A Couple of Necklaces

I have never been much of a jewelry type girl. That's why for Christmas my husband buys me things like an air compressor, food processors and a Dremel (this year's awesome gift!). All of those things made me so much happier on Christmas morning than a box of jewelry would have. I had no idea that I was getting the Dremel for Christmas this year so I kind of squealed when I saw it. Samantha ran over to look at what was making me so happy and saw what it was and just said "ookkkaayyy". Then I told her we could use it in the craft room and she was as happy as I was. 

Anyway, so I am not much of a jewelry girl, but I do enjoy wearing something different and unique when I have to opportunity to dress up. A couple of years ago my friend Julie called and asked if I wanted to take a beginning jewelry making class with her and a couple of her friends. I had never really had the desire to make jewelry, but I knew I would have fun with them so I said yes. I ended up having a blast and have made several pieces since then, both for me and as gifts.

I am in a purple mood right now and have a couple of new shirts/outfits that have purple in them. I had found this cameo pendant a while ago and really loved it. Cameos remind me of my Grandmother. She had a couple that I remember when I was little. When I see them it always brings a happy smile of remembrance for me. I made this necklace to go with a new purple shirt that I had just bought. I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. 

Samantha has also decided to try and make some jewelry. She used to enjoy stringing the big plastic pony beads on elastic to make bracelets and necklaces but now she wants to make "real" jewelry. We went to Hobby Lobby the other day and they had their charms on sale so I told her she could pick out a couple. The first set she picked up was this "best friends" set.  She also picked out a pack of glass beads that had colors that they both liked. And here is her final result:

Thanks for visiting me today!

More Bead Work

Since I have been in the process of moving my craft room, I have found lots of supplies that I forgot that I had and lots of things I haven't used in a while. Has anyone else ever bought a duplicate of a product because you couldn't find the one that you know you already bought? Come on, admit to it so I don't feel so alone! While emptying boxes and setting up my new shelves, I found not one, not two or three, but four cans of spray adhesive. I mean, how does a person lose three cans of that stuff? It isn't something that I use a lot, but when I needed it, I needed it! I also have three cans of spray sealer (hey, at least I only lost two of those!) I am hoping that my new shelves will help combat that problem. Everything is a little more open and they are right there together where I can see most everything.

These are some book thongs that I made for some special little girls for their birthdays. Both are avid readers and I think they will enjoy them. I have made them tons of bookmarks over the years and they use them until they are pretty worn. Each girl is getting one made with her favorite colors. The little charm on the end says "follow your dreams".

Well I am off to work on the crafting space a little more. I am hoping to have it done soon and when I do, I will share pictures with you!

Necklaces

I have had a little time off the past week or so. We went to Indiana for a long weekend and then I took a couple of extra days off after we returned. Normally when we do a long weekend trip like that, I will take off the days we are going to be gone and then go back that Monday even though we often get back late on Sunday night. It has been such a hectic summer, beginning with the flood in early May, that I decided that I needed some extra days off where I could sit at the house and not even get out of bed if I didn't want to! 

About a year ago, my friend Julie asked if I wanted to take a jewelry making class with her at our local Jo-Ann's. I had thought that would be something that I would enjoy so when she invited, I took her up on it and I was so glad I did! It was so much fun hanging out with her and her friends for the evening. I don't make (or wear) jewelry all that much, but I do love necklaces. I have lost quite a bit of weight over the summer and am able to wear some of my nicer clothes that have just been sitting in the closet and have rewarded my weight loss with a few new pieces as well. After shopping all afternoon with my MIL one day and seeing the prices of the necklaces in the store and not finding what I wanted, I decided to pull out all my beads and see what I could come up with. I do enjoy this once I sit down and actually do it. Here are two of the necklaces that I made last week. The beads come from various places, I tend to pick them up here and there as I find things I like. 
Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I am going to start being a better blogger now that the house is getting back to normal. 

Serious Bragging on my Hubby

Okay, so yesterday was our third anniversary. I got a phone call from Kip while I was at work asking where my Scor-Pal was. I thought he had probably ran out of blank cards so he was going to make his own and then I didn't think anything else about it. He has been making me cards for a while now and I love them. When we sat down to exchange gifts though, I was blown away. I couldn't believe what was in my bag. I think I explained before that we don't spend a lot of money on anniversary gifts. What we do, is go by the traditional gifts for that year. Year one was paper, I got a book I had wanted. Year two, cotton, and we both got each other shirts. I also took "cotton" and expanded on that, he got a fresh cotton air freshener and a bag of Cotton Candy. This year was leather and you saw the book that I made for him and here is my gift from him: He needed the Scor-Pal to make those little jewelry boxes. He made those completely on his own, he wasn't following a template or anything. The bracelet and necklace? He made those too! He took leather cord and initial charms and made them. You can't see the clasps, but they are in the shape of a heart. He said he got some help from other people at Jo-Anns that were shopping in the jewelry making aisle. I think he is pretty amazing and I am going to keep him! You can also see the card that he made me. I also got a Blu-Ray copy of Mama Mia that I can watch over and over and over again! What a guy I have, huh?

Jewelry Class Last Night

Last night was the jewelry class that I had signed up to take with some friends. I had so much fun! This was the necklace and earrings that I made. Aren't you impressed? I know I was. I thought it turned out pretty cute. I have made a couple of pieces in the past, but now I know how to put the clasps on the right way. Most of the things I have made in the past I have used the elastic beading cord, and it breaks after a while. But last night we worked with wire and since I can do the clasps, I don't have to use that anymore. The elastic is great for the girls to work with, especially since the use mostly pony beads. The class was at Jo-Ann's, and was the beginning jewelry making and all my supplies came from there.

I really needed a new craft hobby! Lets see, that list now includes: stamping, card making, scrapping, crocheting, cake decorating, photography, cross-stitching, a little painting and now jewelry. Plus I know how to quilt a little and some sewing. I want to learn to sew better though. When I go to a craft store I don't think there is a department that I can pass up. Have a great rest of the weekend. I am enjoying my visit with my parents.