BTW: Working Down the List

I'm so behind on EVERYTHING, especially my blog reading. So why bother even posting today? Well, it IS Bead Table Wednesday.

Let me start this BTW with a little information for you.
I try to carry a notebook/journal/sketchbook everywhere I go so when an idea hits me I have a place to scratch it down. .  . otherwise I'll forget. I've come to the realization that no matter how awesome I think the idea is, if I don't write it down I won't remember it. I've tried to tell myself that there's no way I'd forget certain ideas because they're so great. However, when it comes time to remember that idea; all I can usually remember is that I HAD an idea. As such, it's necessary for me to have the notebook.

Looking through my scribbles the other day reminded me that I really should get to work on some of those ideas. So, I decided to proceed through them in the order I wrote them down (if possible.)

The first idea involves soldering simple loops to the back of glass bubbles. Now, I know I've done something similar before, but my test was to see if I could solder the whole piece of wire to the back (as opposed to just jump rings to the sides.)

As such, my craft desk looked like this today.

It looks pretty here, but it's not going as well as I'd hoped.

• The wire continues to spin rather than lay flat on the backs.
• I tried flattening the wire to stop the spinning, but that didn't work.
• The overlapping copper foil makes it hard to get the solder to cover the whole back of each pebble.
• Once soldered, the copper wire looks less impressive because the solder is a pewter-tone.

Oh well. . .at least I've got a whole notebook full of other ideas to try.


There's more going on over at the Bead Table Wednesday Flickr Group.

In addition, I finished up my ornament for the Ornament Swap. But, I can't show off what I made yet since I want Melissa to be surprised. Now I just need to package it carefully and send it to her before the
25th!!

Speaking of surprises, there's a new bracelet in the shop.

Spectrum of Fun Bangle

I can't wait to discover what's next on my list of ideas. . .

What I've Been Up To

I helped out a very good friend yesterday and was just too tired to blog once I got home.
I've also been working super hard on some of the commitments I've made in the blogging world. I'm starting to really wonder if I've over-extended myself. Instead of panicking, I'm trying to take it slow and steady to get get one thing accomplished at a time.

Before I get into all of that, let me share some goodies I scored.

I won the Crystal Copper Giveaway at Vintaj and am now the proud owner of these:

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I FINALLY got my meal plan made today. I know it's Tuesday, but here's my Meal Plan Monday contribution.

Breakfasts: Cereal/grits, bagels, yogurt w/granola, breakfast burritos, potato bacon casserole, waffles

Lunches: Leftovers, tuna noodles, ham sandwiches, bean burritos, pb&j, pasta carbonara, ham and cheese bagel panini

Dinners:
Beef with snow peas w/rice
Pork chops with creamy mushrooms and dill w/peas & mashed potatoes
Creamy Cajun chicken pasta w/broccoli
Crispy lemon tilapia w/wild rice & green beans
Tacos w/corn

There's more Menu Plan Monday (that was most like DONE on Monday) over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

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In addition to planning my meals, I'm planning on what I'll be making for the Challenge of Color over at Erin's blog, Treasure's Found. Participants each chose a basic color and Erin then assigned us a color palette created by Jessica Colaluca of Design Seeds that includes the chosen color. I decided that since I have tons of blue beads (since it is my favorite color) to choose BLUE as my color. Erin assigned me the Bloom Tones palette.

I'm loving all the bright colors in this palette. I just hope I can do Jessica's beautiful tones justice. There's a long list of participants and we'll be revealing our creations on December 30th.

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Taking up most of my time, though, is the Ornament Swap via Sally's blog, Wirewrapped. I was paired with Melissa Meman and really want to make something she'll like.

 Anyway. . .I've been a busy girl. Please forgive my lackadaisical posting schedule.

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OH, and this is now on sale 20% off.

Garden Blooms Necklace

I think that's plenty enough information for one night. . .later y'all.

