The Savvy Crafter

Potpourri Weekend...

I'm sitting here listening to the "Retro 80s & 90s" internet radio station.   It occurred to me that I always thought of "retro" describing funky silver Christmas trees and swanky lounge music.  Crap.  In other news, I seemed to have turned into the casserole queen over night.  When we lost our cook, I started "cooking."  (well, I can see this is going to be a quote-y posty, sorry)  Anyhow, I did what any Midwestern girl would do, go to the Campbell's soup website for recipes.  So far it's been successful.  I was telling some friends about the fabulous enchilada recipe they have.  Did you know not everyone in America "cooks" with Campbell's soup.  In fact this is the third or fourth time I've met someone who has never heard of this.  Gasp!  I always respond with "you don't know what you're missing."  "Really?"  "Yeah."  Maybe my pallet is little to be desired, but...I can sure put a meal on the table fast.

Peace of Toast, Candie Cooper 2007

Get it?  "Peace" of toast.  The piece of felt ended up looking like a piece of bread.  I stitched it to some blue felt, added some buttons and a dove.  It was a happy accident.  Or cheesy?  I don't really use chopsticks to eat toast, but they matched the wool and plate.  Here's one for you.  We own four pairs of chopsticks, one normal spoon, and three forks.    Something happens when you move to this culture.  I think it's that the "little" things aren't so important anymore.  I watched Imagine, the movie about John Lennon, the other day.  Interesting and inspiring.  Speaking of bread or Peace bread for that matter, I love the part where he talks to the random stranger that had been living in their garden.  He asks the man if he's hungry and then invites him in.  They all sit around the table and break bread together.  Incredible.  We need more peace.

I'm working on the next class for Second Saturday, the crafty class for kids.  I'm thinking about felted ornaments.  This was supposed to be a star or a heart, but once I finished it, I couldn't cut into it.  Sometimes you just have to follow the process instead of wrestling it into place. 

And with that I shall close to go make a cup of tea.  I can't shake this nasty, yucky cough.  As it turns out, my friend, knitting teacher, and nurse in her "past" life told me Friday she thinks I had pneumonia. "Huh," I said, "that makes a little more sense now doesn't it."  Oh, thank goodness for friends that can help shed some light through all the polluti()n over here. 

Fabu-loso Link-oS this Week-o!

Art Bead Scene 
Virginia Miska shows a step by step, easy and inexpensive way to remove tarnish from your silver beads and components, with common materials found right in your kitchen!
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2007/09/removing-tarnish-from-silver.html

Bead Arts 
There are lots of great lampwork and hot glass forums out there! Can you think of any to add to Cyndi's list?
http://www.bead-arts.com/lampwork-and-hot-glass-forums/

Jewelry and Beading Blog 
Tammy at the Jewelry and Beading Blog has spotted some adorable wire pumpkins from Wig Jig.
http://www.jewelryandbeading.com/2007/10/17/tres-cool-wired-pumpkins/

Katie's Beading Blog 
Beading Daily spotlighted Katie's book, Hip to Bead, this week. Read her post for links to a fun Q&A and free project download and a sneak peek into Katie's crafty organic farming lifestyle.
http://katiehacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/beading-daily-q.html

Naughty Secretary Club 
Have you taken the Handmade Pledge? Jen chats about how her girl gang the Austin Craft Mafia joined forces with the likes of Etsy, The American Craft Council, Interweave Press, Design Sponge and more to bring you Buy Handmade!
http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2007/10/buy-handmade.html

PearlEsq. 
Are you a Perfectionist? Robin's got a quiz for you and some thoughts on not sweating the small stuff and to embrace imperfection in your art!
httphttp://pearlesq.blogspot.com/2007/10/are-you-perfectionist.html://

Savvy Crafter 
Grab your skull beads!!! Dia De Los Muertos is right around the corner. Make some festive jewels for this mucho fun and special celebration.
http://candiecooper.typepad.com/savvycrafter/2007/10/day-of-the-dead.html

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! 
A stunning Geisha polymer focal bead by Janet Farris was dressed up using lustrous coin pearls and tiny multihued spinels to express classic Japanese beauty. Take a look at Jean's latest offering in Beadwork Magazine!
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/2007/10/december-january-beadwork-magazine.html

The Impatient Blogger 
Are you tired of playing by the rules and itching to break free? Guess what, you can! Check out this inspired post by Margot Potter that gives you the kick in the pants you need to follow your bliss.
http://margotpotter.blogspot.com/2007/10/dichotomy.html

Ch!nese Dinner...

