Happy Birthday to my Grandma

My beautiful Grandma

My Grandma would have turned 98 today, and it is the first birthday we are without her.   She would likely have recieved as many cards as her years because my Grandma would talk to people and make friends wherever she went.  People always remembered her with a staggering amount of birthday and Christmas cards.

She was an amazing woman to me, and certainly a source of inspiration in the crafty arts for my family. 

Grandma's biggest craft skills were knitting and crochet where her work was pure perfection.  She made me such beautiful things throughout my life and it gives me enormous pleasure that some of these things still live on - new like the day they were made - so much so that I have been able to  pass them along to friends' children. 

Grandma enjoyed food like she enjoyed life and it would be nice to think that somewhere out there she's having a big birthday feast in celebration.  I'll just bet there's ice cream!

I'll always love you Grandma and feel like you're right here with me.  Switching the numbers this year doesn't get us a lot, but happy 89th birthday!

Multi-Dangle Christmas Earring in Red, White and Green

Christmas Present Earrings in Red, White and Green

Well, I must say, I tried to be nothing but festive while working on these multi-dangle earrings but quite a few swear words were uttered. Under my breath, and to myself, but nontheless, some frustration.  I don't remember it being quite so difficult when I made my first attempt with some Halloween earrings, but I am still new to the multi-dangle style and to working with jump rings.

More Diamond Dangles with Acrylic Paint Splotch Beads

Acrylic Paint Splotch Beads in Purple

Back to the Christmas ornaments today. October seems to be flying by, and with Halloween this week and the calendars turning to November (must remember it's husbands birthday!) it's going to be full on Christmas soon and hopefully I'll be busy with sales. Certainly I'll be busy with other things.  I've done a few more wreaths for our Craft Show which is now two weeks away and am playing with space layouts to see what's what, so it was time to get back to some Etsy focus.

Fussy but Royal Beaded Ornament Hooks!

My beaded ornament hooks are getting fancier and fancier these days.  I keep being drawn to these fabulous special beads - in this case more rhinestone bling, in silver - and when I saw these deep midnight blue faceted crystal beads I just couldn't leave them as a bracelet.  The colour is so deep and rich and they shine like crazy.  I knew they would look great paired with the bright silver gems and the style puts me in mind of the 'royal ring' that once belonged to Diana and now belongs to Kate.  I've always loved that ring.

Santa's Beaded Ornament Hangers

Santa's Beaded Ornament Hooks?

These - I like to imagine - are the beaded ornament hooks that Santa might have on his tree. They couldn't be any more Christmas-y could they?   Bling and shiny in holiday colours of red and green with crystal icy accents, surely these are what Mrs. Claus would choose.

Plush Toy Wreaths

Here are some of the wreaths I've been working on.   Cute little Christmas plush toys are wired into the center to give them an uber-festive look.

Christmas Cards and Wreaths

'I Love Snow' Snowman & Snowflake Cards

I've been making steady progress with my mini trees and their tree skirts, and there is a nice little blizzard of snowflakes ready and put away for the craft show.  With the holidays getting closer and the fact that my supply was quickly dwingling, it was finally time to get back to some cards and gift tags.

Mini Skirts for Mini Trees #2, 3 and 4!

Last week I posted about my first mini skirt for my mini trees, and this week I am happy to update that three more are complete.  There are at least four more to do, if I can manage it, and perhaps more hiding in boxes I haven't yet opened.

Shiny Silver Snowflakes

Wowza, talk about shine and sparkle!  Working on these silver snowflakes at my craft room table,  with the sun streaming in, I was tempted to put on a pair of sunglasses.  En masse, they were almost blinding with their shine, sparkle and close friend glitter.  I just love them.

Seussical with Large Diamond Dangles ... & Snowflakes

It's a drizzly day and there is a Doctor Who marathon on television. In short, it's a perfect crafting day.   Really with conditions like this I should be working on my Tardis Christmas Ornaments - I got some fabulous charms to work up - but I think those will wait for next week when the End of 10 will air.  I`ll need something to distract me from crying through the entire episode.

S is for Santa Spiral Beaded Ornament Hooks

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!  This is one of the things on my crafting table today.  Spiral beaded ornament hooks are back, and I'm trying to work up a number of variations in some basic colour schemes.  My friend Catherine named these "S is for Santa" spiral hooks, and I think that's a perfect name.  They are so jolly.

Mini Skirts for Mini Trees #1

It's like the Doctor Who Christmas invasion - Christmas trees are everywhere - living room, dining room, craft room, spare bedroom ...  they've just sprung up here there and everywhere.   In preparation for my upcoming craft show, I'm sprucing up my mini Christmas Trees and editing their ornaments.  Each one has such a lot of character with a huge variety of trimmings and garland.

Bright Pink Buttons

Quick little update today.   The weather lately has been absolutely perfect for autumn, and despite the fact my street is full of construction vehicles it has been quiet for a couple of days so I've been taking advantage and doing some work out in the garden. 

Button Dangles in Red and Purple

Red Button Christmas Ornaments

For some reason, tins of buttons make me happy.  I understand why buttons off clothing I`ve had throughout my life would be a nostalgic thing, or vintage buttons with all their fascinating shapes and details would be an exciting thing - but even modern, bright, random buttons are such happy, cheerful little characters, don't you think?

Paint Splotch Acrylic Beads in Diamond Dangles

Painted Splotch Acrylic Beads with Cats Eye Shiny Beads

Here are some more of my selection of fabulous beads.  I call them Paint Splotch beads and I have them in a lovely variety of colours.  They match so very nicely with these super shiny cats eye like beads that I've used before in my Cats Eye Beaded Ornament Hangers. 

Shiny Christmas Ball Snowflake Earrings

Shiny Christmas Ball Snowflake Earrings in Red

More fun with Christmas earrings - this time in a more holly jolly, fun and festive mood.   I recently found these shiny metallic coloured beads in a variety of colours, and with etched accents that have almost a holographic effect in that they reflect many colours as they move.

Multi-Colour Rhinestone Bead Christmas Earrings

Rhinestone Bead Earrings with Snowflakes and Crystal Crackle Glass Beads

Yesterday's crafting session was back to the Christmas earrings, and this time my primary focus was these 14mm multi-colour rhinestone beads.  I thought it might be more productive if I focused on one element - which was these stunning beads - worked up with a variety of charms and other focal beads.