Cute Handmade Bird Nest Jewelry

{ May 21, 2009 @ 4:38 pm } · { handmade jewelry }
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I have been seeing these little nests spring up in a lot of jewelry makers shops. I decided I should try an make some too. They are cute, simple, and the egg possibilities are endless. I made two one in steel and one in gold filled wire. The gold one has tiger eye eggs and the steel one has moss agate eggs.  All that is missing is mama bird!  Even though these are one and onlys, I may add them to my jewelry line, just cuz they are so cute. lol. Just like in nature no two come out exactly the same. The steel one is for sale over at my etsy shop.

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New Steel Wire Jewerly

{ May 9, 2009 @ 4:52 pm } · { jewelry }
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I have been experimenting with steel wire for my jewelry and loving every moment! I love the color, it isn’t as shiney as sterling silver. It is strong and less expensive, so I don’t have to cry every time I mess up! It works well for finished pieces and as a practice wire.  These pieces of jewerlry are for sale at www.jewelryinwire.com.

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To see more of what I have been working on be sure to visit my website.

First mixed media/ altered art project

{ May 9, 2009 @ 4:09 pm } · { painting }
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I have never really done a project like this. I have just finished with a fun book called, Pretty Little Things by Sally Jean Alexander. It is very inspiring.  This project is done on a canvas. I painted the background purple and then added the swirls, stars, and sun and moon.  I printed out the words and glued them down. I then used a white metallic paint to turn the words into clouds. The butterfly is hand stamped. The word dream is from some scrapbooking stickers.  I really enjoyed the process. I just wish I would have had more supplies to work with.  If you have not tried some altered or mix media art, you really should.

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Making my own knitting needles

{ January 10, 2009 @ 6:27 pm } · { knitting }
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This was very simple. My daughter had a great time picking out the beads to put on the ends of her needles. Kids can do this project. It may help them be a little more interested in learning to knit. We didn’t color our needles. We just didn’t really have anything that would stay with out sealing it. But if you have the stuff you can make some beautiful personalized needles.

All you need is pre-cut wooden dowels, beads (hole must fit your dowels), pencil sharpener, and wood glue.  Use your sharpener to sharpen one end of your dowel,  just like a pencil. Put your bead on the other end and secure with glue if needed.  So easy!

I read about making knitting needles this way on some other blog. I can’t remember where though. If you posted this idea on your blog, let me know so I can link to know. I would like to tell everyone where this idea came from!

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I loved the feel of my new wooden double pointed needles I had to start using them right way! I’m making a hat that hopefully I will get to wear. My hats normally get taken by family members as soon as there off the needles!

Try out this project and have fun!

Creation Frustration

{ January 9, 2009 @ 4:11 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I have really been wanting to knit something. My knitting skill are basic. I find that I don’t really like any of the yarn in my stash and the patterns I have are too hard,boring,blah. So I have started several things and ripped them all out. I have been working on learning some new stitches, but that hasn’t been going really well for me. lol. I’ll just have to find something else to do!

What have I been up to?

{ December 28, 2008 @ 9:25 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I have been working away on my blogging empire( ha ha ha). I have been creating some new blogs re-doing others. I hope to turn these in to new streams of income.
www.handcraftedjewelrybiz.com
www.creativityforwomen.com
www.insandpointidaho.com
www.weluvusborne.blogspot.com

I’ve been knitting hats.

{ November 14, 2008 @ 4:14 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I don’t hav any pics of that hats I have made. They aren’t fancy. Just cast on 96 stitches and do k2 p2 ribbing for the whole hat.  Simple. I would share them with you but my children take them as soon as they are off the needles and then I don’t see them for awhile. lol.  I have been so busy with work my crafty projects have taken a back burner. Lame, I know.

Help your local economy

{ October 7, 2008 @ 5:11 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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This post is a letter from Muck-A-Luck Crafts. I’m posting it oon all my blogs with their permission.

YOU can help save our economy. How?

Pledge to buy only USA made items for Christmas.

Why buy “Made in China” when our economy is suffering? That makes you part of the problem. I know, it’s not easy to find “Made in USA” products. In fact, it’s downright impossible, right?

Nope. You can find quality, handmade USA products at competitive prices. How? Where?

Your local craft show!

It’s really a no-brainer.

· Personalized, friendly attention.

· Knowledgeable – artisans know their product inside and out.

· Caring- they genuinely care about their product and genuinely want you to be satisfied. Repeat business is extremely important to them!

· You are getting a unique product, not a “cookie-cutter” product, mass produced in a factory.

· Competitive prices- ok, we aren’t the discount store, but you are getting a much better product than any discount store. Remember: you get the quality you pay for!

BOTTOM LINE: USA MADE, QUALITY ITEMS FROM TALENTED ARTISTS WHO ARE PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO!

Don’t have time or gas money to drive to your local show?

Stay home in your pjs and order online from this HUGE list of talented artisans.

So I think I can create!

{ September 11, 2008 @ 8:23 pm } · { painting }
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A forest path to nowhere!

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That is a lot of trees! These paintings are up for sale at my new etsy shop, www.spiralingelements.etsy.com.

I’m working on more paintins and will be adding photography soon.

Gearing back up for homeschool

{ August 27, 2008 @ 7:13 pm } · { homeschool }
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I have been surfing the net for better ways to homeschool my children. We are a mix of unschooler/eclectic/waldorf inspired homeschoolers. I have tried out many different things and have found that a lot of it doesn’t really work for my kids or our lives.  I must admit that in the past I have let the pressure of family and friends influence our homeschooling.  Bad bad me! lol.  This summer I quit my job ( I lasted a whole year) to come back to being at home. The year of working really messed up our schooling. It was almost like my kids got a year off from school. This year we are back. I’m getting back to the things that I find important and finding new things that will work for my kids. We will be using some waldorf inspired learning styles and nature inspired learning.

I will be sharing with you reviews of everything we try out along with the normal craftiness you get here.  I’m also an independent consultant for Usborne books. My kids really enjoy the books that we get from there. You will be hearing about that too.

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