Last night we went to Mr. Savvy's vendor's house for dinner and to see his new baby.  Cute baby.  Which reminds me this apartment had posters of babies taped to the wall everywhere.  I had to get the scoop.  Apparently, they have a theory; if the wife is surrounded by pictures of beautiful babies to look at each day while she is pregnant, their baby will be beautiful also.  In response Mr. Savvy says, "we just hope the baby comes out looking like the mother!"  Nice.  Thank you Butch.

Most Ch!nese families have the wife and husband and then the husband's parents living together.  It's grandma's job to raise the baby for the most part---even get up with her in the middle of the night!  The wife and son work crazy hours.  And that leaves grandpa to do all the cooking.  At least in this apartment.  Grandpa made a feast for us last night.  He knows my husband loves chitins and spicy food so he made accordingly.  But not too spicy as he somehow knew I don't eat spicy.  Can I just tell you I had chitlins for the first time last night? Well, one anyway.  Kind of rubbery.  And I tried this preserved black egg.  Looks rotten really, but it just tasted sort of like a hard boiled egg.  Survivor here I come!  I didn't have my camera, sorry.  He also made pork and different vegetables, all very yummy.   They gave us a bag of Ch!nese handcrafts and ornaments that the wife's mother had made.  The photo above is a neck rest pillow. 

The whole evening was overwhelmingly thoughtful.  Even though we don't speak a load of Ch!nese, it didn't matter as eating, drinking, and being merry together is the same wherever you are in the world.

I spy! Or spied rather!

I was just reading Shiny Little Things, Cynthia's blog.  She has pictures up of a friend with her advanced copy of Beading with Charms (Lark Books, 07) of which she has a project in.  Congratulations Ndidi!  I ripped this picture from Cynthia's blog.  Super snap-shot!  Thank you Cynthia. ;-) 

As I was looking at the photo, my eyes bugged for a second when I spied my China necklace.  I love surprises! Thank you Lark Books! Now, I am absolutely kicking myself for not having my copy sent here. Oh, suspense!  I usually have the copies sent here, but my book stash is getting a little hefty and someday it's going to have to be shipped home.  Alas....as Katie would say.  None the less, that was a great surprise.  I have a link to the right for Beading with Charms by Katherine Duncan-Aimone.   I have no doubt that it will be filled with uber inspiring projects.  Can't wait to see it. Thank you again to Lark for including my designs in the book.

Day of the Dead Jewels Set...

Just for fun, a friend and I picked up these skull beads from a street vendor here.  His stand was filled with Chinese "antiques," "jade" bracelets, coins, beads and such.  There are many of these folks tucked away in shops or selling wares off a blanket. You never know what you're going to find....so it's a must to take a quick peek at each one...unless husbands are nearby. ;-)

At first I thought I would make some Halloween jewelry with the skulls.  However, I couldn't get inspired to add orange and black beads to these little fellas.  Someone mentioned Day of the Dead coming up and I thought, Bingo!  Festive bright colors are way more my speed.  I fiddled with the bracelet yesterday, but it needs A LOT of tweaking.  The copper seed beads are not fitting in.  I may restring it onto memory wire.  Katie says I can glue the skulls on the memory wire so they always face upwards. 

And then, there are the earrings, which I cannot take credit for making.  I had this vision of what I wanted, so this morning when the girls and I went to pick up some supplies I found the pair of earrings I was seeing in my brain.  Get this-I had the beads with me so I asked the young lady to remake them with the skulls on top.  That was easy!  Those are CZ drops which you can now get the purple ones from Beadalon by the way.  The girl was savvy in how she remade them too.  Listen to this!  She removed the dangly charms section from the ear wire, threaded a piece of elastic through the ear wire and both ends of elastic through the skull bead.  Then she threaded one side of the elastic through the jump ring on the charms and tied the two ends in a knot (or several knots as it were).  Voila!  The elastic keeps the skull head snug and from twirling around.  Now, why didn't I think of that?  I'm really happy with them.  And also, I've determined that we all need an assistant.  Where's Rocker?

Learn more about Dia De Los Muertos here.  The Crafty Chica has spectacular Day of the Dead ideas.  Festive and fun, I'll be sporting my gems on Nov. 1st! 

Craftin' Bag Tags with Kiddies...

I've mentioned that sometimes I teach crafting classes to the expats here.  One of the programs I started is called Second Saturday.  The idea is that every second Saturday of the month parents and their children can come and create fun projects along side each other.  The projects are designed so that they can be very simple or intricate.  Everyone takes home a finished project.  October's Second Saturday was collaged luggage tags.  You can never have enough luggage tags living on this side of the world.

We started out by learning what a collage is.  Don't you love it when kids already know the answer to the question?  I can hear the parents out there saying, "sometimes."  I brought in some collaged artwork, photographs, and paintings so we could play, Guess Which One is a Collage. 

