Thrifty&Swifty Gifties part 2

Do you know any knitters? I do, and I am always impressed by the way they whip out a knitting project anytime, anywhere. Beading and jewelry making may not seem as portable but they can be if you have a neat wrap to put your project and the needed tools into. Full-sized jewelry totes with every bead under the sun are too much to keep in your bag for whenever, but this reusable sandwich wrap project from Betz White has got me thinking. She has this project in her lovely book, Sewing Green and right here on CraftStylish. The sandwich wrap is lined with waterproof fabric to keep the sandwich mess inside and the nice fabric outside. The hook-and-loop Velcro holds it together.

Imagine replacing the lining with a bead mat cut to size and maybe even a piece of stiff cardboard or plastic. Viola, you could keep your tools, a coil of wire, a tube or baggie of beads and that 42 inch rosary chain your sister-in-law has been asking you to finish right inside. Close it up tight and throw it in your tote bag. The next time the knitters pull out a hat or socks just coyly open your Project Wrap and get to work. That'll show 'em.

These would be easiest to make a few at a time and then you could give them to your crafty friends. Or me.

Do you want fabric to cover your crafty wraps? Visit Betz' etsy shop for some lovely prints. I have some and the colors are more beautiful in person.

Mincing Mockingbird and Frantic Meerkat Steal A Car, news at 11

This photo shows Kim of the Frantic Meerkat, the mysterious Mincing Mockingbird and me at the Stationary Show last year. The Humanized Animals (as we call them but not to their faces) are two artists or maybe writers who create paintings, collages and really, really funny cards. I love their work and send these cards to friends and family who will get it. That list can be kinda short. Really, who DO you send a card featuring a collage of men fencing with kittycats? or a perfectly lovely painting of a songbird and the text "It's hard out here for a finch" ? Somehow, though, that card is just right for someone...someone I know. The Mockingbird also has created a giant freeway-billboard-sized painting of cars running off an overpass that is on my list of 10 Things I Will Buy If I Come Into A Giant Fortune. Sadly, the link I had to it no longer works so the image only lives in my brain. If I do Come Into My Giant Fortune I shall purchase a large billboard on I-440 and put that sucker right up there for all the hapless communters to ponder.

read their blogs for inspiration or amusement or just the sheer time-wasting fun of it all:
Mincing Mockingbird and Frantic Meerkat

and check out the cards at both stores.

What will you accomplish before you turn 50?

What are you going to do before you turn 50? Run a marathon? Climb Denali? Swim with dolphins? Learn to surf? Christy from Colorado was in the store last week. She is on a quest to visit all 50 states before she turns 50. I know from this picture it looks like she has 15 years or so to accomplish that, but apparently she is older than she looks and so she's working really hard to get her goal accomplished. North Carolina was state #43 on the list and she decided to come here and visit our bead stores. She spent a very long weekend taking classes and just hanging out at our work tables. She was at Panopolie for about 11 hours! She has an eye for fun and playful things and makes charm bracelets and colorful adornments that really capture her personality. She loved both our stores (here I am, blushing) and told me she was having a great time. She made so many friends among the staff and the other customers that we'll all look forward to her next visit.

This is my decade to turn 50, as well, and I love the idea of a goal tied into that landmark birthday. I'd have to really ramp up the travel to hit all 50 states, or 50 countries. I could make 50 pieces of jewelry (oh, check!) but I think it should be something I have to work on a bit more. Perhaps doing 50 century bike rides (100 miles)? Or hiking 50 days on the AT? Or planting 50 blueberry bushes? I don't want a flock of 50 chickens. Do you have a goal you are trying to accomplish before your next milestone birthday? Better yet, do you have any ideas for me?

Escazu is expanding

Which means more chocolate for me, right?

Go read the story...mmm...I think am getting a cup of chocolate right now at their convenient Glenwood Ave. shop. I am sorry to have it go, but I understand that they have to focus on their new space.

Chocolatier to open factory - Wake County - NewsObserver.com

photo from the N&O article

Patti Digh Reading at Panopolie

I know you remember me talking about this fabulous book, Life Is A Verb, and the equally wonderful author Patti Digh when she first came to Panopolie to read from her book. I am so excited to announce that she's coming back in December to do another reading. I have given this book to so many friends and family who treasure it as I do, both for Patti's stories and the amazing artwork contained within the pages. At the last reading Patti went beyond the selections, giving us some background to each essay, plus a few new stories. We all laughed and cried.

