Finished Necklace and a Bracelet

All,

Well it's finally done!  Here are some pics of the recycled necklace I started a few weeks ago.  It really turned out to be a statement piece!

Close up of my necklace

 Since my last post, I attached about 35 paper bead charms to the necklace.  I nestled them in, and made the necklace a full fun piece!

The necklace

There were enough paper bead charms left over to craft this bracelet that complements the necklace and a bonus pair or earrings.
The bracelet is made from 14 paper bead charms, several vintage metal charms and a big gold tone bauble.  The bracelet has a toggle closure and the finished length is 71/2" long.  I have posted the bracelet on my Etsy site, there are more pictures there.

Bracelet and Earrings

If you have any questions about this necklace or how to craft one from some of your old jewelry,  feel free to contact me through this blog.

Please check my Etsy shop out.  I think you'll like what you see!

Enjoy and have fun crafting,

anne

Bracelets and Journals

Paper Bead Bracelets Made at the Pleasantville Middle School Earth Day Fair

Paper Bead Bracelet

Paper Bead Bracelet

Paper bead Bracelet

Paper Bead Bracelet

Paper Bead Bracelet                                                                

I had a great time with the students at Pleasantville Middle School showing them how to make paper beads.  They made a couple of beads then strung them with a few other beads on hemp to make a very special bracelet..

Paper Bead Bracelet

Below are a few more new journals, all made from snippets of magazines, books and maps.  The journals make great gifts for recording thoughts, recipes and trip sights and special memories.  And what a great way to recycle old magazines! What do you think?

Journal Covers

I have several other styles on my Etsy site.  Please check them out.   They are all bound books, various sizes all made with archival paper.

Journal Backs

Be sure to check my Etsy site, annemadethis.

I will see you all soon,

anne

Happy Easter

Hi to All,

Happy Easter.  I hope spring is trying to come your way.  We finally got a hint of it yesterday with temperatures close to 60 degrees F.  Below is the my most recent "Wizard of Oz" necklace.  This necklace was crafted from reproduction pages of the first Wizard of Oz  with the illustrations by W.W. Denslow.   I made the paper beads from cardboard game tiles; the chains and the other beads were reclaimed from vintage jewelry.  This necklace is posted on my Etsy site now.

Wizard of Oz paper bead necklace

Front cover of the journal

Back cover of journal

My friend teaches nursery school and loves reading to her 4-year old pupils.    This is a special journal I made for her, above are the photos of the front and back covers.  The covers are collaged with prose and pictures from some of the best known children's picture books.  After gluing the papers, three coats of an ultra-thick gloss is brushed on to protect the covers.  And no picture books were destroyed in this project.

Next week I'll be at the 2013 Earth Day Fair at the Pleasantville Middle School.  I will be running a workshop on making paper beads for the Middle Schoolers.  The Fair will run from 5:30 until 7:30.

Talk to you next week.  Be sure to stop by my Etsy shop or come see me at the Fair!

anne

Beautiful or Ugly

Art is the psychic expression of beauty as revealed through truth.

                                                                Webster's Dictionary

Greetings All,

Is this beautiful or ugly?

Recently, I put together this scarf from a pile of discarded sweaters.  I borrowed the majority of the idea  from some of my fellow Etsy crafters and then added a couple of crocheted rows to the edges.  After I finished the scarf and showed it to others, I was told told that it was ugly, really ugly, so ugly it was almost beautiful!  Wow!  Exactly what does that mean?  I guess that means I am going to make another one!

We have all heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, our moms told us that many times during those terrible middle school years. What we think is beautiful now, quite possibly was thought to be hideous one hundred years ago.  For example, consider what the public thought about modern art at the turn of the century.   Those same pieces that outraged them in the 1900's are now priceless.  Think Matisse, Van Gogh and Picasso.

And then there is the cultural element.  What is beautiful in China, may not be perceived as so in India.    What American's feel is an ideal beauty is not necessarily so in the Arab world.  Finally, your own personal experiences will define what is "beautiful" to you.  Some people just like orange or landscapes or portraits etc.  What you like can be very personal to you.

"I have found that all ugly things are made by those who strive to make something beautiful, and all that all beautiful things are made by those who strive to make something useful."

