Christmas is a month away? WHAT?!

Gwen and the calendar (Can you believe it’s the middle of November??) got me thinking Christmas... And I AM making gifts.  There isn’t, in my humble opinion, a substitution for handmade things or carefully chosen things… and if I give gifts, I give these kinds of things.

Yes.  I have started.  I have necklaces and earrings for many of the ladies in my life.  The boys will get baked goods.  My baby brother is getting recipes and the supplies to make them and shirts that’ll fit his gangly arms… which I won’t be making.  Blankets galore for little ones and expecting parents.  Mom reads the blog so I don’t know that I’ll talk about her gift… I’m excited about it though. 

I am making one gift that's pretty huge... A quilt.  Pinterest knows about it.  The recipient knows about it and has agreed not to read about it... and chose the palate with 3 lovely fabrics, pictured, and added to it with shirts and other reclaimed fabric.  

I’ll be digging into the collection and looking at vintage fabrics- not all flat folds of fabric but upcycling too- to mix in.

Now YOU get to hold me accountable for it too.  Here's to finishing by Christmas, right?

“But Sarah…” you might be thinking, “You don’t quilt.”

It’s a true statement, friends.  But… I dunno.  Something tells me that although this quilt is my first solo attempt, it will not be the last one, and will be a good way to sew more than I have been.  You can probably guess there hasn’t been much sewing happening… and you know, my mood relates to it.  I was soooo crabby yesterday it wasn’t funny, and while there were many factors, I think one of ‘em is a lacking in flexing my creative muscles. 

So I will flex them in the coming weeks... I've already started.  Some straight lines.  Lots of alterations are on the docket, and more are no longer on the docket... It's kinda nice.

I am well aware that a large part of me really wants to create too, though… and I will.  The quilt is a part of that, and so are some really great dresses and skirts.

how-to: a necklace

I'm cutting it close again tonight.

Alright. Necklace time. Here's the cast of characters. The essentials. Beads of varying sizes. Some seed beads. A clasp. Tigertail wire. Crimp beads. Some needle-nose pliers. Paper plates, at least

2. Ideal but not necessary are some smaller things to hold beads in. And we're going to pretend I have needle-nose pliers in that picture.

I use an odd number of beads I really like(labeled central beads in the picture) to start with, but then I add in multiple kinds of other beads, and begin to build some kind of pattern around the edge of a plate to see how things will look in the order you place them in. As you make more and more jewelry, you stash, and you have extras, and a monster grows. So pick a color family. You see my reds and golds.

I use each central bead as a jumping off point, and make sure the sides stay symmetric with each other, going off the central bead. Keep going, rearrange till you like it. Add. Subtract. Do as you like. I try to get at least 5 kinds of beads in 2 or 3 colors that coordinate. Are you happy with it? No? Switch some things around? Now? Okay! On we go!

Now, to start, we cut tigertail to length, plus at least an inch. 2 is better; I went with 1 and a half.

Then on goes a crimp bead and the first part of the clasp. Then, the end of the wire goes back through the crimp bead. Crimp beads compress, and there are tools that do this more neatly but needle-nose pliers will do the job. You, at this point, are ready to do a last once-over of your necklace on the edge of the plate to ensure you really like it, although you're honestly never really committed.

You begin stringing beads, tucking the raw, cut end of tigertail in as you go. Now this is where I use seed beads. It's like knotting pearls. One goes in between every bead. And you just string it up. Then, repeat the process of closing adding the clasp at the end of the string, crimp bead, clasp, pull it tight, tucking ends in as you go. If there's a bit of extra space, it won't hurt anything, but get it as tight as you can.

And voila! You have a a necklace. You unfortunately don't have pictures just yet. Because I don't have my adapter. I will add them to the post and put a link in tomorrow's post... But I have Hebrew to do.

