Creative Dawn

BEFORE AFTER On 1/27/2011, I posted a lamp that I repainted.  This is that same lamp now updated again.  Sometimes an idea comes along and it is better than the original.  This is inspired from a Pinterest posting that used old jewelry.  Well, that can get expensive so this is made from wooden beads that are painted gold.  The beads came from a thrift store and cost 3.50 for the bag.  I still have some leftover for a future project.  The beads are just glued onto the lamp and painted over with gold and pearl acrylic paint.  I got some jewel-like buttons and added them for accent.  The perfect lampshade was on another lamp in the house, so I just switched them up. How much did this cost?  The lamp was 1.49 originally, the beads 3.50, jewel buttons about 5.00.  What a bargain for a one of a kind home accent!

I think that jewelry and headbands are fun for me to make because at work I wear a uniform and in this is a small way to add personality to it.  This is a wide cloth headband that I covered in orange, pink, yellow and white felt and then added a bead trim in white, yellow and pink.  It's simple, it's fun and a great little project to work on while watching the movie Secretariat.  A very good movie too!  What a wonderfully relaxing easy evening.

Well, had to do it, I got another idea for beaded jewelry.  This one is a large pendant necklace.  As with the other beaded items felt was used for the base but this time there is a piece of thin cardboard in the center.  Since the design is hollowed out in the middle I wanted to be sure that it wouldn't be too flimsy so the cardboard gave it a bit more weight.   It is fun and funky and definitely a statement piece not everyone would wear.  Ok, so I promise to try to branch out more for the last month.  There are few charity events coming up so that will force me to do other projects.  But, there still may be one or two more beading items.  Just sayin!

I lied, sorry, here is another beading post, but it is really cool!  The bib style necklaces are currently very popular so I had to make my own version in black and white.  This one is not as large as many of the ones sold in stores but with all of the beading, larger would be too much.  This is definitely a special occasion necklace.  

Remember yesterday when I said this beading thing could be addictive?  Well, here is another beaded project.  Originally the flower was supposed to be pink but the yellow seemed to work better.  For now it is attached to a headband but that may change to a brooch.  While I was photographing the subject of this post, it reminded me of a cruise that we went on.  The ship was the Carnival Conquest and until we got aboard the ship, I was unaware that the decor was all impressionist artist influenced.  Just wandering around and looking at the decor was like being in a floating gallery.  Why this post reminds me of the cruise, the gigantic sunflower in this atrium!  Here is a picture of it.  Yes, another item influenced by Van Gogh, go figure.

This morning before I went to work, my mom called and asked if I would want some headbands that she didn't use anymore.  Of course the answer was yes, so she dropped off a bag full of headbands and other miscellaneous hair accessories.  After work, I started to sort through the bag when an idea hit me.  Embellishing a simple headband could be fun and a great blog post.  Using the ever useful felt that is always around, I cut out different shapes to experiment with.  At first felt was going to be the only material used but it needed something more.  In the box o' buttons there is also assorted beads and such.  These beads have different shades that catch the light and look really cool.  The light blue middle is a nice contrast to the darker beads.  Beading is not a hobby that ever appealed to me before this blog.  It was relaxing and fun tonight to just sew them on create something so simple but beautiful.  This could be anothe...