I’ve been knee deep in thinking about book ideas, CHA samples, rearranging and organizing our apartment, and leaving for home in a week.  Actually, knee deep doesn’t describe it, but whatever! 

In honor of the fast approaching Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share some Heartsy Artsy Ideas over the next few weeks.  I love this holiday because you can make whimsical treats to surprise friends and family.  Here’s idea #1… 

Last night, I was looking for some beads and I came across these pinky red sparkly crystal-y ones that I had forgotten all about!  (Don’t you love it when that happens?)  These little beauties really were the perfect sidekick to the silver heart beads I picked up in Hong Kong last week.  I added in some orange 4mm beads–love that pink and orange combo!  It took me about 20 minutes of stringing and fussing to get the size right.  Here comes my favorite part though, finishing the ends.  I tried out Beadalon’s EZ (TM) crimp clasp ends for the first time.  Yes Virginia, there really is an easy way to finish the ends of beading wire.  "Easy" doesn’t begin to describe it.  Fast and awesome!

Love Token Delivery Idea:  Cover a white card in a pretty piece of paper.  Lay the bracelet on the card and poke holes on opposite sides of the bracelet.  Thread pretty ribbon down through the hole and back up through the other hole and tie the bracelet in place.  Write a note, slip in envelope, and drop it in your friend’s mailbox.  I promise she’ll love the surprise.

Materials:

• EZ (TM) Crimp Clasp from Beadalon
• Cool Cardamon background paper from the India Journey series by Dove of the East

Today was a good day.  We had a note from the post office to tell us we had a parcel waiting.  Botch had to go into work so Rocker and I strolled over to the PO.  Little did we know that the package was at the other branch which is 6 or 7 blocks away.  Now the last time I had a package we walked to the far away branch first only to find out it was at the closer branch.  I’m sure it says where it is on the slip, but I can’t read it.  Rocker was loving it because we walked and walked and walked.  Finally, got the package and oh, boy!  2 magazines from Katie!  It was meant to be because I ran out of the house before drinking my coffee and all the way home I thought how lovely it will be to drink coffee and look at these; Dec. issue of Simply Beads Magazine and the new Make It Mine.  Somewhere in the middle we may have treated ourselves to a bouquet of flowers.  I immediately fixed said cup of coffee and savored every sip and fabulous page turned.  Thank you Katie! 

This afternoon I chipped away at some work and squeezed in these earrings.  Sweet Snowflakes in honor of us not having heat in our apartment.  Did I tell you that? Yep, no heat and boy has it been cold the past few days.  You would laugh in my face if I told you the temperature compared to other parts of the world, but it feels very cold.  I even bought Rocker a jacket, specifically a letter jacket that reads "Beijing 2008" across the back.  It’s a hair too big so I roll up the sleeves.  He looks like a nut and I’m pretty sure he knows it because he wears it for oh, 5 minutes to please me and then gradually his two paws escape, then shoulders, then belly and so on.  I put it on him the other day because he was shivering and then he started hopping and dancing around like a rabbit because he thought we were going outside.  I later had the realization he started shivering so I would pet him.  So dramatic.

Here are the earrings in aqua…

Apparently, most apartments don’t have heaters here.  I guess we lucked out in our old apartment because it did. Hmph.  And don’t you love it when you bundle up like it’s 10 below to go outside only to find out it’s warmer than in your apartment?  Oh yeah, we’ve looked like a couple of dandies a time or two here recently.  I do love the cold and dreary days, perfect inspiration for hunkering down and creating something bright and fun. 

Sweet (and simple) Snowflake Earring components:

• 4mm Swarovski Crystals in Comet (love that name)
• Shell charms/tags from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
• Snowflake sequins
• Envirotex Lite (this stuff changed my life)

I think-now I’m saying I think you could use the 3-D glaze stuff over the snowflakes too, but I’ve not tried it myself.  This is just a thought that maybe a tad faster in terms of drying time.  Let me know if you give it a go.

I found this clipping tucked in a notebook recently so I thought I’d share a little more Then and Now.

Cheerful Little Earfuls-the title gets me every time!  I love vintage jewelry.  Actually, I love jewelry period-new or old.  It’s a treat to find unique pieces of history like this in old magazines and such.  If you read the whole ad, you saw that you can put perfume in these gems.  That reminded me of the time I put scented oils in the center of some felt flower brooches when I first started felting. 

It worked for awhile, but the smell eventually faded so you would have to add more.  Come to think of it, I’ve found and heard from others that the scent of lavender helps to calm and relieve tension.  Hmmm, that’s scent for thought.  I can see it now, Stress-a-little Lessfuls, lavender scented jewelry for those long, tedious work days.  Now that’s savvy!