CraftyHope

100 Days of What?

Little slips of paper with scribbled ideas litter the surface of my desk. There's a massive binder spilling over with more sketchy notes of inspiration. It's stashed nearby...along with a journal full of doodled designs. However, I never seem to have the time to work on any of these half-baked daydreams and side-projects. I fill my hours with what I think I need to do. What if I created a need to test out those plans? Every day. For 100 days (at least).

Yup. You guessed it. It's time for The 100 Day Project.

And, I thought I was ready. I really did. This plan was decided weeks ago.
But, I (JUST NOW) reviewed my list of previous projects and realized two things.
One- This will be my TENTH year participating.
Two- My project last year looks a lot like what I have been planning to do this year...On no!

I had to go look at my Instagram to find the 2025 hashtag because I just couldn't remember. My posts there about last year's project are scarce and sporadic. The way I wrote about it feels like I was unenthusiastic and losing steam. So, with only days until the 2026 project begins, I'm rethinking the idea I've had for months. Because...it's just too much like last year's unmemorable project. And, that's not what I want for 100 days of my life.

Granted, I don't need anything groundbreaking or difficult. I want to do what all the advice out there suggests: work on something that I'm looking forward to, something that I want to show up for. I've already given myself enough challenges this year (Finding the Words, Inspiration Trove, Create with Me: Jewelry, etc. - all on YouTube). I don't need anything else to agonize over. What I need is permission to play. Just a little. Every day.

So, I think...I think I'm going to stitch.

That can be interpreted in so many ways: slow stitching, using my sewing machine, embroidering or cross stitching, repairing or decorating my clothes, making stitched stacks or clusters, sewing a journal together, stitching in a journal...whatever.

Just one of my many stashes of embroidery floss

While I have so very many supplies, all I really need is a needle, thread, and something to stitch. So, it's a project that can travel easily if needed. And, I'm excited to do it.

Kits I'd forgotten I had

I just have to wait for the project to start on Sunday, February 22nd. If you're toying with the idea of joining, let me give you just a little advice:

It's okay to not take on too much.
Keep it simple, attainable.
Make sure you WANT to do it for 100 Days.
And remember, you don't have to finish something every day, just work a little on the idea.

Now, get excited and go for it!

If you're interested in my previous projects, below are the hashtags I've used and a little about each of them. This year, I'll use #StitchABit100

2017 - #Make100Earrings: The idea is pretty self-explanatory, and I even did some serious prepping for it.

2018 - #Altering100: I decided to alter a variety of materials for use in either mixed-media art or jewelry. I was all over the place with this project.

2019 - #SilverloxFinds was a really fun and memorable project in which I went out, explored our property, and shared the wild and wonderful bits I found there.

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt was all about using some of the art supplies I have amassed. I think I even had a list of 100 items that I was to work from. This was a bit of a dud, I think.

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry is another I don't remember well. However, looking through my posts, I think I got quite a bit of jewelry-making done.

2022 - #Assemblage100 was really exciting for me because it allowed me to begin playing with the idea of assemblage art. Here's my post about it.

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100 might have been a tad overambitious. But, the faces were easy. And, I enjoyed playing with more assemblage at a smaller scale. It felt more manageable that way.

2024 - #NotPreciousProject was glorious, but I'm still working to not make my supplies so precious.

2025 - #HopeDaydreams was fiiiiiine. I experimented. I played. But, I did it already.

Please note that since Instagram's use of hashtags has changed, you may or may not see my posts when you click on the hashtags above. Sorry about that. Who knew they'd mess up such a vital search function? Sigh.

Anyway

I'm ready to pull out all my floss, thread, needles, fabric, and the rest of it and get to it. I guess you can say that I'm itchin' to get stitchin'

Should I mention all the spools of thread?

As for all those scraps of ideas, they'll get used...eventually.

I'd love to hear if you're joining the party and what your project is.

Oh, and I know I've been away from the blog for ages. Sorry about that. I do hope to be here more often. But, I don't want to make too many promises quite yet.

Jewelry Trunk Show at Hello Gallery in Fairhope

I've been invited to participate in a trunk show with several other artists at Hello Gallery.

You'll find me and a variety of other jewelry makers available at Hello Gallery on Thursday, Dec. 11th, from 4-7pm. We'll be there to answer questions and chat with you about our process. Of course, you can shop all the other amazing art available in the gallery as well.

