The Wigglebutt Blog

Be warned... I'm feeling a bit chatty☺ So.... A few  weeks ago Hubby decided  that he needed faster internet. (we really don't, but he thinks we do. If it's available he's got to have it) (I seriously think it's a guy thing.  What.ever.) So a couple of weeks ago they came out to upgrade the  lines so we could get the faster speeds, per my husband's request.  They did the "outside work" on Tuesday the 23rd and they would be out on Saturday to do the "inside work". After they were done messing with the wiring on Tuesday (while we were both at work) we had NO internet connection. I was patient ~ Hubby was apologetic and we waited until Saturday, at which time we found out that we had the wrong wiring coming  from the "source" to the house and that they don't do anything "structure to structure" so WE would have to run the correct wiring before they could proceed. (Apparently the guys tha...

And believe it or not ~ I am ready! Yay!!  (I was ready on the original reveal date but I was also grateful for the extra week to  improve the photos and tweak the blog post ;~) (I've also submitted the necklace as my Week 15 project in The Year of Jewelry Project  ☺ Killed two birds:~) My partner for this hop is Sheryl Stephens of   The Babbling Beader She is a very talented seed beader and also has an Etsy shop where she sells some really cool jewelry and some very unique beads. Check it out, you won't be sorry☺ Dyed Pink Jade, Dyed Purple Magnesite, fresh water pearls, Swarovski bicones, Bali Star toggle clasp and two types of seed beads This is what Sheryl sent to me♥ As strange as it may sound, I absolutely LOVE the colors, but they are not colors I would have actually picked out if I was bead shopping. So, without further ado, it's time to show you what I made☺ When I first saw this gorgeous pendant, Dyed Purple Magne...

And it is so PUUURRRTY☺ Look at those colors! There is magnesite and fresh water pearls and just look at that pink jade! I really love working with gemstones and pearls, but I am always drawn to the more subtle earth tones. When I opened Sheryl's package I was a little intimidated☺ I mean just get a look at this focal! The color is amazing and I love the shape. Everything about it is awesome. How the heck am I going to do this thing justice?! The color really is amazing in person, much better than my photos. Not going to be easy deciding which side to use as the front, but I am leaning towards the second one☺ Thank you Sheryl! I love my soup! And for the rest of you out there~ you should really check out Sheryl's shop . Not only does she have some great jewelry, but she has some really awesome beads too☺

is the lovely and talented Sheryl Stephens of  Cool Moon Creations & Beads . Sheryl is a seed beader AND a stringer, so much talent☺ She sells her jewelry and some pretty awesome beads in her etsy shop And you can check out her blog at The Babbling Beader ☺ It was seriously crunch time this morning! I was determined to meet the deadline for sending out beads to our partners and apparently my time management skills are on vacation (I can only hope that they are enjoying sandy beaches and sunshine) Well, I finished the last of the components that I wanted to make myself LAST NIGHT! (Nothing like waiting until the last minute, I work better under pressure, yada yada yada☺) Which meant I was photographing, bagging, labeling and boxing everything this morning and I have to tell you that I realized just then, that I make Bead Soup the same way I make real soup. I start out with a small pot (there's only the two of us) and I add...

I've been away.... I've been busy..... Every chance I get at work,  I go upstairs to my new work area to practice what I learned in my workshop . The last couple of weeks at work have been ramping up to the deadline  for changing out winter studded tires for summer tires. And, even though we have had DRY pavement for a month now, people are, (as usual) in a panic to get their studded tires off so they don't get a ticket ( $50 per studded tire) as of May 1st. So my 'extra' time has been ~ NOT...... But, before the rush I did have a chance to work on a few things I didn't get a chance to show you. I totally love the organic wire shapes And I have already ordered more of the filigree beads..... lots of them.... cuz I can't seem to do anything halfway☺

Well, I told you I was taking an e-course, an online workshop.   It started last Monday and I am having a blast! So far I have made Balled headpins. Some wire thingies and some paddle headpins. And some awesome beads. The kit that I got came with the colors I used here, but I wanted to try some other colors so I ordered a few more colors (Ican already tell I will never have enough colors LOL!) and as soon as they got here I headed up to my work area to light up the torch and it wouldn't... light,  that is. So I got a new torch. It is different than my old torch and now I am having trouble finding "the sweet spot" in the flame to hold the beads to get good color. I am ending up with a lot of 'muddy brown' beads. Eventually I will get it down and then I will show off some more pretties.

I haven't listed very many new things to Etsy in a while  and I forgot how much work it really takes☺ Today and yesterday I listed some of these....  SOLD  Some of these.... And.... some of these...... I have a ton of other things I need to get listed but I just can't stand the thought of sitting in front of the computer another minute LOL! I think I will grab a snack and wander over to my clay table☺ Oh... and Happy Anniversary Honey! 18 years and counting♥

When you finish a project do you immediately clean up and put all of the left over bits away? Or are you like me and totally lose interest as soon as the project is complete? I'm embarrassed to say that this is still sitting...patiently waiting  to be put away.... since Sept. 12....when I finished by bead soup project;~( Obviously I see no reason to rush into anything.

I made this using this awesome tutorial . It's large...like 4" from tip to tip. I love it! Then I had to make a purple one for the young lady that works with me that is terrified of spiders, but loves purple☺ She still has it on her desk. I think it's growing on her☺ Then I had to go out and buy a ton of beads in a whole bunch of different colors to make a whole bunch more spiders. I figure they would be good for Halloween AND for Christmas. What??..... Never heard of the Christmas spider? Well, here goes.......  'One December, a mother was busily cleaning the house for Christmas.  She swept every corner of every room completely clean, for she wanted everything bright and shiny in time for Christmas Day. The spiders fled upstairs to the attic to escape the broom, for they knew she was far too busy  to follow them up there. On Christmas Eve, as soon as the house became quiet, the spiders slowly crept down for a pe...

In addition to the owls I've been working (and reworking & reworking) on, I have a  few new pendant and bead sets. The little 'bee hive' beads. Cute huh? The little birdy beads. Cute too huh? Who doesn't love humming birds? And I finally decided on THE owl design(s) The large ones (approx 1 inch tall) and the small ones (approx  3/4 inch tall) are slightly different designs. I like both designs and of course each bead has it's own "personality" since each one is made by hand.  I'm hoping to start listing all of these in the next few days☺ *(coming soon...star fish and dragonflies☺)* And since I ONLY have about a gazillion unfinished projects in the works, I decided I should add a little something. Something simple... just to keep my hands busy... when i am just relaxing... We all know how much I LOVE seed beads (OMG they drive me CRAZY!) Nothing like starting "simple" when trying something new;~) Is there a cure for th...

I HAVE been doing more than just blog hopping over the last week or so;~) I have made another batch of salsa. (My third since my canning addiction began) This one - I tweeked a few different recipes and came up with one I can actually call my own ~ and I like it☺ I have made (started) some cute (at least I think so) Owl beads  seen here amongst the paper beads still needing sealer☺  As soon as I started making these, I started obsessing about making them two sided, so there was a face on both sides, in case they should spin around. Well, I'm forming each of these by hand, so when I go to try and make a face on the backside, I smoosh everything on the front side,  Sheesh! I guess I could make a mold? Holy Cow! Just Shoot Me! Why do I obsess about everything? After about half a kit (which is actually ALOT) of  Amazing Mold Putty (which I love!!!) later, I realized using the mold made them look ... well.. .molded. And I totally prefer the more rustic look of the handm...