Watermelon Bead Art

I recently came across a website that has instructions (well just a picture actually) on how to make seed bead art! With no experience, lots of patience and some creativity, I was able to make this really cute watermelon! Oh and I also had the right materials- seed beads from my Jewelry Book to make rings (will post soon!) and thin lining. Ta-dah!

Tip: Leave extra string at the ends to finish the project.. don't underestimate how much you need. I didn't know so I couldn't fully complete the edge of the watermelon. There was supposed to be extra outer layer to make the watermelon slice fuller.

Sweets Amigurumi Japanese book

Source: Amazon in Japan

This past weekend, I treated myself to a Sweets Japanese Amigurumi book. Amazingly, this book- written all in Japanese- which I cannot read, taught me something. I have been doing the single crochet stitch WRONG. For the past 6-8 months, since I started learning to crochet, my single crochets have been wrong... How? After I put the hook into the yarn and yarn over, instead of pulling out just one yarn-ed over yarn, I pulled out TWO. which basically means my stitches are a bit shorter.. and why some of my rounds or rows are so close together..

So glad I got this book!

Now that I know what I did wrong.. I will practice and make sweets for my sweet! Who will that be? ;)

Handmade rings from Klutz Spool Knit Jewelry Book

For my birthday last year, my good friend L gave me this wonderful craft book! I have never heard of spool knitting, but it looked like it could make beautiful bracelets using a simple "spool" tool. Here are some of the rings I made using the materials from this book and my crochet skills. :)





This is the Klutz book I got. It includes instructions, beads, a crochet hook, elastic cords in various colors and of course the spool itself. The rings above did not use the spool. I am still learning how to use it.. more spool knit jewelry TBA!

Beauty and All That Valentine's Day Giveaway

Sister site, Beauty and All That, is having a Valentine's Day Giveaway.. check it out here: Valentine's Day Giveaway!!
Entries close on February 12, 2010! Details in link above.

Prizes include inspired crafts from here :)

Hand knitted fingerless gloves

I received this beautiful pair of fingerless gloves last weekend! They make me want to re-learn how to knit and make such pretty things again.. I only know how to knit the basic stitches and even then, they don't look as professional. For now, I have these to enjoy! Thanks, E! :)

Lion Brand's Pond Friends Stacking Toy

Happy New Year!

If you have been following this blog, you know that I have been working like a busy bee on a crocheted baby toy. I am SO Happy to announce that it is completed! I worked on this before the baby was born and now that she is here, happy and healthy, she can finally play with this! Or at least look at it... :)

This is called the Pond Friends Stacking Toy (three rings stacked- a bumblebee, a lady bug and a dragonfly) from the Lion Brand Yarn free pattern collection. I actually found this from Joann.com but now that I have discovered Lion Brand's website and free pattern collection, I will be using them as a direct resource! Joann's website has changed a bit and has made the search for patterns a bit more difficult..

Picture from Joann.com


My version :)



If you want to make a Pond Friends Stacking Toy too, go to Lion Brand's website!!. Love them!

Polymer Clay Cookbook Review

One of my Christmas gifts (for myself) was the Polymer Clay Cookbook. This book is such a great book to learn how to make simple clay foods, such as ice cream cones, cupcakes, waffles, etc. I bought this book because I wanted something to have, hold and use as a reference while I make these charms. The pictures are great and the instructions are easy to follow!

Another reason I purchased this book is that this book provided instructions on how to make the jewelry aspect and not just how to make the charms. So I learned how to add those little hooks you see on the charm itself with silver wiring, and how to make them into rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.



Since the holidays is almost over, and there's no point in making any Christmas/Holiday charms, I will focus on the next upcoming Holiday- Valentine's Day!

This book has a section on how to make those conversation hearts , so I will give them a try and make them for friends and perhaps giveaways! :)


Check out my other beauty blog, Beauty and All That!