Raggedy Bags!!!

My latest stash busting project has been making what I have named: 

"Raggedy Bags". 

 

I have seen bags and rugs made from braided fabric strips. 

But I haven't seen my technique out there yet.

I crochet 1" strips of fabric that are tied together with square knots. 

This one has an adjustable fabric handle and one of my polymer clay buttons.

Here I added one of my resin faces. 

The bags are also reversible.  

The side in the picture has all the knots 

and the inside is knot free!

They are very sturdy, colorful, machine washable

 and meant to fray and distress a little so 

DO put them in the dryer they just get better and better. 

I use mine to carry things like my wet bathing suit home from pool parties,

 produce from the market, 

anything that needs a soft and washable bag to cushion it.  

I plan on making zippered pouches with a coordinating fabric 

so valuables will not sneak out the natural holes in the crocheted cloth.

AND the winner is...mysterious guitar glissando......

Congratulations Sharon!!! 

You won the earrings!! 

Please send me your address and I will mail them to you tomorrow! 

Thank you everyone for your comments and have a great week. 

I am going on a little vacation to LA, Redondo Beach to see my sister and family.  

Be back next Wednesday. 

Girlz just wanna have fun!!

It is Friday!!!

Don't you just feel like you need to get out 

and shake your booty sometimes. 

 I go to Zumba class at the gym and dance my heart away 

BUT 

I do have a secret desire,

I want  to learn to Tango and Rumba with a Latin Stud!!!  

I had a great dream one night I was dancing with Antonio Banderas.

 I woke up so "Hot and Wired"

Alas,

 I have been married for 35 years now so instead of going 

Wild and Crazy 

I have been trying to make some 

wild and crazy jewelry. 

Here is my 

"Hot and Wired" bracelet.

Not your typical bracelet but that is the whole point. 

Who really wants to be typical anyway?

It all started when I rescued some orphan lamp work beads from ddfromscratch. 

She sent me a great little package full of a variety of little lamp work beads.  

I have had this bright red wire hanging around for awhile 

and I felt compelled to use my coiling gizmo. 

So I made a long piece of coiled wire,

cut it into equal lengths to create coiled tubes, 

 wired up all the lamp work beads,

 then slipped them onto memory wire, with black beads as spacers, 

curled the ends of the memory wire and joined the magnetic clasp 

and VOILA!!  

A Wild and Crazy Bracelet for a Wild and Crazy Girl!! 

Who is the Man of your dreams that gets you all "Hot and Wired" ladies? 

If you share your fantasy in the comments below 

I will put your name once in the hat for a chance to 

win this pair of earrings.

They are hand hammered by me using recycled copper wire 

and some beautiful blue druk, green cats eye and green crackled beads.

If you share this give away on your blog and comment below to let me know 

I will enter your name twice. 

For thrice (3) entries 

share this post on Facebook or Twitter also and let me know here. 

The random drawing for the winner will be 

Monday, July 5th so hurry and tell your story!! 

My Pink Crackle Jewelry Set featured in...

an etsy team treasury.  

Here is the link: Pink In Vegas Treasury

Here is the necklace

the Bracelet

and the earrings

One of my favorite pink items in the Handmade in Vegas treasury is the Pink Tutu set.

Go check it out it is adorable!! 

Have to share this great give away!!

Beth and Evie at EBBeadandMetalworks are giving away 

this beautiful "ThumBOWLina Leaf Bowl they made

in celebration of the Bead Soup Party. 

Go on over HERE and comment to enter the drawing. 

Yes it's that simple!.

                  

Yellow Leaf ThumBOWLina

You can also still take a sip of their wonderful bead soup!!

The Party is Almost Over

Come get the last of all the delicious Bead Soup!!

85. Melissa, One-Eared Pig Beads

86. Rebecca, 2SistersBeadwork

87. Karyn, Releases by Rufydoof

88. Denise, Bling on the Blog

89. Doris, Glaszwerg

90. Megan, Churchy & Her Sailor

91. Jo, Daisychain Designs

92. Jen, VanBeads Jewelry and Design

93. Kristie, Artisan Clay

94. Jess, Vintaj

95. Suzann, Beadphoria

96. Sharon, Sharon's Jewelry Garden

97. Michelle, bMichelle

This has been such a wonderful experience. 

I am so inspired by all the amazing designs this week.

Thank you to all who participated and shared their talents.

Thanks again to Lori from Pretty Things

for hosting this fabulously fun event! 

Let's hope it becomes a tradition. 

Please shut the door when you leave.

Finally, My Bead Soup is Ready!!

I am a Bead Soup Virgin so this has been very exciting!

  I am so used to being inspired by the beads and components I create or purchase that in a very fun way it was challenging to get the soup from my partner Emanda and start there.  I was inspired by the fish pendant Emanda sent to create with an ocean theme in mind, something I love already.

I twisted up the yarn ribbon she sent and added oodles of randomly strung blue/green/purple seed beads. I wrapped them with two strands of purple seed beads and 

tiny fresh water pearls I had to hold the twist in place.  

This took several attempts and wiring one strand to hold it all together  

but finally I had a water feature in the necklace.  

I had to remove a tassel from the fish pendant and add the big knot of yarn and bead ends to it 

so I covered those messy ends with glue and made beaded beads over them. 

The next part should have been easy but like Goldylocks and her porridge dilema I redid it 3 times.  

I wanted to use all the beautiful amethyst, cloisonne and dark blue stone beads Emanda sent me 

BUT the first try was too long. 

So I shortened it. 

AND .. the second try I didn't like my bead order! 

So I took it out again, 

 at last the third try with the beads rearranged 

 It was finally just right!

Emanda also had included three lovely little lamp work beads so I purchased my first sterling silver wire and made the loop part of her link longer using one of them, attached her pretty hook and then wired another one to the fish pendant.  

I wanted to challenge myself to create another asymmetrical design and so here it all is. 

Emanda was generous so I still have leftover beads. 

I was able to make a bracelet to match with some of them and the third lamp work bead.  

I made my own clasp (!!) the wavy one from more of the sterling silver wire!

And a little set of dangle earrings that match the wrap on the necklace with fresh water pearls. 

                                            

This has been a blast to blog hop and see so many wonderful designs. 
Thank you again to Emanda for the lovely ingredients.  
If you haven't already be sure to see her creations made from my Alamo inspired beads. 
(Just a click away - click her name)  

Truly the most inspiring thing I have participated in online. 

A HUGE thank you to Lori of Pretty Things for getting us all organized, partnered up and inspired!!! 

Be Sure to visit the rest of Today's Cooks!! 

72. Cindy, Cindy Dolezal Designs

73. Valerie, Hot Art

74. Courtney, Beads by Breul

75. Johanna, Fire Phoenix Creations

76. Shea, gr8findings

77. Julie, Pryce Designs

78. Jeannie, Jeannie's Blog

79. Patricia, Verre Design

80. Christa, Adventures of One Beady Woman

81. Heather, My Muse   you are here

82. Susan, Night Beader at Large

83. Sonja, Drachenei

84. Jennifer, Glass Addictions by Jennifer