Audubon's Kingfisher

Audubon's Kingfisher

Saturday, July 6, 2013

It's been awhile!

With the better weather here in Washington I have been away enjoying the great outdoors. I have hiked more this year than ever..and I am also learning how to fly fish (not easy at all but so fun!)

A couple of my favorite pictures so far:

Middle tier of the Wallace Falls, Gold Bar, Wa:




The small but really awesome Eagle Falls, Skykomish river, Wa:



















And now back to our regularly scheduled BEAD blog :)

I have been working on an embroidered owl...she's not quite finished yet but here she is:

Porcelain owl-Laura Mears. Rainbow Moonstone and Dendritic opal, Etsy.

















I am just now working on the edging. I am not sure if I want to add fringe or not. Any suggestions??

I also got a fantastic deal at Hobby Lobby on a Sizzix/Vintaj Big Kick (referred to lovingly as "the bead squisher") It was the only way I could describe what it did when I was telling my Boyfriend about it.



















I haven't played with it much yet...I just put in a huge order at Beadaholique for Vintaj blanks to stamp..should be here any day now (yay!) I also nabbed an awesome deal from a seller on Etsy-she was clearing out all of her Vintaj products. That order should be here soon too.

I have the stirrings of an evil plan coming together. I love buying destash lots on Etsy..only problem I have is I seem to find lots of Swarovksi crystals...I use up "that random pretty green" color and want more but I have no idea what it is called (so frustrating!) So I poked around online for a Swarovski color chart...I found the "official" one but it only seems to have the popular/basic colors.

I decided I am going to make my own. I have managed to estimate there are 261 colors (including the AB, ABX2 and special coatings). If I get 2 4mm bicones in each color it will cost about $55.00. The bonus is if I order them from Fusion Beads, the labels on the baggies will have the color name printed on them. I can then tape the baggies to some 8 1/2 x 11 size white cardstock and put each page in a clear plastic sheet protector. Then put them in a binder (kinda like a carpet sample book.)

Yes. I am that crazy. Homemade Swarovski color chart crazy.