Are You A Crafter? Great News!

Too many projects and not enough time!

Are you an avid crafeter ever looking for a bargain? I have one, well actually many, for you on my destash page.

My hubby has been jumping up and down demanding I clear out some of the huge stash of craft "junk" I have accumulated over the years. JUNK???? Shows you what he knows. Anyway, I am starting to list my many, many craft books, booklets, leaflets, patterns, etc. If you are a true crafter you know exactly which ones I mean. The "I love this. I'll get the book now and make it someday" books that add up when you are not looking. Over the years I've created quite a pile of "someday" projects. Someday never seems to come and the older I get, the less likely it will. What's even worse is, I just ordered two more books online. I sure hope they come when DH isn't home!

So, boogie on over to Forbes Farm Destash and see what you can find. I only have 10 listed so far, but the pile beside me is still severl feet tall! As long as my scanner holds out I'll keep adding them so keep looking. If you want a specific craft related book contact me. I just might have it.

Sandy

Something For Your Hair

I have this huge roll of copper wire just sitting in my studio staring at me, day in and day out. It is almost like the Money you can save with Geico. It just sits there looking at me wondering when I'm going to do something with it. I had to yield to it's command recently and hauled it off the shelf and onto the work table.

My inspiration came from a site that was selling hand made shawl pins. I believe they were for prayer shawls, but the first thing I thought was hair pins. A bit of cutting and twisting and hammering resulted in several different designs. This one is my favorite so far. Not that I can wear it in my short, thin hair, but I can envision it sparkling in someone's long dark tresses.

Well, I'm off to Buffalo again today. No beads this trip though. At least I don't think so. I found a crib on Craig's list dirt cheap and we're going to look at it and hopefully bring it home for the Grandbabies. My son has to haul a portable crib every time they come here. If everything goes smoothly, there will be two to find sleeping space for next year! Grandma & Grandpa have to find a bed.

Here's the link to the hair pin: Copper Hand Formed Hair Pin

I Give Up - Daily Item For Today

I am going to give up on the daily item idea. I just can't keep up. That doesn't mean I'm not going to post on my blog though! I miss just about every Saturday when I have to get to the market early in the morning and there are other days I simply get involved with other projects and forget. I bet that never happens to you though. Right?

I do have a new item listed today. I pull this design from the archives whenever I run out of other ideas. It came to be one day when I was at the market with limited supplies and bored to tears. I've sold every pair I made there, so I thought I would offer a pair or two on Etsy. They are a nice size dangle that just about everyone can wear.

Beaded Bead Pierced Earrings in Lavender

Daily Item 20 - Dark, Misterious, Irridescent Earrings

I don't know what they use to make these beads, but it fascinates me. I saw a Harley painted in something similar not to long ago. I would have bought it just for the color even though I hate motorcycles. As you moved around it, the color changed just as it does with these earrings.

The bottom two beads have sides that are black and sides that change. The bottom picture shows you the effect the best. Believe it or not, they are all the same color. I think the base color of the circle bead is purple, but I couldn't prove it. Sometimes they look gold, sometimes green, sometimes blue. All put together they make for a stunning pair of ear bobs.

Click here for more info:

Dark, Misterious, Irridescent Earrings

Daily Item 19 - Jade and Quartz Combo

Woohoo! Look at the pretty Jade briolettes I found at the bead store. I just love pink and green together. Yes, the pink part of the Jade has been added by man but the results is so lovely.

I wrapped the Jade with Silver wire and added a Rose Quartz bead I just happened to have on hand. I keep EVERYTHING! You just don't know when you'll need it right? These long forgotten quartz pieces were perfect for this project.

Hope you enjoyed today's offernings. Now I'm off to pull weeds again, still, yet.....

Here's the link to more info on the earrings.

Jade and Rose Quartz Earrings

Daily Item 18 - Pretty Filigree Medallions

Summer has finally arrived in Southwestern New York. The heat hit yesterday. Made for some mighty uncomfortable gardening. I have to get myself in gear earlier in the day if I am to survive the next few months. All the work has to be done before the temperature gets too high. Ever made supper at 7am? I do on hot days. We just reheat it in the microwave later or eat it cold. I'm really not a Summer person. Can't wait for it to be over!

Fish weren't the only thing I acquired on my recent trip to the big city. These pretty filigree medallions caught my eye too. I bought all they had in stock, which was only enough for 3 pair in silver and 3 in gold. They seemed to be asking to be made into earrings. Since they are big and sassy I had to pair them up with red beads. They would look good with any color though. If you had your choice, what color would you like to see them made in?

