Belt or Necklace?

I'm going through all my unfinished projects to see what I can finish, and which ones I should just take apart and use the beads for another project. I found this Russian Spiral that I originally planned to make into a belt for a black dress that I was wearing to an event. It's actually black and gold, but the picture made the gold beads look silver.

I didn't finish it in time for the event, so it's just been languishing in my project box. As you can see, I haven't even weaved my thread ends in yet. I think I may just add a clasp to it and make it a long necklace. I might even have to pull some of it out, because as it is, it would be a VERY long necklace. I had bought a buch of different shaped black and gold Swarovski's to use as ends on the belt, so maybe I can use them to make some kind of pendant for the necklace.

I started the peyote clasp for my pink and pearl bracelet. I made the toggle, but after I made the ring I didn't like it and I pulled it apart. I'll have to try making it again today.

Cat

OTTBS July challenge

So, I did make something for the July OTTBS challenge after all. It's just a small pendant. I used cubic RAW, ugh! Some people can make cubic RAW look so beautiful, but I always end up with lots of thread showing, so I filled it in with the size 15's to cover up the thread. It's definitely not the best work I've ever done, but I did manage to use orange beads without invoking Halloween, so there's that.

Here's a photo:

Hope you enjoy looking at it, I promise I won't beg anyone to wear it, LOL.

Cat

New bracelet and OTTBS

I seem to have a problem with finishing things. I just made the netted bracelet from the latest issue of Bead and Button magazine, and now I don't know what to do about a clasp.


A toggle clasp just doesn't seem right for this beautiful bracelet, although I'm thinking that if I make a peyote toggle I can add some pearls to the toggle and that would work better. The picture in the magazine shows it with a magnetic clasp, but this is a heavy bracelet, and I don't think a magnetic clasp would hold very well.

I thought it would be a complicated project, but I finished it in one day, so that wasn't too bad.

So, for now, it's on my bead board just waiting for the perfect finish.

I was also thinking about participating in the "Operation Tackle That Bead Stash" challenge this month, but the colors are oranges. I've gathered up all my orange beads trying to come up with ideas, but all I can think of is Halloween. Every orange bead I have (and, why oh why do I have so many?) is bright, very bright, and none of the colors I've tried to pair them with are toning them down. Believe me, if I try to make a piece of jewelry, nobody would wear these colors.


They don't look quite so bad in this picture thanks to my horrendous photography skills, colors never come out right, but believe me, they are orangy (is that a word?). Plus, they are all size 15's (hex's no less!), except the gold-lined size 11's on the right and of course the crystals.

So, maybe I will or maybe I won't participate. But either way I've got to find things to do with the beads I already own, however ugly they may be or what the hell was in my mind when I bought them, because I have no money for new stash beads. Yeah, I know, boo-hoo and tiny violin. Anyone need a babysitter?

Cat

Now What?

Besides just reading beading blogs, I have been doing a fair bit of beading myself lately. A week or so ago I made this pendant.

(Add photography to the list of things I cannot do. The pendant is much prettier in person.)

I got this pattern from a Russian web site called, as nearly as I can tell, I Am Creative.

I just don't like the metal bail that I made for it, so I want to make a necklace to hang it on. But every time I start the hunt for beads to use, I am stumped by my utter lack of creativity. I just do not know how to make the perfect necklace to show this pendant off. Should I make a few beaded beads and intersperse them with some Swarovskis and pearls? Should I make a St. Petersburg chain to go with the pendant's Russian heritage? Should I just throw some seed beads on a wire and be done with it?

And so the pendant just sits, mocking me. I wish I could think of something to do with it.

Cat

Now I have to write something, hehe

Since Mandy from BeadsFor Brains linked to my blog (thanks!), I guess I should write something in case anyone pops over here.

I am an on-and-off beader. Sometimes I get the bug, like right now, and I bead constantly for weeks or months. Then other times I just don't have the motivation to do it. Mandy is really inspiring me though! I just wish she could teach me to take pictures. For some reason, mine always turn out blurry or fuzzy. I use a tripod, so I'm not moving the camera. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.

