My Festive Fall Votive holders could be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table this year.  Here's a link to the pattern.  I like to use transparent beads so the light from the candle casts colored confetti shadows on your table. 

In other news, one week until I head down to Asheville for my book's photo shoot.  Nervous and excited—so much to do before then!

Oh, why didn't I get a picture of cute Katie Hacker in her bee costume, Rocker's pirate costume and I with my cat mask on?!?!  Don'tcha hate it when you do that?  This is us with crazy Ernie, the funniest scare crow ever who hangs out on the porch.  And before I forget, that's not a real fur jacket—It's a $10 Polyprophenablah blah blah (faux) fur coat from the thrift store.  I repeat $10! It worked perfectly with this cat mask I snagged at the Halloween USA store.

Oh, it was a fun weekend!  I hope yours was too.

Ok, it's really for kids, but once I thought about it, adults love this class too, so…come if you like!

-KIDS CRAFTY SATURDAY-FELTING COLLAGE CLASS–

Here in good ol' Wabash…  Email me for details!

You may've eyed a cute little bird bead in the last post…That was made by the delightful bead artist, Heather Powers of Humble Beads.  She's got oodles of fun stuff in her Etsy shop and lots of inspiration for using the beads here.  Have fun!

Art Bead Scene
Catherine Witherell Visits Art Bead Scene!

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has gathered up a load of jewelry making links from all over the web covering related news, contests, and more.

Bead&Button Magazine
Check out Tea's blog about BeadAndButton.com/15 and their 15th anniversary content!

Carmi's Art/Life
Carmi makes a fabric skeleton pin to wear trick or treating.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter unveils some new designs for Fall!

Check out Katie's cute halloween decor!
Katie's festive pumpkin captures the the feeling of fall.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holly Jolly Christmas Designs

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi's taking a look this week at all the informations she's gathered on steampunk style jewelry.

Savvy Crafter
It was a dark and not so scary craft night….

Strands of Beads
Melissa thinks about snakes and circle links

For a FELT AND METAL EXPLORATION CLASS at the lovely ORNAMENTEA.  We'll felt the wool and work the metal like never before!  I'm super excited about this class and all the possiblilites of fusing felt with metal. 

No need to have a load of skills–as Cynthia of Ornamentea wrote, "adventurous beginners" jump right in.  Students will make a bracelet and pair of earrings.  Expect torches, wire work, hammering, felting, and giggling.

November 22nd!  Hope to see you there!  Class details are here…

Yesterday I made some butternut squash soup.  Nothin' says fall like squash…or orange food with nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon.  If you decide to give the recipe a go, it's worth reading the comments first.  Lots of ideas to suit your pallet.  It wasn't sweet enough for moi, so I took one reader's thought and liquefied an apple, and added it to the cauldron.  Perfecto.

The peace sign in the background was made by my friend Ryan.  He calls it, Reflections of Peace.  He made it with bike reflectors he's found riding through the reservoir trails.  Love me some folk art.  

Ok, it wasn't.  At all. It was really a dark and fun night out at my pal Katie Hacker's house.  I took a pocket full of Halloween-ish parts and pieces for some jewelry making R&R.  It all started with these goth-like resin pendants from Plaid…

Throw into the cauldron some playful polka-dot beads, sneaky silver skeletons, some wicked star toggle clasps, creepy polyester chain, and a couple-a-tricksters…

And you have a real treat of a night and necklace…

P.S.  Thanks Craiger (Katie's husband Craig) for supplying us with a yummy dinner and good brew.

Here's a sneak peek at Katie's hands in action.  Check out her blog to see the finished necklace.