Wonder and Whimsy April 2025 Challenge: Farewell to JoAnns

How in the world is it almost April already?* This year is just flying by!

I've decided that this month's Wonder and Whimsy challenge is going to be a little bittersweet. 

Some background: as those who live in the states might know, JoAnn Fabrics is closing. If you're not familiar with JoAnns, it's a craft store chain that has been around... for a long time, honestly. I think the first store opened in  the 1940s, and then became a chain in the 1960s? Something like that. Suffice to say, it's been around since I can remember... and I have a lot of very, very happy memories of going there--both with my mum, and with my friends.

And now it's closing.

I won't go into the reasons--mostly because I don't really know them, and starting to look into it has made me sad. So! Instead of dwelling on that, I've decided to dedicate this month's challenge to going there, buying a few final strands of beads, and making a final tribute to the happy times I've had there.

The bead aisle is still pretty full!
I imagine it will get more sparse as the discounts increase.

Here are some of the treasures that I purchased... 
we'll see if I end up getting any more.

Also, disclaimer: I'm sure I'll also use beads from my stash, if the design requires it. I just want to make sure that the JoAnns beads get a chance to shine.

I am resolved not to make this a sad thing. I will miss the happy times at JoAnns, but I know that there will be other opportunities to make good memories. I just want to acknowledge the role this store has filled in my crafting journey, and say a quiet "thank you" for being a place for me to explore sewing and beading and all sorts of other things... and, above all, for being a place that I could share crafting with my friends.

Change is hard, but it's not always bad.

So! Come back on Friday, April 25th, to see what I ended up making. Even if we can't go together in person, I can still share my beading with my friends--here online, if nowhere else.

Thanks for stopping by!

--

* - Yes, it's still March... I'm posting this a day early, because tomorrow is April Fool's Day here in the states, and this is not a joke. I figured that would be all right.

Wonder and Whimsy March 2025 Reveal: Mocha Mousse Madness

Hello everyone... Guess what time it is! 

That's right: it's reveal time!

As you might recall, my challenge this month was all about brown. And not just any brown... this particular Pantone-selected brown:

I had a lot of fun with this challenge. 

Now, I realize that I always say that, but it's true! Challenging myself to make things under certain constraints is always fun for me.

For this particular challenge, though, I had an obvious starting point. Back in January, I received the Monthly Fun Pack put out by The Bead Place; it's a fun collection that they put together around a different theme each month. For January, as one might suspect, the theme was Mocha Mousse.

How convenient, I thought. What a great place to start for this challenge.

...And, as a special bonus, the pack also included a swatch of the color printed out and glued to the front of the bag. That was incredibly helpful for matching the color--and for taking pictures!

So! For this first set, I used only the beads included in the pack--and the swatch to show you just how close the match was. :)

Those are the earrings (yes, without the earwires added--oops).

I also made a matching necklace:

Included in the necklace are Czech glass, sunstone, faceted glass, and toho seed beads.

Amusing note about the necklace: I had forgotten how much I don't like stringing necklaces. I much prefer using wire. 

My main reason? 

Because I keep having to restring it. Hah! Making this particular necklace, I had to restring it three times... once because I dropped it, once because I messed up the pattern, and once because I realized I didn't like the color seed beads I originally chose. The final result is definitely worth it... but I think I'll continue to stick with wire!

...Which is what I did for the second set. 

For this set, I used some beautiful Czech glass beads I found on Lima Beads. The color is called sueded gold ash rose, and they are just the right shade of brown:

Pretty close, right?

First, I just made a simple necklace using just the 8mm rounds:

...And then I got to work putting the leftover beads together with some matching shiny things I had in my stash:

Here is the final result!

It is slightly longer than the simple necklace, so the two can be worn together or separate.

This necklace is made of Czech glass (even the bicones), copper, and mother of pearl heishe beads. The pendant is chiastolite, I believe.

And did you notice? It's actually asymmetrical.

Another fun note: I picked the bicones because their shape is reminiscent of the pendant, and I picked the copper coin beads because they are are divided into four quadrants--again, like the pendant.

Overall, I'm very pleased!

So, there you go! Those are the pieces that I finished for this month's challenge. (I actually made two Russian spiral pieces, too, but I haven't woven in the ends yet. If I remember to post pictures when they are fully done, I will try to do so!)

