The Bead Soup I Sent

This is the "Bead Soup" I sent my partner, Loretta Carstensen.  I can't wait to seeing her ideas and creation.

A few little packages....

Wrapped in a little handmade pouch...

And this is the soup...

Choice of deer antlers for the focal, a mix of Czech glass beads,

Betel nut beads, wood beads, copper 22 caliber shell casings, 

vintage shell beads, a copper clasp, copper spacers 

with sari silk and voile ribbons.

Bead Soup has Arrived!!

I happy to introduce my "Bead Soup" partner, Loretta Carstensen and show you the "Soup" I received.

First a little about my partner-

Loretta recently moved from Palm Springs, Ca. to South Ogden, Utah to be closer to her family. Loretta is a retired Insurance Agent.  Since her retirement, she volunteers at the local hospital.  She also has a travel trailer and enjoys traveling with her husband.

She likes creating all kinds of jewelry and makes a lot of her own beads and pendants from polymer clay. Loretta said she was buying a lot of polymer beads and decided she wanted to try making them so, she bought a book and taught herself.

I hope you will visit Loretta on her blog, designsbyloretta.blogspot.com to see her creations and learn more about her.

Now for the soup-

Excited to receive this package from Loretta!

Couldn't wait to see what was in it-

Loretta didn't know what the stone is...any ideas?  

The large red beads are glass African trade beads 

and the small red ones are jasper.

I'm going to let the "soup" simmer for a while and on 

May 3rd I'll show you what it became.

How to Make a Bench Block Pillow

For a long time I have been using a piece of rubber under my bench block.  In preparation for going to Bead Fest and the hammering in the classes I am registered for I need a real bench pillow.
This is how I made my new pillow:

Materials:
1/4 yard suede fabric
Lining fabric  (I used an old sheet)
Thread
Sand
BB's

I found suede fabric which doesn't ravel in Hobby Lobby.  It is $9.99 a yard-I only needed 1/4 yard so my cost for the fabric is very reasonable-$2.50-which is enough to make four pillows.

This is the fabric-front and back....

Measure your bench block -is it 2 x 2 or 4 x 4 or another random size?  Draw a pattern of the shape and then add 1" to each side.  I rounded my corners making it easier to turn inside out.
This is my pattern..

Using the pattern, cut two from both the suede fabric.  With right side to right side, sew 1/4" seam around the edge leaving a space open from corner to corner to turn right side out and to insert the lining bag.  I double stitched the seam.  Turn inside out.

Cut two from the lining fabric.  With right side to right side, sew 1/4" seam around the edge leaving a space open to turn right side out.  After turning inside out, stitch close to the edge of the bag.

Place the lining bag inside the cover and fill with a mixture of dry sand and BB's.  Pin the opening and stitch closed twice.

Insert the filled bag inside the cover,pin the opening closed and stitch the opening twice.

My finished bench pillow....

Bead Fest

Remember the song, "I'm so excited!".

Perfect description for me, my friend and I are  registered for Bead Fest Philadelphia in April.  This will be my first time attending a big show like Bead Fest and I am so looking forward to going!  A great opportunity to learn new techniques and to shop, shop, shop!  I don't really know what to expect but I am sure we will be overwhelmed with all the vendors and their offerings.  Kind of like "Country-Come-to-Town! if you know what I mean.

I'm feeling pretty good about having the planning behind us-flight and hotel are booked and workshops have been scheduledr.  And now only two months to go until time!

Can't wait!!!