The Art Bead Scene Contest for October

The theme for October's Art Bead Scene contest is A Dark and Stormy Night. Read all the contest details here and don't forget to enter before midnight on October 31st. How appropriate.

I suggest the following ingredients for this theme:
Rare metals glitter mixed into some ICE resin, all set into a sterling silver porthole with Old Bronze lentil beads from Elaine Ray and some Inky Black drops. Mmm, that sounds pretty nice, I may have to use this idea...

And congrats to BelindaLee for her September Art Bead Scene Challenge winning design...she wins a copy of my book as soon as I know where to send it!

Weekly Projects

Ok, it's too busy here for me to get anything finished. Nora, who should be napping RIGHT NOW is instead telling me that I WILL play blocks with her. And so I will. But first, here are some Weekly Projects from some friends. Thanks, friends!

From Candie Cooper and her friends at Simply Beads comes these how-tos using Ranger Alcohol Inks, Memory Glass and other do-dads. We have the Memory Glass and Frames and Alcohol Inks, I don't have any idea where you could find assorted do-dads.

From Betz White the so-sweet fall acorn felties. I love these little guys. I made them last year and scattered them on the mantle at our house. When friends commented on them I would say, oh, take one home! The look of joy on faces as folks selected their favorite made it a craft I will repeat this year. They'll do double duty as package tie-ons at Christmas, if you have any left by then!

And from Angry Chicken*, this gussied up sweater idea. I would use this ribbon and maybe do a bit of button changing, too.

*Angry Chicken is not technically my friend. She doesn't even know me, she's more of a stalk-ee as I read her blog and think I know her. But I really want to go to dinner at her house and would bring my own girlies, dressed in aprons!

Make a skeleton pin

For a bit of scrap art holiday fun, try making this Skeleton Pin from Christine. I love her how-to's. I think a chain of these would be fun along the mantle, too, if you wanted to really go all out. I have been hoarding some sardine cans that have nice labels and I may just have to cut them up for tiny yellow-and-red skeletons.

We also have Try-It-Tuesday projects that are seasonal all month. Check out the tiny pumpkin earrings, or the wee ghosts. Boo!

Do you have an old pair of eyeglasses hanging around?

I save things. Sometimes I need them later, sometimes I find a good home for them. I hate to throw something out if I think it can be reused.

If you have some old prescription eyeglasses that you aren't using anymore you can donate them to the Lion's Club 'Gift of Sight' program through the good folks at Vision Park. They work with the Durham Tech opticianry students to clean, adjust and classify the glasses before passing them on to folks who need them. You can drop your glasses off at either of the stores or at Vision Park and know that those glasses will help someone see better instead of cluttering your drawer. We're going to clean out the lost-and-found at the stores, you may want to ask at your church or work place.

Are you not here in Raleigh? Visit The Lion's Club and find out where you can donate your glasses. This is an on-going program, there is no deadline to help people see better.