Barcamp and I Heart Macro

Yesterday was interesting.
After many weeks to possibly months of knowing about it, I broke down yesterday morning and decided to crash Barcamp Mobile. A few of my local Twitter friends were actually putting it on and quite a few more were attending. However, since it's a "user-led conference" (meaning that the attendees are actually the speakers and presenters) I was freaking out about going.
Shortly after breakfast, the urge to go was overwhelming. So I checked with a few friends who were there to see if it was okay for me to just show up, and did. It was a super relaxed atmosphere and there were a variety of topics being discussed and presented. While some topics were geek/tech related, others were just generally interesting (like "How to Fry Anything" and "Genealogy.") All in all, it was a pretty good time. I might even come up with a presentation for next year. . .maybe.
Since I only attended the afternoon sessions and wasn't available for either of the dinners, my Barcamp experience wasn't really complete. I hear they had a lot of fun. There are barcamps all over the country, just do a search for one in your local area and you may be pleasantly surprised to find one near you. (If any of you who attended want to add anything to this, please let me know or leave additional info in the comments.)


While I should have gotten some macro shots of the fried mini Reese's, kool-aid, and Oreos; I was too busy consuming them to worry with my camera and greasy fingers!
Instead, let me show off the pretty colors that the leaves on my Crepe Myrtle have turned.

We don't get too many pretty leaves in Autumn down here. Most of the trees just stay green or instantly turn brown. So, the variety of colors right outside my front door makes me smile a little.

See more I Heart Macro shots with Lori at Studio Waterstone.


Before I go, let me share some more pretty autumn hues with you.
These Fall-themed earrings were placed on sale this morning

Warm Comfort Earrings

Here's hoping you enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Using Buttons in Jewelry (and my Nov ABS piece)

Ready for some more button mania??
I've had several people inquire in the comments about how to incorporate buttons in to jewelry pieces. I figured I'a share some of my own items that include buttons in various ways, as well as one from another designer. As such, this post is a little picture heavy.

First is a pair of earrings in which the buttons are simply joined to an enameled bead via jump rings.

Warm Comfort Earrings

Here's another example of a button connected with jump rings; this time as part of a focal in a necklace.

Bubbles Ascending Necklace

Very small  buttons can be included in a resin bezel.

Jewelry Box Necklace

Knotting a button on one end of a length of cord, leather, fiber, etc. and creating a loop at the other end makes the perfect clasp like in this necklace.

Moonlit Shadows Necklace

Shank buttons (those with a loop in the back as opposed to holes) can easily be wire wrapped to hang as dangles.

Blooming Buttons Necklace

As well, buttons can be wire wrapped and connected to one another for form a chain

Guards the Key Necklace

Or even just added in with other beads as part of the necklace.

Garden Blooms Necklace

I'm not the only one who likes to use buttons either. The famed Lorelei Eurto just listed this beautiful necklace in her Etsy Shop that incorporates buttons as part of her necklace.

Owl and Buttons by Lorelei Eurto

 

I even took the "Ugly Button" from yesterday and transformed it into something more presentable for the Art Bead Scene (ABS) November Challenge. The focal is a Heather Powers (Humble Beads) charm that is attached to a Shabby Button. (There are four other Shabby Buttons included in the chain.)

The inspiration for this piece came about by accident. As I was correcting the ugly-ness of that button, I realized that it went perfectly with the little leaf gift charm Heather had included with another charm I ordered from her. Looking at the charm and button together reminded me of the color palette for the inspiration piece.

I quickly got to work making some more shabby beads in the warm, mustardy-yellow in the palette. Before I knew it, this necklace was all together!

Check out some of the other beautiful pieces in the ABS Monthly Challenge Flickr Group.


Lastly, I relisted a necklace today that also includes buttons in the chain as well as in the focal.

Laughter Falls Necklace

So that's just SOME of the ways that buttons can be used in jewelry. I've got another few designs that I'm working with which incorporate buttons. I may share them at another time. If you've found or developed some interesting ways in which to use them, please feel free to link to or explain your ideas in the comments. I'd love to hear what you've got up your sleeve.

