What sort of Messes I have been getting into!

I have been a bit silent the last couple of weeks. I think some of it was just plain 'ole tired. I also was a bit out of sorts from the wreck. I know I was VERY lucky, but I still was a bit put out with myself. It really should have been avoidable in the first place!

I have been a bit busy with some things - not all of it beads (GASP!!) but crafty enough to keep me sane. I also think it is good to do other things every so often - it helps keep away the creative blahs.

My latest "thing" has been dying yarn with Kool-aid. In October, I took a work shop with Natasha (Her website is "The Unplanned Peacock" - check it out: http://hyenacart.com/unplannedpeacock/index.php?viewall=1%CF%80=1 )

This is Virginia's yarn, and my first go at a sock in years! (I had to take it out and start over, but no big!)

The girls and I went to her place - the icelandic sheep are sooooo sweet and cute! But I digress - We dyed yarn and had lots of fun. Of course I also picked up some more wool to try some at home. Now I'm remembering my knitting skils - I had let them get rusty. I even went and dug up all of my old knitting needles.

I've also been doing a little bit of needle felting, just for fun. Had to try some acorns - I saw some in the Flickr acorn pool and really wanted to make some of my own. I just need to figure out how to put a bail on them without making them look weird.

I've been also trying to learn to make glass beads. I had unpacked my Hothead torch not long ago and sent off for a new pair of safety glasses (My old pair didn't make the move.). I had originally just begun to work on the torch when the war started and I had to pack it all up and move to Charleston. Down there I didn't have aplace to work with an open flame, so it really went on hold for several years. This past week I took the plunge and realized that I have forgotten what little bit I had learned and definitely am starting from scratch. I have yet to make a really round anything. But I did have fun, and I can see a bit of a learning curve starting to appear.

My Heart is yours...

This has been one of my favorite designs I have done so far. I wanted to play on the fact there are so many "heart" patterns out portraying the more typical heart design. I also wanted something a bit more graphic and edgier.

I am still trying to decide what design to go with for the strap. This beads up pretty fast as well. The pattern uses mostly peyote, with the bits sticking out done in brick.