Only 2 days left before the big day. Are you ready?
Me, I keep trying to get more projects done. I had a huge list of things and ideas I wanted to make, and they are all not done.
I got sidetracked making this today:
It is made from 3 links of a motorcycle cam chain, some of the cool Blue Moon Beads Noir chain and a big green focal pendant. I really thought the 3 links made a cool connector all splayed out in different directions. The top two I held together with a link from the chain. I added the lengths of chain to balance out the weight of the pendant.
I just can't stop making jewelry, especially when there are great books filled with fabulous inspiration like:
Steampunk-Style Jewelry
Victorian, Fantasy, and Mechanical Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings
By
Jean Campbell
This how-to jewelry-making book features the work of an array of invited jewelry designers influenced by the growing Steampunk trend. In Steampunk circles, jewelry-makers are often master metalsmiths who combine found objects with fine metals to create elaborate pieces. In Steampunk-Style Jewelry, the projects focus on "no fire" techniques -- like simple stringing, wirework, hammering, stamping, gluing, stitching, and off-loom beadwork -- so that even a beginner can create pieces in the style.
Each project provides a complete materials and tools list, step-by-step instructions, and clear illustrations. Steampunk-Style Jewelry offers a broad overview of a growing design trend that is part of the literary, industrial design, fashion, and popular culture scene. You will learn about the art movement through the many photographic sidebars that explore the many aspects of the trend.
Jean Campbell is a freelance craft editor and author. She is the founding editor of Interweave’s Beadwork magazine and has written and edited more than 40 books, most recently including CPi’s Beadwork Inspired by Art: Impressionist Jewelry and Accessories and Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau Jewelry and Accessories. Other recent books include The New Beader's Companion, Getting Started Stringing Beads, Beaded Weddings, The Art of Beaded Beads, Beadwork Creates Jewelry, and Beading with Crystals. Jean has a widely followed weekly blog on Interweave’s Beading Daily, and has appeared on the DIY Jewelry Making show, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS' Beads, Baubles, and Jewels where she gives how-to instructions, provides inspiration, and offers crafting advice.
Here's how it works:
- We ask a question each weekday.
- You leave your answer in the comments section each day to the question (and you can enter each day!).
- We will randomly pick a winner each day to send a free book to!
Today is DAY 18 of 19!
Question:
What is the craziest holiday decoration you have seen?
My answer:
I have 2 neighbors that keep sneaking a single decoration into each other's holiday display. Both yards are packed full of over-the-top decorations like big trains full of stuffed animals and all sorts of lighting and displays, so it is easy to miss it, but the wife of one of the men said they have been sneaking it back and forth 4 times already!
I personally felt the need to decorate my neighbor's boat that he parked in front of my house!
It was fun decorating on the sly!
FREE MAKEREADY WRAPPING PAPER!
Want some cool, crafty, AND eco-friendly wrapping paper? Send your receipt showing you’ve bought today’s book to craftside@gmail.com, and we’ll send you a package of this brightly-colored up-cycled wrapping paper made from the “Makeready,” or printer’s scraps, from some of our newest books. Don’t forget to include your shipping address too!
And a final tip of the day:
Looking for a fun gift?
Grab a book and the supplies that go along with it. Like today-know someone who makes jewelry, grab a book, some jewelry making tools or just cruise down the jewelry making supply isle and grab a bunch of fun findings. Even if they aren't the style you gift recipient is into, they can use them to make gifts for others. They are sure to appreciate the thought!
I don't know if this would be classified as the craziest decoration, but I get crazy when I see them. You know those inflatable Santas, snowmen and whatevers you see now in yards? I have an overwhelming urge to stick every one of them with a needle and see what happens. There are beautiful decorations, and then there's tacky, and these IMHO are tacky!
Posted by: MAry Anne | December 23, 2009 at 11:15 AM
In college I had a good friend who made a beautiful snowflake ornament for a gift exchange... out of (clean) tampons! You would have never guessed what she used if she hadn't told you... so bizarre!
