Paper Bead Jewellery..

Well, it has certainly been a busy few months.

Why is that, I hear you ask.

Well, do you remember this post from last year?   Scrub that, I can't find the post I'm talking about.

Anyways, I was telling you about the charity event we held at Church last Christmas that I organised.

I taught the women how to make paper bead jewellery, which we then sold at an end of year Christmas event.  We raised the money to help with the building of a women's hospital in the Afar region of Ethiopia.

So, we are putting the event on again this year, but raising the money for an HIV/AIDS orphanage in Thailand.  A friend of mine takes a mission team over there each year, to create a holiday at home for the kids.
That might not sound like such a big deal, BUT, I can assure you, for those kids, it is huge.
Because they have HIV they are pretty well ostracised in the community (for fear of contracting the disease).  They can't even go to the local swimming pool in the heat of summer.  They can't go to school, or take part in other normal kids activities.

Here are some of the pics of the first lot of jewellery made for this year.

By the way, I've started a website for the night and a facebook page, to show some samples of the paper bead jewellery and to give peeps an inkling of what to expect on the night.

Lariat necklaces are such fun.  I love to add in charms like teapots and keys.

The pendant isn't a paper bead (in case you're wondering), but the rest are.

All the bead start off as white paper, and are handpainted.

Paper bead earrings don't drag on your ears.

I love the purple chunky beads.  And because they are paper, they are so lightweight.

The lettering was all painted on to the beads by hand.

Paper beads mix well with other sorts of beads, like crystals.

So many beads to make, sooooo little time.

Christmas will be here before you know it!

cheers

Fi

More Fabric and Felting Fun

Mornin' all.

Just thought I'd share more crafty fun from the needlefelting day (sort of wandered off into fabric beads and other things.....)

Don't you  love surrounding yourself with mess and labelling it 'creativity'?

A bit of yoyo stuffing....

Always makes me think of those little purse-shaped entrees you get at the Chinese restaurant when I get to this stage.

Now it's taking shape.

And I was tickled pink with the crochet edging I did around the felted bead thingy.

Don't know what they are all going to be yet (if anything), but it was fun doing it.

Cheers

Fi

Needlefelted Earrings

So here's part of what transpired today.

A gathering of supplies for my project

Rolling up the wool into a ball.

Starting to needlefelt on the brush.

Warning: Needlefelting is a blood sport!!!

Starting to shape like a strawberry

Crocheting a couple of leaves

 Sew on leaves, and sew on some seed beads

Add in the earring findings (find out how to do that here)

And, ta dah.......

Same Design - Different Look

Just to show you how changing a few simple things of a design can give you a completely different look.

These are the same as the Christmas Holly Wreath earrings, with different colours and an extra row of stitches.

Tip: With earrings, I like to sew the beads onto the back as well as the front, that way they look nice from all angles, if they are the dangly type.

On another note - I don't like to throw away the Christmas cards that get sent to me that I particularly like.

I keep them and recycle them (put them back on display) year after year.

This particular card (in the photo) is one that my mother sent me some years ago.  I love it.  In fact, most of the ones I can't bear to part with came from her.

My sister has made it one of her life ambitions to send me a card that is deemed worthy of the 'display every year' category! (I actually put one of hers in, just to keep her happy, but... ssssshhhh!!!!....don't tell her that!)

Maybe next year, Ill scan them in and post them. 

Perhaps we could have a show and tell best Christmas cards session.

Cheers

Fi

Christmas Earrings - Tutorial

Ok, here goes.

Disclaimer: - I DID iron the table cloth, but sometimes, they just don't cooperate.......

P.S. (I am wearing these earrings as I post this, because I'm growing quite attached to them, I'm really getting the Christmas love feeling..)

Holly Wreath Christmas Crochet Earrings

Well, I have just finished sewing the holly berries on to my Christmas wreath earrings.

I want to attempt a step by step for these, but I think it is getting too close to glass of wine time for that much concentration!

I will have a go at it tomorrow, I am really looking forward to doing this.

I have written up instructions (and published books) for many painting projects, but NEVER a crochet project - my mum will be so proud....

By the way, the santa in the background is so cute - you just touch him and he wobbles - you know, like those wobbly headed dogs you used to see in the back windows of cars.

Have a good night, and Ill hopefully see you with a set of instructions tomorrow.

Cheers

Fi

Crochet Yo-Yo Brooches

Hi again,
As you can see, I'm catching on to this blogging thing, and I am now officially on a roll.
Flushed with success after finishing the afore mentioned blanket, I moved on to these brooches.

I must say that the small size was a welcome relief!

I think I got the flower pattern from the book, "100 flowers to knit and crochet".
I used a yarn I bought from lincraft, can't remember the name, but it had bamboo in it.

These were really fun to do.  You can embellish the centres with buttons, beads or whatever, and you can add in embroidery stitches, you can sew the flower on to the yoyo so as it sits flat, or you can let the petals stand out a bit more.

Cheers
Fi