More Fourth of July Beading Patterns:

Here is an American flag earring beading pattern that I have been making for years now (it is brick stitch). I hope to make a pair up tomorrow, so that I can show you a finished version...notice the slight wave in the flag:

(click on image below to enlarge)

Here are some other fun and patriotic beading patterns that I found online:

A Bit of Beaded Bunting
Easy to Make Brick Stitch Earrings

photo from http://beadwork.about.com ***** 4th of July Celebration Set (Matching Earrings) - Project Sheet #68-002-38

photo from http://www.rings-things.com ***** Want to know how to make an American flag out of polymer clay? Fourth of July Clay Bracelet

photo from http://www.freecraftunlimited.com/ ***** ...and don't forget about my American Beauty earring pattern. ***** check out this website for really helpful, free beading tutorials:http://www.beadseast.com/primers.html
want to make your own designs? look here for free bead graph paper:http://www.beadedimages.com/patternbrickgraphpaper.pdf

Like this pattern?

Check out my book of 15 patterns!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007M0KV0U

***** © 2009 threemoonbabies / Marjorie Dalgarn, All rights reserved.You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale. If you do so, please link back to Marjorie Dalgarn (http://livingwiththreemoonbabies.blogspot.com) in the item description.

Dharma Trading Co.

I love Dharma Trading Co.! It has so much fun stuff! For some reason, I have had a terrible time finding freezer paper. I have been desperately wanting to try my hand at freezer paper stencils, but couldn't find any at my grocery store. But, guess what? I found some at Dharma Trading Co.!!! Yippee!!!

P.S. They have a whole section on techniques too:)

image from http://www.dharmatrading.com/

New Books!

I am so excited about the new books that I just ordered! I had a $25 gift certificate for amazon....and wasn't sure what to get. Then, last night, I read amazing mae's post about a book called Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin, and I had to have it! I also bought Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray to get my total up to $25.00. Whoo...hooo.... I am going to have so much fun:)

photo from amazon.com

Lots of New Polymer Clay Beads!!!

They are already in my Etsy shop:

I made a skirt!!!

I really want to learn how to sew on a machine. So...I have been practicing with some easy projects. Recently, I have been inspired by blogs like Made, Lil Blue Boo and lots of others too. Making skirts out of old t-shirts, and dresses out of men's dress shirts....how fun is that? The skirt that I made is sort of a combination of those ideas. It was made using an old black button down shirt that I had. It didn't turn out perfect, but I really like it (especially the buttons going down the center). My 7 year old daughter loves it:) Plus, I am learning as I go...and having fun!

New to my shop...

Let There Be Light Daisy Polymer Clay Covered Light Switch Plate

Sweet Summer Watermelon and Watermelon Girl Polymer Clay Bead Set

Seed Beaded American Beauty Earring Pattern

These earrings would be perfect for the 4th of July!

Feel free to use the pattern to make yourself a pair (or buy them in my Etsy shop!).
You will need to know how to do a two drop brick stitch and looped fringe.
Size 11/0 round or cylinder type beads will work best. I used Toho 11/0 seed beads in cobalt silver lined, silver galvanized matte, ruby silver lined matte and white opaque (but any shade of red, white, blue and silver will work).

(click on photo below for larger image)

check out this website for really helpful, free beading tutorials:

http://www.beadseast.com/primers.html

want to make your own designs?
look here for free bead graph paper:

http://www.beadedimages.com/patternbrickgraphpaper.pdf

Like this pattern?

Check out my book of 15 patterns!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007M0KV0U

© 2009 threemoonbabies / Marjorie Dalgarn, All rights reserved.You may use this tutorial to make jewelry for sale. If you do so, please link back to Marjorie Dalgarn (http://livingwiththreemoonbabies.blogspot.com) in the item description.

Father's Day Sale!!!!

I am having a sale in my Ebay store.

All TOHO 11/0 seed beads are 20% off!!!

Rosaline Silver Lined MatteTOHO color#: 31F

Lots of New Earrings...

For various colors of tiny daisy earrings... or various colors of tweet earrings...

Check my Etsy shop!

Making a Rosary

Recently, there was a question on making Rosaries in a yahoo beading group that I belong to. The question reminded me of this one that I made for my Nona's 70th birthday present:

I found really great instructions on making a rosary here. They also have some pretty rosary components/supplies that you can buy.

What to do with...

If I am not completely happy with something or make extras...

What happens to these "leftover" polymer creations???

Most of the time...they go to my three kids.

Here are some of their latest scores:)

My 2 yr old modeling her new polymer clay bow center (a result of me not being happy with a smudge that was on the white clay).

My 7 year old modeling some tweet earrings (these were not actually a mess-up, she just wanted some new earrings).

The girls modeling their new watermelon stretch bracelets (a result of extras that I had after practicing making a watermelon cane).

Custom Light Switch Plate

A custom order that I just finished:

Custom Polymer Clay Covered Light Switch Plate

If you would like one... I sell them in my Etsy shop.

T-Shirt Bags

This is possibly the easiest, most satisfying craft project ever!

I made shirt bags out of my kids' favorite t-shirts (that they had outgrown).

All that you have to do is turn the shirt inside out and sew straight across the bottom. Then turn right side out and cut around the neck and arms. TADA!!!

For more detailed instructions, here is a good video from Martha Stewart.

A Custom Order

This is going to go on a castle shaped cake. Doesn't that sound so cute:) I have some of the most creative customers!!!

Fourth of July FAM style!

You have to check out this great collection of 4th of July/American themed items by the Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy:

http://fam-fabulousartisticmoms.blogspot.com/2009/06/forth-of-july-fam-style.html

Copper Clay....

photo from http://wholelottawhimsy.com

I want some so bad!

I have worked with Silver PMC before and liked it...but it is pretty expensive to play with.

Recently, they have come out with Copprclay and Bronzclay too!

I would love to experiment with them!

The only thing...is that I think that you have to fire them differently than the silver clay.

Hopefully, I can still use my little Ultralite Kiln with it.

If you are interested in metal clay, you have to check out Whole Lotta Whimsy. It is a great online resource.

more info on the COPPRclay:

http://copprclay.com/what_is_copprclay.htm

and Bronzclay:

http://www.bronzclay.com/

Also, I did a little search on flickr for copprclay...and boy, there are some talented artists out there!

Okay, off to do some more research on what supplies I will need...

Custom Order

I just love how these turned out:)

Desert Flower Polymer Clay Necklace

It's in my Etsy shop:

Desert Flower Polymer Clay Necklace

I really love how this necklace turned out! It was made using my handmade polymer clay beads, hand dyed and sewn silk ribbon from KAS LAMPWORK BEADS and SILK RIBBONS (LOVE them!) and silk thread. I tied the silk thread in between the beads to represent the prickly cactus.