Finding Inspiration

I've been wanting to get back into creating jewelry but sadly, I am stuck in a rut. I wondered to myself...where can I find inspiration? And I found this nice challenge at Art Bead Scene... It is a monthly challenge where they feature an artist and one of the artist's work is used as the inspirational piece to create jewelry for the challenge.

One of the requirements, however, is that you use an art bead which they defined as ..."An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist."  Unfortunately, at this time, I use commercially produced beads in the creation of my jewelry. Although, I wanted to start dabbling in clays...I still have yet to start making my own beads. Thus, I am unable to join the wonderful challenge on the site.

However...I figured...why not just go ahead with the challenge using whatever I have. I may not be able to enter it into the contest but, perhaps I can get over my rut! So, I am giving it a go!!! Make it a personal challenge....And if anybody out there that for some reason or another cannot enter the contest at the  Art Bead Scene Challenge but, would still like to give it a try...let me know!!!

So this month...the challenge artist is Wayne Thiebaud. This is the painting they chose....

Brown River by Wayne Thiebaud

Using this color palette:

To find out more about the painting and artist you can visit the actual challenge at Art Bead Scene - here.

Wheels are turning...

Pay It Forward

Another scarf started ...and in my favorite color too...

Now that I am totally addicted to crocheting, I've been surfing the net and bookmarking patterns that I'd love to start.This leads me to the Pay It Forward...

I decided to join and posted the Pay It Forward on my FB wall which goes like this....

"Pay It Forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here, The must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. * The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to our 5 people sometime in 2011!!"

I got one reply which leaves me with 4 more slots...I guess maybe not a lot of my FB friends are the crafty type so, I decided to put a post here on my blog to call out to 4 more people that would like to be a part of this!!!

I can't tell you exactly what you'll be getting because that really depends on y crafting mood...it could be something crocheted or beaded, jewelry or something with felt...but I can assure you it will be handmade by me...so, please...reply here now! I'll be waiting!

While I wait, I need to get back to making acessories so I fill up the etsy shop and on the side I'll be working more on this.... 

Crocheting Rainbows

I was inspired by the beautiful colors of Ms. Alice's Granny Mandalas. They are absolutely gorgeous. Here's a few of her gorgeous creations -

I immediately wanted to give it a try....here's my first take on it....

It's only 8 inches in diameter so it's kind of small for a table centerpiece. But, I sill love it none the less!

Here is the tutorial at Ms. Alice's blog - click here. Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial!!!

WIP

Whenever I buy new craft supplies, I always want to start a new project...like right away! After my yarn acquisition last week, I immediately started a new afghan project. I chose the slate blue ball of yarn since I noticed quite a lot of them in stock at my supplier. I wanted a very big blanket so I will need to go back and get more of these balls of yarns in the near future.

Here's my current WIP...so far I have 5 rows of the cluster V stitch that I learned in youtube here.

I also have some cotton yarns that I am planning to make into a crochet mandala that I read about..so that will be another WIP soon...pictures to come!

Have a good day!

Yarn Addiction

It's official...I am totally addicted to yarn! I went out and explored the local yarn shop in Pasig city that I've read a lot about. I left my house late in the afternoon to avoid the hot sun. I didn't know that the stalls close shop by 5 pm. I jumped on a jeep and got there around4:45pm. Luckily the stall owner stayed open for me until I was able to pick out a few balls of yarn. I wanted to spend more time exploring the bags and shelves of yarn he had but instead, decided to tally up my loot and promised the shop owner I'll come back again for the cotton yarns.

And here they are...what feeds my addiction.... (sorry for the ugly pics...too excited to post)

I got 3 big balls of this light green yarn that super soft and fluffy...

2 black balls (these ones are a little thinner...I don't quite know the names of the weights of yarn yet)

2 balls each of blue (with a greyish tone), maroon and light brown

3 soft and gorgeous balls of pink yarn 

and 1 each of these other balls...green, teal, greyish black, maroon, purple, aqua

I also got some thin balls of chenille type of yarn...1 lavander, 2 light brown, 5 maroon and 1 small black ball. I forgot to take pictures of them....

I really love all of them and I can't wait to go back for more!!!

Lighting the Winter Gloom - Iron Craft Challenge 1

I decided to join a crafty challenge for 2011 over at Iron Craft!

They post a craft challenge every week for a total of 52 wonderful craft projects. I found them kind of late but I still decide to go ahead and submit an entry for the first week.

Challenge 1 was Lighting the Winter Gloom. The challenge was to create something to bring sparkle and light in this cold season. I decided to create a beaded candle holder/decor that definitely catches the rays of light in any candle. I was already a day late so I had to quickly come up with something. I used some beads that were part of my "bead soup" or bead leftovers and wire that I had all tangled up.

Halfway there.....

And tada...the finished project.....

Here's a link to the flickr group of all challenge entries - click here.

Ready for the next challenge!!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all crafters out there! I started the new year great by completing my shawl project over vacation. 

I spent every moment I could find crocheting and completing this project. I still had a bit of the blue yarn left so I've been using it to practice and learn a few crochet stitches. Here's a granny square I did yesterday

I'm really excited to start a new project (maybe a shawl?) but still haven't gotten a chance to go out and get some since I've been feeling under the weather the past two days.  I heard about a really inexpensive place to buy yarn here and as soon as I feel better, I'm sure to explore.

I do have a stash of yarn that I have been working on...or reclaiming. I am recycling an old sweater that I got at the local thrift stalls. I don't have a before picture of the sweater since I was so excited to jump in and pull the yarn apart. But here is one of the hanks that I reclaimed from the sweater

After soaking and stretching the yarn, it still has a bit of curly kinky-ness to it. I'll give it another stretching today before I roll it into a ball of usable yarn. I have 3 more of these ready to be stretched. What a bargain for only P10...or .23 cents (in US dollar) Now, I just have to plan what to do with them.

By the way, recycling yarn is really great and economical. Since I live in a tropical country, sweaters are totally ignored at thrift stores. But, you can get some wonderful yarn from them. Hm...this calls for another visit to my favorite "ukay" (that's what thrift stores are called in the Philippines).

Happy Crafting!