Click here to see more details:

Silver Filigree Medallion Earrings

Daily Item 17 - Fishy Earrings

Okay - I admit it. I am totally bored with floral earrings, especially since I have about 200 pair kicking around between home and the store. They are pretty. They are delicate. They are feminine. They aren't selling! Drats....

So, yesterday we took a short trip up the long road to Buffalo and hit the closest bead store to us. It only takes an hour each way! Oh how I envy those living near a nice bead shop. I bought just about everything in twos. I'll bet they could guess I make earrings.

The two pair pictured are the results of some of that shopping. I've always been fascinated with these flexible little fish so it was about time I bought some and did something with them. They're cute, fun, dangling earrings for every day wear. Click below to see more.

Blue Fish

Green Fish

Dainty Tiny Flowers Daily Item 16

It was a long, cold, rainy week end here in Western New York. Just the perfect excuse to stay inside and create. I made quite a few earrings while I waited for the sun to come out. It did eventually. About 4 pm on Sunday afternoon - after the whole week end was gone.

These earrings are made from my smallest floral beads. They hand daintily from the ear. This particular pair are on pierced look clips. Occasionally I get someone looking for clip on earrings. I'd have to wear clips if I wanted to wear earrings myself. My pierced ears have long ago closed over. Isn't it terrible? I don't even wear my own jewelry? I just love making it and seeing it on others.

Here's the link to today's item.

Tiny Floral Bells in Cream and Lavender Clip On Earrings

A Personal Note on Father's Day

Dad has been gone now for almost 32 years. Seems impossible! He died way too young. I miss him more now than I ever did I think. Mom went to be with him in 2001, but it's Dad I miss the most. I think you can tell just by looking into his eyes he had a soft spot for his little girl.

I was adopted. That didn't mean a thing to my Dad. I was his gal. He beamed with pride when I excelled. He limited his anger when I was bad. He was the one who gave me my spankings - yes folks, spankings, and I'm not scarred for life. He never hit me out of anger, just pats on the bottom for things like crawling under the pews during church or sassing my Mom. I can't hear the song "Daddy's Hands" without tearing up. He had big, strong farmer hands. He worked hard. He was a gentleman farmer with a full time day job as a purchasing agent for a hardware store in Jamestown. He was a town councelman, a lay minister, a Lt. Col. in the US Army Reserves, a husband and my Dad. My Dad............. Lt. Col. Louis G. Forbes

Pure White - Daily Item 15

Pure White Floral Post Pierced Earrings

Yesterday was market day at Cross Roads. It was so slow we thought they had closed the roads leading to the stores. The weather was horrid. The fog was so thick we couldn't see across the street. It rained and rained, and rained. The wind blew so hard the trees were bending half way to the ground. In other words, it was a rotten day for sales.

It gave us lots of time to putter around though. One of my regular customers begged me for white "button" earrings. What she really wanted was something on a post. I dug through my goodie bag and found all the white beads I had with me. After some futzing I came up with these. They were so pretty I couldn't just make one pair. I made a pair for my customer and a pair for the Internet. Any one interested?

Definitaly NOT Steampunk! - Daily Item 14

I guess it must be my age. I just don't "get" Steampunk. Oh, I've looked up the definition on Wiki and I've looked at hundreds of pictures of things called by that name online. I just don't make the connection. Just chalk it up to an old lady out of touch with the times. My parents didn't "get" the Beatles either.

For the most part, I'll stick to my pretty, delicate things. They make me feel much more feminine than wearing old watch parts put together with nuts and bolts and wearing black nail polish. I much prefer pink and frills. Occasionally, I do like to make something that is wire wrapped, but that's as close to trendy as I get I guess. No apologies.

To that end, today's item is a new design I created after looking at several quilting web sites about Yo-yos. I thought if I made them smaller they could be made into jewelry. I did search Etsy for jewelry made from them and I'm not the first. I do hope my design is original though. I didn't see anything like them. They are soft yet sturdy enough to hold up under every day wear. I added a bit of filigree and of course, a Swarovski Crystal. I can't make much without adding a bit of sparkle!

Yo-yo Earrings With Swarovski Crystals in Pink and Blue

Tiny Bubbles - Daily Item - Day 13

Tiny Bubbles

It didn't seem like a complicated thing to do when I set out to make this bangle. I should have realized that seeing the beads when they were all clear was going to be next to impossible! I refused to give up and perserverance won out. I think the results turned out quite stunning, simple, elegant and easy to wear.

