What are you creating?

Hi crafters!

What are you creating this summer?

Are you knitting an afgan, working on Christmas gifts, designing a new outdoor space or writing a short story? Creativity is everywhere!

I like to play in quite a few creative areas. It's a messy life, but it's never boring! Here are a few of my creations.

I'm still knitting a rotini scarf. Yes, I have been working on this scarf for almost two years now, but I love it. The colors of the silk yarn are just gorgeous. I am finally on my second skein, so I am very proud of myself. I'm relearning how to knit--but slowly!

I found my sewing machine under the piles of mending and sewed a quick pillow cover to go with my patio chairs.

I was privileged to share crafting with the group of homeschoolers that comes to my house once a month. They are always an inspiration and with ages ranging from 3 to 13, it's a challenge to find a project that will work for everyone. Here's a windsock that we did last month. Plastic canvas, twine and beads!

Beading--of course! Here's a snippet of a necklace in progress.

And, I've been playing with an assortment of recyclable materials and throwaways to make them into fun crafts. As a designer for magazines, I'm working on designs for Christmas already.

I'd love to hear what you've been up to this summer! I hope you are having a great time stretching your creative muscles!

Happy crafting!

Terry

New link to my book

Good Morning!

Life is a learning experience, and there is so much out there to learn! Blogging is full of such learning experiences and, as I have time, I hope to make my blog a more interesting one.

I've had a jewelry book out for about two years now, and I've now added a link to it. It's Jump Ring Jewelry and was published by Design Originals. It's an introductory look at how to connect beads, chain and links with jump rings. If you are looking for a beginning book on chain mail and jump rings, this book would be a good place to start. It's an easy technique to learn and you can do so much with it.

I've had so much fun with this style of jewelry and whenever I get the time, I learn some new chain mail weaves. There are a mulitude of them, and those that love the craft come up with some very complex designs. This is a collar that I did with twisted jump rings.

This craft can be very addictive, but it has a meditative quality like knitting or crocheting. If you get carried away, you can make a whole suit of armor!
I hope you're learning a new craft this summer!
Happy crafting,
Terry

Steampunk Collage Pendant

Hi crafters!

For my last design as an Amate Studios design team member, I created a pendant in the steampunk style. This style combines mechanical elements like gears and chain with a Victorian romantic style. At least, that's my take on it. I like the mixture of elements and the antique feel of the pieces. I think of this pendant as titled: Time Unravelled!

You can find the instructions for this pendant in the June projects at http://www.amatestudios.com/. Thanks to Amate Studios and all the great people there for a wonderful year of designing fun. I so enjoyed the oppurtunity to receive and design with your excellent products.
I can't wait to design more jewelry in this style. I hope you'll try a new style or craft this summer. Experiment and expand your creative potential!
Terry

Let them eat zucchini!

I picked these beauties on the first day of summer. I don't think we've ever had zucchini that early. So, in the midst of corporate downsizing (his) and cancelled book deals (mine), at least we have zucchini. Grilled zucchini, zucchini bread, zucchini fritters...anyone have a good recipe?

Or, maybe, crafting with zucchini? I'm picturing a dried zucchini slice wreath, or maybe a dried zucchini doll. Zucchini jewelry? Well, maybe not!

Keep smiling (and, plant a garden!),

Terry

Lazy Days of Summer

Hi crafters!


Yay, color! This background is so much more me! It reminds me of lying in the grass and watching the clouds go by. Look, there's a rabbit--no, now it's an airplane--hmm, changed again, and now it's a ...I don't know, what do you think it is? I love those easy relaxed days of summer. I hope you're finding some time to relax and just cloud gaze!

Here's a craft that goes right along with a summery attitude. This plant poke will add just the right touch to the pot of flowers that you're giving to a friend. I designed this craft for Amate Studios.

Button Plant Poke

Materials:

Diamond Square Pendant in color of your choice (PN-008A)
Green pom poms or green yarn
Assortment of garden buttons
1 ft. green 16-gauge wire or other hanger
Jump ring

Tools:

Scissors
Hot glue and glue gun
Wire cutters, round nose pliers

Instructions:
1. Cut pom poms in half and glue into pendant tray. Or, cut yarn into small pieces and glue into tray.
2. Arrange buttons as desired and glue into tray over yarn.
3. To make the wire hanger, bend one end of the wire around a glue bottle to make a hook. Bend the end of the hook up around a pen. Curl the end into a loop with round nose pliers.
4. Open a jump ring and attach the pendant to the hanger. Close the jump ring. If desired, a jump ring can be made from the hanger wire.

With so many fun buttons available, you can personalize this craft easily!
Happy crafting!
Terry

Leather Cuff Links

Hi crafters!

If you are looking for a quick gift for Father's Day or the groomsmen at the wedding, here's a design for some easy cuff links. These are in the June projects on the Amate Studios website. They are very simple to make and it's easy to change the color to suit your style!

Have fun with it!

Terry

Memorial Day

As humans we need reminders of the past, and it is a good thing to have moments, hours and days when we set aside our rush of daily activities to remember those who shaped our past and sacrificed for our futures. I hope you'll stop today to remember those who sacrificed so much for our country not only in the armed services, but those who kept the home fires burning in their absence.


As a small token of remembrance and patriotism, here's a craft that you can wear to celebrate the Red, White and Blue!
Stars and Stripes Belt Buckle
This buckle form is from Amate Studios and is filled with a piece of flag handkerchief, some quilt batting and a piece of cardboard. To make it, trace the form on a piece of cardboard and trim the cardboard so that it fits loosely in the buckle. You want to leave room for the fabric to be folded over the edge of the cardboard. Then, cut a piece of quilt batting the same size as the cardboard. Decide which part of the handkerchief you'd like for the belt buckle and cut out a circle with a 1/2" extra around the cardboard circle. Glue the batting to the cardboard and place the fabric on top the batting. Pull the fabric to the back of the cardboard, clipping and gluing the fabric to the back. To get the smoothest fit, glue the four compass points first, then work in betwen them. Check the piece for the fit in the belt buckle form and adjust now if needed. Glue the layered fabric piece into the belt buckle. Add fabric pen highlights or some sparkles if you like.