Posted by: Andi | December 23, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Some folks go way overboard w/lights but form some nice patterns on their yards. Not crazy but my favorite to date was a huge peace sign out of lights!
I also loved and miss the wee well lit Xmas tree that used to be at the v e r y top of a crane cranked to the heavens! The crane yard moved!
Posted by: Marjorie Jumisco | December 23, 2009 at 02:55 PM
The old tractor that was actually just in pieces scattered in the barnlot outlined with lights.
Posted by: Rebecca Jones | December 23, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Love the steampunk necklace. I love that whole aesthetic. Uhm, would you believe, here in La-La Land, there haven't been an abundance of holiday decorations? Mebbe just the occasional "holiday light barf" display, but... Sigh. Nope. Nothing particularly interesting.
Posted by: MonkeyGurrl | December 23, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Nothing too crazy - just a few yards that are almost completely overwhelmed with various inflatables. I think it looks so sad during the day with all of those Santas and snowmen deflated and flat on their faces!
Posted by: wendy m. | December 23, 2009 at 05:57 PM
I spent most of Dec in Australia one year. Seeing decorations all over the streets and malls and Santas in shorts in the 100 degree heat was a bit bizarre. I am used to very cold, snowy winters.
Posted by: julie m | December 23, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Love your necklace and the book looks very interesting.
Crazy decorations... this year I haven't seen any as I haven't been out. But at my house I have purple glittered snowflakes hanging all over a green and white plaid curtain in my kitchen. I guess some would call it crazy.
Posted by: BrendaLea | December 23, 2009 at 07:24 PM
I once used a troll as my tree topper. You know- the crazy haired plastic trolls?! It was pretty ugly...
Posted by: whitney | December 23, 2009 at 07:53 PM
the craziest decorations are those huge blow-up figures of santas, snowmen and others. what is funny is that people around here don't fill them with air during the day, thus they are colapsed. we call them christmas puddles. we happen to have a metal tree made out of crab pots mesh. it kind of looks like a green chain-linked fence. don't blame me...my girlfriend picked it up on the way home from the ocean/sound. it stands about 3 feet tall. the one she got was plain, but others were prewired with lights. i think they also come in taller varieties. we don't celebrate christmas, but we do like a tree with fun little ornaments!
Posted by: f lynn rush | December 23, 2009 at 08:51 PM
I don't like the inflatable decorations mostly because every year someone has to spoil others enjoyment by deflating them in some manner. I wouldn't want them simply because they are very easily blown about, and I'm thinking the repairs from others damaging them would not be fun to keep up with.
Posted by: BEV | December 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM
My daughter's neighbor puts out those plastic flamingoes, all over her yard. She put small teddy bear sized Santa hats on them and she outlined a palm tree in lights on her roof! Not bad if you live in Florida or the tropics I suppose, but this is in the mountains of Colorado!!!
Posted by: Shari | December 23, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Set aside a half hour a day to read, plan or do crafty things. I plan to get up earlier in the am to do so. If this isn't successful then I will do it for three days a week which are my non-college days.
Posted by: Suella | December 24, 2009 at 05:36 AM
this year's decorations are so much less than usual in our rural area. I think many can not afford to light or pay for the nonessentials this year. Luckily for us ... mother nature has graced us with some very pretty snow and lots of it.
nancyk in WI
Posted by: nancyk | December 24, 2009 at 10:39 AM
This isnt really a crazy decoration just HUGE when you think on it. Near my home some one put up a star in their yard, no biggie until you realize they live on a mountain and you can see the star 6+ miles away!
Posted by: freebird7100 | December 25, 2009 at 06:41 PM
A man's front yard totally filled with lighted Christmas animals, I don't think he could fit one more thing on that yard. A bit overkill, looked gaudy.
Posted by: calico51 | December 26, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Incredible !! The above chainy pendant is looking awesome. I have seen similar type of pendant with my friend. Thank you for sharing with us !
Posted by: Vintage Style Jewelry | February 17, 2010 at 07:11 PM