Happy Canada Day!

On this bonus Tuesday off work, I am free to do what I like...(no family visiting, no obligations at all, just a free day)... After an early golf game, on a lovely morning, I have puttered around finishing some odd sewing repairs, and finishing some bead projects that were on the back burner. Here's the beaded necklaces...

And here is the newly blocked tank top....

Now the rest of the day is for relaxing with my book and enjoying the rest of the afternoon on the deck. The breeze is light, the temperature is warm (but not too hot) and the zebra finch (Ben) is chirping and enjoying his summer location.... hanging from the beam above my chair...

Tonight we will ride our bikes down to Port Dalhousie and watch the fireworks off the end of the pier. What a great day. Happy Canada Day..

Sunday Summary

Lots of golf the last few days and I have had little energy to knit, but I will summarize the crafty part of the weekend... I was inspired to make a wood and twine necklace, for the coming summer tank tops and sundresses. It was made by stringing beads and macrame knots (yes I am a child of the 70's, when macrame was BIG in belts and necklaces and I even recall a macrame handbag... I was so cool). I finished the wide cable edging for the Vogue jacket, but haven't buttoned it yet... and I started a sweater with the Silk, from Ram Wools. Only about 4 inches done so far, so no photos yet.

Beading and Netting

I found some really cool beads at Walmart. (sometimes they can surprise me!). Just look at the funky shape, kind of like teeth carved out of pearly gray and black stones. I made a necklace by spacing the teeth between 2 irregular black beads. I made the matching bracelet with elastic thread, and using the few teeth that had 2 sets of holes drilled, top and bottom, and separating by a metalic copper bead from my bead stash. Exciting stuff for $8.

The Mesh Cap sweater has also been completed, and of course it has been modified due to a lack of sufficient yarn, so I left it with just a one inch ribbing edge to the neck, and now I can wear it as a scoop neck or pull it a bit off the shoulder for a more intriquing look... Wearing the new necklace and bracelet in this photo. And LOOK, all the snow is gone outside!! Our golf course opens next week!

Chunky Bead and Medallion Necklace

I had a few emails asking about the necklace in this photo. The necklace is one of my designs, and is very easy to make and the beads are easy and inexpensive to get! The package of beads come from Walmart (yes, they have a great bead department), and all you need is the package of handmade aluminum beads with medallion, and complimenting glass or wooden beads. The small beads I chose for this one are metallic and irregular in shape and grey, black, and pearly in colour, and the aluminum chunky beads and medallion are grey metal, although you can get them in a copper colour too.

The photos show the stringing order, start in the center of beading wire, build outwards with three small beads in between the chunky ones until used up, then small only until length desired. The one in the photo is 15 inches total. Then mount the fastening claw and ring and pinch the crimping ring to secure. (packages usually have instructions) I use a package of fine Tigertail wire with crimp beads, that will make 2 or 3 necklaces, and always have some claws and rings in my beading stash.

And with the leftover beads, you can make earrings! You need hooks, pins and pliers.