Lofty Sewing Aspirations

Okay. So I still haven't beaded. I'm still on sewing-obsessed hiatus, which has led me to register on Ebay solely for the purpose of bidding on one amazing lot of vintage patterns. Which I won. I am really, really trying not to get too excited, because I am afraid something will go wrong! Since I haven't been busy beading, I thought I would update on my possible victory (still trying not to get my hopes up, just in case!). It was a lot of 126 - yes, you read that right- 126 patterns from the 40s through the 70s, all complete, and I won the lot for $25. Can you see why I am nervous? It seems too good to be true. Now the item description had lots of pictures and a full list of the patterns, which I've been looking up while trying not to get even more excited. I'm posting some of the included patterns so you can share in my joy!






Now I will have to read all of those tutorials about re-sizing patterns to fit and doing different fitting adjustments... and then get some pattern paper... and some material and thread... On the plus side, I found some bags of zippers (still in their old packaging) at the thrift store, so notions-wise I'm pretty set. Some day... some day I will be a master of sewing. For now I can dream.

Ahahahaha! That was so corny!

More realistically, for now I can gather the necessary materials, study sewing with vintage patterns and tailoring, practice with easier patterns and just generally try not to muck it up beyond wearability.

A Disorder Which Leaves Me With a Deficit of Attention

Osiris cuff

Okay, so here's the thing. Or more like one of the many things. Here's one of the things: I don't actually have attention-deficit disorder, but I do have a sort of hobby-related skip-around-y-ness. That was absolute gibberish. For the past few weeks, I've been in a sewing mode rather than a beading mode, so I've sorely neglected beading projects and this blog! Instead, I managed to pile all of my sewing patterns (new and vintage both) and a pretty good selection of material (also new and vintage) on the dinner table, where it still lingers untouched.

Here is another thing: I really like to know all about what I'm doing before I jump into doing it. Like bead embroidery! I read and scoured blogs and photo sites and tutorials for forever before I put needle to faux-suede. So the sewing projects have been more about sketching out ideas, cutting out patterns and then waffling on which fabric to use and just generally planning on sewing rather than actually sewing! It seems a little silly now that I say it.

Anyhow! To continue with this theme of hobby-skippery, I was compelled to start two new cuffs instead of finishing Atlantis. Yikes. I have, thanks to our friend M, started on Osiris- I am sorry M; I had to start Osiris first- I blame Halloween, it's an Underworldly time. I was able to find a really awesome central bead for this- it's a scarab! Yayyyy!

Creepy scarab close-up

I plan to continue with the sort of pattern-heavy look of Osiris; lots of geometric pattern, lots of dark colors.

A couple of nights after I began Osiris, I watched Fargo with my husband and BAM! I was like, I need to start a Babe the Blue Ox! How could I have neglected you, tall tales?! So I chose to use several blues on a tan cuff. And I like it! I just need to, you know, finish it.

Babe the Blue Ox

In super exciting news, I have now sold- in addition to Hansel and Gretel's Dark Forest- Dracula!!! Huzzah! I shipped it off this morning. I couldn't decide what to do as a "freebie" with a purchase like that, but I eventually settled on making a little drawing to go with the package. I made a pen-and-ink drawing of Vlad Tepes' castle at night, stars and all. I meant to take a picture of it, but in all of my shipping excitement, I sealed it all up before I remembered! Whoops.

Finished FeeJee, Atlantis Re-visited

FeeJee Mermaid cuff

Oh my goodness! This felt like it took forever. It was difficult to forge ahead, but I finally got through it. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it! I will never ever try to do another filled-in netting stitch on a cuff. Lesson learned.

I think it looks like dinosaur skin.

Should be posted to Etsy tonight!

On to Atlantis!

I've started doing some raised beading for the waves, and I think it looks super cool! I'm also thinking about doing some thread embroidery on the background. I liked the idea of leaving the negative space. I'm only just realizing that I didn't post any pictures that aren't close-up. Whoops! And some of the gaps in the first image will be filled in eventually; they look pretty weird right now.

The FeeJee Mermaid Meets the Sunken City

Alright! So here is all of the progress I've made on the FeeJee Mermaid cuff. I love the fish-scaley look of filled-in netting-work, but the chartreuse of the cab was not represented well enough in any of the rest of the beadwork. The solution, of course, was another trip to the bead store! I found this Kermit-green for the edging, which I hope will be enough to tie it all together. I think part of the problem is that I like the colors to be matchy, so I have a hard time leaving this color palette alone; it's too cool against the yellow in the stone.

Also, I love a good excuse to visit the bead store.

And here we have the start of a new cuff, Atlantis. I'm excited about making waves! BECAUSE I'M A REBEL, GET IT?! [Insert rim-shot sound here.] Anyway, I'm in love with the shell cabochon in this! I need to take a close up of it... and then make a quick run to the bead store to pick up a few more...

The idea is to repeat the waves on the other side, just flipped upside down (though it's hard to tell from the sketching) - similar to the trees from Hansel and Gretel.

Well! That's all the update I've got! I've promised myself I'm going to work on these today, so I'm off. Wish me luck(-slash-willpower)!

A Peacock Pendant and a Mythical Monster

This is my stepmom's finished pendant! I ended up making a second one for her because the first was too big. This is maybe 2.5 inches (not including the fringe). I also very un-cleverly added a lace-y edging to the bottom of the first pendant which made the fringe hang all wrong. So this is the re-do! I like it.

And this is the beginning of the Feejee Mermaid cuff. I'm not totally sure of it yet- I need to finish filling in the "scales" before I decide. I just don't know what I think of the colors together. I do really love the cabochon though! I picked it up at the bead store the other day for this very project. I thought the neon green said creepy sea creature or possibly man-made monkey-fish hybrid monster.

I like it a bit better when it's draped like it's being worn, though, so maybe it will be alright.

I was going to include a photo of the original Feejee mermaid, but I discovered that they are all disturbing. Feel free to google it, but if I were you I'd wait 'til it was closer to Halloween (you'll be more mentally prepared for the spooky).

I Hereby Declare This Blog... Re-Alive?

Snow White cuff

Finished at last! Snow White is ready to make her debut. I edged her in sky blue beads for a touch of something blue. I would really be delighted if someone wanted to wear this for a wedding, but I would still be tickled if someone wore it any ol' day of the week, you know?

Here it is being modeled by my left arm. I have my camera to thank for making me look so tan, I can promise you that this is not the case. Thank you camera!

And here is my newest project! My stepmom requested a peacock-feather pendant, and I thought it was a great idea! I've decided to make an extra for the store. It will have fringe on the bottom when it's finished. Last night I handed it to Mr. MythicalAntiquity and said, "Can you tell what this is?" He gave it a long, slightly panic-stricken look before asking, "A cherry?"

That's right! A cherry. To be fair, he followed that up with, "Like a black cherry?" I'm not sure who's to blame here. Maybe it doesn't look exceptionally peacocky yet, but I certainly don't see a cherry. I thought it was a hilarious guess.

I am still alive...

I swear, I am still alive! We are all moved in and our tiny new house is busting at the seams. All of my fabric, art supplies, beads, sewing gear and crafty things are put away and ready to get to business; Etsy stuff is being sorted and readied for photographs, and beading will ensue tonight. Which means, with any luck, that I should be able to post pics tomorrow of some wrapped-up projects!!! I hope!

Also, I've been considering subscribing to Netflix so that I can have some form of entertainment for the countless hours spent working on jewelry. I've tried listening to music, but sometimes that's just not enough. "Watching" (really just sort of looking up now and again) movies helps me spend more time happily beading, though it does mean it probably takes me longer to do the work. The issue is that I'm a multi-tasker. I don't like to do just one thing at a time, and I like to be doing something with my hands almost constantly. This means that I try to read books while cooking and eating, read books in bed, read books while beading (don't even try, doesn't work) and listen to music while painting and drawing. I really do read a lot! Aside from movies and music, though, are there any other ways you keep your mind and hands busy at the same time? I feel like artistic purists out there are going to say "just concentrate on what you're doing! No distractions!" -- but really, that's so much easier said than done.

Ideas are welcome!

A Brief Hiatus During Which You Should Enjoy This Puppy-Sized Entertainment

Well, in all of four days we'll be moving back to Oklahoma (we've been living elsewhere for a summer internship); until then, we'll be packing, cleaning and cross-country driving! So I'll be away from beading and blogging for a bit. I thought I should do a quick update before we leave and I am incommunicado- but mostly I've just been dabbling. The image above is the start of an experiment in raised beadwork, inspired by Lynn's (BeadingHeartArt) Tuscarora Tuesdays.

I also went bead shopping, where I clearly was stuck on cool colors, although that was entirely unintentional. The ropes of beads were a gift from my very sweet Mother-in-law. I've already started putting these beads to use as:

BAM! Beadweaving trial-and-error. I've never tried this before, either, and it's been fun- I'm definitely not doing it super-perfectly by-the-book, though. I just wanted to see if I enjoyed it by trying a simple project first! It's been very different from bead embroidery. I don't like following directions! I actually have a fine arts degree with an emphasis in printmaking, and that was the one thing that caused me so many problems. I'm not very process-minded or orderly and I hate prep-work. I don't even like to follow recipes exactly! So beadweaving may be a serious challenge.

Also- the gradations in that photo are what the necklace really looks like, it's not the lighting. It goes from bluey-purple to pinky-purple.


NOW! On to the puppies!

(Handsome) Henry
Henry is really more my baby than my husband's. He basically acts like a toddler. I have no idea if he'll outgrow that as he gets older.

(Dangerous[ly adorable]) Zilla
Zilla was named after Godzilla- I realize that this photo makes her look like a sweet little darling baby, but she is completely insane. She plays rough, isn't scared of anything but precipitation and treats Henry like any older sister treats their younger sibling. She's a daddy's girl.

Now I know you're thinking, Oh my gosh! Are they always that adorable and normal-looking? And the answer is no. They are hardly ever normal-looking or -acting, even. And they love to fight (they really are like kids, biting, nap time, sibling rivalry and all). Let's look at some of their scarier faces.

Devious

Terrifying

Note the demon-fire in her eyes
(click photo to enlarge)

I especially like Henry's dumb face in this photo

That's right! Even with her leg in a cast, Zilla is vicious. Don't underestimate.
You've been warned.

Snow White Sneak Peek

Whew! Snow White's been giving me a bit of trouble, but it's been fun to do some embroidery. I love making little needle-woven flowers and leaves, so I just had to add some! I'm afraid the rose does still look a little background-y to me, though I did something between threadpainting and satin stitch to puff it up. After deciding that wasn't enough, I cut it out to use it as an applique, used another piece of fabric between the rose and the cuff for a bit more height, and finally attached it using a blanket stitch. I'm planning to edge it in a baby blue (for the marriage-minded, maybe? A little something blue?). I'm not one-hundred-percent sure what I think about it yet. I don't think I'll know until it's done.

Dracula Meets His End

Dracula cuff

That's right! Finally, Dracula is finished. Well, mostly... I'm still finishing the edging, but that should be over quick enough. I'm going to be posting it on Etsy tomorrow!

The next project, I've decided, will be Snow White. I plan to start with an embroidered rose in the center and work my way out from that. I'd like to use a long-and-short stitch/ thread painting approach for the rose, but I think that a padded satin stitch would be nice, too. It's going to need to be a bit puffy- I'm a little worried about the height of the embroidery versus the height of the beadwork. I don't want to rose to feel too much like a background when it should be the center of attention!

Really, no matter what I may say about which stitching techniques I want to employ it's only going to end up being a sort of free-handed made-up thing. Technical shmechnical!