   Oscar Wilde 1885

And speaking of beauty, here is a beautiful wedding card made from recycled paper including the bride & groom's wedding invitation.  Here, Amelia used the lattice card technique which I have detailed in my September 18, 2012 blog and appliqued it with stars.  It really turned out lovely and what a keepsake for the new couple.

Amelia's Wedding Card

Thanks again for reading my blog and your support!  Please visit my Etsy shop, there will be more journals and Literary Jewelry made from the pages of Wizard of Oz.  Great Fun! I will preview them here first.  

 Let me know if there is anything special you need to see either on my blog or in my Etsy shop.

Talk to you all soon,

anne

Your Brain and Crafts Part 2

A few months ago I devoted my blog to the effects of crafts on your brain.  Research has shown that crafts actually help your brain, crafting can put you in a meditative state, relieving stress and actually relax you.  It does not matter if you finish your project, it is just the process of doing it that is so helpful.  And all of you know it is so much easier to spend hours crafting and working on a project than it is to clean the kitchen or reconcile bank accounts!  Crafting just makes you feel better.

As Dr. Seuss realized, your brain has a right side and a left side, each half has it's own way of thinking, but they work together to get things done.  The right half is the creative, emotional side and the left half is the more analytical side.   So, the right half comes up with new ideas and the left half figures out how to execute them.

Crafting is a "brain sport", it is exercise for the brain like crossword puzzles and reading.  By trying new ideas, new techniques and doing things a different way; your crafting helps release serotonin, dopamine and endorphins.  These are all neurotransmitters that make us feel better, remember things and relax us.  Crafting can actually change and support the structure of the brain.  Brain exercise can help you learn new tasks, reduce your short term memory loss and help with multi-tasking in your everyday life. So craft away...it is so good for you!!

Want to know more?  Try these links: Brain Creativity  and Can Knitting Give You a Runner's High?

Don't forget Valentine's Day is coming soon.  Check out my Etsy site for gifts for those special someones!  I am always posting new things, so take a look.  Use coupon code FREESHIP to get free domestic shipping for Valentine's gifts.  Below are pics of my new journals, each one of a kind.

Red Heart Button Journal

Woman Journal

See you online!
anne

Happy New Year's

New Year's Eve in Times Square

Hi to all,

So glad to be back.  Happy New Year to everyone.  Happy 2013!

On New Year's Day, my family always eats black-eyed peas, it's our traditional dinner.  Its been said, "Eat peas on New year's day to have plenty of everything the rest of the year"

This year when I was shopping for black-eyed peas, a woman in the store told me that her family ate lentils for good luck in the New Year,  I got curious about the history of New Year's celebrations and other New Year's traditions.

New Year's Day is the oldest holiday, it has been celebrated since 4000 BC by the ancient Babylonians.  They celebrated New Year's on the first day of spring, the festivities last eleven days.  The Babylonians started the custom of making New Year's resolutions.

Around 150 BC, the Romans set January 1 as New Year's Day.  They probably originated the tradition of "toasting".  The host would always drink first.  Because the wine was not as refined as it is today, the Romans would float a piece of toast in the wine bowl to absorb the excess acidity and make the wine more palatable.

The early Catholic church condemned New Year's celebration through the Middle Ages.  Though, some denominations celebrated the Feast of Christ's Circumcision on New Year's Day, ugh!  But once a baby was used as the symbol of the New Year, the Church allowed its members to celebrate with a baby that symbolized baby Jesus.  New Year's Day is still a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics.

Today, New Year's is celebrated with football, parades, fireworks, polar bear plunges and resolutions.   Many believe that the traditional New Year's foods will bring us good luck for the coming year.  The Dutch eat donuts, a ring symbolizing the beginning and the end.  In Spain, you eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight for twelve good months.  In Greece they bake a coin in a St. Basil's cake, who ever finds the coin in his piece will have good luck all year.  The hog and its meat symbolize prosperity and is frequently eaten on New Year's Day, often with the black-eyed peas.  And cabbage is the good luck vegetable, it symbolizes paper currency and in some cultures rice is the food to eat.  It just worked out that I had lentil soup and black eyed peas this New Years, hopefully that will give me a double helping of good luck!

Well that's it for today.  Please stop by my shop annemadethis on Etsy, I'd love to have you drop by.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.  And maybe start the new year off crafting-check out the tutorials on my earlier blogs.