Thank you so much for stopping by today to see what I've been up to! It was a great deal of fun working in a very limited colorway, trying to match a very specific shade of brown. I even have a few beads leftover... we'll see if they show up in some of my later creations, too.

Thanks again... I hope you have a lovely day, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy March 2025 Challenge: Mocha Mousse Madness

At long last, I have finally decided on what my challenge should be for this month.

Honestly, it is what I was hoping to do back in January, but January was a month of recovery and relaxing. I have no regrets as far as that goes... I definitely needed a chance to rest.

...Besides, if I did this back in January, then I couldn't use this name:

March Mocha Mousse Madness

This is a bit of a nod to my dad... He really, really likes watching March Madness (which is the NCAA college basketball tournament here in the U.S., for those who don't live in the states). 

Add to that the fact that I have been wanting to make jewelry using the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, and, well, the two names just sort of flowed together.

So! Ta-da! March Mouse Mousse Madness was born.

As one might expect, that means that this month, I will be making jewelry inspired by this shade of brown. And it's a very particular shade of brown... not too tan/yellow, but not deep mahogany. This should be interesting.

Come back on Friday, March 28th to see what I create!

Wonder and Whimsy February Challenge Reveal: Use What I Have

Part 2

...a little bit delayed, but finally here!

For this part of the reveal, I have a bunch of pieces that are all a variation on a theme. Indeed, they're all practically the same--just in different colorways.

But! I'm getting ahead of myself. First, let me show you the beads that I wanted to use:

Those are all strands and strands and strands of 3mm Czech glass fire-polished beads. I get a monthly subscription box that usually includes them, and I just haven't found the right use for them.

That is, until now.

You see, at the end of last year, I learned a new seed bead stitch: the Russian Spiral. I've been wanting to learn it for years, and last Fall--around the time of my surgery--it finally just clicked.

Now, you know what beads work wonderfully in a Russian Spiral design? 

You guessed it: 3mm Czech glass fire-polished beads.

I have been having so much fun with this stitch. I have been going through and using up all of those  beads that I have been keeping/hoarding, and finally having a use for them. I'm ecstatic.

But enough talk. Here are the 7 necklaces I made for this challenge--and, trust me, this is not the limit of what all I've made with this stitch. I'm currently addicted--and I have a lot of beads to use up!

Necklace 1

(And, just as a disclaimer: the discerning among you will notice that none of these necklaces actually have clasps. I'm going to go through and add them at some point, but in my push to get these all done in February, I did forgot to add them. Oops!)

Necklace 2

Necklace 3

Necklace 4

Necklace 5

Necklace 6

Necklace 7

Now, this last necklace deserve just a little more of a write-up, because it truly captures the essence of this challenge. I had four half-strands of pink beads that I had used in a different necklace. What I had left was not quite enough to make a Russian Spiral necklace. 

So, look carefully at those piles: the top and bottom piles each contain two shades of beads instead of one. I combined them together based on finish, with the two shades of opal pink in one pile and clear pink in the other. I then supplemented some matching coppery pink beads  (middle pile) that I had left from yet another design.

This necklace is the epitome of taking beads that I already owned, and making something lovely.

I'm thrilled with how it turned out!

So, there you go. Welcome to my newest beading obsession. It's fun to do, and a wonderful way to use up beads that I previously didn't know how to use.

And, just to show off, here they are, all together:

It's so neat how the same stitch can yield such different looks--all depending on the colors and seed beads you choose! (Oh, and I suppose I should mention that I used either Miyuki or Toho 11/0s, depending on the metallic finish I was using. The light bronze and bright silver are Miyukis, while the rest are Tohos.)

I'm sure you'll see more of this design from me in the future. I just thought that it deserved its own post, since it really did capture what this challenge was all about.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I made! I'm already poking at ideas for my March challenge... I realize that it's already 7 days into the month, and I haven't decided yet. Hah! I'll let you know what I finally decide on soon.

Until then, have a beautiful day, everyone!

--

P.S. Part 1 can be found here!

Wonder and Whimsy February Challenge Reveal: Use What I Have

Part 1

Hurray for the first challenge reveal of 2025!

...And there is a lot to show. So much so, that I have decided to break this up into 2 reveals. Imagine!

So! For those who are just tuning in, this month's challenge was to use what I have. I know that might sound silly, but I have an overabundance of beads. I really needed to stop focusing on what I don't have and start using up what I do.

