some for you, some for me

I am beginning to quilt! (see near edge) I sure hope I'm doing this right. It's a 5' square lap quilt. Smaller than I'd hoped the final project would be, but let's face it. It's mid-December and I'm tired and quite a bit burnt out from this quarter. (gosh I hope my grades are okay) So it seems more important right now to try and enjoy the last bit of grading, tidying up the house before we leave (in six days, argh), while also getting my personal statement written and out.

Part of trying to enjoy this all-too-short and all-too-busy break has been forcibly slowing myself down and indulging in some fun little crafting for myself - accessories stuff, mostly. I have been consciously and purposefully engaged in rediscovering one of my best skills: my ability to make a thorough mess of a room. The living room is covered in neat tupperware storage boxes, their contents of beads, thread, lace, paint, glue, brushes, tools, etc. strewn everywhere. How liberating to stop cleaning and enjoy dirtying the place up for a change! And how nice to treat myself to some of my crafting.

Two of the three current projects in process are done (my Louise-Black-inspired hair ornament is coming together):

I fell in love with a red and pink baubly necklace at Anthropologie this summer, and this is the version I've finally made. The stones cost me a pretty penny to collect, but I'm afraid I'm not certain what all of them are. Some are carnelian, some are garnets, the tiny bright pink are coral, and I suspect that the large pale pink ones are some kind of agate. I don't normally wear big jewelry, but I am finding the bubblegum-ball-feel of this very fun.

Aha! My piece de resistance! I have been searching and SEARCHING for brooch frames! Who knew it would take so long to find one?

This has been something I've wanted to do since late summer. I finally found one at Antiques Alley yesterday and snapped it up (along with these white elbow-length leather gloves!) I know, I know, I'm a terrible nerd, but this makes me laugh ridiculously, and I plan to pin it neatly to a cardigan for my first day of teaching next quarter, just to see if my students notice. The embroidery is quite small - I sturdied the back by stitching it around a nickel - so they'll have to squint.