Vacation Crafting, Part 1: Buttons!

This is Part 1 in my Vacation Crafting series!  Keep checking back this week--because there will be more!  :D

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Usually when I go on vacation, there is one craft that really captivates my attention.

There is something about this place that
really gets the creative juices flowing!

Sometimes it's making jewelry for my mother.  Sometimes it's sewing patches onto old jean skirts.  Sometimes it's making numerous things using Sculpey--from nature scenes to fictional currency (usually from one of my stories).

…And then there was this year. 

This year, I experienced a craft explosion.  So much so, in fact, that I'm dedicating this entire week's worth of blog entries to describing all the different things I did.  

And, first up, we have:

Buttons!

They look so innocent, don't they?
...They don't see the wire looming in the background.  ;)

It all started when my mother commissioned me to make her a pair of brown button earrings to match a button necklace that she owns.  

Now, the weeks before vacation were nuts (due to my husband's broken leg and potential surgery and not even knowing if we were going on vacation at all)...  During that time, all I was able to do was buy some different buttons for her to choose from.

Some of the buttons--
shades of brown and tan and cream.

Once we were finally on vacation, however, things settled down...  And within two days of being there, I had made her two sets of brown button earrings that she was thrilled with.  (Of course, I didn't take pictures of said earrings--ah well!  Just imagine that they are dangly and button-y and happy.)

But I didn't stop there.

You see, it just so happened that she had brought an entire bag of different brightly-colored buttons with her.  

Brightly-colored buttons that she put at my disposal.  

This bag was much, much fuller when I first tackled it--
I wonder if my mum realized what a monster she was
about to unleash.  Heh.

...From that bag of brightly-colored buttons, I wire-wrapped many many pendants and just as many matching earrings.

Here they are--all in a bundle!

Some of the sets--the big ones in the middle are
the pendants, and the smaller ones are
matching earrings (sans earwires).

More of them--once more, the bigger ones are
pendants, flanked by matching earrings.

All of them together!  Seven sets, total.  Well, at least, in this style.
There were a few others that I planned out that were a bit more involved. 

So.  

Much.

Fun!

They are all bright and happy, and make me smile.

...And, once again, I didn't stop there.  The next time that we went to the store, I actually picked up a collection of black and white buttons--as well as some matching beads.  I had a plan to make a necklace with them.

Here is the beginning of the pattern that I choose for them,
using the chain as a guide for how long I wanted it to be.

The aforementioned matching beads:
white glass 8mm pearls, and black glass 6mm pearls.

Unfortunately, I have not finished this necklace.  Why?  Well, first of all, vacation ended before I was able to complete it. Second, I ran out of beading wire.

And so, the necklace is currently waiting patiently--both for me to have time to return to it, and for me to go get more wire.  I am excited, though, because it will be really cool once it's done!

Not only that, but I have more ideas regarding buttons, too...  I doubt you've seen the last of them!  Mwahaha!

Ahem.

...And that was my adventure into the world of wire-wrapping buttons.  It was simple and happy, and a great deal of fun--a perfect way to de-stress from all the things leading up to vacation.  

Just Posted

I am so, so pleased to announce that I have posted a collar necklace to my store!  Hurrah!

Introducing:

Always Winter

 

 

And now, for some close-ups:

The name was inspired by the White White from C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia...  To see the description (and the listing), go here: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111402075/always-winter-necklace

I have been working on perfecting these collar necklaces for several months now...  I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to finally be able to list one!

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As time permits, I'm starting to work on more of these...  They are so beautiful, but definitely time-consuming!

Just curious: what colors would you like to see me use for the next one?

Thursday's Table... Really, This Time...

So, what is currently on my crafting table?

This is what's currently on my crafting table:

From top to bottom:
A bracelet
A headband
And
Two different pewter filigrees

And I can just imagine you asking: 

What do those things have to do with a trip to the Zoo?

To answer that question, let me show you the only souvenir I picked up while there:

It's a manatee penny!  Yipee!

My plan is to create something happy and jewelry-like with that little smashed penny.

I got the idea  from an awesome blog that I follow, called Epbot.  The writer, also named Jen, has made a lot of jewelry using smashed pennies, as you can see here, here, and even here.  I have been wanting to follow her lead for awhile now--and now I finally have a penny, to do exactly that!

...The only problem is, I can't decide what I want to do with it.

I can use this to make a pendant, probably on a choker,
and with some chain and beads dangling down.

This could also be a choker pendant, again with the chain and
the beads and the prettiness.

Oh, look, it's a bracelet!

...And then there's always wearing it in my hair...

This is where I get fancy--using the filigree on the headband.

Same idea as the last picture, only using the smaller filigree.

So, that's what's on my table: a really awesome smashed penny that I want to use to create something pretty.

I just have to decide which design I like best.

Or maybe just obtain more smashed pennies, so that I can do them all.  :D


...Just out of curiousity, is there a basic design that you like best?  Of course, I'll probably embellish the idea that I decide on--and I'll try to remember to post pictures here, when I'm done!  :)

Thursday's Table... Sort Of...

