For dear Sis

Just a quick postie to show some earrings I made for my sister for Christmas. I let her choose the thread as well as the swarovski pieces they are built on. This is the best picture I got before she had to head back out and finish her visiting other family members before going home to Texas.

I did get this scan that better shows the crystal component, but of course it's blurry because it wasn't flat on the scanner. These were made with Lizbeth.

Anyway, we did have a great time with her and her hubby while they were here, and now that the kids are more familiar with them, we can keep in touch via video on Skype.

Anyone else Stalking Handy Hands lately?

One of the best things about making Jewelry is that you can make some the night before to match an outfit. These are made with Yarnplayer's Garden Party, first batch. It's too bad that you can't see how pretty the beads are in this picture. They are Top drilled bicone Swarovski crystal beads.

Something I have descovered---by incorporating a soldered jump ring at the top makes them swing better than attaching them to the earwires by a tatted ring. I just do a Lark Head Picot Join where I want the jump ring on the last round.

In reference to the title of this post, I have been checking in at Handy Hands, waiting patiently for the new colors of Lizbeth to arrive. It's probably a good thing that they are not available yet though. I need some ETSY sales before I can have any new thread. We are pinching budget pennies here in expectation of buying a home, so any purchases would have to be from my creative budget. I tried a showcase on etsy, got tons of views and hearts, but no takers. In fact, I better make a sale soon....I'll owe fees next month and paypal is empty at the moment :-)

Addictive!

I've found myself strangely addicted to the chain rosette. I was awake at night and came up with this plan that I really like. For some extra bling there are Swarovski crystals. I call the pattern "garden Jewel earrings". These went to etsy but I'll be ordering some more beads for a pair for myself.

Below is the set that went off in the mail today for my little sister's birthday. She will be 22 I think. Makes me feel old. I guess that Jewelry making has become addictive as well, I just can't seem to find the desire to do any other tatting at this time. The little things rattle off the shuttles quickly, that right there might be the magic ingredient.......I like to be able to finish things once in awhile. :-) I do have a new idea up my sleeve, the supplies are on the way to my house this week, so stay tuned for some more experiments! I decided to save the thread dying project for a later more sane time, so hopefully this will quench my desire to do something new and exciting. Gotta spice it up now and again. Right?