Twig Trivet and Coaster

Hi everyone,

It's time to get outside - to garden, to enjoy your yard, and to get some fresh air and sunshine.  Lucky for us, the Garden Issue of Craft ideas is out with lots of ideas for refreshing your space!  You can get a sneak peek here.

I'm pleased to say that I have a craft in the Crafting with Twigs section.  Twigs are so much fun with which to craft and they are cheep, uh, I mean, cheap!  That's a good thing!  We did some pruning around here and I found the perfect twigs from our mulberry trees.  But, use whatever you have. 
My twig mats will add a nice rustic touch whether you use them on your dining table or out on the patio. 

If you make them in a coaster size, it's best with some nice straight pieces and lighter twine. 

Twig Coaster

Or, you can make your twig mat larger for a trivet.

Twig Trivet

These are a great craft for the whole family because you can use twine like I did here or yarn, ribbon, strips of fabric or even wire.

Order your Garden Issue on the Craft ideas website for a wonderful selection of great ideas for the outdoors and indoors!

Happy Crafting!

Winter Woods Necklace

Hi Crafty Friends!

The winter issue of Craft Ideas is out in its digital edition and will be on newsstands soon.  It is filled with all sorts of great crafts for winter making and decorating.  Embroidery hoop ideas, how to use those coloring pages and ideas for decorating the kids' rooms are among the many ideas available.

Craft ideas

Of course, there are some jewelry designs for those of you who love beading.  Among them is one of mine!

Winter Woods Necklace

I love to mix different elements in my jewelry.  Here there are two different ceramic beads, three kinds of gemstones, glass daggers and wood combined with natural brass chain and spacers.  I tried to evoke a wintry scene with this piece - a view of snow-decked pines and firs, rocks half hidden under caps of white.  And, I'm pleased to say - the photo is mine, too.  I found the perfect old board with it's grays and peeling white and green paint.

Check out Craft Ideas; it's always full of great crafting inspiration!

Happy crafting!

Terry

Fall Jewelry Designs

Hi everyone,

I thrilled to announce that I have a couple of jewelry designs in the fall issues of magazines. 

The first is a necklace in a vintage style in the popular rose gold metal color .  You can find this necklace in Craft Ideas.

Here's my necklace:

Layered Rose Gold Necklace

Elegant, with subtle, soft colors, this necklace would flatter everyone and go with all the fall hues.

The second design is in the fall issue of Stringing magazine. 

Here's the bracelet:

Leather Flower Bracelet

As you can see, I like to create in different styles.  I think this bracelet would be great with jeans of a casual fall outfit.  Which style do you like best?  Which would you wear?

Hope you are taking time to be creative!  Look for these magazines at your local craft store or get the e-version online.

National Craft Month

Hi Friends,
It's National Craft Month and I'm celebrating all things crafty!  What do you like to do?

Here's a few of the things that I like to play with:

First on my list is beads.  Here's a set that I did for Craft Ideas.  It's perfect for weddings or other spring and summer occasions.  You can find the instructions on the Craft Ideas website under jewelry or in the spring issue of Craft Ideas.

Lavender Butterflies Set

Another craft that I love is needlepoint on plastic canvas.  Here's one of my latest designs at Herrschners.  Irises are one of my favorite flowers and I created iris coasters in three different colors.  Here they are:




And, of course, I create with Smoothfoam™.  Here's my latest creation for them - a Gazebo Centerpiece.  You can find the instructions on the Smoothfoam™ blog.  Decorate for a spring dinner or special occasion such as a bridal shower!

Gazebo Centerpiece

 If you need more crafty ideas, this month on the Designer Crafts Connection blog, we have a collection of our favorite craft ideas.  There are thirty ideas right now to get your craftiness started!

Happy Crafting this month and always!

Terry

Craft Ideas Winter Issue

Hi Crafty Friends!

I've had a design published in the latest Craft Ideas magazine.  The Winter 2015 issue is chockful of great designs, so I hope you'll check it out!

There are designs for Valentine's Day, snowflake designs, nursery ideas and great tutorials.

Here's my design for this issue: 

Crimson & Gold Necklace

You can find instructions and materials on the Craft Ideas website by clicking on the caption below the photo.

Happy Creating!

Terry

Craft Ideas Fall Issue

Hi Crafters!

The fall issue of Craft Ideas is out!

