ponder press – Page 10 – custom keycaps, jewelry and crafts handmade in Seattle

Where did my mojo go?

From one black sheep to another. — Time to trim away the ultra suede and finish the edge stitch.

It’s my common lament lately: My creative mojo has walked off.

In fact, Morgan and I were talking, and I said I’d like to have a day off. He asked what I’d do with a free day, and I said that the way I’ve been feeling, I’d probably clean/tidy instead of making something. It’s a sure sign that my (the) world has gone sideways.

All things considered, I shouldn’t complain too much because reading mojo has taken my craft mojo’s place. It’s been nice to actually read and not just listen to books. But, I’ve realized that even if one is a physical book and the other is audio, I cannot have two books going at once. Silly brain.

Resin Sasquatch for the book club meeting.

I have about 20% of Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac to go. I think I’ll make resin Sasquatch pins for the book club attendees when we meet in April.

This week I made some progress on the socks; in about one more inch I’ll start turning the heel. Goodbye rib knit!!

I do have an order for five more of the sequin sheep. It’s taken a few false starts, but I now know that 7mm is the magic number regarding sequin size. I have also amassed more sequins than I ever thought I’d own. (Two sentences I never imagined would come out of my mouth/fingertips.) I also think that my struggles with the sheep head showed me that a basic hedgehog head should be pretty easy.

So many sequins. Who knew I would learn to use and love them?

It’s breaking my heart that my beaded cat isn’t coming together. I know I’ll figure it out, it just won’t be today–or even this week. I think I need to loosen up on the sketched outline.

On a more positive note, I did manage to etch a few more pieces of copper last Sunday. Ta da!

Copper etched with salt water and batteries.

On the 25th I’ll be taking a class about the various ways to apply color to metals. Who knows how these will evolve after that. I’m also harboring a hope to etch a few more before then.

Now it’s time to tackle organizing receipts. Oh, the joys of micro-business ownership.

Insomnia, my old friend

Sleep is an elusive thing this week. That is, real and lengthy sleep. So, after waking up at 4 a.m. (on a Saturday!!), I poked around online looking at information about liquid enamels. That got me to wondering about enameling pieces of copper that had been etched. How would a transparent color look over that?

So, I got myself out of bed and etched some metal.

I’m sad to say the results are not what I’d hoped for. Maybe just a clear enamel would be best. Maybe I need a lighter coat of the lightest transparent colors. Although I’m frustrated and feel like I wasted an hour or so, I know it was a good start, and I’ll forge ahead.

If you look close, you can see a hint of the owl.

I’m disappointed in this hedgehog. Breaks my heart to see the blotchy enamel, too.

More blotchy enamel, but at least you can (kind of) see the hedgehog.

So, time to pick the beads back up and work on this guy.

The beginnings of a bead-embroidered cat. He's a little frowny, I know. — The beginnings of a bead-embroidered cat. He’s a little frowny, I know.

And, in recognition of the big things — thank you, Elizabeth Warren — and the small things, like forging ahead in the face of craft fails, these pendants are also in the works.

It’s sheep we’re up against

I won’t lie. It was another rough week. I’m still working on finding and maintaining balance. The daily stress is taking its toll on me, but I will continue to forge ahead.

Making things has helped a lot. Items with “This is not normal” give me some comfort.

What’s particularly helpful is having things to make for other people. Speaking of which, I finished this pendant!

Beaded bezel with size 8 and 11 seed beads.

I also made a sheep pin, which has me eager to try my hand at a hedgehog. I also have a request for a black sheep. And, I found a mix of brown and gold sequins that will make for a lovely brown sheep.

First I sketched out the basic shape on bead backing.

The sequins covered up the sketch and gave the sheep a more natural wool look. — I was pleasantly surprised when the sequins covered up the sketch *and* gave the sheep a more natural wool look.

The finished sheep. I like the look of using beads for the face. The two different textures work well together, imho.

