croque-choux

beaded dragonfly

...made to keep my hands busy yesterday and because I didn't feel like tackling anything bigger just now. I think this bug wasn't feeling my energy either 'cause it really needs a better wing job! Maybe I can still fix it. The other dragonflies I made came out better, but I like this one's colors.

Junebug MOS photos

As promised, here are a couple of photos of the "june bug" I made for the Month of Softies project. MOS is now a Flickr group, so check it out! Lots of neat photos and the sock monkeys are coming...

Junebug Softie!

Finally finished and finally uploaded pictures after being sick (migraine. how did ya'll guess?) Here is my bug in all her beaded splendor, ready for Summer. I'll add more pictures in a little while... this is just a quick coming out of Limbo post- It is nearly 2am here and I have a class in the morning!

Dragonfly n°3

Here's another dragonfly, who got his lovely wings thanks to Sandy who sent me this cool package recently. I made him with slightly larger beads, so instead of being made into a pin he's now poised on one of my houseplants.

Dragonfly pattern

I had a couple of requests for dragonfly instructions and I finally relocated them, so here's the tutorial. The pattern is by a Ukranian woman named Maria, but she hasn't updated her site in a while unfortunately. I really wish I knew more about her because I like to give credit where credit is due, and this woman does beautiful work. If you visit Maria's gallery pages, you'll see what I mean! So remember, this is not my pattern, I just used this to make the insect's body.
I think I forgot to mention that these dragonflies are made using fine wire. Not too fine, or else your wire will break in the midst of your project, and not too heavy or you'll never be able to thread it through your beads. I've also added another link to my sidebar: all about beading, which is how I found the pattern in the first place. Lots of information and free beading patterns there, so check it out. This site lead me to another, where I found these super easy instructions for making a seed bead ring. So since I was in need of a quick craft fix, I made one yesterday. This is a good instant gratification project! I made my ring in "croque-choux green" and some of the beads leftover from the dragonfly :o)
Okay, I think it's pretty obvious that I have a dragonfly fetish by now. I think it's because they're so pretty (for bugs!), and because you don't see them very often. ANYway, if you like them as much as I do and if you embroider too, then this book looks like it would be fun to have: Stumpwork Dragonflies by Jane Nicholas. It's on my Amazon "wish list" (sidebar), which is where I add books for future reference so that I don't forget to buy them. From what I can tell by looking at the book cover, her dragonflies look amazingly real.

A Dragonfly & Friday's craftiness

Today I made another beaded dragonfly. I started it while I was having a long chat on the phone with a friend. I have to do 2 things at once, you see- something with my head and something with my hands. I'm not 100% pleased with the wings, but I'm working on finding just the right technique for making them. I could've beaded them as in the original instructions, but that would've taken a longer phone call. I spent a long time looking for these instructions so that I could post a link to them here, but so far no luck. Anyway, on my first dragonfly I used Tyvek and Angelina fiber for the wings, but to fashion the wings for this one I made a sandwich with bit of sheer ribbon, some gold snippets, and a little Angelina. I wonder if my daughter will swipe this one from me, she hasn't seen it yet...

Here are today's craft purchases by the way. My dragonfly is perched on some sheer two tone fabric I found. It shifts between turquoise and gold, and for the life of me I cannot think of what this kind of fabric is called, in either language I speak. The pen is for writing on fabric and is made in Japan. These dual pens are made by Sakura Color Products Corp, last a long time, and are truly permanent. I use them for writing on my fabric postcards mainly. That's what this stiff double-sided interfacing on the left is for too- fiber postcards. Lastly I couldn't resist buying another spool of Mettler metallic thread. It's a beautiful silver!

Oh and I MUST leave you with this: extreme close-ups of dragonflies. You absolutely have to see this and this, and if you're not easily creeped out by insects, check out the rest of the site Beautiful Bugs, because this fellow's photos are truly amazing. (Don't miss Frank's "how-to" section if you're into photography!)

Staying put has its rewards

Wednesday morning we woke up to snow, so my first thought was: now we're REALLY stuck at home. What can I say, I was born and raised in L.A.- I didn't see a snowflake til I was 22! Well, at least daughter and doggie have a good positive attitude towards snow, as you can see by this picture I took from the upstairs window.
Staying in all day wasn't so bad: I baked lemon yogurt cake, and the kids made things out of Fimo clay while I worked on the bracelet I promised my daughter. It's finished! Many MANY thanks to Kim for this great idea and for the tutorial she posted on her blog on January 20th. I feel like making another bracelet now... It's supposed to snow some more and my son is still sick, so maybe I'll get a chance to start a second one.

"Something to say"- and lots to See!

Now that I'm feeling human again, I have some serious catching up to do in the craft/sewing department. I fell in love with these very pretty bracelets I saw on Kim's blog, "Something to Say" (see my sidebar). So I dug out my shoebox full of beads and shiny things and started working on a bracelet for my daughter. I'll post a photo when it's finished, but in the meantime don't miss the beautiful bracelets that Kim made and check out her tutorial (Jan. 20, 2005 entry). Thanks Kim for a really great idea!

A Last Minute Gift

I'm very happy about this little dragonfly pin, because I made myself finish it before going to bed! It's a present for one of my daughter's best friends (Hi Sandra!) and it had to be ready Friday morning before school. Okay, so what if I went to bed at 2 am and so what if I'll need an extra cup of coffee to keep me propped up today... it was worth it! After all, 15th birthdays only come once, and anything and everything is possible at 15. I would have beaded the dragonfly's wings too, but it was late and I couldn't find my glasses, so I made some wings out of Tyvek and Angelina fibers. It came out really cute so I think I'll make more! But maybe not after midnight next time...