Studs for a purpose

Hello lovelies,

I have family in town visiting!  It's been fun to hang out somewhere that is not Toronto.  That hasn't happened in almost more than 5 years!

Between the time she left her house and got off the airplane, my 5 year old niece lost one of her earrings.  We needed something to replace it because her ears notoriously close up fast.  So I jumped at the opportunity to get my creativity going.  She needed a small and durable earring.  Nothing dangly or delicate.  Study and beautiful all the same.  I figured I could just bead weave a circle together and glue it onto a flat earring backing.

So as I started to bead, I realized that this was a lot like beading around a wooden ball (see "Unfinished Business").  By increasing and decreasing at certain places, I was able to bead around the flat edge and back to the center.  Here is a picture of what I came up with:

And the best part is, I didn't use a single drop of glue.  The design holds itself in place and it is really study - even though it may look quite delicate.

I really love it and I hope you do too.  I'm kinda proud of myself - can I say that on here?  Yes, I think I can :)

Love,

Lys

Unfinished Business

Hello my lovelies,

Today, I am posting all my recent work that has been left to linger - unfinished pieces that are just sitting there, waiting, wishing... *cues the Jack Johnson track*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffgsf3pqaD8

Okay so here it goes - all of my dirty laundry:

The Beaded Crochet Necklace:  This was my first attempt at beaded crochet.  And I loved it.  It took me so long to get started but once I did, I was going going, going...and then...nada.  I dunno, perhaps life got in the way?  Is the word "life" a synonym for "procrastination".  Yes?  Okay, well then, life definitely got in the way.



The Sparkly Lime Green Swarovski Rivoli Earrings:  So pretty and so sparkly.  This was the first time that I created a bezel for the rivoli to sit in.  Took me a while as well, but finally got the hang of it.  I want to use chain to finish this piece but I don't have chain.  I don't know how to work with chain either.  So I put this one aside for another day.  Anyone out there have any chain tutorials that they recommend?  





Balls, balls, balls *heheh*:  I've been working on mastering these balls *hehe* for ages.  They were quite difficult to crack *hehe*.  Okay I'll stop.





Coral earrings:  These were an accident but I decided that they were an expression of my subconscious.  I've missed my solo travel in Asia terribly.  And one of my most memorable moments was the first time I went snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.  It was simultaneously scary and beautiful.  I would panic often but was then soothed by the amazingness surrounding me.  The fish, the life and the color!  These earrings remind me of the that day...

These will soon be earrings...



Elephant (legs):  These were also an accident.  I started with the green and then it just morphed into what I thought looked like an elephant leg.  The coral bit is the beginning of the next leg. Once again, the elephant represents another memory of my time in Thailand.   I'd like to finish this beaded sculpture someday.  



So, I know many of you out there have similar issues (please tell me you have similar issues!).  Once this is posted and all of my shame is out there, I hope to be more encouraged to finish the things that I've started - in life, in love and in beading.

Love, 

Lys

P.S. Please tell me which project you think I should finish first.  Please motivate me!  Hello!  Anyone out there?

The Lazy Knitters' Knitted Sock Slippers

Hello there,

Wow, I actually finished a project in less than 24 hours!  
My motivation and my biggest enemy: The Cold.

I just movced into a new house and it is soooo cold.  Like, Canada-cold.  Well, not that cold.  But still.  

Okay, so here are the little booties I made because my feet were so cold.  I cut a few corners off of the original pattern (see below for link).  That's why I call them "The Lazy Knitters' Knitted Sock Slippers".  The finished slippers are super cute and they are keeping my feet nice and toasty:



I started by looking for a simple pattern online.  I was on the hunt for whatever could get me warm - and FAST.  I decided to go with this wonderful pattern by KweenBee and Me: 

http://kweenbee-and-me.blogspot.ca/2012/12/how-to-knit-childrens-slippers.html

I only had size 10.5 needles and this thinner yarn, which I know are not what the pattern called for, but I must stress how desperate and cold I was.  

Also, did I mention I was cold?  

Oh and yes, my feet are small so I had to use the umm, children's pattern.  
There is also an adult pattern on the site here: 

http://kweenbee-and-me.blogspot.ca/2011/09/how-to-knit-pair-of-slippers.html

Anywho, I started off in the usual way following the pattern for the size 9-10 *clears throat* children's slippers.   This is a pic of how it looks before I started the "End of toe step":




When I finished the "End of toe" step, I was so cold that I literally said: "Ain't Nobody Got Time For This!".  So, I completely ditched the whole "form the back of heel step".  I left a really long end at the end of the toe step and began to sew up the seam.  Also, I didn't have a needle handy so I just stitched this up with my fingers.  I worked the yarn back and forth kind of like how you would tie would tie the strings of your shoelaces.  It worked great for me.  No need for a needle!  Pun-ny! 

I finger-sewed up to the point where the ribbing ended...



And continued sewing all the way to the end of the slipper.   I tied a knot and left the loose ends long.  Leaving the ends long helps if you want to add some pompoms.



I forgot how to make pompoms so I used this really pretty website.  I love the high res pics: 

http://www.danamadeit.com/2010/12/pom-poms-a-very-simple-tutorial.html

As of this moment, I am writing to you wearing my cutie sock slippers.  My feet are nice and toasty and the enemy has been defeated.  I can't always win cold, but this victory is MINE!



Love, 

Lys

P.S. If you've read this far into my blog, I pretty much love you.  Thanks and please comment!

The Beginning

Hello World,

Welcome to my world.  I am not sure why you are here but now that you are why not read my blog so that you don't feel guilty about not reading books anymore.  Unless you have a puppy to play with, this is an excellent use of your time.

Well, my name is Lys and I have just made a major life change - I have picked up my life in Toronto, Canada and migrated south to Austin, Texas.  This is a blog about my life, my interests and all cool (and uncool) things that I'm hoping you'll find interesting too.  Bring on the cowboy boots y'all.

My previous life: Worked for a really demanding office job that paid well.  I used to have nightmares about it and would often come home crying from all of the stress :'(

My life for the past 5 months:  Traveling.  Yes, I backed up my backpack and went on a solo journey to rediscover myself.  I covered Canada, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.  It was an amazing journey and gave me the strength and courage to move onto...

My life today:  I am living in Austin, Texas.  By some miracle, I just got a job and an apartment last week.  I will be working for a jewelry company as a sales and production departments.  This is my ultimate job :D :D

My life in the future:  I run my own business - a successful jewelry line.  I write a blog and contribute nice crafty things to the world.  I teach others how to make their dreams come true :D :D :D

I don't ever want to be at :'( again.

Now I leave you with one piece of encouragement until my next blog entry: