Update : Chocolate, Kidney Bean Muffins

 Just had one of these with my evening cuppa.  OMG!!!  Absolutely delicious.  So healthy too, no dairy, sugar or flour.  

Chocolate, Kidney Bean Muffins

From this......

To this......

Another culinary delight, I hope.  Haven’t tried one yet as they are to have with our evening cuppa.  Chocolate, Kidney Bean Muffins, a recipe by Dr. Claire Bailey.  Full of good things.  No dairy, no sugar.

Another Necklace Finished

Just finished this necklace. A design by Joanne Ivy from Cranberry called Daisy.   An adventurine doughnut centrepiece encased with delicas.  Those perfect little beads make the best bezels.  The next component is a brick stitched metal ring held by a rope of beads,  Framing the bezeled doughnut are individual “arrows” constructed with warped squares. I have added my own touches by hanging a crystal in the middle of the metal ring and matched my toggle by brick stitching around it too.  The piece is quite substantial and could be worn with casual clothing or a much dressier outfit.

Fair & Square Bracelet

 This stunning bracelet is a Liisa Turunen design.  It is a free pattern on her website and can be made as a single or double strand.  I chose double because I knew it would be amazing. 

Day Lily

 This stunning beaded flower measures 10 cms high by almost 8 cms from petal tip to petal tip and was designed  by Melissa Grakowsky Shippee.  It was a LOT of work and a first for me working from a graph rather that a word pattern.  Normally I would steer clear of graphs but fellow beaders encouraged me to have a go.  I did find it a little repetitive to bead after the first two petals but the final result was worth it.  My Day Lily will become a beautiful brooch. 

Chocolate Pennies

 Nothing better than a little chocolate treat when you are beading.  Chocolate Pennies are delicious and “healthy” too.  They consist of 3 ingredients only, Melted dark chocolate (85%),  chopped raisins and toasted slivers of almonds sprinkled on the top.  Scrumptious and so easy to do.  I did an online cooking experience with my almost 5 year old grandson yesterday.  We made these pennies and he chose to top his with chopped dates and coconut.  I might try dried cranberries next time.

Fixed!!!!

 Following on from my previous post.  I have now fixed the break.  It wasn’t that hard to do and why on earth I left it for so many years I do not know.  Perhaps I know a bit more about beading now and it was not as daunting.  I have decided to reinforce the entire bracelet with 8lb Fireline to avoid any further mishaps.  Hopefully!

Oh No!!!!!!!

 Some time ago I made this bracelet.  Not my own design.  Normally I would credit the designer but it was so long ago I can’t recall who it was.  Sadly, as you can see, it broke apart and has been sitting like this ever since.  Today I have decided to mend it!  I think perhaps I should have used a heavier Fireline.  From memory I did it with 6lb so I might reinforce the whole bracelet with 8lb.

Beetroot & Chocolate Brownies.

As mentioned previously, I am cooking up a storm during lockdown.  Each week we have a special treat and I have been trying some baking that’s a little different for me.  In fact, I do not usually cook at all.  My husband has been the primary chef in our household for over 30 years now.  This eventuated when he began working from home and I worked in the city four days a week.  He is an amazing cook, often  creating meals from nothing other than bits and pieces from the pantry and fridge.  He covers many different cuisines.  However, I digress.  

This week’s treat is Beetroot and Chocolate Brownies.  They are rich and delicious.  One square is enough and we enjoy just that each night with a cuppa.  Well to tell the truth, one square is not enough.  I would love to have more but we are being very strict and resisting.

From this......

To this......

 Today I watched a live demonstration for using brick stitch on a metal finding by Paula Gething from On A String.  One of the best things to do during lockdown.  Below is an earring design I did after the demo.  My first attempt at brick stitched around a metal shape.  Pretty happy with it.  I used a black metal square as my base.

I have a wonderful collection of beading books and many, many beading magazines.  One of my very favourite books is Shaped Beadwork And Beyond by Diane Fitzgerald.  I am a little embarrassed to say I have had it for a few years and not made anything from it.  This all changed in COVID isolation.  I have now made 3 pairs of earrings and a pendant from this wonderful book and have a stunning bracelet pattern in my sights.

Strange Times

Life is difficult for everyone at the moment.  As I type,  I am looking out at a beautiful view.  The sun is shining, skies are blue even though clouds are rolling in over the mountains.  I am so glad I have this view to gaze upon.  We have just begun Stage 4 lockdown to fight this dreadful Corona virus!  I give thanks every day for the fact that I am a beader.  I have a huge stash of beads, crystals and findings.  This has meant I’ve been able to keep myself occupied since March when we first went into isolation.  I have attended Zoom classes, chosen challenging projects from my books and magazines and joined in with fellow beaders doing projects together via Messenger.  It has also been the perfect time to complete the many unfinished objects I have, some started over 5 years ago.

I’ve also been cooking up a storm.  Not my own recipes but they are delicious and healthy.  I have to credit them all to Dr Clare Bailey and Justine Pattison and the inspiration given by Dr Michael Mosley.  Just for fun I will post some of them here.  If you decide you want to make something, let me know in the comments and I can give you the recipe.

I recently attended a Zoom beading class taught by an amazing Australian artist Paula Gething from On A string.  The necklace is Treble Brilliance and it is stunning.  Here is my finished item.

A Few Earrings

I managed to do these yesterday.  For years I have been buying strands of gemstones and doing nothing with them so I decided enough was enough and made some earrings.  Also used a few bead caps that I have had lying around for years.

Great Fun To Create

These may go into an exhibition later in the year.  I am going to have another dabble today.  The sun is shining and the view from the studio is gorgeous.  I feel inspired to create.  

A Few More

I have been having a lot of fun with some wee metal houses.  The template is available on Altered Alchemy and as usual my first reaction was "I can't do that!" but with encouragement I did.  I find I am a bit of a wuss sometimes and just need to have some belief in myself.  The wee houses are not hard to do at all and I have plans to do a lot more.  I want to scale them down and make some brooches.  My next challenge is to see if I can do some cold connecting and rivet the brooch pin onto the back.  There is always the option to glue but I am not sure that would be strong enough with continual use.
I am loving the use of eyeballs at the moment.  Bit macabre I suppose but interesting just the same.  I am also playing with up cycling old tins.  This not only saves money but you can find some gorgeous designs on them.  It is great fun to scower the op shops (Thrift shop for some) and find old tins and wee objects that could be incorporated into a piece.  The hardware store is another source.  Hunt out screws, washers and even little handles or hinges.  Of course if you can lay your hands on some old rusty ones, even better.
I am a novice in the medium but plan to practise as much as I can.

A Different Medium

I have decided to wander down the path of metal and resin.  I'm excited about the possibilities ahead. Pretty much terrified of drills, cutting up metal, soldering etc. I have bitten the bullet and ploughing straight ahead.

Gaining confidence with the help of a close friend who is the most creative person I know, I have managed to actually make a few things.  They are still a bit rough I guess but at least I have made a start.

Test

test to load pic.   A bracelet I have done.  So long ago now, I don't remember whose design it was.

How To Do Right Angle Weave

If there is one thing that strikes terror into the depths of my soul, it is Right Angle Weave.  This video is a great help.   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mrWxndwwLU

How Many Days Until.........

Christmas......  Well I have not actually counted but it is not far away.  I am madly getting stock up for 5 markets, a country fair and the Warburton Visitor Information Centre where I have a section in their Handmade area.
I am making Christmas angels, earrings - Christmas trees, angels and maybe snowmen, wine glass charms (pictured below but with Christmas charms on them) and Christmas spiders.  It takes such a lot of work to get enough stock ready.  I am also trying to find time to make up beaded draped covers for the baubles.  Life is hectic at the moment.  Helping our daughter and son in law move from a rental into their new home, volunteering at the Visitor Centre and beading.  Beading bracelets, necklaces etc has gone out the window for a bit.

Great Idea To Store Your Fireline

These are great to keep your Fireline neat and tidy.  As you can see I have put stickers on to identify the thickness.  Here in Australia they are available from BCF fishing stores.  I have identified mine with a wee charm because often I am with a group of beaders and there is a need to distinguish which one belongs to me.