Fun Necklace from an Antique Watch Fob

I can't believe it's been nearly two months since my last post.  I've been crocheting a lot and had a booth at the Pecanfest last month.  I did really well selling my jewelry and scarves.  My sister took what I had left to work with her and sold every one of my scarves!  Thanks, Ladies!

My sister has this really neat antique watch fob from the Hamilton Brown Shoe Co. It belonged to her father-in-law and she wanted to put it on a necklace.  It has a compass on it.  How cool is that?

The back says "Always in the right direction with TWINKIES. Happy shoes for busy feet."  Cute!

We went shopping and picked out the supplies to make it.  I love shopping with my sister and that we like the same things!  We got brass chain, a Vintaj key charm, small Vintaj word charms and a "hook clasp" to hang the "fob".  I had already looked and thought that would be a neat way to hang it.  She walked over and picked out the same thing!

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double."

 ~Toni Morrison

Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Handmade Buttons

When I saw this pattern, I had to have it.  I'm not really sure what to call it.  Necklace?  Neckwarmer?  Scarf?  There is just something about it that I love!

What I think makes it especially cute is turning it with the button on the side rather than in the back.

 

That calls for a really big really cute button, which brings me back to the button problem I was complaining about in my last post!  I was thinking about it and it dawned on me that maybe I could make my own.  Several years ago, I wanted to try making polymer clay pendants.  I bought the supplies, but really didn't get too far.  I made some but wasn't really happy with the finished look.  I got the stuff out yesterday and tried making some buttons. 

This is what I ended up with.  The one I liked the best is on the scarf.  Still not really happy with the end look.  I wanted them to look more like ceramic.  But there is potential.  With a little more practice and a few supplies I could have buttons to match anything I need!

Any advise?   I'd welcome your tips and suggestions!

~Thought for the day~

"Energy and persistence conquer all things."~

 Benjamin Franklin

Comment Problem and My Weekend Project

I faithfully read the blogs on my blog list and I want to comment.  I just can't!  I've read a lot of tips for getting around the problems.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.  Lately nothing worked! 

I googled "blogger comment problems" and found this on knownissues.blogspot.com:  "We're investigating reports of users not being able to comment on IE8/9 from the embedded form. We hope to have a fix out shortly, but in the meantime we encourage admins to switch to either the full-page or pop-up forms which should be working without issue."

I went into my Settings, under Comments, and changed it to "Pop Up Window".  If you're not getting comments, you might give it a try.  I've been able to receive comments, though.  I enjoyed your comments on my feather fiasco!  LOL!

This was my project this weekend ~ The Bad Hair Day Hat!   My daughter sent me a picture of one so I had to try it.  I think it's kinda cute!  

My granddaughter got here just as I was doing this post so I had her try it on.

She thinks I need to put a big bow on top!

~Thought for the Day~

"Don't be sad because it's over.  Smile because it happened."

~Dr. Seuss

Do NOT try this at home or I should have just spent the $5

The last time I was at Hobby Lobby, they had these really cool stems of styrofoam balls covered with feathers.  You need to see them to appreciate them.  They were gorgeous!  At $5 a stem I thought they were a little pricey, so being the crafty person I am, I thought I could make some.  For $5, I could have SIX of them!

This afternoon I gathered up all my supplies.  First I painted them with a pretty clay color in case the styrofoam was to show through.

(Trust me, this is the best they're gonna look.)

My plan was to glue them on individually in perfect order.  Well, after many attempts, it just wasn't working.  The stems of the feathers were too stiff to bend and hold to the shape of the ball.  So I tried cutting the stems and using smaller pieces.  At this point, feathers were flying everywhere and pieces were globbed with glue and stuck to everything, including my fingers! 

Then I think maybe I can just cut the feathers in little pieces, cover the ball with glue and roll it in the feathers.  Not a good idea.  This is how it turned out.

(And that's the good side!)

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

This is NOT Art!  LOL!

Crocheted Wrap Bracelet

I love the wrap bracelets that are so popular!  In fact, I've got a file full of tutorials stored on my computer!  This one is crocheted with waxed linen cord and hot pink lined clear seed beads.  I learned to do the square knot slide closure which I really like.

 

I like the button closures, but if I may rant for a bit, I get really frustrated with the selection and price of buttons in our little area.  Actually, shopping for any type of craft supplies requires a 45 mile trip, unless Wal-Mart has it, which is a 20 mile trip.   I know there is so much available online, but there are some things you just want to see and touch before you buy!  I do have a button box full of old (and not so old) buttons, but you know, there isn't always just what you need.  And there's the annoyance factor of searching through about a thousand buttons for just the right one!

So.... that's why I like the sliding knot closure, you don't have to search for a button that matches and it's adjustable so you don't have to worry about it being exactly the right size.

This bracelet is going to be part of a birthday gift (from my Mom) for my nephew's fiance'.   When she asked me for a bracelet for her, I tried to think of something a young woman would like.