And today, I'm thankful for friends and for conversations. It's really good to sit down and talk about things from tv shows to real life things. A great end to a great weekend.

a winner and some travel

Blogger hated my photos yesterday, and this post really wouldn't have made much sense without them. Read this post as if it were Friday, because that's when I wrote everything. I am going to ask for a Mulligan with NaBloPoMo, and you'll get 2 posts Monday to make up for it! Deal? Deal.

Well, with only a few entries, I told the Stitcher’s

guild community and Facebook about it in the eleventh hour, and drew the winner this morning. My fancy, ultra-technichal way of making the choice?

Me: “pick a number between 1 and 3.

Daniel: “3. Why?”

Me: I need a winner.

At this point, I went back to studying Hebrew. After all, it WAS quiz day. So, since number – is it, congratulations, Leann! Email me at anachronismsarah at yahoo dot com with your address.

Onto today’s topic… travel. Packing. Have you ever noticed how well/poorly you’re able to pack for trips? I tend to be really bad at it, and there's a whole school of thought as to why. So I decided to post my madness and describe it as a method.

I’m gone to a regional assembly this weekend, so I had to pack last night. The first thing to think of… What all will we be doing?

• Date on Friday
• Up really early Saturday and going all day
• possible night out Saturday?
• Sunday up early for church or leisurely day…

Being prepared for the plethora of circumstances without taking up my whole car? Hmm… I start with a really simple thing first. Black or Brown?

If I can narrow this down, I take one set of shoes(dressy and casual) one belt, and one jacket. The next thing, because I’m 22 and it’s just my go-to is a denim skirt or pair of jeans.

Then tops for all of the possibilities. Athletic stuff doubles as pajamas with the addition of an extra tee, and a great dress for a date... Only you can't see the awesome ruffle.

Today(Friday) I'm thankful for autumn leaves... Because half of my afternoon drive is on a highway and not the interstate, I get to see them!

Today(Saturday) I'm really thankful for old friends. I renewed some connections at a statewide church function that were pretty amazing, and to be reminded that God is good, all the time and in everything. I attended some pretty awesome seminars and heard a great sermon. It was great to be surrounded by people I know, and even better to do it on SUCH a beautiful day! I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Pause for just Thankful...

Today is Veteran's Day. I, as a daughter of 2 military parents, am really proud to celebrate that for all that it means. As far back as we can find records, we know that there is military service in our family. And I'm REALLY proud to even consider continuing that tradition.

I hope, that sometime today, you are able to say thank you to a soldier or their spouse. Sometimes people don't understand that the spouse, male or female, of a deployed soldier has one of the hardest jobs in the service. It's hard to enter into a marriage with the thoughts of possible deployments ahead, and what that means for a family.

But today, I'm thankful for all who decided it was worth it. After all, my family line wouldn't look the way it does without it!

Crafty post may come later today, but it may just be cooking... Breakfast for dinner tonight.

On deck:

Friday: A winner... not too late to enter!

Saturday: A how-to on necklaces... I listened

Sunday: Some wardrobe thoughts relative to Tuesday's queue post- maybe even virtual swatches

What else? You tell me.

And guys? Hug a soldier today.

Saturday! What a day!

Groovin all week with you...

Well, the tours have come and gone, and then my pastor dropped in. Which worked out kinda nicely, as my apartment was all clean and wonderful. If I see some interest shown, I will give a virtual tour tomorrow, but right now we've got necklace 4. The model(myself) didn't do it justice. As it's spoken for- a bday gift for W's sister- I'm okay with that. If you'd like to see the colors, it's the necklace on the left in yesterday's post with the paper plate confession.

Today I'm thankful for a healthy mama... There have been 2 people my age to lose their dads this week- one a friend from college and one a friend here at Seminary. I don't know what I'd ever do if something happened to my mom, and I'm blessed- SO blessed- to not have found out.

Necklace Number 3: Pastel-ish Prettiness

We all need a touch of these colors in our lives every once in a while... And I have to confess, there was a person in the back of my head on this one. Although it took me a while to realize it. Anywho, I thought I'd share a secret of the way I do necklace making with you guys today... It's kinda silly, but I don't like to knock it too much because of how well it works.