And, I am excited to be a small part of it!  Look for my turquoise and leather necklace toward the back of the magazine. 

The magazine if full of fun crafts for fall and fall holidays from decorations for your table, painting, crafts for the kids, sewing, cross-stitch, clay and more beading projects!  There's something for everyone!  Look for it in your favorite craft store or get the digital version online at craftideas.com.

Happy Fall Crafting!

Terry

Sage and Pearls Necklace for Craft Ideas

Happy Spring Everyone!

If you are looking for a design for bridesmaid jewelry or just something quick and elegant, here's a necklace that I designed for Craft Ideas magazine.  It's in their spring issue and you can also find the instructions on their website now under Sage and Pearls Bridesmaid Jewelry.  This necklace uses light green Swarovski pearls and Golden Shadow briolettes and a pear pendant. 

Sage and Pearls

The Sage and Pearls version of the necklace was re-designed to coordinate with the lovely muted palette of Sage and Sandalwood wedding colors in Craft Ideas.  I originally designed this necklace with glass teardrops and pearls with a silver pendant. It works either way and would look great in whatever colors you choose!

Teardrops and Pearls Necklace

Teardrops and Pearls on a stand

Happy Crafting! 

Scarf Jewelry for Fall

Hi Crafty Friends!

There's a touch of fall in the air here, and trees are showing hints of oranges and yellow.  It's time to break out the scarves and sweaters!

Here's a jewelry set that combines a hand-dyed silk scarf with a necklace in a new way.  It's in the fall print issue of Craft Ideas

Instead of using chain to hang the necklace, I designed it with loops through which you can thread the scarf.

Scarf Jewelry

You can wear this jewelry and the scarf in many ways.  Here's one way - thread the scarf through the loops and let the scarf drape down your back.  Here's a link to the Craft Ideas instructions.

Check out the Craft Ideas fall issue for more ways to wear this.

The special digital edition on Jewelry from Craft Ideas has another of my scarf jewelry designs and shows another way to loop the scarf through the necklace.

The muted palette on this scarf would also be great for fall. You can find the instructions on Craft Ideas.

These beautiful hand-dyed scarfs are available through Class Act Designs, who also sell wonderful silk ribbons for use in jewelry.  I love to add them to my necklace or bracelet designs.  They are so pretty that all you need is a pendant!

Enjoy the fall! 

Craft Ideas: Multi-Stone Bracelet

Hi Crafters!

I have to tell you, I love magazines!  I try to pass them on after awhile so that there aren't too many precarious stacks gathering dust.  I recently let go of some I'd been hoarding and sent them off to a senior center.  But, it was hard - I never know when that particular magazine might provide inspiration or guidance for my next project.  My only thought was - now I have room for more!

One of my favorite magazines is Craft Ideas.  It used to be Crafts 'n things and it's a general craft magazine that's been around a long while.  Not only do you get four issues in print format each year, but they produce digital editions eight times a year also.  That's a lot of projects!  And, you don't have to dust digital magazines!

They just recently released their digital edition highlighting fabric.  There are lots of small projects like pincushions, bags and organizers that would be easy and quick to make plus some larger projects like quilts and stuffed animals.  There's an amazing variety of ideas from a cute bow tie for your doggie to easy felt purses. 

Also included in the Fabric Arts digital issue are some projects that are not fabric-oriented like a crocheted beanie, a room divider, cards, tags, a painting project and some jewelry designs.  Included in the jewelry designs is a bracelet that I designed, a multi-stone bracelet.  This is an easy project for the beginning beader and you can use beads you have left from other projects in any color.  The key to this bracelet is mixing the colors and shapes.

multi-stone bracelet

So, check out Craft Ideas for all kinds of crafty inspiration!

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Crafts n' things Weekly - blue & silver bib necklace

Hi Crafters!

Looking for something elegant to wear to your next party?  I have just the design! It's a Blue and Silver Bib Necklace.

Blue and Silver Bib Necklace

It can be found in the weekly at Crafts 'n things here.  Yes, you have to have a subscription, but I think it is well worth it.  Not only do you get the print magazine, but you also get a weekly online magazine with lots of great ideas!  (No, I don't work for them, but I've been a fan for years, and they occasionally print and pay me for my designs.)

Here it is on a stand:

Happy Crafting!

Terry