I've been busy beading

Thanks venshida. Yes, we're the bestest and most fabulous bead pattern site there is even if we are new. Marie Starr owns the site and has lots of fun ideas. Come on over and join the forum. There's always something fun going on, but you have to be a forum member to know about the activities and get all the member benefits.

Oh, forgot to mention, forum membership is fre*e.

Useful but fun gifts! And what better way to show a grandmother's love. It sounds like you've been busy too!

Thanks AmbiePam

Hi CJ. What have you been up to? Does your son make the potholders with the loops on a loom, or something more intricate than that? I always thought that was a kid's craft til I saw some really unique finishes on some. They can be made quite beautiful with a little creativity.

He uses a loom that he gotlast year for christmas , but he makes all kinds of patterns on them. He actually made one with his first init. on it (H) i could'nt belive it when i saw it. He was trying to make one with bradeded rows and his loom broke in half, i fixed it so that he can still use it for now but relized that it is time to get him a better loom,as in not plastic!

I had one of those way back when they were made out of metal. I don't know what ever became of it. One thing for sure, it didn't break.

Wire? No, no. I'm not co ordinated enough to do wire work, I've tried, but give me a needle and thread and I'll try anything! Thanks for the complement. I admire any one who can knit! I can but at a snail's pace. My daughter's the knitter in this family.

Thank you both for your compliments. I get busy designing and forget to come to myLot some times, but I'll try to be here a little more this year. Happy New Year!

Really, great work. I liked it too at the first sight. Thanks Sum

goo to find second source of income, are you selling your crafts online? I am willing to do some crafts only for my own home decoration.

I know what being too busy for crafts is like. It seems like job, family, home take up so much time, but crafting is so satisfying. It gives such a sense of accomplishment when you finish a project. I don't know if I'm fortunate or unfortunate to be retired, but crafting, especially beading and pattern making, is my main source of income now other than my SS which isn't much. I hope you do find time to do some crafting soon.

I do have an Etsy shop but I can't say my jewelry is selling very well. I also make patterns for my jewelry and the patterns sell very well.

That's going to take a while. I thought I took on some ambitious projects. That rug is going to be beautiful when it's finished.

i still need to weight it for awhile. i get a board or something and flatten it out a bit,because it will naturally curl just a wee when new. yea,i've never made one so big before,but she needed one,and we have all these clothes she outgrew,so..it makes good use :)

You can find the hypoallergenic ear wires on EBay too at reasonable prices.

Thanks for the tip. I don't know why I never thought about looking at eBay. I usually use the hypoallergenic type that you can get at any craft store, but I've been wanting to find some sterling silver and 14K gold for a more high end line of jewelry. You just never know what the public's going to want do you? Pow Wows should be a good place to sell your jewelry, but I never tried our local flea market. People here expect the hand beaded stuff to be Walmart priced. I know other areas flea markets are good selling venues. I started designing "out of my head" and never thought about making the patterns, but I had one design in my head that I just had to draw out to make the beads go where I wanted them and I've been making patterns ever since. Actually the patterns sell better than the jewelry. Happy New Year!

Hi tink. You're around here about as much as I have been lately. I know what you mean about space for your crafts. I have a guest bedroom that my craft supplies and projects are spilling out of, but the light isn't good in there. I've moved my beading into my office and the lighting isn't good there either, but it's close to my computer so I can bead a while and then work on the pattern a while without walking across the house. I'm thebeaddoodler on facebook and twitter both. I'll go look you up.

Thanks. The site isn't mine, I'm just a designer/member. Marie Starr owns the site and she deserves most of the credit. She's pulled in many very talented designers. Do stop by and join our free forum. There's nearly always something going on. Some kind of contest or game where you get something for a purchase, usually even a small purchase will entitle you for something like a bingo card, then if you bingo first you get a nice prize and if you bingo second or third you get a coupon worth a set amount for your next purchase, but you have to be a forum member to know what's going on. Lots of fun and it's a nice community like forum. Everyone's very friendly.

That's an ambitious goal. I started one about 25 years ago to go on a full size bed, ran out of yarn and could never match it. It's still in the trunk. I have managed to finish a few lap sized ones since then.

Are you teaching yourself or do you have the advantage of local classes? Either way it's addictive. Welcome to the club.