Wonder and Whimsy July 2025 Reveal: Mid-Year Cleanup, Part 1

Hello! 

Thank you so much for your patience... it is finally time to start sharing what I made for this month's Wonder and Whimsy Monthly Challenge. Woohoo!

As I've hinted at, I made a lot of things for this reveal. So, instead of making one giant post, I've decided to break it up into delightful, bite-sized chunks. Not only does it make it easier for me, I imagine it is less overwhelming for you, too. 

So, let's get this ball rolling!

Today's projects were both half-completed at the start of the month. One is a pair of earrings, and the other is a necklace. I decided to show them together, because... well, you'll see. 

First up, the necklace!

I have a fair amount of half-complete Russian spiral necklaces floating around, and this one was no exception. I'm delighted to finally finish it... I love the combination of blues!

As far as materials go, I used three different shades of 3mm Czech glass beads, and paired them with 11/0 Miyuki rounds. I've found that I really like using the Miyuki rounds for this kind of weave, because it makes the spiral a bit tighter than Tohos. 

And, as with all the Russian spiral necklaces I've made, I really love the drape!

And now, for the earrings. 

For this project, I had actually collected all of the beads together--I just had not actually designed anything with them yet. The beads were just languishing on my worktable, waiting for me to do something with them. Lucky for me, though, these beauties pretty much designed themselves!

And now you can tell why I decided to show this necklace and these earrings together: they match! I do like pairing blue with silver. Especially this lovely, deep shade.

The beads are glass, paired with silvertone metal. Construction is pretty straightforward--but no less lovely.

So now, instead of two half-finished projects taking up room on my table, I have this lovely blue and silver set! And I couldn't be happier. This is what this challenge was all about: taking things from unusable and forgotten, and turning them into something lovely!

Tune in this weekend to see something else I finished this month! Now, I just need to figure out what to show next. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great evening, everyone!

Another Placeholder! :)

Hello, everyone!

My day is looking busy, but I'm definitely hoping to post at least part of my reveal today. (I made a lot of things, so this is going to be a rolling reveal over a couple of days I think.)

For now, though, it's gym time. Wish me luck!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Thursday's Worktable: Sneak Peek Time!

Happy Thursday!

My last two days have been crazy busy, and honestly I'm still pretty exhausted from it all. But! I really wanted to post at least one teaser project for tomorrow's reveal.

So here you go! A teaser:

Yes! That is the beginning of a bracelet, inspired by my ceiling. It's a project that I started for last month's Monthly Challenge, but didn't finish.

It's 2-drop even peyote, made with three shades of Toho 11/0 beads.

Here it is, a little bit longer:

And longer still!

...The body of the bracelet is just about done, and then it will be time for embellishments!

...the color is a little wonky in that picture, just because that particular bead mat is pink. Ah well. Those are all Czech glass, in shades of gold and cream.

Want to see the finished project? Yeah, me too. Here's to hoping I get it done in time for tomorrow's reveal!

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone... have a great night!

Wednesday's Worktable: Placeholder! :)

Hello everyone!

This is just a little note to say that I haven't forgotten about today's post! I have something to write about, just not a huge amount of time to actually do so. If I don't get to it till tomorrow, know that it's on its way!

Hope you're having a brilliant day!

Wednesday's Worktable: Small Progress is Still Progress

Look at that! It's Wednesday again.

Not too, too much to report this week... just lots of slow and steady progress on multiple projects. 

After all, seed bead projects? Really do take time.

Still, I'd say I'm making some progress:

You can't really tell from that picture, but it's about half done... 2/3, tops. But it's getting there! And I'm happy with it. Herringbone stitch is quite meditative, and I like the way that it works with the Czech 10/0 beads. Still, looking forward to having this done so that I can move on to something else!

Another project that I've been working on is not bead related, but still pretty cool: I recently signed up for a strength training class.

My current physical shape is marshmallow, so it's been an adjustment. But, it feels good to move. It feels good to push myself. Learning to view my body as an asset and not a liability is definitely a paradigm shift, but I'm getting there. Like seed beads, these things take time.

And it's worth it.

Thanks for stopping by today. Nothing really flashy to show, just slow and steady progress. Maybe not the most exciting, but honestly? It's the best way to build something.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable: Ice-Shine Roses

Hello, everyone!

I am excited to report that I have been having a lot of success going through and completing the unfinished projects on my table. I'm super excited for my reveal at the end of the month! 

...Although, at the rate I'm going, I might end up doing a rolling reveal throughout the month. As I said, I am having a lot of success--maybe too much for just one entry. Heh.

To that end, I'm actually going to show off one of those finished projects today. 

Back when I was doing my April Monthly Challenge (my farewell to Joanns), I had planned on making something with this strand of beads:

...except I never got around to doing so. 

So! This week, I revisited this strand, and made this pair of earrings:

Simple and pretty! 

I'm also debating making a simple strung necklace, but I need to find just the right spacer beads to go with them. I'm also debating how these would look with gold findings instead of silver. 

...Heh. This might be why I have so many unfinished projects: I keep getting ideas.

But! I've done what I set out to do: make something with this strand of beads. I feel accomplished enough that I can put the rest of the beads into my stash, to be revisited at a later time.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this week has been treating you well.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Wednesday's Worktable: A Dash of Color

Happy Wednesday, everyone! 

After last month's dedication to brown and cream and gold, I'm happy to announce that my worktable has a bit more color on it today:

This little collection of faceted glass is from a previous Monthly Fun Pack from The Bead Place... don't ask me which month, though, because I honestly don't know.

Since there's only a handful of these little guys, I thought it would be fun to do a little shaggy loop chainmaille with them.

So that's just what I did.

I do have some leftover... maybe I'll make a little bracelet or something with the rest. I'm trying more and more to remember that bracelets are an option.

Either way, these little earrings were super fun to make... and it was super happy to play with these sunset shades. Especially after all of the refined jewelry I made last month with a limited palette... now it's time to enjoy some color!

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone. Hope you're having a good July so far!

Wonder and Whimsy July 2025 Challenge: Mid-Year Cleanup

Hello, July!

As I was attempting to tidy up my craft space this week, I was once more faced with the fact that I have a ridiculous amount of unfinished projects. My creative process is decidedly un-tidy... I get excited and inspired and ping-pong between projects like an over-caffeinated squirrel.

So, for my challenge this month, I'm once more tackling that pile of Unfinished Projects.

Here are some of--but definitely not all!--of the possible projects:

If you've been around the blog for the last couple of months, I'm sure you recognize some of those things!

And, yes, I know that this isn't the first time I've done this challenge. But, I still think it'll be a good exercise. ...If for no other reason then it will help clear up my craft area a little. Trust me, it needs it.

So! Come by on Friday, July 25th to see what all I managed to complete.

Until then, have a wonderful day, everyone!