Overall, I had success! 

For part 1, I have two necklaces to share. 

The first, I made with these beads:

What a pretty collection of red iris glass rondelles and coated hematite hearts!

When I started this challenge, I thought I knew what I wanted to make with this collection, but the idea kept changing. Morphing. 

Eventually, this is what I ended up with:

Now, I'm not 100% sold on this design. I am absolutely pleased with the body of the necklace, but not so much the pendant. In my head, I wanted a large gold filigree heart.

But I don't have one. 

Trust me... I looked. Multiple times.

So, in the nature of my challenge, I made a pendant. I used a large scalemaille scale in a matching color, and made a little beaded charm to go in front of it.

Visually, it absolutely works. Unfortunately, when worn, the weight distribution is all wonky. The body of the necklace is fairly weighty (mainly because of the hematite), but the scalemaille is super light. It keeps flipping around.

Still! I count this necklace as a success. I tried something new--and I didn't buy anything! Woohoo!

Now for necklace number 2.

For this one, I ended up using these beads:

...I have been hoarding that rose focal. 

It is double sided. It's a wonderful size. It's lightweight. I love roses. So my challenge with this necklace was using something that I've clinging to, and saving for "just the right design"!

And yes, I made a tassel. I'm sure you're not surprised.

The tassel is made almost entirely of Czech glass... the only exception are those teeeeeeny tiny little rondelles at the top.

I love this necklace. I'm sure that's no surprise. It's a tassel necklace with a rose... what is there not to like? Hah! I'm just glad that I finally stopped hoarding the focal and made something with it.

So! There you go. That's reveal 1. Thanks so much for stopping by to see what I made for this challenge. The second reveal should be coming this weekend... or whenever I get a chance to sit down and take pictures.

Till then, have a wonderful day, everyone!

Wonder and Whimsy February 2025 Challenge: Use What I Have

Hello hello! It's the beginning of February--and that means it's time for a new monthly challenge! Hurray!

This month's challenge is actually fairly simple: not buy any beads. 

Hah! This is easier said than done for me, because I really do love buying beads. I actually use it as a form of stress relief--shopping for beads, and imagining different projects I could make with them. It's like daydreaming ...expensive daydreaming.

One possible project:
red iris glass and coated hematite hearts.

But I have so, so many beautiful beads already... and so many beautiful projects that I haven't touched since purchasing them.

Another possible project: 
teeny 3mm Czech glass and miyuki seed beads

So! That's why I'm doing this challenge. Whatever I make this month, it needs to be done with beads that I already own. And if there is a component that would perfectly finish a design, but I don't have it, I need to use something else--something that I already have. This should add an extra touch of challenge and creativity!

So, we'll see what I come up with this month! Woo! Wish me luck... and be sure to come back on Friday, February 28th to see what I create.

Better Late Than Never!

Back in September, I did a Monthly Challenge based on butterflies. I then hinted that there was something else in the works, but I couldn't post about it yet.

Well now, months after I posted that, I can finally share! Hurray!

So! Without any further ado... drumroll please...

I had a butterfly-inspired piece posted in the Fall 2024 Belle Armoire Jewelry!

I was reticent to post about it before now because there was a mixup in the mail, and I didn't receive my copy until late December. I wanted to take pictures of my actual copy to share. But! Here it is, in all of its loveliness. Yay!

On a health-related note, I am almost completely recovered from surgery (probably like 98%, woohoo!). I have more energy than I have had in months. I'm using most of that energy to try to catch up on life things that fell by the wayside while I wasn't feeling well, but there's some creative stirrings in there, too. I'm excited to see what comes of it all.

Thanks for stopping by today... I know that there's a lot going on in the world right now, and I appreciate you taking the time to check in on me. 

Wishing you all the best!

Happy New Year!

Hello, everyone! Happy New Year!

This is not going to be a long entry, just wanted to wave and wish you well. I am recovering well from surgery--not as quick as I'd like, but that's all right. Slowing down has been good for me.

And I am so grateful. 

Grateful for a successful surgery, grateful for my husband who's been taking good care of me, grateful for a cozy house while it snows, grateful for a full pantry, grateful for friends... just, grateful.

And I'm grateful for you, whoever is reading this. Thanks for stopping by today, for joining me in this little part of the internet. May your new year be bright and full--and know that I'm so, so glad that there's you.