Gone but not forgotten....to keep creating!

Hi blogging buddies!  It's been awhile since I blogged - life got in the way. Despite my absence from blogging, I've been busy making and creating!

Paper clay beads in drying stage

Cold weather in the northeast signals a move indoors to my office/jewelry studio area and a change in media. This year, I thought I'd experiment with Paperclay. I've made several different shapes that I'm fond of - a bird, house and cloud. Stay tuned to see how these come out.

Next up was needle tatting. I tried this awhile ago and got stuck at pulling the thread through the needle. I thought I was doing something wrong so I stopped trying.

First successful attempt at needle tatted flower

 This time around, I watched the video and stopped it in the places where I got stuck before. It took me about 2 hours to figure it out but I finally got it right!  I've made several more since the red one above in black and purple. Needle tatting is really addictive - I'm now on the hunt for patterns! If you know of any good ones, send a link my way!

So although I've been gone, I haven't forgotten to keep creating. I feel particularly satisfied that I finally learned to needle tat. 

What about you? What have you been up to?

Talk Back and An Immortal Corsage

Today I want to talk back. I really appreciate the comments!

Tuesday's post about the "money shot" surprised me. When I'm surprised by the comments I receive, I've learned something. I'm starting to feel the white background is boring and was sure that the roses background would make the charm more appealing. Seems not. Surprise. (It does make me wonder about my ability to have the "my fingers on the pulse" of what the trends are.) I guess white isn't boring after all!

So I'm going to reveal a deep dark not so secret secret today - I love crochet. I love to make it and I love to admire it. So handmade lace either crochet or of late, I've been trying to teach myself to do needle tatting.

Why? You ask.

Because I've been drooling over a needle tatted bracelet for about a year - My Immortal Corsage made by TotusMel on Etsy. (Photo courtesy of TotusMel's shop.)



I'm completely in love with it! I finally decided enough drooling it was time to take action! I bought it.

Lovely work isn't it? Amazing how something this exquisite is made with humble thread and a long blunt end needle. If you're interested in trying it out yourself, you can buy crochet thread at the local craft store but you'll have to go online to Handy Hands to order a tatting needle.

Are you smitten with another craft? Are you learning something new or buying?