I'll have my newest jewelry pieces in the shop so that attendees of the show will have first pick!

If you can't attend the show but want to show your support:

Share about the trunk show with your friends.
Shop my offerings on Etsy. (I hope to be adding more soon!)
Follow, like, comment, watch, and/or share what I make/do on social media.

And, if you can't help me out in these ways, consider supporting other artists or small businesses. Remember that when you do, there's a REAL PERSON on the other end whose day you're making!

I am sorry that I've been away from this blog for so long. I'd love to be able to promise that I'll be back real soon, and...I have hopes that I will. I suppose we shall all see!! Thanks for sticking with me.

Finally, if I'm not back before the end of the year, I hope your holidays are fantastic - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Let's see what 2026 has in store for us.

A little something new

I cannot believe it's been over a year since I chatted with you. I'm so sorry!

I'll admit that it feels like I've been pulled in a thousand different directions lately. I started a post back in February to mention my 100-Day project for this year, but that post fell to the wayside. And, honestly, the project has dragged a little.

Let's see...if I want to get this one up, I should try to keep it short.

I'm starting a Patreon account!

To begin with, I'm only setting up one tier in order to share my ICAD (Index-Card-A-Day) videos and some free printables. However, once I get the hang of it, I may add other tiers with other offerings to it. If you're interested, you can check out my Patreon page. You should also be able to search for me as CraftyHope there as well.

And, let me know if there's something you miss seeing from me!

For more information, the Index-Card-A-Day challenge (ICAD) starts on June 1st and runs through July 31st. This challenge comes from Tammy. You can learn more on her website, Daisy Yellow, or on the challenge's Instagram account. You'll be able to find all the prompts and themes and all that jazz. As well, Nina Fickett has her own Mixed Media ICAD Prompts that you can see on her Instagram account.

(All the cards pictured here are ones I made last year. Check out the 2024 ICAD Playlist.)

Winding down the 100DayProject

I awoke the other day with many thoughts about the 100 Day project and decided to jot them down here to share with you.

Some of the bits I gathered/curated at the start of this year's project

As this is my eighth year participating and my ninth project* (because I crazily did TWO projects last year 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣), you may wonder why I keep doing it. Honestly, I sometimes wonder too.

But, there's something about the commitment of knowing what you're going to be doing for 100 days. And, there's the excitement and build-up of it at the start. Often, there's the relief in knowing that I'll have more art pieces completed at the end and the personal expectancy to show up EVERY SINGLE DAY. But, it is probably the days that lag and when inspiration just isn't there that are the real reasons I do this project year after year. It helps me see that even at those times, I can create something. It likely won't be the best thing ever, but I did it. I got through the lag and drag.

And, there's something about coming out the other side of the project. Of having that release, the FREEDOM to do something else, anything else. That you are no longer held to your commitment to do whatever you've been doing for 100 days - that you now have time to explore another project.

Here, at the end of this #NotPreciousProject, I'm seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and am feeling inspired by what comes next. And, I'm doing it with a sense that I can use those "precious" items. I'm excited to put away some of the things I've pulled out (see picture above) and finally clean up my spaces and move forward.

I mean...ICAD starts on June 1st!

*If you're interested in learning more about my previous projects or this year's please see my announcement post for the 100 Day Project 2024.

Bead Box 18 - Reveal

Hey y'all! I'm popping in to share the completed jewelry pieces that came out of Bead Box 18. I've actually already stocked and started on 19, so you should expect that post soon too.

If you're unsure what I'm talking about, let me quickly explain. I try to keep a basic, divided organizer stocked with the elements I need to make 17 jewelry pieces. This organizer goes with me when I travel, am uninspired, or just need to keep my hands busy. I shared a glimpse of this 18th iteration of it about a month ago, and now it's time for you to see what I made!

This necklace came together pretty quickly and is newly available on Etsy. Teal is probably my most favorite color, so I love this one so much.

These were a tad experimental as I wasn't sure if I could get the balled headpin to stabilize on the tin as well as form a loop for the leaf. It worked! And, I love them. They'll be headed to the Etsy shop soon.

The tin mushrooms came together accidently when two pieces of tin landed on top of each other on my bead mat. As soon as I saw them as mushrooms, there was no stopping me from riveting them together. Of course, that all happened before these wound up in my bead box. Aaaaanyway...I wrapped beads onto a couple of golden rings and these earrings were done. They're available at Hello Gallery in downtown Fairhope.

