BLEACH hoodie

I decorated a navy-blue hoodie with the flaming-skull insignia from the anime Bleach for my nephew's birthday present. Rather than paint the whole design with fabric paint, I first used a Clorox bleach pen (I know...), which lightened the "painted" area to a reddish color. Some spatters of bleach touched areas around the design, but it gave the impression of flying embers (pleasant surprises all around!) After washing and drying the hoodie (NO fabric softener!!), I used a mix of Delta Ceramcoat and Textile Medium to create the Hollow mask and flame highlights. I used a semi-opaque white, so I had to apply a few coats. The instructions require that you should iron the design on the opposite side of the fabric, with a piece of cloth between the area of the design and the iron. The design has to set for at least a week after you finish it before you can wash it, for best results. Here it is!

Shamrock earrings

St. Patrick's Day falls on our trip to Las Vegas, so I decided to make a pair of glitzy earrings to wear there. I bought gold-tone earring posts, superfine glitter and a package of shamrock Dress It Up 8-pack buttons (available at most craft and fabric stores) and shamrock "mardi gras" necklaces (2-pack for $1.) from the Dollar Tree. I then glued the earring posts to the top "leaf" of the shamrock with GOOP. After the glue dried, I took one of the shamrock necklaces and clipped off 4 strings of 3 shamrocks and 2 strings with 4 shamrocks, leaving the string at one end and cutting flush to the shamrock on the other. I then glued the strings to the back of the shamrocks, on the stem and bottoms of the lower leaves. When those dried, I brushed on a coating of Aleene's Tacky glue to parts where I wanted to apply glitter (4 of the shamrocks already have green glitter on the front, but the backs are white. The others are a matte dark green all around--see photo.) I covered two of the matte green ones all over with Aleene's, because I wanted to make them solid-gold glitter. I used a gold paint-pen on the last two matte-geen ones, and they came out gold antiqued with dark green (kind of a nice effect, actually...) After making the earrings, there was still an unused shamrock necklace to wear with them. If you only make one set of earrings, there'll be enough of the used necklace to make a matching bracelet. Dress It Up sets come in a full range of holidays and themes, so have fun!

A Great Co-Op in Lima, N.Y.

There's a great co-op in central New York called the Crossroads Country Mall (7348 East Main Street, Lima, N.Y. 14485, phone #585-624-1993), with over 50 dealers selling a nice variety of old and new items, some quality vintage items, and good prices (NOT one of those "Junque Shoppes.") The staff is friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is relaxed. One of the dealers next to the checkout counter has a great variety of beads, new and used, and a large stock of new beads from Fire Mountain Gems in their original packaging. She also has charms and pendants, including beautiful crystal pendants. The co-op is near the town center, close to other stores and restaurants. Check out the owner's huge collection of vintage ceramic banks, painted in funky neon colors!

FullMetal Alchemist-inspired necklace

I went to a flea market in Avon, N.Y. last summer, and found an intriguing metal trinket in a box of stuff for $.25. I'm a fan of FullMetal Alchemist, and this piece seemed like a combination of the Ouroboros Tattoo and dragon-version Envy. The "snout" looks like the point where it broke away from something, so I'm guessing it was a decorative flourish for a piece of furniture. The piece and chains are all antique-bronze color, and I wire-wrapped iridescent-red glass aquarium "pebbles" for the "Philosopher's Stones." Bronze-tone chains (Treasure Island) and small red beads are from Micheal's Craft Stores. http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

star skinny scarf

I drew my sister-in-law's name for our Secret Santa. She's got a glam streak, so I decided to make a glittery skinny-scarf. I crocheted it using two skeins of black chenille-style "Glimmer" yarn and a G hook (I'm NOT a pro...) I crocheted a star at each end, with fringe hanging from the points. After opening it, she wore it looped Rocker-style around her neck for the whole evening. Talk about a compliment...

Cousin Beads project book

I'm very sorry it took me a long time to post a new blog. It's been one crazy winter... A few years ago, one of my friends found a garage sale where a lady was selling her stash of craft supplies and books. I bought two boxes, one stuffed with craft beads and supplies, and the other packed with craft magazines and catalogs. One is a craft-project magazine by CCA (Cousin Corporation of America, http://www.cousin.com/ ). It's pattern book #6750, copyrighted 1994. It has patterns for beaded animals, such as the poodles and pink alligator I made here, as well as retro home decor items such as baskets, ornaments, and even an end table! There's also jewelry and keychain projects. I made the poodles partly because my Grandma had a bead poodle in her home. The beads to make these projects are mostly starflake (paddlewheel) and berry (bubble) beads, strung on thin pipecleaners (chenille).

Sale at Bolek's Craft Supplys Inc.

Bolek's Craft Supplys (their spelling, not mine) just sent me a catalog advertising free shipping on orders over $50. from January 4 to April 12. This offer is only good in the Continental U.S.A., and orders under $50 still have a flat $9. shipping fee. They have a huge range of high-quality plastic beads in a huge range of sizes, shapes and colors, and all are made in the U.S.A. They also offer kits, adhesives, and jewelry findings. If you like retro-style crafts, or need supplies for large group craft projects, this is the place. Web site is; www.bolekscrafts.com , email is; boleks@tusco.net , phone; 1-800-743-2723, fax; 1-330-343-8009, address; Bolek's Craft Supplys, Inc., P.O. Box 465, 330 N. Tuscarawas Ave., Dover, OH, 44622-0465.