beaded bead and tried it....does it look like flowers to you?
All the flowers in our garden must be inspiring me...;)

July BJP 2

Chose the two faces to put on this months bjp....now to collect the other beads to go with them...the theme this month is "in the garden"...

New Beaded Beads

Got the new Bead & Button and tried some RAW beaded beads done with firepolished and swarovskis....fun and quick and I'm hooked until I run out of swarovskis!

Basho 14 & 15

I'm working on both of these and hope to get them done by sunday....then I can start the july bjp piece right on the first....or not...LOL!

Beachcombing

Went up to one of our local beaches and picked up some smooth beach rocks....wish you could touch them...they are sooo smooth to the touch...
I'm working on some ideas for using them but also looking for some other shaped ones, so will be doing some more beachcombing tomorrow at some beaches further south...

My Kwan Yin of the Sea

It's looking less and less likely that she'll be leaving home..;)
and the pin/pendant is also done, but it will be at a gallery soon...

Done and Almost Done

The lace agate bracelet is done and I'm working on the two pin/pendants and the basho piece today and next week until they're done.