The pendant of this necklace was originally made for and in another necklace that I eventually took apart. (It happens!) As has become my latest and favorite way to make the chain for a necklace, I added matching beads to the front and finished it with chain. Oh, and that face part of the pendant - it's from Gaea Handmade from AGES ago!!

There's a lot going on in these earrings. They started with the soldered crystal drops but called for so much more. The darkened solder had me turning to some hardware store internal snap rings. But, I wanted to up the bling factor. So, gold and crystal bead fringe was added. These fun earrings can be found at Hello Gallery.

Can you tell that I had a few soldered bits that I wanted to use in this box? The pendant in this necklace is a soldered stack of a chandelier crystal, a turquoise chunk, and a glass pebble backed with altered, crackled paper. I simply added turquoise chips and round, clear glass beads aong with antiqued silver chain to finish this necklace. I plan to list it in the CraftyHope Etsy shop.

This necklace speaks for itself doesn't it? I created the shield pendant with the happy pebble several months back. But was stumped with what to do with it. I created a rosary chain of small beads. And, look closely...do you see it? The pattern is off. I meant for the black beads to be first on both chains. So, I've since swapped it and added a closure. Alas, when I went to take the necklace to Southern Antiques and Accents, I dropped it and the flower bead broke in half. Sigh. I could easily add another one of those beads, but I'm afraid they may be flawed as there was one broken the same way when I received the order of them. So, I'm thinking on it. Let me know if you have any ideas of what could hang from this happy pendant.

I JUST realized that the tin pieces in these earrings may be the exact same shape as the tin in the necklace before it. How funny. In any case, these earrings came together so very quickly and are available at Southern Antiques and Accents (SAA).

Yup, more soldered beads. I played with the translucent nature of these cultured sea glass diamond charms and hung some Chain Reaction from Jesse James Beads behind it. First, I had to change the bead on the chain to that it ended with a headpin and not a loop (it's a personal preference thing.) Like the earrings above, these can be found at SAA.

Those lime drops were the ignightor for these earrings. I thought the pinky-purple would be fun with them. I was right! You can find these in my booth at SAA while they last!

I've got a small jar of these bullet casings that I picked dup at a yard sale a year or so ago. I had my husband help me drill holes in the end of several of them so I could use them in jewelry (like in the Soldier's Necklace on Etsy). These tassel earrings are pretty long, but I think they're super neat. I've taken them up to Hello Gallery.

Yeah, that's another Gaea-made pendant. And, it's another that I had worked into something else that just didn't work out. I really like this version with the leather loops, glass beads, and brass chain. I'll be listing it in the etsy shop before too long.

This might be my favorite thing from the whole box (maybe). It's a simple knotted bracelet with four strands of beads and a cool star button as the closure. Other than the green cord, it's neutral and could easily go with anything. You can find it downtown Fairhope at Hello Gallery.

I try to include several bracelets in each box, though I do struggle with them. This one...I like it. I like the colors and the copper. But, I think I need to rework it. The section where the charm hangs is too long and clunky. They can't all be winners.

Look at that! Another bracelet! This one gave me fits and was reworked several times after this picture was taken. I was feeling unsure about the beading cord and decided to wear this one for a while. And, I did. I wore it until some of the color started to come off the reconstituted stone beads. Drat. So, I do love this bright, fun bracelet. But, it has some issues. So, it's mine.

These are much bigger than they look! The golden bases are from Michaels, and it was pretty simple to add the beads and tin. I think they're perfect for summer. I've got them up at Hello Gallery in case you want to snap them up.

This last necklace is a type that I've been making for years. It's a bit of a bead (and button) soup necklace with copper wire. It took me a while to get it finished, and I'm not yet sure where it will end up.

Like I said above, Box 19 is already packed and started. If you're interested in seeing any of my previous boxes, here is the full list. (I really should just make a page with a link to these. That's a task for another day.)

Bead Box 10 - Stocked

Bead Box 10 - Reveal

Bead Box 11 - Stocked

Bead Box 11 - Reveal

Bead Box 12 - Stocked

Bead Box 12 - Reveal

Bead Box 13 - Stocked

Bead Box 13 - Reveal

Bead Box 14 - Stocked

Bead Box 14 - Reveal

Bead Box 15 - Stocked

Bead Box 15 - Reveal

Bead Box 16 - Stocked

Bead Box 16 - Reveal

Bead Box 17 - Stocked

Bead Box 17 - Reveal

Bead Box 18 - Stocked

Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about the bead box, these jewelry pieces, or anything else. I'd be delighted to help!

