Chain Mail Fun

I love the look of antique copper. So when I saw these beautiful antique copper jump rings I new I had to get them! I am pleasantly surprised how easy this latest bracelet was. What is your favorite metal?

Happy Handmade

I love Handmade items. I love making my own handmade items. I love buying handmade items. To know that someone was inspired, gathered materials, and sat down and made something with their own two hands inspires me to stop buying generic cheap things. What also amazes me is the sheer creativity that most have. To look at some material and imagine all the different possibilities that can be done with it is something that I struggle with. Sometimes I will find a different shaped bead and then not make anything with it for a while because I get into a creative block. I love being able examine a handmade item to try and see what their inspiration was.

I am also a person that likes to try any craft. Sewing, painting, beading, chain mail, wire wrapping, crocheting, embroidering, needlepoint, beadpoint, and knitting are all things I have done. With a little bit of experience in many crafts I know how hard most of these projects can be. For all of the materials to come together and look beautiful takes a very rare talent.

I also love buying handmade because I know I am supporting a small business. I like to buy locally at farmers markets, and shop at independent shops as much as I can. I also like finding other crafters online. Ever since I have joined Storenvy I have been introduced to some of the most talented group of store owners! I love their support, encouragement, and positivity. Every small business owner I have met has had such a great passion for what they do. You can sit and talk with them about their shop, and what motivates them to do it. You can see their eyes light up when they talk about it, and you can see how really special their shop is.

With all that said, I am proud to be a small business. I am proud that I make products with my own two hands. I am also proud that I have a passion to make beautiful items!

Now it is time for you to see where I find all kinds of handmade goodness! I found a handmade link up for online shops. I have been participating on and off for a couple of months and I am proud to share this site with you! Daft Crafts holds a weekly Happy Handmade link up and each week it just gets bigger! This week my favorite items are the Peacock Glasses, the Rainbow Girl Resin Heart, and the Pride and Prejudice playset. So come on over and leave a message telling me what your favorite items are! You can find Happy Handmade #23 here!

Wire Wrapping Fun!

So I ran out of jump rings. Teaching myself new techniques and trying different designs with the little metal rings is challenging and exciting! It really was a surprise when I sat down to make another bracelet and I was out. Since I will not get more for another week or two I decided to mess around with some wire that has been laying around. I have been wanting to experiment with wire wrapping and I thought why not now? I dug through my supplies and found a pendant that I love and just dove into it. The first experiment didn't turn out to well, so I tried again. This second attempt turned out much better and I am very pleased with the end result! What do you think of my new Purple Haze Necklace?

Chain Mail

I am having so much fun messing around with all these little jump rings. It is amazing putting them together to form something new. Earlier this summer I bought a Tree of Life charm that caught my eye, so today I sat down and made a bracelet to put it on. I love the fact that now I can make my own chains any length to fit my needs. I can tell right now that this bracelet is going to be worn everyday!!!! Now I just need to go out and get more supplies so I can add them in my shop!

Play time is over!

So I have been missing in the action since summer has began. I have been traveling with my kids and just enjoying some lazy days with them. It is amazing how quickly time flies when you are having fun, but now is the time to start working again. I have some projects in mind to create this summer. I have started playing with chain mail and I am really starting to get the hang of it. Linking the little jump rings in patterns is as soothing to me as weaving with seed beads. Something about the repetition is comforting to me in a way. Almost like it soothes my soul and allows me to meditate. So far I have only been working on the various instructions to most common patterns. I am going to work on my first bracelet and we will see how it turns out. So I am off to my much needed chain mail therapy session, and I will leave you with my favorite picture of my kids from our vacation to Ohio.

Special Request

Ok here it is:

Light blue crystal bicones, with black seed beads woven into a flat spiral. Made specially for one lucky Lady's prom. I am so happy with how this came out, and I can only hope she loves it as much as I do!

Prom Time!!!

I have had a special request for a bracelet. This special request is actually a really special, special request! A very sweet girl has requested a bracelet to match her prom dress! SQUEEEEEEE!!!!! I remember all of the dances I went to when I was in school. I still own 3 of my dresses!! I remember the shoes I wore, the way my hair was done, and yes I remember all the accessories I wore too. I am so honored that she has requested something from me to wear on such a special day! I will post pics as soon as I finish.