the Akamai Knitter

On Saturday I took a bead embroidery class with a couple of my bead girls over at Bella Beads.  Our teacher was Norieta and not only is she an accomplished bead artist, she has the patience of a saint. She was also endlessly entertaining. She had us laughing and smiling throughout the four hours we were there.

Yes, you read right. Four hours.

And here’s what I got accomplished.

What’s not pictured there is a bracelet blank that we had to glue some fabric onto then sew the edges onto. You would not believe the mess I made! Getting a needle through fake suede is not my thing.

Norieta had to help me, hold my hand, rescue me, etc. etc.  It was sad, people. Very sad.

Also? Glue and I mostly have a hate/hate relationship.

I can’t even look at that bracelet blank without shuddering.

Here’s an example of Norieta’s work and what I hope to exemplify. This bracelet doesn’t have the brass bracelet form though.

Luckily, there was pastry to decrease the frustration when I couldn’t whip one up like that in the four hours we had.

It was so good, I forgot to take a photo before I started nomming on it. There might have also been some Korean sushi. Mmm.

It was a wonderful Saturday when all was said and done despite the fact that I went home cross-eyed and exhausted.

I hope you all had a great one too!

I”ll leave you with the fabulous Norieta and her glorious smile.*

*If you’re interested in the seeing more of the necklace she’s holding,  here’s a close-up.

My brain has been eaten by zombies. I could name names on who to blame, but you know who you are.

So today is a day of random this and thats, with a lot of incoherent mutterings and no elegant segues.

Over the weekend I went to the Punaho Carnival where they had a lot of good food, like malasadas and fried noodles. There were hordes of people. I was so overwhelmed I failed to take more then one picture. Of course it’s food.

Yummy Fried Noodles

I met up with my friend Chiye on Monday for her second knitting lesson. She surprised me with an FO! We had started with a washcloth and within two weeks she had it finished!

Didn’t she do a good job?

She’s going to do a hat next and I think she won’t have any problems with it. She’s just that quick of a learner.

Finally, Cookie sent me some beads awhile back and I thought she was searching for a pendant to go with them so I could then make a necklace. It turns out that I had a total brain fart and what she really wanted was a pair of earrings.

What Cookie wants, Cookie gets. See them here.

Now how about a  little peek-a-boo with Quincy?

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Since my last semi-coherent post, my obsession with the book “Shaped Beadwork” has continued. I’ve been making Oval Links.

I’ve made a Celtic Trefoil.

And I’ve started making Trillium Flowers.

One thing you might have noticed is that the Oval Links and the Celtic Trefoil haven’t been made into anything wearable. I have a good justification for the Trefoil since it’s for my mother and she hasn’t decided what to do with it yet.

I have no good reason for the Oval Links though. The finished design is all laid out. I just have to execute it. Maybe it’s like finishing a sweater? Some people are more interested in the process rather then the product.

There should be hope for the flowers though as I’m very interested in seeing the finished necklace.  I just need to make three more flowers.

Ha! “Just need?” Between real life interruptions and resting my eyes, each flower takes me about half a day to make!

I’m also  going to run out of supplies and I’m going to need to wait until I can order more then have them shipped to me to finish it all.

Oh well. It’s about the process, right? :)

Here’s Sammy and Scheyer. Sammy is either taking a bite out of Scheyer or he’s giving him a kiss. You decide.

Happy New Year, everyone! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the support you’ve all given me as I make my way through my creative processes. :)

I’m a few minutes late, but to all of you who celebrate it,

Merry Christmas! I hope your day was a joyous one! :)

P.S. This is my only Christmas tree.

P.P.S. I’m working on getting a Dallas Cowboy one for next year.

P.P.P.S. Shut up about the Cowboys!

So Mom left yesterday for Texas, but I jumped the gun and started the shawl on Wednesday. I didn’t have much time to work on it though.What with her being underfoot and with this being a big Sekrit Project. And no, she doesn’t read this blog. :)

See? Not much done.

So far though, I’m really enjoying the pattern. The arbitrary change from stockinette to garter is so much fun.

I’m not really sure I’m digging the variegation though.

There’s some strange pooling going on.

/sigh

I do like the texture though.

I don’t think Mom will mind the pooling. At least I hope she won’t.

Oof.

Sammy has no opinion on pooling or any other knitting related matter and wishes to be left alone.

I’m off to run errands now. Yay me.

Have a fantastic weekend!