Swap earrings received!

Joining swaps is so much fun! Not only because you get to make something for someone based on their profile, but also because you get to receive something that is made especially for you....

When I checked my mail a couple of days ago I found a rather large envelope, filled with some lovely gifts! I didn't receive 1 pair, nor 2, no; I received 3 pairs of earrings, a phone/pursedangle, 5 fun beads and some small extra's in one package! It felt like Christmas!

These are copper, swarovski and blue frog beads

The package came from Gipsy Mary, and she did an amazing job on these gorgeous pairs!

These cowgirls are stitched in very very small 15/0 beads, the detail is amazing!

These are stitched with 11/0 beads, red & white

These froggies also came from her, aren't they the cutest?

Amazing eeh!

The creativity continues

Past weekend was a busy one. My best friend and a cousin celebrated both their birthdays on Friday. I made something for both of them. I bought a sterling silver bracelet link bracelet for Irma and added some Swarovski and silver beads as charms. I used Jet, Golden Shadow and Clear 10mm rounds. It's a very bold design, but I really love how it turned out!

For Wes I made a travelpillow, because he's going to Thailand in January. I'll post pictures later on.

I also made a bracelet for a swap on Beading Daily, for Kia.

It's a wirewrapped flower made with Celestial Crystals... the findings are silverplated copper.
She wrote on her profile page she love girly, glitters and glamour and I thought this design would be just her thing. Thankfully she was really happy with it!

Another pair of earrings for a swap...

I have been crafting my ass off this weekend... (sorry for my language, but it just feels like that...) I finished the knitted scarf for Dull, I will take pictures when the sun is out. It actually is the very first piece I finished knitting. I felt very proud. I also started to crochet a hat, but again, no pictures yet.

But I do have some pics to show: a pair of earrings I made for another swap on Beading Daily.

These are quite small, but I like how they turned out, I used brickstitch and herringbone stitch, and used 11/0 and 15/0 beads. I made up the design myself.

Inca was very happy with these, I hope she'll wear them often!

Choker

Being sick at home gives you time. I am sneezing my butt off, but still, I hate sitting on the couch doing nothing. I've tried reading, but the letters keep dancing, and I've seen some movies. Yesterday I watched "The Duchess" with Keira Kneightly. She wears the most beautifull jewelry in this movie, which inspired me to create this:

It's funny, but beading really calms me down. And the herringbone stitch I used for this choker is easy to me, I can do it with my eyes closed. I used Chinese seed beads, which are the most irregular seed beads in the world, but I just love the effect they give the piece. Regularity is sooooo overrated. I gave it a leather strap which closes with snap closures, it gives it a really goth appearance. I think this will be my new fave...

Now I guess I'll continue my knitting... or not.

Flu-ish

I have the flu... I don't get the flu very often, but when I do, I seriously do. I am sniffing, sneezing, coughing, blowing my nose and all those other stuff that comes with the flu (I will spare you the yukkie details). I went to work today, did all the important stuff and left at noon. Dull was leaving for work when I got home, so I was lucky enough to get a hug (YAY).

Now, about the weekend. Altough I felt crappy already on Saturday, mom and I still went to the craft-fair. It has been a long time since I've been at one. We arrived at the start of the thing, and there were lots of elderly women, even my mom lowered the average age there... But later on the crowd got a bit younger (they probably were a little late because of all the party-ing they did on Friday). It was a good fair. Only 3 booths with beads, but I knew that. There were lots of quilting boots, which really isn't my cup of tea. I mean, quilting in the Netherlands is a bit muffy, lots of dark colors and depressing prints used. I only saw 2 or 3 boots that had quilts in lovely young colors.

Altough there weren't much bead-booths I managed to score a bag full of crafting goodies!

The score: 2 big balls of yarn to knit a vest (already casted on, and knitted 20 needles), two cones of yarn for a scarf for Dull (allready started and 2/3 done), and when it's finished I am planning on knitting a hat for myself, 2 crochethooks - 0,6mm (for beading) and 12mm (for rugknitting), a big bag and 2 smaller bags of wool and needles for needlefelting, 6 cards of ribbon/lace/ricrac and 5 baggies with beads.... I never did any needle felting, but it looks like fun. I gathered some info and stuff and I am going to give it a go this week. The knitting is going well. I started with an easy-peasy 'pattern': knit 2-purl 2. So you really can't call it a pattern, but it's a good excercise in repairing lost stitches and faulty stitches. And I am having fun, that's what counts right?

Well, I have to get back to my pot of tea and the blanket on the couch. Take care!

Non crafty period closed

Boy, have I been busy the last couple of weeks. And I am very sorry to say that it hasn’t anything to do with beading…. Nor knitting, crocheting or anything else that involves crafty skills. School, household chores, running errands, bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech. But things are about to change...
This weekend I am going to a craft-fair in our city, together with Mom. I am looking forward to it! Not for beads, because I’ve got plenty, but because I am looking for different things to do. There are so many crafts I would like to give a go, and a fair always give you good ideas on how to get started. Kumihimo, needle felting, plush felt toys making, freehand embroidery… It all looks so interesting. I hope to get some good info on these things. And maybe I will pick up some beads as well. And ribbon, chain, yarn, fabric and such. I guess it’s a good thing they don’t accept credit cards at these events. I would be maxed out in an hour.
I am planning on bringing my camera…

The Ardennes

This weekend we had a familyweekend in the Ardennes in Belgium. We've organised the entire event, because it was such a succes last year. We had a nice time, but it wasn't as nice as last year. But well, those things happen, right? The weather wasn't working along, but on Saturday we went to La Roche en Ardennes. It's a small village that's really turistic, but it really is a sweet village... There's a castle which we've visited.

Very rough, but I love it. I really like ruins and remains of buildings that used to be huge and proud.