Harvest Flower Clip

"One by one the leaves will drop,

                          There's nothing that can make them stop.

You cannot beg a hummingbird to stay,

Why does it have to be that way?"

This is so true!  My hummingbirds left shortly after I got back from my vacation. Thank goodness I had refreshed their drink before they left. Other signs of fall are all around us these days inspiring us to create.  I was recently at Pier 1 looking at some of their beautiful autumn selections for inspiration and came across an beautiful harvest flower clip.

"A luxuriant leafy cluster seven inches wide is hand-painted and appliqued with gilded accents, beads, sequins and glitter. Fitted with a discreet clip, this starburst of autumnal brilliance will light up tables, garlands, wall hangings and—hey, you know exactly where it’ll work in your home. Snap one up now."      

I thought, "No, I don't think so."  For $7.95, "Uh, I can make my own!"

I had everything I needed in my crafting supplies:

Fake autumn leaves

Beads

Glitterglue
floral wire                     

floral tape

floral picks

clip

  
 This was quick and easy. I wrapped the bead with floral wire . . . . .

and then bundled them together . . . . .

wrapping the faux leaves around the grouped beads.  

 Then,  I wrapped five or six larger leaves on floral picks around the smaller leaves and beads with floral tape. Brown floral tape would have been better, but I didn't have any. I added glitter glue to the leaves and let dry.
 

                                                That's it!  Quick, simple, and cheap!

   And, I do know where this will work in my home . . . . .

     On top of this adorable pumpkin!

                     

                        

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!

A Birthday Present - Beaded Necklace Set

My niece, Patricia, is like the daughter I never had.  From the time she was born (a couple of weeks before I got married) til now, she has always been a wonderful part of my life. As a toddler I would play dress-up with her and make clothes for her to wear.  I was no seamstress by far, but enjoyed putting little outfits together for her. When it came time for picking out her prom dress, we had the worst experience going from store to store looking for something Patricia liked that would fit both her top as well as her bottom and still look stylish. This was back in the late eighties when most fashionable items were made in smaller sizes and if the "well-endowed" found something that fit, it was either matronly, too risque, or out of our price range.  I offered to make her dress and she agreed. It was adorable! Her date said she was the "best looking chick" at the prom!

                                                                                                                                                                        

Cute, isn't she!!!                           

Fast forward to the present .  .   .  . it has been a number of years  since I've made anything wearable for Patricia.  She loves jewelry, so I decided I would make a pendant and matching earrings for her birthday. I know, I know,   .   .   .  . no one wears matching anything nowadays.

To get started, I found a stash of seed beads and wire I had from a previous project. My skills for beading are almost non-existent so you'll really have to stay with me on this, although the earrings and pendant are pretty simple and easy to make.

Materials Needed:

asst. seed beads    (silver and gold)
24 gauge silver plated jewelry wire

3 silver plated jump rings

1 silver plated 18 inch chain

2 silver plated fish hook earrings
1 silver neck chain

round nose pliers

wire cutters

For the Diamond-shaped Earrings:

1.  Cut a length of wire about 20 inches long. Thread one silver seed bead onto the center of the wire, 

forming a u-shape.

2.  Thread two silver seed beads next to the first bead.  Take the other end of the wire and pass through the two beads.

3.  Pull both ends of the wire from one another, gently, but tight.

4.  Thread three beads, one silver, one gold, one silver onto the wire toward the two beads. Take the other end of wire and pass through the three beads, pulling both ends of the wire from one another, gently, but tight.

5.  Thread four beads, one silver, two gold, one silver onto the wire toward the three beads. 

Take the other end of wire and pass through
the four beads, pulling both ends of the wire
from one another, gently, but tight.

6.  Thread five beads, one silver, three gold, one silver onto the wire toward the four beads.  Take the other end of wire and pass through the five beads, pulling both ends of the wire from one another, gently, but tight.

7.  Thread four beads, one silver, two gold, one silver

onto the wire toward the five beads.  Take the other

end of the wire and pass through the four beads, pulling

both ends of the wire from one another, gently, but tight.