An Eyesore and a Meal Plan

Since my last few posts have focused on buttons, let's continue the trend for at least one more. I say "at least" because you know I can't stay away from the buttons for long. As well, several of you have asked for examples on how I use buttons and I might just share some with you in the coming days.

For now, I did play with my wooden buttons some yesterday. I wanted to go with a warm autumn theme and tried for a nice orange. Instead. . .I got this.

Is that not the nastiest shade of orange you've ever seen?
ICK!!
Back to the drawing board on that one I guess. . .


I hate to shift from the grossness of that color to food, but it is time for my meal plan. It's not the most extensive in the dinner department because we both have some evening obligations this week. But, I did throw in some new (to us) recipes!

Breakfasts: Cereal/grits, banana cinnamon whole wheat muffins, bagels (w/peanut butter, cream cheese, or nutella), breakfast burritos, potato bacon breakfast casserole, waffles

Lunches: PB&J, leftovers, tuna noodles, bean burritos, ham sandwiches, pasta carbonara, ham/cheese bagel panini

Dinners:

Crockpot Ham w/carrots and rice mix

White cheddar chicken pasta w/broccoli

Fish w/ mixed veggies and hasselback potatoes

Beef with snow peas and rice

There's more Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.


**While I'm sharing links, Bumbleshoot Designs (isn't that a fun name to day) is GIVING AWAY a $100 gift certificate! Leave a comment, tweet, share on FB, and/or blog about it for entries, like I'm doing! Good luck.**


I've got three more items in the ON SALE section of the shop, including these pretty Lucite earrings.

Twirling Fairy Skirt Earrings

You'll recognize these next earrings from my Bead Soup. I finally got them listed!

Steampunk Circus Earrings

I'm off to figure out if I can save the ugly orange button with some other layers of paint. I've got my fingers crossed!

I Heart Macro: Pushing My Buttons

It's really a shame how something so small can alter your mood.

Last night, my team lost.

I'm not happy about it. AND, it really bothers me that it affects me so very much.

Please bear with me the next few days as I grapple with the loss and the moodiness that it seems to have brought. The boys of the Alabama Crimson Tide fought a good fight last night and win or lose they will ALWAYS be the best team in the land!

What I have a harder time with is (and always seem to after a game like this), is the way other people want to kick fans while they are down. As if the bitter pill of loss isn't enough for a fan, the salt that is rubbed into the wound by supposed friends doesn't help. Seeking to purposely and personally hurt another's feelings when their heart is already low isn't cool, it's just cruel. I know it's a game and it may seem so silly to so many, but I put my passion in few things: my husband, my family & friends, my crafts, and Alabama football. Sigh. I've tried to figure it out for years why football is so important to me, and I think it has something to do with the men I've lost in my life. My father, my uncle, and my great-uncle were all die-hard fans who raised me. Watching the games ties me to them, gives me that connection, fills the hole that their deaths left. So when you attack Alabama football; you attack me, you attack my family, you mock my beliefs, and you disrespect the memory of those I've lost. It burns. Yes, it's just a game to you. To me, it's so much more.

With that off my chest, let's get to some I Heart Macro Sunday.

Since everyone seemed to enjoy the buttons I scored the other day, I thought I'd share some macro shots of just some of my buttons.

These first two are from the thrifted ones.

These wood buttons were a real score at $1 a package at Michael's. I can't wait to alter them!

For more I Heart Macro Sunday, head over to Studio Waterstone.

Thank you for allowing me to rant. Sometimes I find it best to get my feelings out in writing. Here's hoping you have a beautiful Sunday. I'm hoping to find some activities to take my mind off the game and soothe my soul.

Finding What's Lost

Wow, Wednesday was full of a whole bunch of FAIL.

Besides not really having anything on the craft desk, I didn't accomplish much of anything at all. It was a weird day.