The 100 Day Project 2024

Yesterday, the 100 Day Project for 2024 started (it's not too late to join in!!) I mentioned last week that I would give you a heads-up about what my project is going to be. So here it is - I'm doing a #NotPreciousProject. Basically, I've got too much stuff.

And, I've made it all "too precious" to use. That's just plain silly. So, I'm going to work on breaking through that mindset and USE some of it because most of it is not really precious. I'm just afraid of messing up.

So that I don't get overwhelmed by ALL the things in my stash I've curated a small collection (above) to start me off on this year's 100-day journey. I plan to restock it as I use items and find more to try to use.

I'm not limiting my use of these Precious items to any particular medium. I just want to use them, to give them purpose again!

My goal is not to use 100 items or to make 100 things…it’s simply to spend 100 days consciously using those “precious” items in projects. And, the precious items may include anything I’ve deemed too precious to use: found objects, paints, papers, thrifted materials, new/purchased materials, whatever!

This is my eighth year participating in #the100dayproject, and I love how it challenges me to keep thinking outside the box and moving forward. My previous projects have been

2017 - #Make100Earrings

2018 - #Altering100

2019 - #SilverloxFinds

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry

2022 - #Assemblage100

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100

If you want to see a quick video of some of my stash, you can check out this reel on Instagram.

So, are you participating in the project!? Let me know what you'll be doing for the next 100 days.

Bead Box 18 - Stocked

I think I mentioned in my last post that I had a new Bead Box packed up for an event that ended up not happening. Since I've already worked most of my way through it, I thought I ought to give you the peek I promised (before I need to stock it again for the March First Friday event!)

As you can see, this is a super basic, plastic organizer. Into each of the 17 compartments, I put the components I need to create a single design. This "bead box" comes in handy when I travel, have to sit in a waiting room, or just don't have the inspiration to design something new.

While I was rushing to get this box stocked, I didn't get individual pictures of the contents of each compartment. However, I can give you a better look and some idea of what I have planned to create.

1 - A fancy soldered pendant, matching beads, and gunmetal chain will become a long necklace.

2 - Tin discs, glass flower beads, brass leaves, and ball-end headpins are destined to become a neat pair of earrings.

3 - Riveted tin pieces that look a bit like mushrooms are planned to hang from golden rings that need to be wrapped with small similarly-colored beads. These will be earrings.

4 - Yikes, you can't really see anything there can you? There's a pendant that I made and used in another necklace (that didn't work out) along with beads and chain that will become another long necklace.

5 - Soldered glass teardrop beads and a mix of clear and golden beads are going to make a fun pair of earrings.

6 - An interesting soldered pendant that features a soldered bubble, a piece of turquoise, and a chandelier crystal will be the focal of long necklace that includes turquoise chips, round glass beads, and antiqued silver chain.

7 - For this one, I'll be using a fun focal that's made using tin and a glass bubble along with a bunch of small glass beads in black, light blue, and dark blue to create a short necklace. I'll use a bunch of eye pins to make the chain, rather than wire.

8 - Dome-shaped tin pieces and beads will be used to make a fun pair of earrings.

9 - The elements in this one are simple - soldered cultured sea glass pendant and some Chain Reaction from Jesse James Beads. These earrings will come together quickly.

10 - Those bright seed beads mean that these earrings will not be coming together as quickly. They're planned to be wrapped around a couple of large links of gunmetal-colored chain with a bright green teardrop bead hanging from the center.

11 - Again, this is hard to see. But, in that baggie are two brass bullet casings, a bunch of little bits of chain, beads, headpins, and golden earwires. These will be some fun, fringy earrings!

12 - That Gaea pendant will hopefully be connected to a short length of beaded chain, then brass chain via some leather loops. We'll see how this necklace works out.

13 - Finally, a bracelet idea. I've got a button, waxed linen cord in green, and a mix of four different types of beads. I'm hoping this all turns into a multi-strand bracelet.

14 - Here, I've got a copper-colored charm along with pinky peach and clear beads. Again, I'm hoping for a bracelet.