IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE, IT'S DONE

I don't usually blog two days in a row but I'm so excited.  I have been teaching myself to bead crochet as you know from previous posts. I was bound and determined to do this no matter how much swearing was involved. Well, I'm proud to say I finished it today but not without trouble. I had it all done and attached a beautiful magnetic clasp to it only to find out that the magnet side of the clasp quit working after 4 openings. I got mad, cut it off and glued the ends so it wouldn't come apart without thinking about the fact that the needle wouldn't go through the glue when it dried. I really would have liked bigger end caps but didn't feel like running out so I used what I had and the beginning end where the trouble was is a little off kilter but not so much that an untrained eye would know. My next one will be perfect (LOL).

I love these colors and I'll have to make something to hang on it.  What I like about the crocheted rope is how slinky it is compared to doing peyote in the round or Herringbone.

STUDIO BY SCULPEY BEADS

I love making beads with Studio by Sculpey clay.  It feels like suede.  I had some leftover clay and made extruded flowers but cut them different than normal and with the other clay I made a spliced cane and made some beads.  Not sure what I'm going to do with them yet.  Maybe some golf stroke counters for Etsy.

The flower ones have a little shine because they have a little Premo pearl in them.  Studio clay does not shine after it's sanded unless you put Future or Varathane on it.  I like it just the way it is.

SHIMMERING BATIK LEFTOVERS

I made quite a few batches of Tina Holdens "Shimmering Batik" beads and pendants with her new tutorial.  You can find it on her website at http://beadcomber.blogspot.com/ or a place on her website where she will tell you that you can find it.  I had quite a bit of leftover pieces and couldn't decide what I wanted to do with the clay.  I did what I always do, make swirly, lentil beads.  I thought these came out quite nice.  Will probably put a hole in them and do some wire wrapping.

These have been sanded and buffed starting at 320 and working up to 3000.  I've heard and read that a lot of clay artists only do 400 and 600 and leave it at that.  I hate sanding.  I use my tumbler as much as I can.

AMERICAN FLAG BRACELET FOR SENIOR BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Sun City West is hosting a senior bowling tournament here the end of May.  All clubs have been asked to donate something to their silent auction.  I offered to make something from our beading club and what better than an American Flag bracelet.  Most of the people bowling in this tournanment have been through 4 or 5 wars and most of them are vets.  I thought this was pretty appropriate.

Well, off to a romantic dinner at McDonalds and back to making earrings for the guild swap.