3/01/03

I liked the color combination on the bracelet above, (see February's Creations) so I made another... they're really the same size and colors, but I didn't get the scale or the color levels the same in the photos. I used the same settings, and the same light - guess I still have much to learn when it comes to photography!

M-6 C-1 F-5

3/02/03

For many years, I've been keeping a notebook... it's a combination budget planner, to-do list, idea book, journal - you get the idea. It's time to start a new one, and I always have fun decorating and personalizing it. I glue postcards along 3 edges to make pockets on the inside divider pages, add stickers, and this one even has it's own bead charm.

This entry marks the completion of one month of my "Daily Creation" commitment to myself! Granted, February is a short month... but I did it! Thanks to all of you who've taken the time to write me a note and give me encouragement. It means a lot to me.

M-7 C-1 F-4

3/03/03

Inspired by Mindy Brooks' "Line Items" article in the April 2003 issue of Bead & Button Magazine, I thought I'd try these little frogs. I didn't have 20 gauge wire, so I tried it in both 22 and 18 g. I'll give the middle one (the last one I made) to my mom - she collects frogs. I added a clasp, so it can be hooked on her purse or keys. I'm so out of practice on my wire work!

M-3 C-3 F-3

3/05/03

So today I'm cheating - but just a little. I finished a doll arm. I put a paperclip next to it - so you can see how tiny her fingers are. It took me 2 hours to make this one arm. It's wired, so you can pose her, and you can see the beginnings of a joint, so her arms can move. On my screen, the photo is just a little smaller than actual size. The 16 gauge wire in her arm just fits in one finger. I think I'll try painting tiny fingernails, and maybe heart lines on her palms... I must make her some tiny jewelry. Ah! the possibilities!

M-5 C-3 F-4

3/06/03

Her second arm is finished, and she has a tiny peridot and gold filled ring. The color is a lot better on this picture. I'm still puzzled, because I take the pics on the same background, with the same light, and the same camera settings, and tweak it with the same numbers in Graphic Converter... Hmmmm....

M-6 C-3 F-3

3/07/03

Here's an attempt at a shamrock.... It has possibilities, but it's not perfect. Oh well, I have a few days, yet.

(The doll has her legs cut out and started, but I didn't finish one.)

M-4 C-3 F-3

3/08/03

Another in the star experiment... I think maybe it needs to have another thread run through it to tighten it up, but I kind of like it.

Today was a hard day. If I don't watch my sugar intake very carefully, I get depressed. It's especially hard, because my sister is a pastry chef. When I work for her, it's easy to nibble and taste stuff that I normally don't bring into the house, so it doesn't tempt me! I worked for her on Tuesday and Wednesday, and all I wanted to do today was curl up in bed and sleep.

M-2 C-3 F-3

3/09/03

I did 2 things today...I [played in Photoshop, to make a "Family Portrait" for my Mom's birthday. (Can you tell who's pasted in?) That's my mom in the middle, with all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids all around.

I also finished the doll's right leg. I'll have to name her one of these days, but I think she needs a face, first.

The depression is better today. Still having a hard time forcing myself to do things, but I ate better today, and took my vitamins. Good Girl!

M-2 C-3 F-5

3/10/03

Monday... Fresh start! I'm feeling much better. Gotta remember those vitamins, and limit the sugar!

Here is a little origami frog. He's made of green foil paper. (I got lots of other things done today, and I have to get up early tomorrow, so I needed a fairly quick project.)

M-4 C-1 F-5

3/11/03

I gave the first paper purse to my mom, so I made another, with the same skin as the envelope I made on 03/04. I like the idea of printing the pattern on one side of the cardstock, and a photo or "skin" on the other side. That way I can mix and match patterns and skins. I'm experimenting with different ways to close the purse. So far, I like a pearl topped pin. I've also punched a hole through the front and back, and clasped it closed with a large spring-ring clasp. Maybe I'll try an elastic loop and button...

M-5 C-1 F-4

3/12/03

I got a massage today... it was verrrry nice, so I made this keycharm as a thank-you gift. Now I just have to remember to give it to her! If you've never gotten a massage, I highly recommend it. Treat yourself. You deserve it!

M-4 C-1 F-5

3/13/03

St. Pat's day is almost here, and I didn't really like the Shamrock from 3/07, so I made a pair of green Celtic earrings. I also worked on doll's other leg today. By the time I get to her face, I should be pretty good at the hand stitching. I want the stitches to be really tiny and even on her face. (Did I tell you I'm a perfectionist?)

I'm still in a decent (if not great) mood, but found myself being angry and swearing a lot today. I have paperwork to do, it's really boring, and I don't want to do it. I'd much rather make something, or read a book, or even (shudder) take out the trash and do the dishes! But it needs to be done, so guess I'd better go get it over with!

M-4 C-1 F-4

3/14/03

Got s lot of non-fun stuff done today, then went out dancing with my friends, and got home late (or is it early?)... so here's another quickie keycharm. These are so fun to do, and such instant gratification. You get to play with beads to find the perfect combination, and it takes just minutes to put it together.

I ate really badly today - I'll have to find a better way to reward myself than a box of chocolates - but I'm in a great mood!

M-9 C-1 F-2

3/15/03

I'll be gone for a couple of days. I'm booth sitting for a friend at the knitting show in Burbank. So, I made myself an envelope like the one on 3/04, only smaller, to hold my extra business cards. I'm bringing a project to work on if it's slow, but I won't be posting tomorrow. (Still saving for that notebook computer...)

I ate better today, and I'm still in a good mood!