Now that I have driven myself half crazy with this project, I think I'll switch gears for a while. I have something new in mind for tomorrow. Before that, the garden awaits. I can't stay ahead of the weeds this year. How I envy those with perfectly groomed gardens. Mine sits where lawn once was and the grass is persistant. If only it grew that well on the rest of my lawn. If anyone has any solutions please, please, please, let me know!

How About Some Lampwork? Daily Item 12

Little Green Lampwork Earrings

Oh, how I wish I could make these beautiful beads myself! Unfortunately, I can only afford to do things I can teach myself. Working with fire and glass doesn't seem like something I should try without professional teaching! That and I'd be scared silly I'd burn down the house! I just love the depth one can achieve with glass lamp work. I saw an exhibit of lampwork pieces once at Corning Glass Works and my hubby had to drag me away.

The green in these earring is so pretty and you can follow the depth with your eyes. I just love them!

Daily Item 11 - A Pretty Anklet

Green and Gold Colored Wire Wrap Anklet / Bracelet

If you have ever had a retail store, you probably know it seems you never have what the customer wants. Now, I have a ton of jewelry in mine. Everything that is on Etsy in both shops is also in my retail establishment. There's even some things there that aren't on Etsy. Still, I never have what they want. The first week of the season it was clip on earrings. Then someone wanted Thistle earrings. Last week it was anklets. So, this week my mission is to get more anklets made. I try to please, but it is nearly next to impossible! Hope you like this one.

Daily Item 10 - Back To My Roots

This whole beading adventure I'm on really began with my attempts to recreate some of the Native American patterns I'd seen in books and at the few Pow Wow's I've been able to attend. I didn't even know I was 1/4 Indian until I was 21 years old, but it seems it has always been with me even if I was unaware of it. Some of the first pieces I sold were anklets like this one. I wandered away from my Western patterns over time and I thought it was about time I got back to them for at least one piece. So, here it is.

Pow Wow Style Anklet

Daily Item 9 - Some Wire Work

This isn't a new piece but I realized I haven't shown off much of my wire work and this is one of my favorites. I had to teach myself how to do wire wrapped jewelry and it was very intimidating at first. I was petrified that I would waste some of the wire, especially the gold! I'm cheap by necessity so even an inch of wasted gold would have sent me into a tizzy. Actually, it did happen a couple of times and I was just sick. The boo-boos are still in my gold recycle jar and I cringe every time I see them.

Luckily, this piece was a success on the first try. I love the way the wire forms a heart over the lovely lady cameo. I hope you enjoy her too. You can find more details here:

Wire Wrapped Gold FIlled and Cameo Pendant

Daily Item - Day 8. OOPS - missed a day!

I'm a slacker..... Yesterday was market day and I didn't get myself in gear early enough to leave you with a new item. Today we took off this morning and just got home from a day of just enjoying Western New York. There's still time in the day to get an item listed, so here it is.

Earrings in Bright Magenta and Gold

These are bright, colorful earrings made from beads I originally bought to make Christmas ornaments with. They have that same sheene as a glass ornament. They're not just for the holidays though. They will add a splash of color to every day wear.

Item A Day - Day 7 What the Heck?

I know, I know..... This isn't jewelry! I just had to share my newest creation with you. I had a bunch of Poly-fil laying around. By a bunch, I mean a whole 5 pound box! I made Reborn dolls years ago and I had very good intentions of making Teddy Bears at some point. I'm just not that into sewing. These little guys are so much easier to make and so darn cute. I'll tell you a secret but you have to promise not to let my hubby know I told you. I caught him petting one!

You can find the details here: Listening Pup

I'm off to try and get my act together for Saturday at Cross Roads. These little guys are going with me along with the new bracelets I made this week. I have a ton of work to do before then!

An Item A Day - Day 7 How About Chartreuse?

While I was in the bracelet making mode, I dug into my stash of vintage beads, which by the way, is dwindling. These Chartreuse beads have been daring me to make something out of them for years. I was afraid of them to be honest. Usually I stick to the basics. You know, pink, purple, blue, red. This time through my stash these shouted BEACH. Paired up with some little blue beads I think they look quite Summery. IF I ever went to the beach, I'd wear it. IF my wardrobe consisted of anything bright and cheery, I'd wear it. I'm such a plain jane, how boring. I hope someone out there falls in love with this one.

Bracelet in Chartreuse, Blue and Silver

An Item A Day - Day 6 Surprise - A Bracelet!

I have earrings coming out of every corner of my storage space. I just couldn't make another pair yesterday. It just wasn't possible! So - I sat and stared at my beads until something inspired me. It seems to take a lot these days. My eyes kept going back to these pretty cobalt blue beads so the decision was made. I paired them up with some pretty silver colored beads and this bracelet was the results.