Ta ta for now,
anne

Holiday Craft Fair

Tori at Tarrytown Holiday Crafts Show

Hi to all.

Sorry it's been so long.  There hasn't been a lot to write about lately.  I have been winding down the holiday craft fairs and immersing myself in my own holiday plans.  The holiday craft fairs did not lived up to my expectations.  But disappointments are not always what they seem.

Albert Einstein failed his college entrance exam. Walt Disney was fired from his first media job. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Get it?  So I will continue on! 

Scarf I bought from Nine Muses of Crete

SOME INSPIRATIONS FROM ETSY ARTIST FOR 2012

Decoupage Bowl

Recycled Magazine ornament

Fantasy Children's sweater

These are a few of the items I found on Etsy from some of my favorite artists--there are now 800,000 shops on Etsy, incredible isn't it?  I have been writing this blog for a little over a year now,  The writing is easy compared with the daily battles with HTML!!  Thank you all for reading my blog and sticking with me.  I hope everyone has a happy holiday and a great 2013!!

I will see you next year!

anne

Thanksgiving Craft Party

Kaye Lynn, Amelia and me

Emily and Amelia

Hi to all,

In our family we have a long standing tradition of doing crafts at Thanksgiving.  Here we are working on holiday cards and wire bracelets; all crafted using recycled paper.   We used paper beads for the wire bracelets and tube beads for the cards.  You can check back to my September posts for a tutorial.  Here are some examples of what we made:

These handmade items would make great gifts for the holiday season.  You will see these and many more at the Holiday Craft Show in Tarrytown on December 1st.  It will be at the Reformed Church on N. Broadway from 11am until 5pm.  There will be refreshments and lots of local artisans there with great one of a kind gifts.  The show is put on by the Hudson Valley Crafts Collective.  It would be great to see you there.  Bring this blog and get 20% off your purchase at my table!



I will also have lots of glitzy glamorous jewelry for your holiday fashions.  Be sure to come see it.  All of the jewelry fashions are available on my Etsy site annemadethis, so please take a look.

Have a great week, check out my Etsy site and I will talk to you later!

anne

My Beautiful Nieces

 

                 Kirsten, the photographer

Emily the model (photo by Kirsten)

These are my beautiful nieces, two of many in my family.  You can see they are beautiful women, but they have beautiful hearts too.  Both Kirsten and Emily worked hard to make these pictures to help me update my Etsy site.  Kirsten is a professional photographer and Emily works at EMILY'S List, she's not a model.  Although, maybe she should be.  You can find Kirsten on Facebook or via the link I provided.   

My Chunky yellow cereal box necklace (photo by Kirsten)

I have been working very hard this last week, getting ready for the Artisan's Fair in Croton, NY next weekend.  Here are some of the items I have crafted recently.  I will have all of them at the Artisan's Fair.

Chinese Tubular Bead Bracelet

Paper Bead and Ribbon Necklace

Alice in Wonderland Necklace

Alice in Wonderland Bracelet

Below is the information on the Croton Artisan Fair.   I'll be there with my sister Kaye and my daughter Tori.  We will have all of the new necklaces and bracelets I have shown you lately along with lots of paper beads for you to use in your crafts, wine charms, and a special Free Paper Bead Bracelet Kit Giveaway!   There will be activities for the kids and food!  I hope to see you all there.

PS:  Bring a copy of this blog for 20% off any item at the fair.

See you soon,
anne

Your Brain and Crafting

Two more garage sale finds

Did you ever wonder if your crafting was really relaxing you or was that just your imagination?  I'm sure most of you have experienced this feeling of euphoria while doing needlework, stringing beads or any other craft you love.  Is there something going on in your brain and how does all of this happen?

Well, now the evidence is in, crafting really does put you in a deep relaxed state.  You can find a few articles on the internet and in magazines which will document this.

When part of you brain is absorbed in a crafting activity, the other part can not remain focused on your worries and problems.  You can leave all of your stresses behind while crafting.  You really have an opportunity to "zone out".  Crafting can even lower your blood pressure and your heart rate.  The brain waves of crafters immersed in repetitive tasks like knitting are remarkably similar to the waves of yogis in deep meditation.  Knitting has even been called "the new yoga"!