8.  Thread three beads, one silver, one gold, one silver

onto the wire toward the four beads.  Take the other

end of the wire and pass through the three beads, pulling

both ends of the wire from one another, gently, but tight.

9.  Thread two silver beads onto the wire toward the

three beads.  Take the other end of the wire and pass

through the two beads, pulling both ends of the wire

from one another, gently, but tight.

10.  Thread one silver bead onto the wire toward the

two beads.  Take the other end of the wire and pass

through the one bead, pulling both ends of the wire

from one another, gently, but tight. The diamond shape is

finished.

11. Use your fingers to twist the wires together at the top of the diamond.

                                                                                                         


12.  Gently grasp the twisted wires with round nose pliers, just above the end of the diamond shape. Pull the wires down on the other side of the pliers and wrap the wires around the base of the loop two times.
Use the wire cutters to cut close to the wraps. Squeeze the wire ends flat against the wrap.
Attach an open jump ring to the loop on one end

and the fish hook earring on the other end.
Close the jump ring.

.

           




                          Your earring is now complete!   

                                                                     

Repeat all of the steps
to make the second earring.    

For the Diamond-shaped Pendant:

Follow the same steps for making the earrings except you will need to cut about 30 inches of wire. You will  be threading 10 rows initially:  For example,

1. row 1    thread 1 silver bead
2. row 2    thread 2 silver beads,                                                          
3. row 3    thread 1 silver bead, 1 gold bead, 1 silver bead
4. row 4    thread 1 silver bead, 2 gold beads, 1 silver bead
5. row 5    thread 1 silver bead, 3 gold beads, 1 silver bead
6. row 6    thread 1 silver bead, 4 gold beads, 1 silver bead
7. row 7    thread 1 silver bead, 5 gold beads, 1 silver bead
8. row 8    thread 1 silver bead, 6 gold beads, 1 silver bead
9. row 9    thread 1 silver bead, 7 gold beads, 1 silver bead
10. row 10  thread 1 silver bead, 8 gold beads, 1 silver bead
11. row 11  thread 1 silver bead, 7 gold beads, 1 silver bead
12. row 12  thread 1 silver bead, 6 gold beads, 1 silver bead,

    .  .  .  .  continue until you reach row 19, and 1 silver bead.
Complete the pendant by following the same steps, 10 & 11, given for the earrings.

Your set is now complete!

These turned out really great and look even better up close!   I'm sure Patricia will truly love them!             Enjoy!

                            

Gail's Shrimp Salad

Have you ever had the prepared shrimp salad sold at Costco? It's oh, soooo . . .  good!  And if you like it as much as I do, you would create your very own delicious version, like I did! It's very easy, and simple to make!  First off,  located in the freezer section at Costco, you will find a 2lb. bag of cooked, tail-off shrimp, in a orange bag, labeled Kirkland Signature.  These are the best!  No preservatives, chemical free, peeled, deveined, and you get 50-70 per pound.

For my recipe, you will need:

                                  2 lb. bag, tail-off, deveined, and peeled shrimp 

                                  1  cup finely chopped celery

                                  1/2 cup finely chopped onions

                                  1/3 cup mayonnaise

                                  2 tablespoons squeezed fresh lemon juice

                                  2 tablespoons fresh parsley or parsley flakes 

                                  1/2 tablespoon Old Bay

                                  salt and pepper to taste

Thaw the bag of shrimp in the refrigerator overnight (per bag instructions).  Next, in a large bowl, squeeze lemon juice over the shrimp and gently mix in the celery, onions, old bay, mayonnaise, and parsley together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill for a bit to make sure all the flavors of the ingredients blend. Serve on a bed of lettuce. Shrimply delicious!

Note:  For leftovers, my hubby, likes to put the salad in the food processor, on chop, to make a yummy sandwich (sammich)!

                                                Enjoy!                        

My Knock-Off Decor

Can You Believe It?  My knock-off decor, Tealight Candle Holder 

was featured by Becky tonight. What an honor!  Check it out at  Knock-Off Decor and check out her fabulous blog  where she says, "imitation is the greatest form of flattery" and she's right! So many great ideas!!!  
Thanks, Becky!

