Summertime...and a New Creative Obsession!

Hmmmm....orange & yellow. Now where might I have found the inspiration for this color scheme in a floral arrangement? The wise swap mavens over at Sweet Goodness Swaps had the right idea...seems that orange & yellow ARE the hot colors for this summer. Although I'm sitting out this time during their Summer swap, I'll be eagerly watching from the sidelines to see all the lovely creations and goodies!



And...I had another sale!!! Yippee!!!! You might remember the Morning Glory Madness arrangement that I made during my floral classes in February. All these sales...well, all 3 of them anyway... are encouraging. I'm thrilled that people like my arrangements enough to buy them. At the very least, it helps motivate me to create and keeps the dream of my own little shop, "Imaginary Fronds", alive and well. I've been looking around for other things to create, other than florals, to add to the appeal and allure of that future shop. Which brings me to my next creative obsession..............


Jewelry making! My Mom pointed out a beading magazine in the store a few weeks back and the next thing you know, I am HOOKED. Lucy even caught me red-handed at Michael's stuffing my shopping basket with beads and all kinds of supplies to start myself down the path of jewelry making. Here's a picture of my first creation which is not entirely finished. I wasn't smart enough to buy 2 of the same toggle (and it was sold out when I went back) so the necklace remains unfinished until the store restocks the toggle.


So far, I have learned 4 things about making jewelry. First off, don't string your beads too tight. I wound up having to re-string the bracelet.

Secondly, Michael's charges way too much for their beading supplies (duh!) and I now have several catalogs with far more economical prices on their way to me.

Third...as I mentioned earlier....make sure you buy enough stuff to finish a project unless you want to be disappointed.

And last, but not least, be sure to lay out your jewelry perfectly before photographing it! You can't see all the danglies in this picture but you get the idea :)

It is my own design, crafted from turquoise beads, 2 different colors of Swarovski bicone crystals and sterling silver beads and findings. Please, please, please give me feedback on this set!

Determination

It is entirely possible that my bout of "crafter's block" is over. I've had every excuse in the book as to why I haven't created a single thing in over a month...you know, the usual litany of too tired, too stressed, too busy, too whatever ad nauseum! Well, I took a 5 day weekend and was determined to have something to show for it. I wound up with 6 somethings!!!


The first 5 are actually hanging basket houseplants that I whipped up for our sunroom (3 more to go but need to get more pots first). You see, Mom & I have potted up live plants for that sunroom about 20 times, no exaggeration! We only walk right past the sunroom umpteen times a day and do you think we could manage to water the poor plants? Nope. I hate to think about how many plants we've killed this way. Anyway, a while back I suggested to Mom that silks might be the answer and she finally said "do it." Well, let me tell you they look great and there's no watering and therefore, no guilt. :)

Then I managed to make this green & burgundy creation which is a bit wild. It will be off to the salon in the near future where I hope someone will like it enough to give it a good home. I'm pleased to report that two of my previously posted creations were sold...the Bird Cage & Then there were Fronds.

I've just got to keep the momentum going....