Bracelet in Cobalt Blue and Silver

An Item A Day - Day 5

Fancy Bright Purple Berry Drop Earrings

How about these for a colorful set of earrings?  I was rummaging around in my bead stash looking for something a bit different and found these.   Originally, I used them to make Christmas ornaments.  A touch of Swarovski, a few antique gold colored bead caps, some ear wires and preto, chango, we have earrings that can be worn year round!  Besides, I love purple, no matter what color it is, so how could I go wrong?   Hope you like them too!

An Item A Day - Day 4

Sterling, Swarovski, and VIntage Bead Earrings in White and Blue

This pair of earrings is really an Ugly Ducking story.   Years ago I found a necklace made of the white beads shown and some bright pink of the same shape and size.  It was truely ugly, at least in my book.  I took it apart and saved the beads hoping some day I'd find a use for them.  They're not quite round.  They are more of an oval shape and fit in with just about nothing I ever made.    I had also aquired some filigree beads that don't fit any beads I have.  Ah - except for these!  I put them all together and here is the result.  The pink beads also made pretty earrings.  They can be seen here: Sterling, Swarovski, and Vintage Bead Earrings in Pink

The Winner Is....

The winner of my angel earring giveaway is....

Irene

Check out her blogs here: http://www.blogger.com/profile/03860313079227199741

Congratualtions to Irene and thank you to all who entered.

An Item A Day - Day 3

Lavender Fairy Petticoat necklace and matching earrings

I can't stay away from the flowers for long so today we are back to them. There are two items today, but since they match I am putting them on together. Hope you enjoy looking at them.

Lavender Fairy Petticoat Necklace

Fairys Petticoat Earrings

An Item A Day - Day 2

Wire Wrapped Dangle Hoop Earrings

Don't forget to enter to win my angel earrings.  The drawing will be tomorrow, June 7th. http://forbesfarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/angel-earring-give-away.html#links

Just to show you that I can do something besides flowers, I chose this pair of wire wrapped hoops for today's featured item.  

Silver plated hoops were wrapped with green colored copper wire with sparkling purple seed beads.

Hanging from Sterling Silver French ear wires.

Measure 1 1/8 x 1 1/4 inches or 28 x 32 mm

An Item A Day

Hi All,

   Oh, how I hate Summer!!!!  Heat, weeds, ever growing grass and bugs,   then more heat and more weeds,  more grass and more bugs!  Then berry picking in the heat, and harvesting in the heat and canning in the heat.  To add to that, this year I have to paint the fence around our house  that seems endless.  Oh, how I envy those who can get to the beach once in a while.  The closest I get is standing in the hose spray when I water the garden. 

   Have you missed my "Item A Day" series?  It has  been a while.  I met my self challenge and then sort of gave up on it.  I think it's time to get back to it.  While the rest of the US is enjoying the Summer, I'm pretty much stuck on the farm.  I need an excuse to get inside and forget the chores for a while.  Keeping up with my blog is the best "excuse" I have.   So, here is the 1st item for what I hope turns into a long run. 

Hand Beaded Bangle Bracelet in Red, White and Blue

   

Over 2,500 beads were hand stitched, one by one into this perky, patriotic bracelet. The entire process taking more than 20 hours to complete.

Made with white, blue and red glass seed beads and nylon thread. Each bead, with the exception of the red rows is stitched through 3-4 times for added strength.

Easily slips over most hands with an inside circumference of 8 inches or 20.5 cm. Dangles nicely on the arm.

Attention Beaders!

Artbeads is sponcering a wonderful contest.  It is called "Use the Muse II" and was created by the award winning artist Scarlett Lanson.  If you like to design using beads, here is your chance to win some wonderful prizes.  See the details here: Use the Muse II .  I won't be able to enter this time but I sure would like to see some of you give it a try.  Send me pictures of your results if you do!

More Beauties from Artbeads.com

I am always on the look out for pretty little beads to turn into earrings so when the opportunituty came up to get some of these lovely Cubic Zirconia beads, I just had to grab it. 
I am always excited when a package arrives from Artbeads.com and this one was no exception.

The CZ faceted beads are tiny but don't they add a wonderful splash of sparkle to the earrings?What a wonderful variety of color too.  Paired with Swarovski Crystals, how could I go wrong?  I've heard so many women say most of my earrings are too big for them, so I was thrilled at how tiny these turned out.  You can see them all on my Etsy page - The Earring Boutique.