Fifteen kids and parents came over two sessions and it was a blast.  The paper was flying and stamps were stampin'.

Me with a few of our future hard core crafters.  The finished projects were spectacular.  Kids are creative.  Period.  They don't worry about anything and it always looks fabulous.  Quite magical to watch the whole process.

Want to make your own? Essentially if you can make an ATC, you can make a bag tag.  OR  Download my 10_steps_to_make_a_bag_tag_collage.doc

Check out Artchix Studio for collage sheet images.  The clear plastic tag is simply a badge tag.  You can find them online or in an office supply store.  Download luggage_tag_cards.doc  and print them onto card stock for your info on the opposite side of the collage---we stamped and decorated these too.

It's never too soon to start your holiday crafting.  These make great gifts for your favorite traveler.  Enjoy!

Another Rat in the House...

Rocker's favorite baby-sitter and I were at Ikea the other day.  She came up to me with this in her hand.  "I think Rocker needs this."  "You're his Aunt!" I say as I chuck the disgusting, yet sort of cute rat into my ginormous Ikea yellow shopping bag.  Spoiled.  Really.  I didn't give it a second thought.

Turns out Rocker is in love with Rat.  Rat hasn't left Rock's sight in the last week.

Mr. S says it's Rat's paws (or is it feet?) that make him gross.  I disagree 100%.  It's after Rocker chews on Rat's tail for a half hour that makes him gross.

Sigh.  (I know you know what I'm going to say next)  We just love this dog...even if he does have a crush on smelly ol' Rat.

Strung for Charity...

 

A friend asked me if I would make up a piece for the international school's auction.  I found this bamboo and shell pendant in my stash and went from there.  My fingers were drawn to the latte and eggplant colored pearls--signs of fall weather moving in...I'm sure.  I love the Zen-ness that comes with stringing simple patterned necklaces.  That is until you check back through your work and see that you forgot to string one tiny 4mm glass bead right next to the pendant.  Ugh.  It happens. But, I'm pleased with the overall piece. 

Just a quick post...Rocker is antsy so I suspect it's time to go for a walk.  I'll close here. May all your beading be Zen-ful! 

Blue with the Flu...

This is exactly how I feel.  Monday night I came down with a flu bug of sorts.  Not really sure, but whatever it is, it can go away anytime now.  I took this picture walking to work one day.  She works at the moped repair shop.  I am shameless.

The street that we (we, being Rocker and I) walk down everyday is an utter mess.  They've cut down every single tree because they plan to widen the road.

It looks rather stark without the trees.  This place is always changing.  And they can modify a lot at a rapid pace.   I've seen it over and over here.  One night the grocery is stocked full and the next morning there is not a single ounce of anything left.  Another time, we had lunch at a restaurant and two days later the whole building was gone.  Literally gone.  Bulldozed to the ground with ruble removed.  It's all very strange and something that's hard to adjust to. 

Being sick is so boring... Rocker has stayed by my side the whole time.  He thinks he's sick also.  We've been snoozing all afternoon.  Mr. S is out at the factory tonight so I think we'll put in a movie.   

Knock Knock Jokes....just for fun.

I took this picture the other day in Guanzhou.  The first thought that came to my mind when I looked at it was, knock-knock jokes.  Is that sad?  I love the cheesiness of knock knock jokes.  I Googled "knock knock jokes" and here's a couple I found.  You know, just for kicks...and giggles.  Ok, ready?

Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
Yo Momma.
Yo momma who?
Seriously it's yo momma---open the damned door!

That one is from this website.  And here's another from this website.

Knock, Knock.
Who's there?
Repeat.
Repeat who?
Who Who Who!

Good times, huh?  Seriously.  Someone needs to get out of this country a little more often.  ;-)

It's Time for Everyone's Favorite Game...

FIND-THE-BEAD!!!  Yayyyyyyy! 

Ok, a little lame.  Annnnnyyyyyway, I was drinking my coffee this morning trying to think of something for my bead blogger post.  And as I looked around, I noticed beads are used in so many of our household objects.  So, let's play!  FIND-THE-BEAD! 

One of my all time favorite thrifted finds.  I bought it nearly 10 years ago and drug it all the way to Ch!na with me.  It was made just over in HK.  Love that.

Here's a shirt I picked up in Rheydt, Germany.  I believe it was what started my whole love for Mandarin collars.  Needs ironed!  Lord.

Ohhhhh, horses.  Little leathery, kitschy, horses!  I got them here in Dongmen when Grandma and I were shopping at the fabric market.

