A couple of things

Well, I thought once the holidays were over and the decorations put away, I would be able to settle into my winter routine.  But, I was really busy again last week and so I haven't gotten to do much creating!  But, I did manage to finish a square for the Bead and Button Bead-It-Forward bead quilt.  For the last two years, Kathy at Bead Soup  has had a get together on New Year's Day to make squares for the quilt. Kathy then collects all the beaders' squares and sends them off to Bead and Button.  I can't make it to the shop that day but this year I decided to make a square on my own.  The theme this year is flowers and I decided to bead embroider my square.  This is what it looks like finished and ready to go.

 

 

I used a ribbon flower that was a sample for my friend Christen Brown's book, Ribbonwork Gardens.

I backstitched with 11's and a drop bead mix and then stitched the flower in the middle. 

 

 

When that was finished I really wanted to do some wire work.  I had treated myself to several C-Koop components when Bead Soup had a trunk show of their fantastic enameled components.  I told myself it was a Christmas present to me!  So, I wanted to make a bracelet with some of the pieces and I decided to make one similar to the squirrel bracelet I made my daughter in the fall.  

This is what I came up with.

 

 

 

I had gotten 6 flowers on head pins and I used three in the bracelet.  You'll be seeing the others soon in another piece I have in mind! There is a base piece with holes in it and I wrapped the wire from the head pin around the base and coiled the ends to look like tendrils.   I used copper wire for the bracelet and two enameled bead.  I used an enameled toggle to finish it. 

 

That's about all I've accomplished this month.  I think things are finally settling down and so I hope to show you the other things I have in mind for the rest of my gift to myself!

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a good day and that you get to spend some time making something fun!