2nd Trash to Treasure Swap Box ...It's Here!!

Click on the photos for a closer look.

It was fun to go through...lots of goodies and here is what I am keeping. Pretty beads from Moe and Pat, lovely buttons from Jackie S,  cool tiles from Jackie M (or as I like to think of them Jackie I and Jackie II)...actually I think of Jackie II as Cat but that gets confusing too as we have another Cat.... See how easy I get sidetracked.. back to the box.. 

I also kept the cutting mat and some thin texture sheets from Jackie II.. I needed a cutting mat, had it on my shopping list so that was cool and the textures are really neat, I didn't take the whole sheets, I cut a piece off of each. I am going to use them to texture the backs of pendants, it will cut down on sanding, yipee!

 I also kept 2 packs of charms and little dice beads from Gloria, 2 wooden bracelet blanks from Janie, a set of copper tubes for Mokume Gane and a hunk of telephone wire (I love telephone wire, all the pretty little wires inside!) from Jodie, a pretty focal bead from Barbara, a package of wiggle eyes from Rebecca and a couple Polymer Cafe Magazines. All in all a pretty good haul, wouldn't you say? 

And I got presents too. An absolutely gorgeous pen from the fabulous Miss Jackie  and a fabulous Aloha purse hook from the one and only Moe. I is a lucky girl!! 

And here is what I am putting in.

.... after I wrapped the canes in plastic wrap they fit into 4 rows in the storage box so I used the 5th row for glass buttons.  I make molds from the buttons and then use them to make polymer clay beads or buttons. And I added a few things I made.  

I almost forgot...all my coasters  for the Coaster Swap are made, not done but made, I still have to sand, buff and add cork to the backs but at least they are out of the oven and I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out. Guess I better start sanding so I can get them mailed. 

I Beat the Deadline. Yahoo!! & Made a Necklace too!!

Finished our taxes one days ahead of schedule.... even got them signed and in the mail. I have spent the last 10 days preparing tax returns for all the kids and grandkids... not fun this year as most everyone owes money and I don't like being the bearer of bad tidings but at least it is done and I don't have to think about it for another year.

In between filling in forms, schedules and work sheets I took little breaks and worked on a mostly colored wire asymmetrical necklace. I did use the polymer clay bicone beads that I posted earlier.

Click on the photos for a closer look.

I used matte finish purple seed beads on the wire doodads.

and a cultured freshwater pearl in the center of the pendant. I like the 3-D effect of the pendant.
The chain in double links of green and brass wire.

Polymer Clay Cool Tiles and Beads

I finished all my "Inchie" (1" tiles ) for the Inchie Swap but couldn't stop myself from making more. I made a couple long beads, which I think turned out great, and my Muse felt they needed a set of matching Inchies. Those little buggers are addictive.... I have more in the oven as we speak.

I used Victoria James' texture sheets for the texture and one of my canes to make the square tiles. The domed tiles and long beads are also textured with Victoria's texture sheets.

Click on the photo for a closer look.

More Mixed Media Necklaces

I used another of my canes to make the beads... and made the holes with my pinwheel skewer (still tickled I found them). The pendant is a combination of polymer clay, peyote beaded band, colored wire and Swarovski crystals in variegated colors.

The polymer clay beads and two sizes of stardust beads are stung on green waxed cotton cord. I haven't put a clasp on yet, I'm trying to decide if I should take it apart and make two necklaces, one with the beads and a second with just the pendant. Then they could be worn separately or together. What do you think?

Click on the photos for a closer look.
I finished the blue cane necklace. I strung it on waxed cotton cord tied in Chinese button knots.

Blue Cane Beads & Pinwheels

Mystery solved!! One of them at least. I am happy to report I found my pinwheels. "Where might they have been?" you ask. Well, I was looking for a particular polymer clay book which in turn led to rearranging my jewelry & PC books and among the stack I found a couple crochet books. Since I was in a "put things in their proper place mood" I proceeded to put the crochet books in the cabinet with the rest of my needle work books and lo and behold there sat my pinwheels, right there in plain sight, right there on top of the books. I haven't the faintest idea how they got there but I'm pleased as punch that I found them. Maybe there is still hope for my missing knitting needles... ya think?

After doing a happy dance of sorts,( my dancing days are pretty much over, more like a happy shuffle these days), I happily used one of the pinwheel skewers to pierced the beads in the photo. See what a nice clean hole the skewer makes. Now you can understand why I really wanted to find those pinwheels. I'll post more photos when I make the beads into a necklace.