I started the finishing row and worried that the final row of beads looked silly.

Ta da! I ended up liking that finishing row. It gives a little more dimension, I think.

I have some other ideas for more sheep. Maybe trying some with beads only, crystal sequins or even applying the regular sequins in a different pattern. (OMG!! while looking for a link for crystal sequins, I found a site with all kinds of sequins. Look at these patterned ones. I must make something with them right now! Fine words from a girl who never worked with sequins until this week.)

Later today I’ll be taking a journal-making class. Yay! It will be my first book/journal-making class, and I’m excited. Everything else has been something I learned with the help of books and the internet and tried on my own.

Also, Morgan picked out the loveliest yarn for socks for me to make for him. It’s way more fun than the plain black socks I still owe him. I cannot say how much fun I had looking at yarn with him. Funny the things that make my heart skip a beat.

On a final note, the headline comes from the song “Sheep,” by the Housemartins. Damn I loved that band in in86/87!

“Sometimes I get so angry with the simple life they lead
The shepherds smile seems to confirm my fears
They’ve never questioned anything, They’ve never disagreed
Sometimes I think they must have wool in their ears”

I’m trying

After the high of last week’s women’s march, which I really and truly resisted until sadness overwhelmed me on inauguration day, I was startled by how low I felt on Wednesday. I’m a little bit better today, but I know it will be work to make it through the next two to four years. Everyday will be its own challenge.

More than anything, the sheer number of people who participated overwhelms me.

I have many things to do, but my attention is scattered. Right now projects are about the process, not the result. And nothing really feels satisfying.

That said, I’m gathering ideas and materials for when I’m ready to jump back in. For example, Morgan and I will be looking at yarn this weekend to find (hopefully!) some fun stripy yarn for socks for him.

I need to do some beading around this cabochon for Morgan’s stepmom, who hearts all things knitting.

And, I managed to find the energy to make this tiny journal. It was fun to put some of my bigger dried plant life to use. For the record, it was a pattern I saw in Erica Ekrem‘s book Bound. I imagine it will find its way to Mooly in Oregon.

Dried plant material between two pieces of wax paper.

Hmm … What about a journal with an encaustic cover? Doable? Maybe I’ll have to find out.

Now it’s time to avoid the news and listen to some Barry Manilow. How is that not a great idea?!

My boyfriend was right — but I’ll never tell

Only two weeks left of get-organized month. I spent weekend time sorting and arranging. There are still bits and bobs that need a home, but I’m letting them be until I can make that happen. Morgan and I were at Goodwill this past weekend, and I saw a book called something like “Organization for creative people.” I showed it to Morgan, and he said that I didn’t need that book. He’s right. I don’t need any book on organization. I only need to live the Nike slogan: Just do it. Where can I sign on for a month of house arrest for getting everything organized? Am I the only one who thinks that that would be amazing?

(On the other hand, I did get this book, which I *needed*. What a fun journal cover it will make.)

In what I consider to be a step in the right direction, I’ve learned that seeing my living room, dining table and other horizontal surfaces littered with unfinished projects (or works in progress; WIPs, which seems to be a knitting term more than a beading term) makes me uneasy. It feels like countless fingers/knitting needles/beading needles pointing at me in accusation. I don’t care for that. So, I need to be better about packing up projects and pieces. I am a great example of out of sight, out of mind. (In sight, out of my mind!)

I still have many things to make and there will be some trial and error. Those photos will be more interesting than these ramblings.

But, until then … I tried out the Fiberista sock yarn club and this was the January ’17 yarn. How can that color be anything but a sign that I made the right choice? It’s truly a lovely, lovely orange. Plus, I love surprises showing up in the mail. I still feel a slight hopeful thrill every time I check the mail.

POYH1677

Here’s a future choice: Iridescent gelatos. They’re not available yet, but were announced at CHA this month. So, Morgan was right and now Tom Petty is right (as per usual): The waiting *is* the hardest part.