NCMC Day 5 - Use up left over beads - Mirage Beads

A couple of years ago I did a blog partnership with Rings and Things. One of the fun beads I chose was the Mirage Beads.They have even more to choose from now!

Remember mood rings? These are mood beads. They change color with the heat of your body. How fun!
Simply knotted on cord, easy peasy, takes 2 minutes to make. It actually took longer to find the beads than it did to make the bracelet!

They changed colors to purple just from me handling them. I put this bead in the middle to show you what they look like when they are at room temp.

What did you create today?

NCMC - Bead Weaving - PASS!!

I was completely overwhelmed today when looking at bead weaving and bead weaving patterns.
AMAZING!
I am in awe at some of the pieces that I saw -  Here are some of my favorites.

Found this on Pinterest

Also found this one on Pinterest


While looking for tutorials online I kept finding these beautiful creations and just went deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. Much to my dismay, I do not have the right needle or beading thread to try this new technique today. I will have to save it for another day this month.

This day did not go without creating tho. I made a couple fun little necklaces. This one is a carved tree agate, shaped like a dragon. So cute! Added a jasper briolet dangle for accent and strung random beads with copper accents. This one is a daring unisex necklace. What do you think?

 This one is a bit more feminine with crazy lace agate, yellow agate, faceted roundels and sterling accents.

 What did you create today?

NCMC - Day 3 - Make something for a friend - Give Away!!!

Today challenge is to make something to give to a friend.

It is a simple and fun design, wrapped at the top of the curve to keep it closed, hammered for texture and strength, and an orchid stoneware bead added for flare.

So cute don't you think!

In the spirit of craft month, and the challenge of the day, I will be giving this away from my Facebook fan page on Tues, March 5th, 2013.

Stop by and comment on the picture of these earrings to be entered!

NCMC - Day 1 and 2 - Earrings and Simple Stringing

I used day 1 of NCMC, to show the amazing transformation of my work room from horrific to terrific.

On Day 2, I have combined two challenges, so tomorrow I can get back on track.

The first days challenge was to make a pair of earrings. It is the first of March, and I am ready for spring to arrive. These earrings are made from carved shells, copper and swarovski crystals. The little flowers carved from the shell remind me that spring is on its way, and I could use a day at the beach to relax. The little swarovski crystal, blue like the sea....ah....take me there please!

Day 2 is a Simple stringing challenge. This piece is a nod to Dave Matthews, and the song Pig. This one is for you Leigh :)

A little pig carved from dyed quartz is the focal of the bracelet accented with glass beads, faceted crystals, sterling, silver plate, and of course - pearls. Pearls and swine - I just had to!!!!

The song that inspired the piece

Poor Comet - he has outgrown his little bed, but he still insists on hanging out with me when I work :)

What crafts have you challenged yourself to make this month!!!!

National Craft Month Kick Off or How I was motivated to clean my studio

It's National Craft Month! I had committed to cleaning and organizing my craft room this month. I figured it would take me a month, but when I was reminded that March was National Craft Month I wanted to see how much I could get done by March 1.
It all started like this- and I had 3 days to get it in order.
I started to organize by color and type of bead in pee-tree dishes I had bought
I am making some head way
I emptied out over 20 different containers
Almost there...
And this is where I am after 3 days. I still have a lot left to do, but I am pretty pleased with my progress

This is so embarrassing, and at the same time, such a good lesson.
Does your work area get out of control? Are you willing to share your work area?
Have fun with National Craft Month and post links so we can see what you are doing!

One more day til National Craft Month!

While on one of my many interweb adventures, I found the blog post from Fusion Beads about March being craft month. This was very exciting and very timely. Fusion Beads has a daily craft challenge posted on their blog, and one reader has pledged to have their craft room cleaned to kick of National Craft Month. I am in the middle of cleaning my room, I want to have mine clean too!!!! Now the pressure is on, because I technically have today and tomorrow to have this accomplished.

This week has been cleaning, purging, organizing, whining, donating, whining, oh - did I mention whining?

How have I accumulated so much crap?!?!?

*stands at the microphone*

Hello, My name is Tish McDermott and I am a craft hoarder.

*applause*

It is so true, and I have come to understand this and embrace it. I even recently said no to an offer of a big stack of magazines. heh - you should have seen their face when I said no - EVERYONE knows they can off  load their items on me. Not today Buckco!!

There are several things I like to do, of which you have seen pictures. My top three are jewelry, sewing and painting. My workspace, as is, will not accommodate all three. Well, I take that back, it would if I did one at a time, but I don't. I have all three going at once. That is what spawned the big clean.

I wont' post pictures yet. Some will gasp in horror, not being able to understand the tragedy of my room. Others will gasp, but inside they will be pleased. Then there one those who will cheer and scream and laugh, because they are not alone in their hoarding, AND I will make them feel good about themselves :)

Til then!

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“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher

Bedazzler - I haz one

Over the weekend I started my yearly clean and purge of my studio. This year, I had committed to the BIG clean. Going thru each tub, as opposed to just restacking it in an orderly fashion so it appears to be clean.


During this clean I found:

This has been an ongoing joke for the last two years between my dad and my daughter. My dad found this somewhere - flea market, thrift store, yard sale (this is where I get my hoarding from ) and he thought - Hey! Tish is crafty, she needs this..... Thanks Dad... I must have kindly accepted it, brought it home and tucked it away in my room. 

Outta sight, outta mind

A looong time later, my dad had asked me if I had done anything with the bedazzler. What bedazzler? I had already forgot about it. My dad was sure that he had given it to me, and I was sure he hadn't. I told him he must have given it to Leigh, my daughter - his favorite granddaughter. He thought for a moment, and he too agreed.

Now Leigh was a different story. Between Pop and me, we have asked her 100 times bout that bedazzler. Pop wanting to know if she had it, and if she liked it, and what she has made and me saying TAKE IT TO THE GOOD WILL!!!! She insisted she didn't have it. I told her, being the mom that I am -  check the garage, you still have packing boxes in there, you may have over looked it. MA! she says - I don't have the bedazzler.

Yesterday - I found it. I pulled a nondescript box from the bottom shelf, dusted it off and opened it. My shoulders slumped when I saw what was in the box, and a hiss of obscenities escaped my lips. I was defeated.

I straightened my shoulders, gathered my strength, because I knew what I had to do. I posted it on Facebook.

My daughter rejoiced! She was triumphant, she finally had proof she didn't have the blasted thing. 

it went something like this -

Leigh I KNEW YOU HAD THAT BEDAZZLER
Just A Tish Jewely Designs PAHAHAHAHAHAH - When I found this - besides the stream of obsenities - I laft and laft! All this time, pop has been saying, i knew i gave you that bedazzler, and i have been telling him, no you gave it to her- and you are saying - Ma, i know you have it!!!!!!!
Leigh I KNOW!! you call pop right now and tell him you have it!!
Leigh hehehheheheh
Just A Tish Jewely Designs Leigh Reidelberger you can't make me!
Leigh oh huh.
Just A Tish Jewely Designs and what' funny - i just got off the phone with him, and didn't tell him
Just A Tish Jewely Designs He butt dialed James

I am sure there will be more fun today as I continue my quest to get that room done before March 1, 2013. Wish me luck!

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“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw