WOYWW - my first time!!

This post is all about creativity - where you create and what you are working on.  It's a sneak peek into other people's creative spaces.  I've been following this blog hop for quite a few months now and have finally gotten up the nerve to participate!!  I hope not to disappoint.

This amazing blog hop is hosted by the fabulous Julia at Stamping Ground. Click here to check out all the other links.  Thank you Julia, for doing this!!  It certainly has helped me branch out into other creative ventures.


I have two things to show you.  The first is a neck wrap that I'm knitting using Yarn Bee Melody Bulky Wool Blend in Fantasy.   When I knit I'm parked in my rocker watching television, usually after a day at work.  

My comfy chair - knitting area

You may notice the peach prayer shawl on the back of the chair.   One of my friends knitted it  for me.  It definitely takes the chill off!


The next project is a watercolor heart ornament.  It is part of the 12 Artsy Ornaments hosted by Christy Tomlinson.   Check out the class here.  Alisa is the instructor for this project.  I used a page from an old book (luckily I had started buying these at the thrift store) and painted flowers using watercolors.  I hadn't really used watercolors before; just colored with pencils and then blended with water.  Glue the two hearts together and stuff.  Finish sealing with the glue gun and voila  - a cute little ornament.  I have a cheap glue gun and had to use it in the same place a couple of times - maybe I didn't let it get hot enough before trying to use it?

I feel like I kind of cheated in that I didn't show you my work area.  Well, I do knit in the chair (and that's where I'm typing this right now) and I did make the ornament on the table where the Christmas tree is, along with some presents that I've been wrapping.


My previous post showed my newly organized "craft closet" so scroll down to see how I keep my supplies.  My yarn is actually up in my bedroom on some shelves there (yep, I do have craft supplies in almost every nook and cranny in my little home).   


Thanks for popping in!  I appreciate each and every one of you.  Have a crafty day!!

My New Craft Closet

Living in a little condo I need to make the most out of every square inch.  I thought of turning my bedroom into my craft room but there's several reasons I didn't do this.  My bedroom is upstairs and everything else is downstairs.  I don't hang out in my bedroom.  I'd carry everything back and forth and it would end up downstairs anyway.  My work desk is my dining room table.  There's a nice big window that faces my little backyard so it's a great place to sit and piddle on whatever I'm working on.  


Ideas start running through my head.  Aha, what about my coat closet?  I mean, yes, we get snow where I live but do I need a coat closet?  Nope, not really.  So, convert my coat closet into my craft closet.  Is Lowe's open 24/7?  Should I get out of bed and measure right away and run down to buy shelving?  Hmm, I have two shelves that perhaps will fit.  Now that that's settled get some shut eye.

Today a coat closet - tomorrow a craft closet!

I measure.  I have one set of shelves already in the closet so I measured from the end of them to the closet wall.  Drats, 24 1/2 inches and the shelves I have are 25 inches.  Then I remember this darn pipe that comes out of the wall in the back of the closet.  Now that really put a kink in it all.  O.k. think......  how about taking out the skinny shelves that are already in there and put in the 25 inch shelves -- will there be enough room before that darn pipe coming out of the wall.  Hmmm, yes, I think it will work.  Only it's a bigger job than what I first thought.  Oh well.  Here goes.....

I still couldn't fit everything. 

I guess it is still a coat closet - I hung some hooks on the wall for a few coats.

Closet that goes under the stairs.  More stuff!

What do you think?  This was my big weekend project that stretched into the following week.  You should have seen my house!!  Emptying two closets and stacking it all in the living room.  Oh my.  And I thought I didn't have a lot of stamps..... why, yes, that is a whole shelf of stamps!

Whatever your working on, go on, get your fingers dirty!!!!

Tweets in the neighborhood

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
Aristotle -

Hello friends!  Tulip is settling in quite well.  She has started answering me when I whistle and when I ask her if she's a happy bird she bobs her head up and down.  So adorable.

Here she is supervising the making of her breakfast

This little tweet is a yellow sided green cheek conure.  They aren't known for their talking ability but that's o.k.  She's a sweet little bird (52 grams) and is settling into her home and loves exploring the house.


I buy her a soak mix that I add hot water, a seed mix and pellets.  I save what she doesn't eat and scatter it out for the birds in the neighborhood. Here's a few visitors that I've had recently.

I think this guy is a woodpecker.  Isn't he just beautiful.

It snowed right after I put the seed out so they had to hunt for it

Playing hide and  seek

There was a coyote walking down the road but I didn't get a photo of him.  Luckily he wasn't near the birds and seemed to just be passing through.


I hope you all enjoy your day.

Did I Mention Beadwork?!?

Did I mention that I used to do beadwork? I haven't done any in quite a while.   I still have a small stash of beads just in case the urge strikes!
I started doing beadwork because I wanted an amulet necklace and couldn't afford to buy one.  I took an introduction class at the local college and that's how it all began.  I sold my pieces at a few arts and craft fairs (one being in Santa Fe that was sponsored by a bead shop owner) and really enjoyed every aspect - from choosing the pattern to choosing the beads.  Luckily I kept a few of the things I made.


My first piece made on a loom

Below is an example of the peyote stitch.  You are beading in the round so the beginning of the row is always changing.  I used delica beads for this piece.  They fit so nicely together they fall into place just like bricks!  I had a book of great patterns using the peyote stitch but I must have gotten rid of it.  I've looked several times and just can't find it.  You can find patterns on-line though, if you are interested.  Peyote stitch is a little more complicated than working on a loom so keep that in mind.

Most of the amulet necklaces don't have the small beads on the side.  I added those and think it really adds a little extra to the piece.  You can make the necklace and dangles as plain or decked out as you want.  Hmm, maybe I should get out my beads and do a little demonstration in a future post.  If you'd be interested in seeing that let me know.

One of my first amulet necklaces made with peyote stitch

Below is a bracelet that I made.  I saw one and actually figured out how to make it!!  You construct the base of the bracelet on a loom.  Loom work is fast and easy.  Keeping the base on the loom you then make loops of whatever beads you want to use.  In this instance I used pearls that I had and small copper beads as spacers.  The clasp is magnetic so it's easy to put on -- just be careful that it doesn't end up dangling from your car door when you get in!


Bracelet made with pearls

Here's some more bracelets that I've made.

This one has hematite and turquoise hearts

This next bracelet was made using a spiral stitch.  It's interesting - the pattern automatically spirals.  I also made some necklaces with this stitch but didn't keep any of them.

Bracelet using a spiral stitch.  Funky square beads with copper beads as spacers

I also made earrings but forgot to take any photos of those.  I'll do that in a future post.  Beadwork is totally fun.  Some of these beads are really, really small so I don't know how my eyesight would hold out!

I hope you are having a great weekend.  Mine has been so very nice.  Friday I bought a copier/scanner/printer and will hook it up this week.  I'm also getting internet at my home tomorrow so no more having to go to Starbucks to post.  Although this has been a nice Sunday morning/afternoon thing. 

We got some snow here and am supposed to get more this evening.  I'm keeping my fingers for a snow day on Monday!!!

Thanks for visiting!!!