You see, I have this stack of paper plates. Anyone that knows me in real life knows I am vehemently opposed to paper products as a rule- In my apartment we use cloth napkins and dishtowels for all of the things paper napkins and paper towels would be used for.

And I feel like I'm cheating on Mother Earth and the dishes all at once when the table is set with paper. But that's because I'm a strange person with odd quirks, and you'll have to forgive me. The point: This application of paper plates is one I can get behind. Those edges are replicated in very few instances, and I just don't like beadboards. And the best part? I can pull out a stack of paper plates for friends to play too. It's just more fun to play with friends.

Today I'm thankful for tours. I told y'all about how my apartment is being shown, and how that's given me motivation to get things put up on my walls and all... I'm just all-around glad I did it. Tomorrow's the big day, but spending time painting this week was just... awesome.

Necklace Number 2: Autumn-on-a-String

It's that time of year, and these colors are... everywhere! Including on your "lovely model". It was soooo tempting to put this one on for church on Sunday, and I am proud of myself for my ability to resist, even though it;s one of the few that's properly finished. There is a bit of a story there... Creativity struck and I responded before there was too much thought. And then I thought about closures, and didn't have any silver ones. Say it with me now: Aww. But it means a trip to Michaels, so YAY!

Back to Autumn-on-a-String: The beads were all together, and I hadn't played with the green ones or the gold ones, so it was a good oppurtunity to share. They really do have something special to them, and I feel as if the colors are very popular right now.

Just saying... You'll probably see them again.

Today, I am thankful for time away. I'm getting off-campus for a few hours this afternoon to go hang out with my godfather at the hair salon he owns. Wednesdays are kind of our day. I help out a bit around the salon, get my 'do sassed up if it's deemed necessary, and have a change of location for hw. It all works out! I'm leaving my computer at home and getting some serious work in on the homework front today!

Necklace Number 1: China Blue

Well, this is the first one... I decided I really wanted to use these beads, so I did... And I'm excited about a blue-and-white necklace. This has been one of my favorite things to do for a while, and pearls are a great, classic white compliment.

This necklace is the last one, but I got the best shots of it because I REALLY love love love how the light played, and how you can see fall in the background. You have to ignore my strange glowing hands though. They're not part of this picture.

Another thing... Expect some interruptions for the necklaces in the coming days. I'll hopefully be in good shape to paint on Friday, and could, if you're interested, show you the resulting duo of paintings, and the subsequent "mood" they leave my seating area in my living room in.

It's "Seminary Weekend" this weekend, and my apartment will be open for tours- so if y'all are interested, there could even be a virtual tour of my apartment!

Today's Thankful for 30:

Friends who cook. I have a dinner club with two of my best friends here at Seminary, and I can't wait to see what kind of deliciousness the guy in our little trio comes up with for supper tonight. He's learning to cook, and it's cool to be his test subjects, especially since he likes his healthful cooking so much. Tuesdays I normally have class at night so it's a great thing to not have to worry about dinner.

The whole group is really quite awesome... I feel like it's my family away from family, and sharing a table with them 3 nights a week reinforces it.

NaBloPoMo

Alright friends... It's November again.

Good thing I had a really productive crafting weekend, because I am going to be trying to post every day for the entire month. Over the past 4 days, I've made 7... that's right... SEVEN necklaces. Many will be Christmas presents, but to people who I don't think read my blog.

So. Today you get to see them all at once, living in the lid for the container I store all of my beads in- an old cheese box- and over the course of the week, I am going to show you the necklaces individually! Unfortunately, these are cell phone pics because I can't find my camera. But you'll see detail shots soon! Blogging every day this month will be a challenge, but I really like the idea. We'll see.

Another November thing... Thankful for 30. Listing something you're thankful for, every day, for 30 days. This is a season to give thanks, and we have no reason not to. Sometimes it'll be a person, sometimes a place, but that'll be my signoff every day this month! It'll be a great reminder to BE thankful in my everyday life- sometimes I end up being so go-go-go I forget to stop and thank God for the GREAT world around me.