Ch!nese zodiac wall ornament from Suzhou.  The rabbit is our fav as we think it looks like Rocker.  Don't tell him I said so though.

    

And lastly, the cat neck pillow.  This is also from Suzhou and is made from the famous blue and white fabric made here.

Ah, beads. So useful and perfect.  Thanks for playing and have a good weekend everybody!

Good Night Irene!

I forgot to post the Need to Bead Girl's links.  This reunion planning and classmate hunting has taken over my computer! ha.  Better late than never, so here goes...

Art Bead Scene
We don't mean to frighten you, but October is here and it is time to bring out the scariest, most terrifying, art bead designs! Join us this month for a spooky challenge, if you dare! Our theme this month is Gothic Queen. We have Haloween Treats from Rings & Things and artist Cindy Gimbone this month for our prize! Drop in to catch up on all the rules and details. No Tricks, we promise!
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2007/10/abs-monthly-challenge-october.html

Jewelry and Beading Blog
Tammy at the Jewelry and Beading Blog has her famous bead and wire project available. This has been a favorite of many readers over the years, and it's the perfect time to make one.
http://www.jewelryandbeading.com/2007/10/04/wire-bead-spider-lovers/

Katie's Beading Blog
Katie went to New Orleans, where beads grow on trees! She also found the perfect fleur-de-lis charm and lots of other inspiration. Read her post for highlights, links and more!
http://katiehacker.blogspot.com/2007/10/beady-new-orleans.html

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen wrote a trend spotting article about South West Style for Etsy read all about it here!
http://naughtysecretaryclub.blogspot.com/2007/10/south-west-style-in-storque.html

Savvy Crafter
Confessions of a newbie knitter who's also addicted to beads…. Candie tells all about her new love: beaded stitch markers.
http://candiecooper.typepad.com/savvycrafter/2007/10/confession.html

Snap out of it Jean! There's beading to be done!
Please visit Jean, Soft Flex Designer of the Month Oct 07. First stop by her blog for a close up look at one of her featured necklaces and then see her full bio and feature on The Soft Flex Company's Site!
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/2007/10/jean-jetson-and-her-fleet-of-dogs-and.html

Good golly...

I woke up in a panic about this.  And so I worked on it all day.  I feel better.  A little.

Confession...

I have a confession.  One of the reasons I wanted to learn how to knit was so I had a reason to make stitch markers.

There. I said it.  I've looked longingly at them on blogs and in the yarn store in my pre-knitting days.    But, now I had a reason to make my own....finally.  Just to be sure, I searched "how to make stitch markers" on the internet.  I found a fabulous tutorial here (coincidently, one of my favorite knitting blogs).  I loved the Eiffel tower charm she used, so I took a page from her book.  Think of these as a charm bracelet for your knit-sticks; you can select charms with special memories or themes.

Or just ones that make you happy.  I did a little of both. I'm currently making a hot pad that requires decreases and I've been using my knitting teacher's tiny ring stitch markers.  However, they've fallen off a time or two and are a bit tricky to find amongst the yarn, sweater, and dog tails laying around.  I have a feeling these will stand out a bit more. 

   

Normally, you use split rings for the beads and charms to hang from, but I had these plastic rings on hand so I used them.  I think they'll work for my big needles. I made this set while I was waiting for the pasta to finish cooking.  Love that instant gratification crafting!  Make some for yourself or your favorite knitter today.

Oh boy....  Last night I was at the DVD store with a friend and she talked me into buying Basic Instinct (didn't take much).  Seems like a lot of people reference it, but I've not seen it.   I told Mr. S that I hadn't seen it and he says, "I saw it.  It's pretty scary." Mr. S felt like reading, so he put the DVD in and left for the bedroom........laughing. Now, Rocker and I are out here on the couch watching (and being educated).    I don't believe I knew what we were in for!!  I think I need to pause it and fix a cup of tea and slice of banana bread.  Something comforting and wholesome for Pete's sake!   Sharon Stone's house in the movie is fabulous though, isn't it? 

Where's My Writer's Bump?!?!?

Just now I turned to Mr. Savvy to announce that my writer's bump is nearly gone.  "Huh?" was his response.  It didn't help that I was flashing him my ring finger.  Now if you held your pencil properly (unlike me), it should be on your middle finger.  I try not to wave my middle finger at my husband too often....at least not to his face.  ;-)  He didn't get it, so I said, "I'm googling it!"  "Writer's Bump"---I'm not the only one to notice this phenomenon.  Apparently, the writer's bump is well on it's way to extinction.  I'm sad.  This is comparable to when little kids ask what a typewriter is.

P.S.  I believe my older sister's writer's bump is on her ring finger as well.  Hmmmm.