What about all of those unfinished projects in the closet?   Don't worry about them, your brain waves don't care if you finished them or not.  Remember it is not the end product, but the process that is most important. Read more about your brain and crafting in the November 2012 MS Living Magazine. Sorry, I can't give you a link to the article yet, you will have to buy or borrow the magazine.

Alice in Wonderland Bracelet

In my last blog, I told everyone I was getting a copy of Alice in Wonderland.  Well here is my first project.  The bracelet is made with the pages of the book and some corrugated cardboard.  I used charms and three different chains to make it a little more interesting.  The bracelet is posted on my Etsy site.

Remember the Craft Fair on October 27th in Croton, more info to follow.

Next time I will show you more creations made from my garage sale finds and maybe a coupon for the craft fair!

Talk to you soon,

anne

Flea Market Fun & Some New Stuff

Vintage  Paper Beads

Gray & Crystal Necklace and a crazy Pin

These are some of my recent finds at garage sales and flea markets.  I think my best find was the old paper bead necklace.  No one really knew what it was, but it was pretty apparent to me.  The crystal necklace and the pin will be taken apart and recycled into new jewelry--you will see it here in a few weeks!  I will probably keep the paper bead necklace as is, it will be a great sample to show at my workshops.

During the past several weeks I made one more memory wire bracelet.  It is a great color combination, neon green and violet.  It wraps around your wrist 6 times and shows off  11 paper beads.  What a great statement piece, you will get tons of compliments. And it has been posted on my Etsy site.

Violet and Neon Green Memory Wire Bracelet 

I have also been working on chunky sparkly bracelet, full of pearls and crystals.  A bracelet that will add bling to your holiday fashions or even a wedding dress.  There are about 50 pearls and crystals in this bracelet and 12 vintage buttons. Most of the crystals and pearls are recycled from old jewelry. I like it very much, you will have to let me know what you think.

Chunky Pearl and Crystal Bracelet

I plan to make a cuff of soft pale suede and add vintage buttons, crystals and pearls.  It will be the same colors as this bracelet but a whole different look. And I just got a recycled "Alice in Wonderland" book to fashion into bracelets, necklace and earrings.

I expect to send my first constant contact newsletter out next week.  There is a 20% off coupon attached.  Coupon is good either on line or you can bring it to my next craft fair in Croton on October 27th.  If you don't get a copy of the newsletter and you want one, just notify me at annemadethis@gmail.com.  And Halloween bracelets are still available, check my Etsy site!

OK, that's it for today.  Hope to see you all soon.
anne

Workshop-Making Cards from Recycled Materials

The table full of supplies

    

Tags

Workshop participants

Yesterday, a wonderful supportive daughter and friend participated in my "practice workshop".  It looks like they were having fun.  During this workshop, crafters learned to make cards from recycled materials using a variety of techniques including rolled paper beads, woven paper strips, collage and origami.  We used recycled magazines,  book pages,  newspapers and blank cards.  We also used paper punches and magic markers.  Above are some of the tags we made.  Below are some more cards:

Collage card

Tube bead & paper punch card

Going through this practice workshop helped me time the activities and make a thorough list of supplies.  I am sure this "practice" will be invaluable in making the workshop in November a total success.  Besides the types of cards pictured above, we made a lattice card.  This card is made from strips of recycled paper, the more varieties the better!  To make a lattice card,  just follow the directions below.  You will be using a frame card, made to display photos

 1.  Put two pieces of ½” double faced tape on each end of a blank card that can be inserted in the frame.   Lay ½” strips across the insert card spanning the two pieces of tape.   Position the first strip in the center of the card.  Then put 3 strips on each side leaving almost 1/4” on each edge.  Butt strips next to each other.  You will use about 7 strips.  This forms the framework for weaving.  Trim when done.

2. Now weave the other strips through the framework, going over/under every other frame work strip.  Space strips evenly across the card. You will use about 9 strips.  I used white strips here, so you could see the process.

3. When you get the strips placed the way you like them use a dab of glue to hold each end in place.  Trim ends.

4. Once it is dry, slide insert card with paper weaving in the pocket, so it shows in the frame.  Now decorate front of card as desired or write a greeting.

Try making a few of these cards, every card comes out differently!  

Be sure to check my Etsy site this week.  

Talk to you all soon,

anne