Bottle Cap Pendants

I made a few more bottle cap pendants last week.  I like hwo they came out, and think I'm going to keep a few of them for a change.  Probably the TARDIS and the Lady of Shalott.

The Lady of Shalott

Mucha painting

Ravenclaw pendant for Gracie

Across the Universe - Nearly There!

More and more charms have been arriving every day.  I'm sure the postman thinks I'm odd.  I mean, how many of the people on his route receive 3-8 packages a day, most of which are from China?  Anyway, I'm just waiting for the last two charms to appear.  In the mean time, here are the latest ones...

Clockwise from top, a light bulb, sheaf of wheat,  'block of ice' bead, koi, star shaped toggle clasp, rabbit, drop of water, the Earth (or Sol-Earth), and a paint palette.

Meanwhile, I'm *nearly* done with my package for the Decked Out for Deathly Hallows Swap.  I was hoping to get the accessory completed today, but instead I had a sudden brain wave about 9 new charm bracelets I want to make, and I spent too much time researching ideas for them.  Plus the very awesome UnholyCookies stopped by work yesterday to have lunch with me, and while he was there he came up with about 4 more ideas that the accessory need to have added to it, so I spent time working on those additions.  Tonight I'm looking to finish up some surprise mini-packages for Grace, Pinkleo UnholyCookies & PirateColey.  

Queen of Space Bracelet & Earrings

I recently participated in the "I Really Need a Friggen Crown, or other Lofty Headwear" Swap on Craftster.  I was partnered up with the lovely Innaura, who has been named the Queen of Space by an old friend.  For her actual crown I used the Gilded Lace Crown Tutorial on Bitter Betty Blogs to make a giant black lace confection, trimmed with AB glass and crystal beads, jewels, and a large Goddess of the Dawn medallion.  Sadly, I forgot to take pictures of the crown before I sent it, and Innaura's having to rely on her camera phone at the moment, so there are only a few blurry images posted over on Craftster. 

But, I really wanted to make something else for Innaura, who sent me the most lovely beaded wire crown.  So I created a Queen of Space bracelet and earrings to go with her crown.  Thankfully, I did manage to get pictures of them!

The beads are a mix of jet black glass, black AB, black star shaped shell bead frames, soft smoky lavender pearls, slate, and Montana blue fire-polished glass.  The charms are a collection of fairy tale and celestial themes, including suns, moons, stars, key, dragon, crown, castle and fairy.  The bracelet is finished with a star toggle clasp.  (The same ones I purchased to use on my Across the Universe bracelets soon!)

I thought this Blog was about quilting?

Dear Jennie,
I thought this blog was supposed to be about making quilts.  I was under the impression you started it to keep you accountable to yourself for making the quilts for friends and family who can't seem to stop getting married and having babies.  What's up with that?
Love,
Jennie


Oh Jennie,
You are absolutely right.  I did start this blog to keep myself working on the MANY quilts on my current list, and I am certainly behind on that front.  I can only say that with quilting, like every other craft I enjoy, I go through phases.  But, there is hope on the horizon!  I got a good kick in the butt with the birth of my beautiful new niece Mia, and finally decided on a quilt pattern and fabric for her.  I'm going to be making the Frames pattern, from Oh, Fransson's Simple Modern Baby Quilts pattern out of Michael Miller's Strawberry Tea Party line.  They remind me of Strawberry Shortcake from when I was little.  Aren't they cute?

In addition to that, I have to start working on my sister-in-law's wedding quilt for September, and thanks to a kind donation of fabric bits and pieces from alwaysinmyroom on Craftster, I have a TON of new food fabrics to start work on a Jar Quilt.  I'm not sure who this will go to yet, or if I'll keep it for myself, but I just can't resist the lure of all the cute food fabrics out there. (These are two of my favorites: I love the labels and fallen over jars in Quilt Cookies Jar Quilt, and the baskets and crates in Judy Wright's Bountiful Blessings Quilt.)
So yes, I promise to work on quilting more very soon.
Love,
Jennie

The Doctor's Companion Earrings

I worked my tail off on some more Doctor's Companion bracelets last night, but I fell short of actually completing any of them because I ran out of the fob watch & Earth charms that I make out of resin.  Hopefully I can get a large batch of those done tonight.  Meanwhile, I wanted to get some more Whovian goodies up in my Etsy right away, so I whipped up a few pairs of earrings before bed last night.

Friends of the Ood Earrings

The Circle Must Be Broken Ood Earrings

Impossible Astronaut Earrings

Love the Doctor Earrings

Pureblood Pride Charm Bracelet

I'm still on a Harry Potter crafting kick.  Despite working on what seems like an unending string of Doctor's Companion bracelets that I just can't seem to keep in my Etsy, starting the Across the Universe project, and working on the Decked Out for Deathly Hallows Swap, I am apparently unable to stop making more Harry Potter themed jewelry.  

Though I'm a Gryffindor, I seem to most often craft for Hufflepuff & Ravenclaw friends, and don't often craft for any Slytherins (except for the lovely SevsOnlyGirl on Craftster).  In an attempt to even the score I've been trying to create a few new Slytherin themed pieces.  This one is sort of an ode to Miss Cissy & Miss Bella. A Pureblood Pride bracelet if you will.

The beads are a mix of Druk & fire-polished Czech glass, Swarovski crystal, freshwater pearls, and hematite.

 The charms include: Evil eye for protection, textbooks and an apple, key...

...Celtic knot, dragon, wand, castle, snake...

...star, inkwell & quill, owl, shield, skull, moon & spider.

 Meanwhile, I listed a new Doctor's Companion bracelet yesterday morning, and it sold last night.  I listed another this morning around 10:45.  It sold at noon.  Despite my best efforts, I just can't seem to keep them in my shop!  I know it is a good thing, but I'm running out of companion themed charms. Many of the ones I do have left are being reserved as part of custom orders, leaving me waiting on more supplies to come in.  Cross your fingers and sacrifice a box of bubble mailers to the postal gods for me.

Across the Universe Update

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't said anything else about my Across the Universe project lately.  I'm wondering the same thing, since I have in fact been working on it.  To be honest, I just got too caught up in working on it to take more time to write about it.  I flew through the book in about 2.5 days.  I just couldn't seem to put it down.  Most of those hours spent reading were with Moco tucked up in my lap.  If I didn't know better I'd swear she was reading along.  Between our book dates, and the number of hours of Star Trek TNG she's watched with us, the dog clearly enjoys sci-fi. 

I kept one of my craft notebooks nearby while reading and soon had a whole page full of charm ideas.  When I told dear friend Pinkleo about the project she jumped into the fun and read along too.  Her charm suggestions were a wonderful addition.  Between the two of us and Beth, we soon had more than I could possibly use!  I don't want to list them all at once, since I'm afraid of giving away plot points, but for now here is a picture of a few of the charms I've already acquired.

 

Nearly all the rest have been ordered, and I'm now in the process of searching for beads to complement both the bracelet and the story.  I'm honestly of two minds as to how to I want to go with this...  I'll be pondering on it a while longer and probably send both ideas to Beth and Melissa for their opinions too.  Can you tell I've worked in theatre too long?  I can't help but want to collaborate with other creative folks on this project.  I'm just  itching to call a bracelet "Production Meeting".  

As I receive more of the charms in the mail, I'll be posting more pictures.