In order to show what is currently on my table, I first need to first tell a story.

...A story of going to the Zoo.

Last Monday, I had the wonderful fortune of going to the Zoo with my sister-in-law, and her three lovely children.  (And I'm not saying that sarcastically--they are really awesome kids.)  The weather was perfect--bright and sunny, and a little chilly.

What did we see? 

For that part of the story, I think I'll just show you:  

A Trip to the Zoo in 20 Pictures

We saw elephants through the trees...

...and alligators hiding under rocks.

There was a pacing puma...

...and an owl that was so still that I wasn't even sure it was real.
At least until it moved its head.

Here are some fossa, asleep...

...And a Malayan Tiger that was quite awake.
It's head was bigger than both my hands, side by side.

The elusive white tiger, enjoying the shade.

It took me a few moments to find them, but here are two
snow leopards, also enjoying some shade.

This male peacock really, really wanted some of our lunch.

...He even posed for some pictures.

The enormous silver-back gorilla, stretching.

Here is a sculpture outside one of the buildings,
indicating what's inside.

MANATEES!!

Our Zoo is one of two outside of Florida that actually has manatees...
They are part of a rehabilitation program.

This was actually my first time seeing manatees...  I was in love.

A stoic rhinoceros, posing for the camera.

...And a polar bear doing the same.

The lighting on this bear was stunning--I did my best to capture
the moment.

Ducks!

One of the last things we did was take the train, which took us
by this lake, as well as some of the animals.  So fun!

So, why did I have to show you these pictures, in order to show you what's currently on my table?

Well, stay tuned, and tomorrow I'll show you!  :D

Things to Be Happy About

I suppose an alternative title to this post would be: "What I've Been Doing This Past Month."  I've been very busy since getting home from vacation...  but, it's been happy.  

So, as I get back into the swing of posting to this blog, I thought I'd start with sharing some of those happy things...

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Things to Be Happy About...

1. Celebrating my fourth year wedding anniversary this past Thursday.

Four years ago, September 27th was a beautiful sunny Autumn day.
...This year, September 27th was an overcast, drizzly day--
perfect  for staying home and cuddling and watching a silly movie.

2. Finding out my husband doesn't actually need to have surgery--his fibula is healing straight and strong all on its own.  He can even put weight on that leg now!  *happy dance*

3. Listening to the soft sound of rain.

It's hard to tell, but those leaves are glistening...  because it's pouring!

 4.  Crafting!  So much crafting.  I did quite a bit while on vacation, and have been working on some new items for my store.  Wonder and Whimsy is soon going to be branching out!  :D

Sneak peak at happiness to come!

And, related to that last item...

5. Going to craft stores--with whoever will take me!  Recently, I've gone with my husband and my mother-in-law and my best friend...  What happiness!  So much fun!

Loot!  Pretty pretty strands of glass pearls.

6. Going to the grand opening on the new Jungle Jims International Market--which is basically an Ikea of food.  There were over 10,000 people there for the event!  Also: their sushi is pretty tasty (yay for free samples).

We got there an hour and a half early, and already the parking lot
was mostly full.  Craziness!

7. Having a writer's lunch with my awesome mother-in-law...  Getting to sit down and talk with a fellow writer is always fun...  and how cool that she's related to me?!  :D

The "Happy Anniversary" chocolates that my mother-in-law bought
for me and my husband...  when we went to Michaels, of course.  :D

8. Going on a trip to the Zoo with one of my sister-in-laws and her three wonderful children...  Not only did I have fun hanging out with cool people, I got to see a manatee!  :D

Oh, look, it's a peacock!

Oh, look, it's a peacock that wants to eat lunch with us.
Apparently.

9. Spending time with friends, playing video games--be it World of WarCraft or Diablo 2...  There is something to be said for electronic bonding.

...Okay, so this has nothing to do with video games,
or electronic bonding.  But--it's a pretty flower!

10. Coming up with ideas for stories, specifically for my store...  After a bit of writer's block, the ideas keep coming!

And, last but not least...

11. Thinking about upcoming National Novel Writing Month, which is coming up in November...  Woohoo!  So excited!

This picture was taken years ago...  in 2007, to be precise.
...And yet I still look like that when I write.
Here's looking forward to lots of writing in November!

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...That is just a little of what I've been up to recently, although it's just scratching the surface.  I am so, so pleased that the stress of August is slipping away...  I am once more settling into a routine, and finding myself often thinking: "Hey... I'm happy."

And have you, lovely readers, been doing anything fun in my absence?

Back from Vacation

...And it was perfect.

...complete with trees and beautiful sunsets...

Slowly getting back into the swing of things, now that we're home...  You know, the usual: doing a multitude of laundry, unpacking, grocery shopping, making doctors appointments, staring at the backlog of store things that I have yet to post.

Heh.

But!  In other good news: My husband's ankle is healing straight and strong, and surgery might not even be necessary.  We go back in two weeks for another x-ray...  If things continue as they have been, he'll be able to start bearing weight on it.  I am so, so relieved.

And so, life is busy.

...And so, life is lovely.