My nephew was in the Army and was recently discharged.  While stationed at Ft. Hood, he met the girl of his dreams and proposed!  They just arrived back in Kansas last weekend so I haven't had a chance to meet her yet, but from what I hear from everyone that has, she's a doll!  Unbeknownst to them, my sister snapped this photo while she was visiting them in Texas. 

Aren't they sweet?

~Thought for Today~

"Take each other for better or worse, but not for granted."

~Arlene Dahl

P.S.  Is anyone else having problems with Blogger's "Preview" button?  I haven't been able to use it on my last several posts.

Serendipity Scarves in Treasuries

I've been making scarves and have been fortunate to have some of them included in these beautiful Etsy Treasuries!

'fall colors - brown' by BRANDED

Brown Sugar- Primit... WildRidgeDesig... $48.99	Coffee Heart - 8x10... AbbyMarie09 $20.00	Luxury Suede Paisle... PillowThrowDec... $35.00
Bouquet with bouton... ChurchMouseCre... $22.00	Scandinavian autumn... TatianaOrlova $25.00	Coffee Art Print Di... DoodleGraphics $13.95
Brown Lace steampun... DarkDestiny $19.00	FaLlINg LeaFS......... hblackberry $5.99	small ceramic plate... hopejohnson $28.00
CHOCOLATE BROWN- La... LilCountryCous... $5.25	Indoor/Outdoor Hear... LushWreathWork... $35.00	Autumn leaves Fall ... nomadah $25.00
Silk Accent Pillow ... PatsyDesigns $40.00	Serendipity Crochet... thehipgrandma $15.00	Custom Brown Leathe... TheLeatherWris... $55.00
20% OFF - SALE - El... vividcolors $49.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

'Autumn Jewels' by peifferStudios

Oh, Corn ohlime $16.00	Hawk Art - Red Tail... amberalexander $30.00	Felt Pin Brooch Gre... lovemaude $14.00
buttercup earrings ... prettythingsby... $15.00	Brown, Olive, Musta... FatCatHatsandS... $125.00	Serendipity Crochet... thehipgrandma $15.00
Mustard yellow flow... Lbtoyos $8.90	Pink and brown art ... Raceytay $22.50	cup with blue pinwh... catherinereece $16.00
Flower Bouquet Brid... rosyposydesign... $168.00	Casual Sparkle, Woo... aprilawakening $15.00	Hand Knit Hat - Clo... pixiebell $40.00
Teal Dress, S Med, ... reverievintage $30.00	The Beauty We Love ... happydeliverie... $20.00	ON HOLD for mkmissa... CircaFurniture $245.00
Ruby Jade - Art P... honeytree $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

'September Morn' by sweetiepiedesign

Get 5 mini fabric k... GimCarry $10.00	Nice Orange/Green/B... DanLooseStone $4.87	White band bead wov... CallOfEarth $20.00
Cool Dark brown par... timor $53.00	Coasters set of fou... ArtisEverythin... $19.00	set of 5 bridesmaid... bellafiore2009 $230.00
Small Hand Bound Le... Thenibandquill $15.00	Taupe Brown Poncho ... bysweetmom $60.00	Hammered Copper wit... EarthsparksDes... $19.00
BUNGALOW: small con... PIGandFiSH $161.00	Wrap Modern Birdhou... nathandanials $79.00	Card - Vintage Bicy... 3creativesiste... $3.00
Serendipity Crochet... thehipgrandma $15.00	Fabric Ball necklac... pearlatplay $22.80	Late September Blue... blowegeri $300.00
Sapphire September ... margosoriginal... $128.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

'Textural Illuminations Of Fall' by NannaBeanna

I love the colors of fall and textures that just reach off the screen and grab your attention... Some amazing sculptural pieces of exquisite beauty to be found on Etsy!

Four Ceramic textur... DoubleHalo $8.00	Serendipity Crochet... thehipgrandma $15.00	Teddy Bear Hat, Bro... CreativeDragon... $20.00
Thick Yarn Fringe H... BabyBirdz $95.00	Modern style textur... SylviaCPhotogr... $10.00	Curly Stem Pumpkin uncommoncroche... $45.00
Hat - Textured Autu... HCDorset $70.00	Autumn Fall Brown I... MarshaNealStud... $29.00	Bright Rainbow Knit... CarolineHardy $4.50
Harvest Square BearberryGrove... $5.00	Blue-Green Glass Be... sugarpunk $26.50	Noro Autumn Silk Wo... honeybeebungal... $32.00
Happy Halloween Thr... CricketsHome $195.00	Textured Arm Warmer... BedazzledBouti... $15.00	Distressed Fiesta T... backyardsk $42.00
Forest in fall II, ... Cesart64 $150.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I found this neat tool to add clickable Treasuries to your blog on the Handmadeology website and thought I'd give it a try!

~Thought for the Day~

Get started-and you've already jumped the highest hurdle in most tasks.

~ Cindy Francis, Life Lessons for Women