Wednesday WIP and earthquakes

I am terrible at blogging! I immerse myself into projects or real life, and before I know it a week or two flies by without a thought to blogging.

Perhaps if I have a regular topic to blog about, I might be better (ya think?). So I thought I'd do a Wednesday WIP (work in progress). Hopefully a guaranteed topic will help me to blog weekly (at least!), and encourage people to visit and perhaps to comment.

This week's WIP is a bead crochet bracelet (most likely) . I have considered using it as a necklace/chain for an amulet bag. Time will tell.

I'm using size 11 green beads (favorite color and reminds me that Spring is here) that have a gold luster finish, which I've enhanced by using gold color thread. Sparkly!

It may be awhile before this one is finished. But it's such a treat to be beading again.

Bead crochet is one of my favorite crochet techniques. It combines two mediums that are near and dear to my heart. Plus I love bracelets - specifically bangles

I think the most difficult part of bead crochet is stringing the beads. There are two different methods I use for getting the beads onto the yarn.

1. If the beads are loose, I use a bead spinner. You can make your own with these instructions.
   
2. If the beads are in a hank (pre-strung), I use floss threader as a bead needle to take the beads from the string and onto the yarn/string I intend to crochet with.
   
   
   Floss threaders are inexpensive and easy to find (local drug store). They have a large "eye" so that any size yarn can fit in it. And the eye is collapsible so that almost any size bead will go over it, and onto the yarn.

A good learn-to-bead-crochet video can be found at Bead Wrangler's site (she also has great options for thread). There are also many books on the subject including my favorites from Judith Bertoglio-Giffin

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Having lived in Southern California, I know about earthquakes. Experienced quite a few.

I was surprised to find that Oklahoma has them too. But in Oklahoma, I can hear them coming. Seriously. This morning, just before noon, we had a little one (only a 2.5). But I heard it a second or two before I felt it. Sounds a little like cattle stampede....then they wallop you! The epi-center is more shallow here then in California which makes the shaking felt more.

Outta here

Since my ankle healed last March, I've told my Mother we would visit her in Texas . It hasn't happened because...

1. car at mechanics
   
2. wildfire and subsequent repairs to property
3. car at mechanics again
4. flooding in living room
5. Mother-In-Law medical problems (came to live with us, in hospital, back with us)
   
6. designing for a new book
7. car repairs AGAIN (have new car now)

Everything is taken care of (MIL is visiting her sister for a week) and we're outta here tomorrow. What a nice birthday present to myself!

CYA later!

Done...

...and shipped to publisher.


Now to catch up on sleep and clean the mess up.

New wheels

Lemon has been turned into a cherry ;)



Cruiser was traded for a 2009 Ford Escape. It's a nice little SUV with high reliability rating (safety too). We're pleased to have an auto that shouldn't have to visit the mechanic every other month - which was the problem with the Cruiser for the past 6 months.

And I'm finding time to knit again! Life is feeling "much more better" (Captain Jack, Pirates)

When life gives you lemons...

I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party

Ron White

Here's my lemon...

Anyone out there got vodka?

Stay tuned.