Starfish Bowl

Z Gallerie

I've been looking at this starfish bowl from the Z Gallerie for some time now, trying to figure out the best way to re-create it.  I first saw a picture of it posted by Sunny for her Great Glitzy Hack-Off. I just knew someone would make it, but no one did. I looked at the price of starfish at craft stores and they were way too expensive.  I could buy the bowl outright for what I probably would have to spend just to make it.

Then I read about Amanda's tutorial on making starfish and I knew this would  be the best way to go. I mentioned it to Amanda and she said it was a "brilliant" idea. Ha!  I had no idea what I was getting into.  You see, when I set out to make something I want it to be hurry up and over with.  I can't wait for the finish product.  I'm always thinking of "short-cuts" and have to remind myself to go step by step.  And that is what I had to do in attempting to make this bowl.  First, follow Amanda's instructions for making the toilet paper pulp.   

For the armature I used 20gauge floral stem wire and covered it with masking tape. I made the form as thin as possible.

 

Next, I tried applying the pulp to the 
form. I added gorilla glue to the mix hoping the pulp would stick better. What a mess!  Sorry, I didn't take a picture of me trying to "add" the pulp to the taped form, but my hands were very yucky.  The more I plopped the pulp on it, the more of a mess I made.  Nothing was sticking or working.

Then I decided to "roll" the pulp

between my floured hands and wrap it around the form.

I continue wrapping the armature with the pulp, shaping the starfish with my fingers. I then pressed lines and tiny round marks into the starfish to give it a bit more character.

 I was able to make fifteen starfish out of the pulp batch.  I placed them on a plastic container covered in saran wrap and put it outside in the heat.  I let the starfish dry for 24 hours, turning them over midway.

Next,  using Liquid Nails Glue and clamps, starting at the base, I began shaping the bowl.  This was a slow process.   I could only glue and clamp a few starfish at a time. The glue needed to "cure" for at least 24 hours.

I tried speeding the process up, but I didn't have enough clamps to keep the form secure. The glue had a 30 minute "set" time, but when I removed a clamp to use on another spot, the glued area would come apart.  It took me about four days to secure with the glue and clamps all of the starfish into a bowl form, and then, allowing it to dry completely.

I spray painted the bowl with a sealer, then hand painted it with Martha Stewart Metallic Silver paint I had on hand.  The Z Gallerie bowl is "a multitude of starfish linked to form an openwork bowl".  It is 11" x 3".

   My bowl is approximately, 111/2" x 4", and the starfish are linked to form a         "unique openwork bowl", too!

  That's pretty darn close I would say . . . . and to me, that's amazing!
                                                                                   ENJOY! 

    

Linking To:

Elaine's Flower Arrangements

Everything old is new again.  I came across an article in the Washington Post about a young lady who has built a business around flower design parties. It has become so popular that her show will air in August on Washington's public television station, WETA. According to the article, the show will provide tips, tricks and techniques for making your very own floral arrangements. Reading the article brought to mind my mother-in-law, Elaine's obsession in making artificial flower arrangements over thirty years ago.  Do you remember when that was all the rage back then? Seems like everyone, at the time, was into it. We took classes, or gave classes, bought artificial flowers, tools and baskets and preceded to make some type of an arrangement, be it for the door or table. Aren't some of us doing that now?  Elaine was very talented. In addition to sewing (she made my wedding gown),  she knitted, crocheted, upholstered furniture, dabbled in clay, and sketched.  After she retired, she painted . . . mostly oil and acrylic pieces.  Her basement was filled with all types of supplies for her projects.  She amazed us all.  She would create flower arrangements and then paint them on canvas.  Her walls in the lower level of her home were covered with her lovely framed paintings. I'm sharing a few of the pictures I have of her arrangements.  Sorry about the blurry photos.  In another blog, I'll share pictures of her artwork, some of which I have hanging in my home.  What's new is making floral arrangements out of both real and artificial flowers, blogging about it and pinning it on Pinterest.  Elaine would have loved doing this!

Enjoy!   
 



PS:  Sadly, Elaine died a few years ago after a ten year struggle and journey with Alzheimer's.  She was my mother-in-law and a very dear friend.