To make up for it, I tried to focus my energies and get some tasks accomplished yesterday. Mainly, I worked on editing photos and writing descriptions.

Since I did get a few things done, and I had birthday money still burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to slip out to the thrift store.

In all honesty, I was looking for some more clothes but this is what came home under my arm.

It was a STEAL

I had to open the big bag in the floor to make sure the contents didn't go rolling off my desk! Here's just SOME of the treasures inside the big-ole-bag.

Loose buttons

Boxes of buttons

Sheets of plastic canvas

Button cards

There was all kinds of miscellanea in the big bag as well. Some of it was saved, some of it went in my "donate" box.

Even with such a huge score and some minimal work yesterday I'm still lacking a sense of accomplishment. My house is a wreck, I've made NOTHING this week, and I still can't find the motivation to do either of them (though I've checked all my pockets, and the motivation is just not there!) Sitting here complaining about it isn't going to do anything. So. . .let me go look under the bed while you check out the newly re-listed item and sale item in the shop.

Re-listed

Fading Light Necklace

On sale

Fly High Necklace

Here's hoping your motivation's not hiding from you!

OH, and 

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!

Bead Table Wednesday and Other Bead-y News

My bead table is a little sparse today. I'm just not feeling very inspired. However, one of my best friends came over Halloween night and gifted me with these beauties for my birthday.

She was so worried I wasn't going to like them since they're not the vibrant colors that are usually typical for me. She was right about one thing: I don't like them, I LOVE them!
Thank you AFA!!

There's more Bead Table Wednesday in the Flickr Group.

In other new, there's A LOT going on in bead blogger world.
1. Art Bead Scene has revealed their November Monthly Challenge.

2. Shel over at MiShel Designs is hosting a "Holiday Shop Hop" the weekend of December 3rd & 4th. You can read all the information about it over on her blog and join in the fun!

3. Julianna Cannon of Julsbeads fame is kicking the holiday season into high gear and will be sending out some Surprise packages as well as offering some sales for the next several weeks. Read all the details on her blog post.

4. Lorelei is having another challenge. This time with Jade Scott Flowers. She's selecting SEVEN comments at random to participate in the challenge. Go to her blog post to leave a comment and be entered.

5. Erin at Teasure's Found is hosting a Color Blog Hop. It sounds like a lot of fun and there's even a chance you could win some prizes!

Here's the news in my little bead corner of the world:
One of my most favorited (as in many people have marked it as a favorite) necklace has made its way into the ON SALE section of the shop.

White Trash JUNK Necklace

And, there's a new necklace in town!

Bubbles Ascending Necklace

Well, that's all the new news I have for you!

Just a Few Thoughts

Soooooo, how was your Halloween?
Mine was long!! One of my best friends, my mom, my brother-in-law, and I stayed up late talking. I'm exhausted.

However, I just wanted to stop in to mention a few subjects.

The nieces stayed over this weekend. As usual, there was some crafting involved. Oldest niece created these polymer clay discs. As you can see, we started a necklace with them before she lost interest. I just had to share her creativity.

Secondly, I was just wondering. . .now that I have all these new clothes, is it weird that I don't wash them before wearing them? I mean, I don't know who else tried them on or what might have brushed up against them, but no one's ever told me to wash them first. I've always been a buy-and-wear kind of girl and never really thought anything of it. I actually don't know what made me consider it after all these years. So, do you wash or do you  just wear?

I signed up today for the Ornament Swap over at WireWorked. Today's the LAST DAY to sign up for the swap. You literally have a few hours left. HURRY!!

Vintaj is having a giveaway. I just have to say: I want to win the @vintajco & @beadaholique Crystal Copper Giveaway! #ilovevintaj  (go here to find out how you can enter too)

Lastly, I re-listed these earrings today.

Happy Smile Earrings

Hopefully I'll get to bed earlier tonight and have my thoughts better organized!