M-8 C-1 F-5

3/18/03

These "Power Ball" beads are made of 4mm semi-precious beads with a 10mm bead in the center. I made the aventurine one with a rose quartz center for healing love. I liked it so much, I made another from amethyst with a rock crystal center for clear thinking. Now, what other 4mm beads can I find in my collection?

I'm a little depressed today, but I think it's mostly sadness over the worldly state of affairs. Blessings, Love, and Light to us all.

M-4 C-1 F-5

3/19/03

I had to make a couple more of these... The 5mm cape amethyst has rose quartz in the center, and is a little larger than the other two. The 3mm rose quartz has a hematite bead in the center. They go together really fast.

I may be coming down with a cold, as I don't feel at my best, physically. Mentally, I can almost feel that slide into depression. (Sometimes it's like someone flipped a switch, and I can actually change moods within a few minutes.) I really don't feel like doing anything, and have to force myself to do those things that must be done. I've been taking my vitamins, but had some sugary stuff over the weekend. It's amazing what brain chemistry can do! Makes me really angry sometimes...

M-3 C-1 F-4

3/20/03

This power ball is made of rock crystal and matte black onyx It's done like the Archimedes bead (See February's Creations on 2/23). It's made from 4mm beads and is hollow. I like how the quartz beads reflect the black ones - makes them look polka-dotted. This one represents how our dark side is a part of us, and helps to make us whole.

I was pretty depressed all day, but I feel better tonight. Hope I wake up in a good mood tomorrow.

M-2 C-1 F-5

3/21/03

Here's a tiny crystal Spider. Her 4mm clear AB head and 6mm body don't show up too well in the photo. I like spiders, they eat lots of other bugs that get in the house.

Mood's a little better today. I'm tired, though, and still a little sniffley...

Happy Spring!

M-3 C-1 F-5

3/22/03

I printed out the the "contact sheet" of TinyPouch patterns on Shrink Plastic, then made tiny charms. Each one is less than 1/2"square. I like the way the color intensifies and the plastic thickens as it shrinks. Not sure yet what I'll do with them... Maybe a charm bracelet? Too obvious? :)

M-3 C-1 F-5

3/23/03

I spent a couple of hours happily cutting out tiny shrink plastic charms. I made about 50 of them. I was using a heat gun to do them one at a time, and figured that'd take forever, so I baked them in the oven. It's fun to watch them shrink and curl and straighten out again. I found out that they stick to paper (or maybe I cooked them too long) and that water still makes the inkjet ink run. Yes, I ruined a batch. You can cook it too long, too. I better not use them for jewelry until I can make sure that Krylon (or something similar) will set the ink. I wouldn't want my neck to be rainbow colored. Don't you just love the learning experience!

M-4 C-1 F-5

3/24/03

Finished her other leg! Cut out the body parts, too. I've also been working on new TinyPouch patterns.

M-4 C-1 F-5

3/25/03

Here's another variation on the beads I've been making (see 3/18, 19, and 20, and 2/13 & 23). I like collecting variations on a theme - and maybe inventing one of my own! I also worked on the doll body today.

M-5 C-1 F-4

3/26/03

Doll's body is almost done. I think she needs a bellybutton, and maybe some dimples in her bottom. I put a ruler next to her, so you can see how big she is. Next is her head and face... The face is the scariest part. What if I mess it up? I have enough ultrasuede for a few tries, but I'd like to get it right the first time. I'm such a perfectionist! I've saved some scraps to practice on - see how the markers act, and how colors look. Wish me luck!

M-6 C-3 (Surprise! A week early, and no pms...) F-5

3/27/03

I made a few new TinyPouch Patterns. (See the TinyPouch Page for ordering info.) I haven't designed any new patterns for awhile. It felt good to do some new ones. I like the challenge of making a recognizable design in a 20x40 space.

M-6 C-3 F-4

3/28/03

Here's a "box" printed on cardstock. The photo is a close-up of sand on the beach in Kauai. The color in the photo is way off, partially because my ink cartridge is low - so the color on the printout is a little off, and then it's a photo of a photo. I'm intrigued by texture photos... close-ups of rocks, bark, moss. My digital camera frees me from the cost of film processing, so I'm not afraid to experiment and make mistakes. If I don't like the photo, I just erase it and take another! And I can always crop and adjust it later. I'm having fun collecting pictures to use in my artwork.

M-5 C-3 F-4

3/29/03

Another box - I had these already in the computer, and just printed them out and added the photos. This one is tree branches on the inside, and ferns on the outside. I got the original patterns from a punch-out-and-fold book of Japanese paper gift boxes. Now I'm going to have to try and make one with 3 sides, and 6, and......

M-4 C-3 F-5

3/30/03

I found a delightful website featuring fabric origami. It has lots of patterns and ideas. I made this envelope-style purse from - you guessed it!- printed cardstock. (I never quite follow the directions....) I'll have to dig out my box of fabric, and try some of the patterns, then embellish them with buttons and tassels and beads. Oh my! :) Or - how about printing my photos on fabric? I bought a "kit" for making printable material, but haven't tried it yet.

M-3 C-3 F-5

3/31/03

I really didn't want to make anything today. Not that I don't have ideas - I just don't WANT to... One of my worst (or is that strongest?) challenges is self discipline. I poked around in my craft supplies, but nothing really spoke to me loud enough to make me get out supplies, and do it. Maybe it's time to clean off my work table?

Finally, I found this little ready-made tassel. I used one of the Beads I made (see 3/25), and added a quick decoration to my thread cutter. At least it's something....

M-4 C-3 F-5