Today I'm thankful for Fall color outside of my window,even in the middle of the city, even if all of the trees haven't gotten the message yet! Having something green outside of my window has really been a blessing, and watching it change has made me a little less homesick for KY.

new additions!

That's right friends! I got this awesome quilting cotton as a gift from W's grandmother- a very sweet lady who got me some when I said it would make a good lining for a purse! I have nooo idea who it's by or where it came from, but I think it'll be great with some denim or this khakhi fabric as a schoolbook-sized bag for the times I want to go study without my laptop. The wooden box the fabric's sitting on is the home for my beads as well.... and I've been busy this weekend playing with them! I'll show you those on Wednesday's regularly scheduled crafty post, if I can wait that long!

rainy days...and giveaways!

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my 100th blog post!

I guess I have come quite a way in the...oh...4 months I have been blogging... going from not knowing what to do about a lot of this, to taking it off. And I have to say, to those who read and comment and think of me as part of a sisterhood, many times y'all keep me typing away, because I know it's not to nobody. Every comment has meant tons, your words of encouragement or criticisms have helped me immensely!

So here's to you, and here's for you!

I know I have a long way to go, and my very first giveaway of my very own is one of those milestones! I am giving away handmade jewelry! One person will get a necklace and bracelet set, and one will receive a necklace. You may find other goodies in the prize, we will have to see! Small start, but these necklaces are a combination of glass beads, glass pearls, and cultured pearls. I know the winners will look lovely in them!

Kay, so here's the deal:
Anyone can enter.
One entry for commenting, that's it though.
Tell your friends!

Thanks for everything guys!

Another new thing... I am following in some footsteps and including a parting shot. For my first one, I am posting a picture of my sorority sisters right after they won Campus Sing last year! We screamed ourselves hoarse and were so happy for it to turn out as great as it did! They all had fun dancing, and we set a record for donations collected, collecting enough cans and money to make a grand total of 10,001 cans. It was amazing, and I can't help but be proud of the girls who danced, and of all of us for helping others to the tune of 10,000 cans of food!

Small Spaces....Bathroom

I am fortunate to have my own bathroom, which, in some dorms, could be considered a rarity. I always pack my bathroom things up last and unpack them first... Don't ask me why, that's just how it seems to happen. I like putting one little room in order when I get there. And this is my countertop, in order right now:

Well, not exactly countertop. See, while one DOES exist, it's not big enough to store much, and there's really no good way to store jewelry in an enclosed manner when one has my budget and amount of jewelry.

So, 2 packs of cork squares and a box of pushpins later, I had this system for necklaces and bracelets. It works like a charm! I love it, because it keeps my jewelry in the open.

And yes, those are martini, wine, and champagne glasses... the best kind to keep earrings around. The boxes are cigar boxes, which contain more jewelry, makeup, and memories. They worked so well color-wise I couldn't resist for the price (between thrift stores for glasses, free cigar boxes, and glasses I already had I spent maybe $12.00, including candles and cork.)

But what you really wanna see is what I did with my Saturday. Here is my craftiness for the weekend.I repaired the necklace at left which a sorority sister made for me 2 years ago. I used glass beads in combination with cloisonne beads to make the second necklace, and strung it on gold tigertail, closing with a gold clasp. Number three is cut crystal in a smoky gray, complienting blue-gray cultured pearls and purple glass beads. The clasp is an S-hook I bought to use for my Junior Prom jewelry... I wore a rope of knotted "pearls" instead. And the last necklace features more smoky crystal with hematite and red glass beads... The clasp is a loop made of seed beads and one of the crystals!

I was getting tired of jewelry, and I have made it almost to the 2-month mark without buying any new items... I'm gonna make it! All of the beads came from stash... Necessary to offset the cost of the fabric that should be here later this week! Pictures when it gets here.