Anyway, for better or worse, here is the best picture I could get of the Star Berry Bead that I made from the instructions at the blog here. Hope you like it.

Cat

Finally....A vacation!

I finally got to go on a trip. Thank heaven for credit cards, LOL. I didn't go to my beloved Mexico, but the one place that is even better.

I went to see my little mija in Seattle! She has really grown since I've seen her last, but she is still the same lovable little girl. We had so much fun together. Reading, playing games, beading together (she made her own peyote bracelet!), going to the park, out for ice cream, to an event at her school, and much more.

I really have to figure out a way to save up some money so that I can go see her again. In the meantime I will have to satisfy myself with phone calls and letters. *sigh*

Cat

P.S. - In typical "Cat fashion" nothing ever goes completely right...so, if you can believe it...in the first five minutes I was there I fell down in the airport and broke my shoulder. OUCH! Talk about pain! I was one-handed for my entire trip, and am still one-handed. It's really inconvenient, but the doc says it should be better in 4-6 weeks. Let's hope it's closer to four.

Trip coming up!

I just made reservations to go see my grand-daughter in Seattle! I can't wait, I'm so excited to see her and do some activities with her.

She is having an Elder's Tea at her school and she is supposed to bring a relative. She has invited me to come with her! I'm so honored to be able to see her school, meet her friends, and meet the other "Elders".

I'll be going at the end of April, so I'll keep you updated.

Cat

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope you are all having a great day!

Cat

Tax compromise

Did anybody watch President Obama's speech regarding the tax-cut "compromise"? He clearly looked anguished and unhappy about it, but I don't think he had much choice. Not only because the Republicans vowed to block passage of the bill unless/until they got their way, but because they also vowed to block ALL other legislation until this issue was settled (in their favor, of course).

And there are very important bills that need to be voted on and passed. The START treaty, Medicare payments to doctors (due to be cut by 25% in January), DADT, and more.

So, it was important to get the tax-cut issue settled so that this other important work could get done, instead of everyone just sitting around while the Republicans stomped their feet like children.

I feel bad that people are saying that President Obama "caved" or that he "has no backbone". I think that he was backed into a corner and he did the best with what he had. To stupidly hold out for something that is never going to happen just for political reasons would have been worse. When all the people who are criticizing him for compromising saw their taxes go up in January, they would have been complaining about him at that time instead, for breaking his campaign promise not to raise taxes on the middle class. He couldn't win either way, so he agreed to extend the cuts only for two years and he at least got a 13 month extension of unemployment benefits added to the bill, among other things. I believe he tried to do what he thought was best, given the circumstances.

For the record, I am part of the 14% of Americans who think all of the tax cuts should just expire. The only reason we even had the tax-cuts is because Bush entered office with a massive surplus, and instead of paying down some of our debt, decided to give the money back to the people via tax-cuts. They were so unpopular with Congress at the time that they were passed via **GASP** reconciliation and were given a set expiration date for that reason. Now that we have a huge deficit, taxes should go back up again. But, that's just my opinion. Obviously the majority of Americans don't agree with me. Oh, well. It isn't the first time I've held an unpopular opinion.

Now let's hope that the Republicans keep their promise, and vote to pass the compromise that they agreed on.

Cat

You Fix The Budget

Think you can do a better job than our lawmakers at reducing our federal budget deficit? The NY Times offers you a chance to try. It's not as easy as it would seem.

I was able to bring us back in balance by 2015, with a mix of 33% spending cuts and 67% tax increases (I brought back a hefty estate tax and taxes on capital gains), but I was unable to keep that balance through 2030.

I'm sure there are many other choices than this exercise gives, but it's still a fun way to see how your choices would affect the budget. I tried to think of unintended consequences as well. Would reducing federal aid to states by 5% force the states to work more efficiently, or would it cause them to lay off workers or cut social entitlement programs? I chose to think it would force them to work more efficiently.

Try it yourself, here. Let us know how you did!

Cat