This would be a great event to attend with a girlfriend, mom or sister. We'll have refreshments, maybe even fudge.

Saturday, December 12th
author reception 5:45
author reading 6:15

Thrifty&Swifty Gifties

Hello and welcome to a new blog feature. Every Wednesday I will share an inexpensive gift idea that somehow doesn't make you look cheap. No one likes to look cheap. I am going to focus on the useful gifts. Yes, earrings are lovely and inexpensive and can look very spendy all wrapped in a pretty box with corresponding ribbons but that's too obvious. Cheap and useful, that's harder.

This week I want to share a great post from a blog I'd love to hate but just can't. Cathie Filian is one of the big names, TV show, lotsa books, the whole package but she also does blog posts for things like Barbie couches. Eat that, Martha!

So, go visit Cathie's blog and you can read how to make these tricky silver storage bags. She's advocating them for your silverware and tea sets but we crafty beadfreaks and metalfreaks know that a nice silver storage bag to keep coils of wire in would be sooo swanky to break out at the next craft night. Imagine having different bags for each gauge of wire. Imagine the look on your craft pal's face when you whip up a few for her, embroidered or silk-screened or just stamped with her fav gauges.

cathie filian: make your own silver storage bags

The bags pictured are from Cathie's blog.

Try Mixed Metals!

Do you work in mixed metals? Some beaders are afraid to mix it up, worried that they'll have a jumble that says 'I ran out of the right parts' when they are finished.

We have a great project today at Panopolie's Try It Tuesday that teaches you the easy rules for mixing your metals. Just in case distance prevents you from coming in, I have the rules and project instructions here.

So what are the rules? It is simple.

Mix intentionally. Lay out your design before you start working and think about where you can change out the metal finding in one spot or another.
Mix repeatedly. A single clasp of a different color may look like you didn't have the 'right' parts. Add in other elements in the alternative metal to make the design flow.
Mix alternatively. Try to keep the same metals from 'touching' in your design. Alternate finishes.

Some of my favorite combos are gunmetal and gold, silver and antique brass or antique copper and antique brass but really, they all look great.

To make the earrings shown above you'll need:
Imitation rhodium simple ear loops
Medium knurled antique copper chain, four link section
2 Tiny antique copper beads, 2 mm
2 Imitation rhodium headpins, 1 inch
2 brass wavy rings, 20 mm

1. Thread a copper bead onto a head pin. Use your round nose pliers to create a wrapped loop approximately 1/2 inch up the head pin as shown.
2. With your chain nose pliers gently open one chain link and remove it from the chain section. Thread this link through the loop on the copper bead and through the wavy brass ring. Close securely.
3. With your chain nose pliers gently open a second chain link and remove it from the chain section. Thread it through the ear loop and through the chain link attached to the wavy ring. Close securely.
4. Repeat all steps to make second earring.

November Contest Inspiration

Inspired? Try Art Bead Scene's November Challenge and you could win a nice prize package. I am thinking that this artwork deserves some gold ribbon lace, brass filigree, mica and maybe a few dozen lace imprint beads.

Information on the challenge and how to enter is all here at the Art Bead Scene Blog.

I was sick, and now I am not

So last week I had a bit of a cold. I was useless for a day and then took a day (ish) off from work and laid around in sweats and warm socks, ate soup, read books and drank tea. All the usual things for a cold. Today I felt loads better and was able to be sorta nice to my family and even converse with them and not just hunch under a blanket, sniffling. I am sure they appreciated my improved mood. Now, tonight, I should get to bed early but I have post-sick bounce and am trying really hard not to repaint the living room, strip the wall paper in the bathroom or something else stupid. Why do I always do this? Is it my body's way of dealing with lots of sleep over the last 72 hours? Is it because I laid on the sofa looking at the walls thinking 'if we rearrange those pictures the wall would look a lot better?' for about 7 hours? Am I still feverish and don't recognize it? Seriously, it is a good thing the paint store is closed at this hour on a Sunday night. By tomorrow I will be back to normal. I hope.