My Non Crafty Rant!

OK. So here it is!

I love the Washington Capitals! I have loved them since before "Rock the Red" ever came about(mostly because their colors went to blue and white for a while)! I went to games and sat almost alone in some sections! With the loudest fans being the ones for the opponents!

I AM CRUSHED!!! The Washington Capitals have crushed me!! A number one seed just lost to a number 8 seed! And that occured after the number one seed led the best of seven series 3 - 1!!!!

I AM DEVASTATED!! I feel let down again! I want to believe oh Great Eight Ovechkin! Where did you guys go??? TED, BRUCE??? Is anybody out there?????

Destroyed, crushed, disenchanted, disgusted, bitter, betrayed, spent!

I am over you! You are like a bad boyfriend who keeps calling and saying it will work this time! It didn't!

Were not talking puppy love here! I am devoted! I still root for the Cincinnati Reds and it's going on 20 years since they went to a championship! I mean I can be strung along for a while!!!

But I am sure that when the summer days begins to fade you will be calling me again. Asking me out, telling me it will work this time! But...

your guess is as good as mine whether that number you have will be disconnected!!!!!

Lori

String Wrapped Beads

I saw an idea in a magazine. It was a necklace kit with string wrapped beads. When I went to the site that sold it, I could not find the beads anywhere! So I decided, I can make those! So I did! Let me show you how I did.

You are going to need the following items:

Wooden Coffee Stirrer or Craft Sticks

Wood Beads(unfinished or finished)

DMC Cotton Perle Floss (the thicker kind)

All Purpose Glue, clear or white, your choice



I used the DMC variegated cotton perle. It is a size 5. It gives you a really unique look. Or you can use 8. I found the variegated at Joanns. Haven't seen it at any of the other craft stores.

The smaller the thread the longer you will be wrapping.

First Rule: Don't cut the thread early. It is best to use it off the spool/bobbin. I have run out a couple of times at the beginning. But if you know the end you cut, you can easily add it to where you ran out. I did this to one I was working on and I can say you can't tell which bead it is.

I have taken a wooden coffee stirrer and trimmed the edges to give it a point. I can then stick the bead onto it and make it easier to wrap. Or you can look for a bag of small craft sticks at the craft store. I bought a bag of them. Plus they can be used for other things later.

The bead pictured was a finished bead. I took an emery board and roughed up the bead to make it easer for the glue to hold the string on it. You can also use unfinished wood beads. They mostly make just round beads in the unfinished wood. The ones I found that were finished were a bunch of great little shapes.

I make a loop so it looks like the tribute ribbons folks wear, then smear a little glue, not a lot, all around the top of the bead hole. The less glue you use the better. If you get too much on just dab it off with your finger. Then apply the string, leave a little tail. When the glue is dry-ish, cut the tail close to the inside of the loop. Then begin wrapping. Which way around is up to you.

At about this point I flip the bead up. The thread will tend to slip a little more so the other direction will help. You may have to watch and move things over with your fingernails or use another craft stick to prevent gluing yourself up.

You are going to want to be a little more attentive towards the end. You want to make sure you don't have any large gaps. Just go slow and pretty soon you are done. You can leave it on the stick or very carefully take it off and set it aside.

Voila! You have just made a String Wrapped Bead!

I try to use as little glue as possible. This way there is less oozing out onto the front face of the thread. If it does leak a little, no big deal. It will only be noticable close up. And once it's in a project you won't be able to tell.

The next post will likely include a few of these beads. Giving you an idea of what can be done once you have made a few. :-)

In craftyness always,

One Crafty Girl Named Lori

And away we go!

So here is the first blog post of one latecomer into the blogging world.

I will admit to never being that interested in putting down my own thoughts before, or offering my opinions to anyone coming down the pike. I was always reading everyone else's musings and staying back behind the scenes, so to speak. But no more.

I want this to be a place for informing others of things I have learned. About books that will keep you informed. And projects I am working on that you might like.

Who am I, you may ask. I am just an average consumer, artist, and all around normal Crafty Girl. I live in a big city but long for the suburbs. My dad once asked me if I was a City Girl or a Country Girl. I told him neither, I am a suburb girl. Just enough to get away from the city noise and traffic but close enough to enjoy shopping and other fun and important things.

I will be posting pictures of projects that I attempt. Even if they don't work out like I planned. I will share anyway. Perhaps other crafty people will be able to see my attempts and perfect!

I will share my opinions on books I read. Good or bad. I love picking up a good craft book.

I will leave my ranting behind for the most part. I do it often so I don't necessarily want a blog full of them. And who wants to read rants anyway.

I love to take pictures. Flowers are one of my many favorites! I love animal life as well. I am thankful to live in an area where I can drive several miles and see the symbol of this country, Bald Eagles, soaring overhead! I love that digital cameras make it possible to see the pictures you have taken and to take multiple shots with just one little card, instead of numerous rolls of film.

A few facts about me: I don't have a Facebook page(gasp), I don't twitter(unless I see something I really like and that is an entirely different kind of twittering anyway), I love non-sensical words(like anyhoo, twerp and nincompoop), and I frequently try new crafts even though I already have a million unfinished projects laying around. That is just a few things for now. Inevitably more facts will come out about me.

So please come with me as I start this new adventure. I know I plan on enjoying the ride while it lasts!

In craftyness always,

One Crafty Girl Named Lori