What I’ve Been Doing With My Time

So, the big reveal! I mentioned that Dad asked me to make some jewellery to auction off for a fundraiser that he is associated with. I have finally finished the sets, and can now show them off.

More than just a worthwhile project, it has inspired me to dust off my crafting blog (I know, *another* blog!) and start thinking about selling my crafts on Etsy again. I haven’t listed anything yet- with this project done I have two gifts to work on and a few ideas I want to try out, so that should keep me plenty busy for a bit, but now I have a special place just to showcase my crafts. You’ll see a few repeats of items I posted here in the past, but there’s lots of new things as well.

If you like crafting and jewellery, please swing by and visit http://joyofmaking.wordpress.com I am open to suggestions, and if you really like something or would like something similar, e-mail me at joyofmaking@gmail.com

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What I’ve Been Up To

Sorry for my lack of action. Work has been so hectic lately that I have been pretty much staying offline on weekends. I spent so many hours glued to my desk Friday that the motion sensor light turned off on me- definitely a first.

So I’ve been mostly offline during my downtime. My big project this morning was making these adorable little guys:

My friend M created the pattern and I’ve been dying to try it out. They’re about 6″ long and a little less high. The olive was my first attempt and I had some trouble cutting the trunk- in fact, cutting out the felt was by far the hardest part of the process. The sewing was just an easy blanket stitch, but my hands definitely did not like cutting with scissors.

The tan fellow has gone to a toddler of my acquaintance and the olive one stays with me. Clearly, it should be named Oliver or Olivia (still determining gender). They are both a little splay-legged however- didn’t quite get the stuffing packed correctly, maybe.

I also did another crafting store run for jewellery supplies and found that another store had suddenly closed- my options are pretty limited unless I order online. I should have everything I need to finish the bracelets for the fundraiser- I’ll work on those this week.

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Sodalite and Amethyst Necklace

I am finally getting caught up on some projects that I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. I bought these sodalite beads (the oval ones) over a year ago to make a gift for a friend. They languished in a drawer awaiting inspiration (and energy) and I finally got around to them (two months late for her birthday- d’oh). I was able to present the gift Sunday, so now I can show off pics! I’m not convinced that they’re sodalite- I had a tag but not attached. If I was identifying by eye I would have called it flourite. One way or the other, it came out great and the recipient liked it, which was the main concern. :}

I originally made the medallion larger, but it was disproportionate to the necklace. It looked terrific, and then I realised it was exactly “toddler hand-sized” so I changed it. If I can ever get these beads again then I will absolutely make another for myself because I really, really love the colours (they’re a little washed out in this pic, unfortunately, but they’re all lovely shades of purple).

This was also my first attempt working with wired jewellery. I have plans to try a few more which you will see here eventually.

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Unicorns and Lollipops

Okay, not really. But I couldn’t come up with anything else for a title today, so that’s what you get.

I bought myself an electric toothbrush. I alternately feel incredibly lazy or that somewhere a dentist is smiling at me. Drinking green tea every day, I watch the inside of my ceramic mug slowly turn brown and realised “Hey! That stain is on my teeth, too!” (Mind you, I don’t have the whitest teeth to begin with, but some pics from a few years ago showed up and wow, yeah, time to work on those pearly whites a bit more than usual.) I am still getting used to it- my gums bleed a little and my jaw feels buzzy from the vibration afterward. I am still figuring out how to keep the toothpaste from spinning off all over the mirror. It’s a process.

I finished my 54-bead mala last night but forgot to take a picture- I’ll post one tomorrow. It came out really well but I’m not quite 100% satisfied and I’m not sure why; I spent a lot of time fiddling last night until I made it the best I was able with existing materials. I have another bead store I plan to pillage visit after work today- perhaps I’ll find some inspiration. I may be done with malas for a bit, though. I did find beads that I bought about a year ago intending to make a bracelet or necklace for a friend, so I may finally finish that next. I also have an idea to make a gift for someone else, but I won’t describe it here since I know that they read this blog.  ;}

My GI issues continue. No, I haven’t called the doc yet. Things are settling down and as unpleasant as it’s been, I haven’t really been sick. In fact, over all I’m doing very well- a lot less stiffness and pain. Exercising regularly really helps and I’ve had more energy. I suspect a lot of my issues right now are stress, which I am still having a hard time handling. I’m slowly percolating a thought that running a technical support shop isn’t good for my peace of mind, about the Buddhist pursuit of cessation of suffering and service to others, and how I really have a very Buddhist job, since I help ease other’s pain. I just need to stop taking it onto myself.  if anything ever comes of that train of thought I’ll post it here.

I woke up at 5:20 for my meds and never got back to sleep. I did sleep eight hours, but my brain wanted another hour even if my body didn’t.

Image from We Heart It (btw- if anyone knows who this artist is, please let me know! I can’t read the signature to trace it back)

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Crafting Fiend!

I am super-excited! I stopped by another local craft shop after work yesterday and found smaller amethyst beads for my wrist mala. I also gave in- the black lava beads have been calling me since I first saw them and I finally listened. Both mala came out amazingly well- the amethyst is so cute and pretty that I can’t believe it, and the carnelian guru bead with the lava just fits together well. (This picture really doesn’t do them justice- Ill have to try again later.)

I’m not sure what to do with the over-large amethyst beads now, however. I may just make regular bracelets as gifts or somesuch. I have a few of the smaller beads left over so I could mix-and-match or make matching earrings (or the dream catcher idea my cousin gave me- that might be fun to try). I will probably add tassels to these eventually. My next project is the 54-bead red tigerseye mala, which will be a bit more of a project.

Unfortunately, after running errands I heard a tornado warning on the radio. I was close to home so I quickly grabbed the mail and our recycling bins and brought them in so nothing would blow away. I scrambled to gather the cats, litter box, torch, radio, and extra batteries and ensconced us all in the mater bathroom. Hubby was still at work and kept calling, which I both appreciated but also was frustrated by since I was trying to fun around and get things done. Things got very noisy for a while but I don’t think we had any damage. It was excitement I did not need however, and now I have a better idea of where to gather and store our emergency supplies!

Hubby got home not long after but had a terrible headache from the air pressure, and I was sore from rushing around, so it was a quiet evening otherwise.  I am a bit achy today- I gave myself off from exercise last night but plan to at least stretch today after grocery shopping.

Just realised that I didn’t check on the bird feeder this morning- I wonder if it’s still there!

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